Computer Help - New Purchase Ideas

[Crappy Pants]

I have about 1K to spend on a new system that could be a laptop or a desktop.

The system should be capable of running World of Warcraft and or COD4, wireless internet capable, and have at least a couple of years in it.

My first instinct is to go out and get another desktop, but since I have not purchased a system in some time I have no idea what to get, as in latest processor(s) and video, etc.

Some help is needed, please.

We have enough parts around this house to fix up several new laptops with mice and monitors and keyboards and what not, so for a desktop it would be just the case and critical parts.

For a laptop I have no idea where to start, and I fear spending on something that would be tricky to upgrade easily.

[Neophyte]

I'd guess that the minimum spec's for what you're looking for are:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 (1.86 GHz)
2 Gigs DDR2 RAM
GeForce 8800 GT w/512 MB RAM

Things up for discussion:
How much hard drive space do you need? Do you want blazing disk performance like the new Western Digital Velociraptors offer (release date is around summer '08 for these amazing 2.5" drives in a 3.5 chassis for easy mounting) or are you good with the more traditional 3.5" SATA disk drive with enough storage for your needs?

Is the need for a new monitor in this price? How large? 22" wide-screen ok?

Will you want room to grow into a Multi-GPU SLI system, or will your needs be met with a single GPU - which significantly lowers the price of this build?

Do you want all the trimmings, new keyboard and speakers? Or, are you just looking for updated CPU and graphics and you'll move all the components from other computers to complete the build? Are you considering to install XP from existing licenses or are you factoring in the license for Vista Home Premium OEM?

I just hate the consideration of a laptop at this price because $1,000 puts you int he price range of a fairly nice desktop, but this is still around the price of a low-end laptop. If you had $1,200 - $1,400 you could get a fairly nice gaming laptop to meet your needs. Even still, laptops have a very limited set of options for upgradability. You can't replace GPU's, monitors options are limited, and CPU upgrades are limited. They are insanely costly to replace even simple things like DVD drives. On a desktop counterpart, a DVD drive runs you $40 for a high-end name brand part, but a laptop DVD drive would run you in the neighborhood of $200+ for the same specifications. (Blu-Ray/HD-DVD/DVD/CD combo drives for the desktop run around $230 for comparison.)

[Baron[CotC]]

You would find it very difficult to play CoD4 on a laptop that you only put 1K into. Sci and I put over 3K into her laptop almost a year ago now (? time flies) and it doesn't run CoD4 well. The experience has proven to me that when it comes to games Desktops are king and laptops aren't there yet. HOWEVER -- a 1k laptop would play WoW no prob.

[Crappy Pants]

Thanks for the replies. The more I read the more I think a laptop is probably not the best bang for the buck.

As for things up for discussion, we have enough parts to fill several systems so drives and monitors and mice and keyboards are not an issue. What I really needed the clarification on was the minimum specs.

As for hard drive space the last large drive I installed was an IDE drive I think so I know there have been some significant jumps since then. I'd rather get a system that has the ability to upgrade to the latest largest if it fits within my budget, otherwise an older tech with larger space would fit our needs.

Now the blue-ray versus regular DVD/CD/Whatever has me totally confused. We have a CDRW burner that works nicely, but while I'm at it I'd rather get a system I can add to as I cruise along, versus some static setup that I'll have to change out later. So initially no drive is needed but again that ability to upgrade is what I'm looking for.

So where do I start, a company like Dell or Gateway or do I just grab the parts myself. I am handy with a screwdriver, but with the kid have no time anymore for anything. Ideas?

[BD]

The upsides to a Dell or Gateway are that the LCD is usually included, the systems are relatively solid and you get a warranty to have someone who speaks farsi worry about it.

The downsides are the parts are not going to be performance parts at this pricepoint.

