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Civilradiant
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Joined: 17 Mar 2009
Posts: 52
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 Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 1:50 pm Post subject: If you were going to buy a pre-built desktop PC... |
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| If you were going to buy a pre-built desktop PC where would you get it from? |
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Sauron_Daz
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| Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 2:00 pm Post subject: |
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That's a big if..but it would be from a local shop - no brandname.
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Civilradiant
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Joined: 17 Mar 2009
Posts: 52
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| Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 2:03 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, I just don't have time to pick out all the parts and assemble a desktop for the amount of people that ask me to do so lol
I was looking at some of the pre-built desktops on newegg but haven't been too impressed. |
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Celt
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Joined: 31 Dec 1969
Posts: 8283
Location: The Land of Concrete Cows
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| Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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You will find that some brands are almost designed to be better at specific tasks. I don't know officially but HP seems to be specialised for imaging and printing (which would make sense considering other strengths). Others are better at Audio Creation . . . others office, others games . . . when looking try to "spot the specialisation" and bear in mind that it will probably pervade then entire range for that brand (which is why HP retains the Compaq name as well as others).
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clone
X-bit Guru
Joined: 15 Aug 2004
Posts: 5987
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| Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:18 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, I just don't have time to pick out all the parts and assemble a desktop for the amount of people that ask me to do so lol
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| I was looking at some of the pre-built desktops on newegg but haven't been too impressed. |
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1: charge for the service
2: you will never be impressed by pre built, building computers its stupid easy nowadays and the custom builder segment is rife with digital opinion about details that don't matter.
the perfect every day general pc is so brutally simple to build that with the absence of a challenge the vaccum has been filled with absurdity.
pick the cheapest least expensive dual core cpu, mate it to a sub $65.00 Matx board from Asus or Gigabyte, add 2 gb's of ram minimum preferably 4gb's of the cheapest available, buy the smallest cheapest hard drive on special which is typically a 500 gb 7200.00 spin, buy 1 DVD+-RW, preferably 2 if the budget allows, add a name brand low wattage PSU 350 watt Sparkle will suit, 400 watt Enermax, Silverstone, PC power & cooling, Seasonic..... whatever is on special preferred and then throw it in a black case, preferably the cheapest black case you can find because once the parts are in the fit and finish of the interior won't matter in the least.
but that's to simple so custom builders look for ways to spend more in order to relive the "good old days" when PC's were special and weren't tools, and more importantly when they cost over $400.00
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Last edited by clone on Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:25 am; edited 1 time in total |
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TAViX
X-Bit Gundarm
Joined: 29 Oct 2007
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| Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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Forgive me, but for me the greatest "FUN" is after I buy all the components, to assembly the PC myself. There is no grater satisfaction in doing it so. 
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Hammer_Time
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Joined: 31 Dec 1969
Posts: 20325
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Mordor
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| Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 6:55 pm Post subject: Re: If you were going to buy a pre-built desktop PC... |
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| Civilradiant wrote: |
| If you were going to buy a pre-built desktop PC where would you get it from? |
www.ibuypower.com 
Great site, great product - gaming systems at reasonable prices with decent components. They have a good reputation.
Of course I build my own personal gaming systems, like Tavix and others here on the forums, but if you need one pre-built for whatever reason(s) these guys are affordable and you get a decent system that works.
Alienware is overpriced imho, although they do make killer gaming laptops and I hope to afford one someday...
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Sauron_Daz
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Joined: 31 Dec 1969
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| Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 9:39 pm Post subject: |
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Those systems are not for yourself then?
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Shades
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| Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 12:06 am Post subject: |
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| When people ask for advice on an entry-level machine, I usually just advise them to buy from a major OEM. When there are no specialist requirements then I don't see much money to be gained by self-build when one factors everything (eg. OS) in and one usually ends up with an ugly beast compared to what is available from OEMs. Nowadays, a lot of people buy a budget notebook anyway. When there are specialist requirements, that is another matter. |
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Silver
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Joined: 23 Jun 2003
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Location: Sweden
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| Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 5:19 am Post subject: |
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| clone wrote: |
| but that's to simple so custom builders look for ways to spend more in order to relive the "good old days" when PC's were special and weren't tools, and more importantly when they cost over $400.00 |
Don't you mean when they cost $4000, I recall my cousin building a 486 for something like that.
My current computer isnt anything special but counting all accessories external hdd's and stuff its probably easily $2500 for the new price when the parts where purchased. I don't upgrade all that often, but try to use good parts.
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Hammer_Time
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Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Mordor
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| Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 5:25 am Post subject: |
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| Sauron_Daz wrote: |
| Those systems are not for yourself then? |
I meant that I built my own gaming system for myself of course, and still build the odd custom gaming system for friends and old clients of mine, that's all. As you know I no longer work in a pc shop, but still like to keep my finger "in the pie" so to speak.
Shades- yes, OEM is fine for non-specialist needs, but if one wants a "gaming system" prebuilt there is nothing from any of the OEM's that can touch the prebuilt gaming systems from www.ibuypower.com once you compare apples to apples ( the price and exactly what video card comes in the system etc, crucial for gaming ). For those who don't care about gaming or very light gaming, then any of the OEM systems will do fine as you mention.
Civilradiant never mentioned what the computer is to be used for, I assumed it would have some gaming usage, but he would have to clarify this point or not.
| Shades wrote: |
| When people ask for advice on an entry-level machine, I usually just advise them to buy from a major OEM. When there are no specialist requirements then I don't see much money to be gained by self-build when one factors everything (eg. OS) in and one usually ends up with an ugly beast compared to what is available from OEMs. Nowadays, a lot of people buy a budget notebook anyway. When there are specialist requirements, that is another matter. |
What do you call this then??!! :
http://www.acer.com/predator/
 Now that is UGLY!!!! 
