Help Tass find a better computer

Nubclear · July 7, 2003, 19:52

again.

What good, fast computer can I get for about 700 dollars? Thanks.

Anywhere is fine. Dell, Compaq, eBay...Anywhere one can get it. Cheaper is also preferred.

My computer, when I bought it, was the high of high. But now....

700 MHz, 128 MB Ram, 32 MB Nvidia 2....

mrmitchell · July 7, 2003, 20:02

Same with my current computer, basically. It's only 866MHz, etc., but it's got an ATI Rage 128 Pro (whutever that means, it can play Civ3 and RF and I'm cool

[/noob]) and I've upgraded the RAM to 384mb and added a CD-RW (now also dinosaur ****.)

Asher · July 7, 2003, 20:03

You should buy a PowerMac G5.

It is the fastest computar EVARRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Nubclear · July 7, 2003, 20:09

Quote:

Originally posted by Asher
You should buy a PowerMac G5.

PC only, please.

Asher · July 7, 2003, 20:36

hi,

maybe you should visit apple store,,,,,,,apple pc

have a nice day

Sava · July 7, 2003, 20:42

okay panag....

Tass, you should build a comp. $700 will get you a lot. You can also use some of your existing hardware. get:
1. case w/powersupply and fans
2. motherboard and processor

depending on what you currently have, you might be able to cannibalize your video card, sound card, hard drives, RAM, keyboard, mouse, disk drives, and monitor...

Building a PC is about the same (conceptually) as hooking up a VCR. Just put the right wires in the right places and connect the right things to the right spot and VIOLA!

Spiffor · July 7, 2003, 20:50

@ Asher

MattH · July 7, 2003, 20:59

No, he NEEDS a new graphics card

Pricegrabber.com has some good prices, try the raedon 9000/9100 or 9600 (or a nvidia if that's your thing...)
I've found ram to be the cheapest from newegg.com
Try the A7N8X deluxe motherboard from ASUS ($125, neweggo.com). It supports all athlon XP chips up to 3200+ (and probably what comes after them...)
An athlon XP, good value, low price

Don't be afraid to assemble the thing yourself- it's no work at all. You plug cable A into slot A, etc. Not much can go wrong if you use common sense

Sava · July 7, 2003, 21:02

don't listen to these heathens, Tass... get a GeForce 4 TI model... either TI 4200 or TI 4600...

ATI SUCKS!

I Am Jeff · July 7, 2003, 21:10

I would recommend using http://www.resellerratings.com/ to check out how the resellers at pricewatch.com have been rated. I would also try to buy from a couple of sites instead of getting every part from different people. Shipping charges will then ADD UP a lot. I would recommend getting a barebones system with Case,power,motherboard,processor,heatsink,fans, and ram. Then you can find the other parts (vid card, sound, cd/dvd drives, and harddrives) and just plug them in.

Also if you get the A7N8X deluxe motherboard from ASUS, it may use serial hd. Which do not use standard IDE cables, so you need to get the special serial hd.

Nubclear · July 7, 2003, 21:11

Quote:

Originally posted by Sava
don't listen to these heathens, Tass... get a GeForce 4 TI model... either TI 4200 or TI 4600...

ATI SUCKS!

Sava...Your avatar scares me.

Anyway....Wouldn't it be cheaper to just bid on eBay or get from Dell or Gateway or something?

Urban Ranger · July 7, 2003, 22:32

Tass,

The first question you should ask yourself is, "What program(s) do I want or need to run?"

Sava · July 7, 2003, 22:36

Quote:

Wouldn't it be cheaper to just bid on eBay or get from Dell or Gateway or something?

it depends on what you are using the comp for and what kind of features you want... building a comp on your own will be much cheaper in terms of getting a high performance PC, but Dell/Gateway will give you something you just plug in and play. Also, in building a PC, it's a good idea to format your hard drive and reinstall your OS. So again, it's a question of how much you are willing to spend, what you want, and how much work you want to do.

Quote:

Sava...Your avatar scares me.

ph34R teh Gr33nsp4n!!!

monolith94 · July 7, 2003, 22:56

Your not willing to put out enough cash for an apple computer... Have you considered a delightful Texas Instruments graphing calculator? They have games now!

