I\'m getting a new PC for Christmas, and need some help deciding on what kind.

Hehe, I always have the best written titles don\'t I?

Well, I was looking in a Dell magazine, and saw one for $1800+ and I didn\'t find it to be that good.  I think it was 1.9GHz, 40GB HD, 256RAM, 64MB Geforce 2 MX, DVD and CDRW with Windows XP.  I went online to the Gateway site and customized my own PC with 1.8GHz, 256RAM, 40GB HD, 64MB GeForce3 Ti 500, CDRW and Wiindows XP for $2000.  Grr...anyone know how to find a nice PC that I can get with a GF3, at least 256RAM and at least 1.8Ghz?  A gaming PC would be nice, but I don\'t know any of those PCs names, other than alienware.

My general advice:

AMD XP over Intel.

Make sure (if you get AMD) you get PC2100 DDR ram (Twice as fast as pc133)

IF you do get PC2100 DDR (Double Data Rate) ram, get a Video card with DDR ram also, otherwise you bottleneck the ram anyway.

Of course you\'ll pay through the nose, unless you buy the componets and build it yourself. Mine cost $750 for all but the CD and DVD

NOTE: I am BIAS:)

Me got\'s Athalon XP1600 with 512Mb PC2100:)

"a fool and his money are soon parted"

that refers to ANYONE who spends 2000 on a PC, especially one from gateway

you can get a top of the line athlon 1900 XP with 256 DDR ram system with a Geforce 3 for less than 1100$ USD, INCLUDING monitor

like so:

* $313  -  Athlon XP 1900 with cpu, fan
* $61  - PC2700 DDR 256MB
* $157  -  GeForce3 TI 200
* $116  -  19inch monitor
* $90 - DVD/CDRW
* $31 - Sound Blaster Live Value
* $34 - Altec Lansing IBM345
* $100 - case and 350w power supply
* $25 - NIC
* $60 - mouse and keyboard
* $100 - operating system [free if u use linux ]
--------------------------------------------------
$1087

if u pay $2000, or even $1500 for a similar OR LESS computer!  
i mock thee!

[nO-One]

Pay attention to the motherboard chipset your getting. You don\'t want to get stuck with a bad chipset.

Well MM, where would I get all this stuff for that cheap?  And a motherboard.  And harddrive.  Where should i get all this stuff if i decide to get what you said.

try http://www.pricewatch.com
thats where i got those prices

build yer own PC, dont buy one made with cheap [overpriced] parts

DO NOT get a GATEWAY!!!!!! they are CRAP!...I wish I could have sent mine back.........




:hat:ScottyJ:hat:

in my opinion the only great pcs are the ones you make yourself

heck my pc has a lifetime gaurentee and lifetime technical support - yea its pretty cool

I\'d get the Dell... but thats just me.

Originally posted by KillaX
DO NOT get a GATEWAY!!!!!! they are CRAP!...I wish I could have sent mine back.........




:hat:ScottyJ:hat:

man i couldnt agree with you more ive got a 2.0 ghz with 256 pc800 ram thats works worse than my 450mhz with 128mb ram
lukly i got a gforce three a 19 inch monitor and a scanner with my new one

Dell makes good machines.  I\'ve had 3 and their service is good, too.  Gateway is so-so.

Basically you can go either Intel or AMD.  Some points for

• Intel- If you get an Intel machine get a Pentium 4.  Everything below that is over-priced and under-powered.  Do not settle for a PC133 motherboard.  It\'s RDRAM or nothing for Intel.  Trust me, the performance will soooo suck.
  
• AMD - Current king of the hill in performance and always in price.  Make sure you get a motherboard that supports DDR Ram up to 266mhz and you\'re good to go.  AMD processors run at a higher temperature than Intel\'s.  If you buy pre-built, make sure the service and warranty are good from whomever you get it from.
  

Originally posted by EmperorRob
Dell makes good machines.  I\'ve had 3 and their service is good, too.  Gateway is so-so.

Basically you can go either Intel or AMD.  Some points for

• Intel- If you get an Intel machine get a Pentium 4.  Everything below that is over-priced and under-powered.  Do not settle for a PC133 motherboard.  It\'s RDRAM or nothing for Intel.  Trust me, the performance will soooo suck.
  
• AMD - Current king of the hill in performance and always in price.  Make sure you get a motherboard that supports DDR Ram up to 266mhz and you\'re good to go.  AMD processors run at a higher temperature than Intel\'s.  If you buy pre-built, make sure the service and warranty are good from whomever you get it from.
  

[/B]

I dont know much about pc\'s, but I do know what Rob said...follow his advice!

Okey day.  I don\'t know if I\'m smart enough to choose parts that are compatible with each other to build my own PC.  I have a Gateway right now, and want to get a Dell.  Would I be safe going with Dell?

Yes; just make sure you get a machine with RDRAM

Question for MM....


Can i take the PC i got now, which is a 1.4ghz amd, and just replace the motherboard, and CPU??? with that XP chip???