The Official Computer Tech Support Thread

[TheBig3]

Newegg.com - DELL Vostro 230(468-8400) Desktop PC Core 2 Duo E7500(2.93GHz) 2GB DDR3 250GB HDD Capacity Intel GMA X4500 Windows 7 Professional 32-bit

I'm wondering what you folks think of this set-up. Seems pretty nice for less than $400. I'll probably have to upgrade the graphics card, but hopefully not the CPU.

[s_k]

That's some pretty old specs for today's standards.
That processor, that amount of memory and that size of HD is really very much 2007/2008.
I'm not sure what it's like overthere, but overhere you buy better computers for that money

[TheBig3]

Well I'm a little hamstrung. I don't want to drop more than $600 on a new comp but I'm not seeing a lot of great options. It seems you either have to go over $1k to meet todays standards or you don't meet todays standards.

[s_k]

What are you going to use it for anyway?
If it's just a little bit of internetting, watching photo's, a movie, some music, you can also buy a cheap 'n cheerful atom PC.

[Dirty]

I'm legally retarded with anything having to do with computers and internet. So I asked those with any knowledge.. Until my internet and cable gets hooked up, I am using the wireless of the business below my apartment. Can anyone see what I am using it for? Not that it matters but I'm curious about whether they saw all the porn I looked at the other night.

[TheBig3]

Originally Posted by s_k

What are you going to use it for anyway?
If it's just a little bit of internetting, watching photo's, a movie, some music, you can also buy a cheap 'n cheerful atom PC.

I'm a big fan of Blizzard Games but my current comp can't handle SC2. It was barely running wow, **** was missing pixels and whatnot.

I'd like to use it for the basics, and gaming but all the gaming computers seem like they don't have an OS. (I know they do, but I feel like everything but running games is a distant 3rd on those machines.)

Originally Posted by Dirty

I'm legally retarded with anything having to do with computers and internet. So I asked those with any knowledge.. Until my internet and cable gets hooked up, I am using the wireless of the business below my apartment. Can anyone see what I am using it for? Not that it matters but I'm curious about whether they saw all the porn I looked at the other night.

Unless they've installed software on your computer, they could only see the web address. Even then, I think they'd have to go looking for that. Its not mailed to them or anything.

[s_k]

Well if it's gaming you're going to use it for, an onboard intel graphics card won't work for you either. I'm sorry mate. There's two reasons to buy a state of the art PC.
One of them is video editing, the other one is gaming.
I suggest you spend at least 700 dollars and it's definitely word building a PC yourself of let someone you know build it for you. The PC you're opting is already old. That's the whole reason why it's cheap. I bought a PC faster than that (3ghz core2duo, 4gb ram, geforce 9600gt, 1000GB HD) back in 2007. It's just old hardware sold new.

What you need is a decent videocard (I'm not into videocards until I have to buy them, but I'm pretty sure ATI and NVIdia still make kickass videocards), at least an intel i5 processor, at least 4gigs of ram and a nice quick and big harddisk if you want to play games in the future. Sorry .

I don't really understand that site you're using.
I don't know what it's like there, but compared to what you can buy here it's really really very expensive and they provide you with 250gb harddisks and 2gigs of ram.
It's almost impossible to buy a PC with less than a 1tb (1000gb) harddisk and 4gb of ram.
The site seems a bit odd.

http://www.dell.com/us/p/studio-xps-9100/pd
This would be nice for you

But this one would cope with your needs just fine too
http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-58...d=inspiron-580

In the end, a ready made PC is a lot more expensive than one you build yourself.
I suggest you compile it yourself. If you don't, I think Dell is a pretty good choice.

Whatever you do, avoid Acer, avoid Packard Bell.
And to the ones who don't agree; Feel free. It's just my two cents

[TheBig3]

I wouldn't mind dropping 2 grand on a computer if it wouldn't be obsolete in 5 years. And thats the issue. Theres an imbalance in the market right now because hardcore gamers, generally don't spend money on much else (discretionary income anyway) so 2g every 5 years is fine for them.

Being in a serious relationship is a real drag. I have to blow $400 on a new kitchen table...I can't play Starcraft on a kitchen table, kate.

[debaserr]

I usually spend ~$1000 and it lasts me about five years. Granted, towards the end of that I can't run max settings in many games. Also to keep in mind: I overclock.

[djchameleon]

The only reason you would be dropped 2 grand on a gaming pc every 5 years is if you buy one that's already built by a company.

It would be much more cost effective if you learn how to build your own from scratch. Once you figure out what parts you need then you can spend 600 bucks on a decent PC that will last you longer than say going to Dell or Gateway and buying one of their crap set ups.