Sava · July 7, 2003, 23:02

Apple sucks for games...

monolith94 · July 7, 2003, 23:09

You suck for intelligent commentary, but you don't hear me complaining, do you?

FrustratedPoet · July 8, 2003, 04:51

I think you just did.

ixnay · July 8, 2003, 05:03

Quote:

Originally posted by Sava
Building a PC is about the same (conceptually) as hooking up a VCR. Just put the right wires in the right places and connect the right things to the right spot and VIOLA!

Pekka · July 8, 2003, 05:05

Or you can always buy stolen PC, most likely laptop, and with $700 I think you should be able to get the best performance there is.

Dis · July 8, 2003, 05:06

build, build, and do more build

shouldn't cost you over $500

Pekka · July 8, 2003, 05:13

Agreed. Naturally I don't recommend illegal activities.
Building it should save you some good money, and still give you good stuff. I don't know the prices in the US, but I figure you'll get a pretty good thing going on with $700 if you really strech it.

Nubclear · July 8, 2003, 05:14

Quote:

Tass,

The first question you should ask yourself is, "What program(s) do I want or need to run?"

Well:

1. Morrowind (So that it runs well eg: I dont have to go to the lowest resolution and turn everything to the lowest setting in order to play)
2. AutoCAD
3. Microsoft WORD
4. Notepad
5. MSN Messenger
6. Internet Explorer
7. Any other game which may require a fast computer and a nice graphics card
8. Photoshop
9. MSPaint
10. Windows Media Player

I also need it to be able to network, as thats how I get my internet connection. And I need a sizable hard drive eg 20-120+ GB.

More programs may be added.

Quote:

Your not willing to put out enough cash for an apple computer... Have you considered a delightful Texas Instruments graphing calculator? They have games now!

Fun games too

Which is more than one can say for Apple

Quote:

build, build, and do more build

shouldn't cost you over $500

What parts would I need? I don't know the difference between A motherboard and B motherboard.....Plugging things in is easy enough, but things rarely ever work out

Dis · July 8, 2003, 05:16

well that bit requires a bit of research.

It's a pain in the ass looking all that stuff up on the internet, but worth it if you like saving money. Some people would rather spend the money and save the trouble. but if you don't have the money...

Panag · July 8, 2003, 05:44

Quote:

Originally posted by Asher
hi,

maybe you should visit apple store,,,,,,,apple pc

have a nice day

hi ,

how would you feel if someone makes fun out of you , .......

have a nice day

Urban Ranger · July 8, 2003, 05:47

Quote:

Originally posted by Tassadar5000
Well:

1. Morrowind (So that it runs well eg: I dont have to go to the lowest resolution and turn everything to the lowest setting in order to play)
2. AutoCAD
3. Microsoft WORD
4. Notepad
5. MSN Messenger
6. Internet Explorer
7. Any other game which may require a fast computer and a nice graphics card
8. Photoshop
9. MSPaint
10. Windows Media Player

I also need it to be able to network, as thats how I get my internet connection. And I need a sizable hard drive eg 20-120+ GB.

More programs may be added.

All right, then you need a fast computer with a killer graphics card, but you don't need much storage.

Asher · July 8, 2003, 09:02

Quote:

Originally posted by panag
hi ,

how would you feel if someone makes fun out of you , .......

have a nice day

I would cry like there's no tomorrow.

Neutrino · July 8, 2003, 09:15

I would build a my own if I were you, Tassadar.. unless you don't have the time to do it. I've done a lot of research on components recently since I'm also in need of a better PC

I don't know how taxing Morrowind is on the graphics, but you may want to take a look at the Epox 8RGA+ motherboard - it includes LAN, decent audio, and an integrated Geforce4 MX chip. It supports AMD AthlonXP precessors. www.newegg.com has one for sale for 99 USD.

MattH · July 8, 2003, 09:39

DON'T GO WITH INTEGRATED GRAPHICS!!!

MONKEYS WILL EAT YOUR SOUL!!!

Dell has some fantastic deals these days- take the $500 or $800 dimension and add your own RAM and graphics card (from a 3rd pary, like the local comp sci lab

), adding maybe $200/300 to the cost.

Neutrino · July 8, 2003, 10:46

Yeah, originally I had thought that but many reviews seem to indicate that the graphics are actually semi-respectable.

mrmitchell · July 8, 2003, 11:34

MattH has got the idea there.