Just teasing you of course... in general OEM cases are quite sleek these days, but the above is an exception! 
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Stupify
Terakh
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Location: Toronto
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| Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 6:11 am Post subject: |
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Civilradiant
you are better off picking up the parts and asking the local chopshop to build it for you. A lot of stores do that including installation. You then have more control over your system parts selection and modifications for future if you want to. With Pre-built from big names you end up with limited upgrade choices and paying extras...
Also if you must have a pre-built name brand then you ought to mention what you plan to use your system for? |
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Hammer_Time
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Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Mordor
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| Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 6:23 am Post subject: |
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"chopshop" LOL!! Yes, that is another good option to consider... just make sure the "chopshop" is somewhat trustworthy and not about to go out of business or have a really bad service reputation etc...
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Sauron_Daz
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| Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 8:08 am Post subject: |
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Sorry, my question was directed at Civilradiant..
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clone
X-bit Guru
Joined: 15 Aug 2004
Posts: 5987
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| Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 10:23 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| There is no grater satisfaction in doing it so. Wink |
I'm inclined to agree although the "buzz" has worn off after repeated assembly's.
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Don't you mean when they cost $4000, I recall my cousin building a 486 for something like that.
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ahh yes the great old days......it was more niche then when pc's hit sub $2000.00 they became mainstream sacrifices for the middle class.
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to those who have never played Freespace 1 or 2 I highly reccomend you download them and play them once fully patched via the Freespace Open source project, both games are simply the best Sci-Fi flight sims released so far. |
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o'h3nry
Senior Member
Joined: 05 Dec 2007
Posts: 605
Location: U.S.
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| Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 12:00 pm Post subject: |
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This Alienware isn't priced too badly for a pre-build.
$1,299
core i7 920
3gb ddr3
gtx 260
500gb hdd
64 bit Vista w/ free w7 upgrade (a commonly forgotten expense- definite perk for buying pre-built)
X58 bios is unlocked for end-user Overclock
Watercooled
It's a pretty high-quality case, too.
EDIT: Granted, i just browsed the ibuypower site provided by H_T and it pretty much smoked Alienware. Wonder if their customer service/warranty is as good as they claim it is.
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Hammer_Time
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Joined: 31 Dec 1969
Posts: 20325
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Mordor
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| Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 1:04 pm Post subject: |
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I do like Alienware's high end gaming laptops...they are usually first to implement the latest and greatest in mobile gpu's... at a high price, but you do get what you pay for with them...
Ibuypower has been around for a LONG time , outlasted many other custom pc builders , so they must be doing something right eh??
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Ibuypower has also been around for a while and has a decent enough reputation. Not many custom PC builders last that long. |
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081127233133AAUDs4l
I have also read around the web that their reputation is solid enough.. nobody is "perfect" all the time, but they sure are easier to deal with when it comes to support and service than say, Dell, or hp!!
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DIREWOLF75
X-bit Goon
Joined: 31 Dec 1969
Posts: 9862
Location: Isthmus of Baldur (modernly known as Bollnäs), Sweden
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| Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 3:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| This Alienware isn't priced too badly for a pre-build. |
Bit cheap to go with a half-TB HDD for such a level system...
Apart from that, not bad no.
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clone
X-bit Guru
Joined: 15 Aug 2004
Posts: 5987
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| Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 8:17 pm Post subject: |
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Bit cheap to go with a half-TB HDD for such a level system...
Apart from that, not bad no. |
I know you know both of the things I'm about to say but for the sake of everyone else who doesn't know.
it depends on useage, I'm using a 74gb raptor and still have 17gb of free space left after a year.
terrabyte hdd's that can be added alter are cheap nowadays for the price the system is a sufficient starting point.
see, I knew you knew.
on a side note the Alienware is a nice grouping of parts for what they are but a terrible example of what to buy for any but the high end crowd
I'm not trying to offend but I feel like I've just been totally validated given we live in a day and age of very powerful $400 systems.... to push a $1300.00 box that doesn't include a monitor or speakers..... just because it has the least expensive Core I7 cpu..... shame and a waste of coin for 98% of the market.
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to those who have never played Freespace 1 or 2 I highly reccomend you download them and play them once fully patched via the Freespace Open source project, both games are simply the best Sci-Fi flight sims released so far. |
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DIREWOLF75
X-bit Goon
Joined: 31 Dec 1969
Posts: 9862
Location: Isthmus of Baldur (modernly known as Bollnäs), Sweden
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| Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:21 am Post subject: |
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| see, I knew you knew. |
Yeah...
However, point 1, it has become very common to have vast amounts of data, point 2, the rest of the system was all neat and highendish and doubling the HDD size would have added a rather marginal amount to the price.
| Quote: |
| I'm not trying to offend but I feel like I've just been totally validated given we live in a day and age of very powerful $400 systems.... to push a $1300.00 box that doesn't include a monitor or speakers..... just because it has the least expensive Core I7 cpu..... shame and a waste of coin for 98% of the market. |
Very true.
This system cost me about 700$ and if instead i optimised it for "lowend"/cheap gfx "intense" gaming, a 4650 instead of 3450 gfx and standard DDR2-800, and then change cpu to E7300, the final price would have been maybe 650$. Change to a cheaper motherboard as well and cut it down to 550-600$... And even this theoretical system would be vastly more powerful than my previous base 1200$ system.
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