You can get into an entry level XPS 210 or 420 for a grand, stock options, no long term warranty. This machine most likely won't have the expandability you seek either. If you avoid the XPS (gaming line) and look at a Inspirion 530, you can get a fairly Decent setup for under a grand. This has an 8800 GT 256 card, Soundblaster, blueray and 300+ Sata Hard drive. If you skip the LCD, it puts you at a price for the warranty, if that's your thing.

[Crappy Pants]

I found this setup at Gateway:
http://www.gateway.com/systems/product/529667891.php

But I don't know about the graphics card if I can swap it out later for something else better. As for a monitor I have several laying around, so I can upgrade after a while to a better setup - this is a second system anyway.

If you folks had 1K and were going to buy a system where and what would you buy? Or better, how would you spend the 1K if you had all the other gadgets?

[Neophyte]

I found this setup at Gateway:
http://www.gateway.com/systems/product/529667891.php

But I don't know about the graphics card if I can swap it out later for something else better.

Build the system, save some money, and get the card now.

After a fast run through NewEgg, you're looking at a $931 computer if you build this identical computer yourself. ($1,050 if you want the full version of Office 2007.) And you will have a slew of graphics cards to pick form if you want to take that money and invest it into the computer now instead of later.

+ 76.26 Tax
+ 47.26 ship
OTD: $1,210.38

[Neophyte]

If you folks had 1K and were going to buy a system where and what would you buy? Or better, how would you spend the 1K if you had all the other gadgets?

Here's the direction that I would go in:
(Prices as found at New Egg)

Intel Core 2 Duo (Wolfdale) E8400 3.0 GHz CPU $199.99
ASUS P5K-E LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Motherboard $139.99
G.Skill 2GB (2X1GB) 240-pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $49.99
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 360 ATX ATX12V Power Supply $49.99
EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512 MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 (SLI-Ready) $189.99
Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600AAJS 160 GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0 Gb/s Hard Drive $47.99
LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model LH-20A1L-06 - Retail $32.99
COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 RC-534-KKN2-GP Case $52.99
Microsoft Mouse & Keyboard (Wired) USB combo $38.99
Windows Vista 64-bit Home Premium OEM $109.99

Subtotal: $912.90
Tax: $66.19
Ship: $43.99

Grand Total: $1,023.08

reasonings:
I would stay in a Core 2 Duo CPU right now. You'll use 1 core for most everything you do because software hasn't caught up to and isn't written for multi-core processors. Quad core are a waste of money because hardly any software can take advantage of 2 cores, let alone 4. Its smarter to get a 45nm Core 2 than the 65nm, save some cash, and bump up the processing speed. I didn't skimp on the CPU - you'll enjoy the speed.

The video card is also a no sacrifice card. Sure, there's better ones out there in the $300 - 600 price range, but in the resolutions that your existing monitors can support they all run about equal. It isn't until you start to draw a screen larger than 1440x960 that higher-dollar cards start to offer better performance.

Motherboards are very subjective. I like ASUS because they are on the front lines for technology and are fairly stable. They also overclock quite well. This particular one comes with all the connection options, and is reasonably priced.

The power supply is the best, and my favorite. I wouldn't substitute this brand, unless you want more power. Then look in the same brand name and look for higher power. Honestly, this computer would be hard to draw more than 220 watts fully built out. So I'm quite comfortable spec'ing a smaller 360 Watt. It's not SLI (2 video cards) rated, so if you do eventually upgrade to an SLI system this PSU will need to be upgraded as well. Again, this is one of those sacrifices to meet the budget.

Lite-on DVD drives are probably the best, besides Plextor. But you can't beat the price. This one has a SATA connector to help clean up the cable mess inside your case (which improves air flow) and is a retail package - which means that you'll get some basic burning software package with the drive.

Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit OEM is up for debate. I threw it in because, once you disable UAC, it's actually a really nice OS.

...after this point, I start to make sacrifices to fit your budget...

This memory wasn't my first pick. It was a sacrifice to make it into your budget. Honestly, memory would be the first thing that I upgrade in a new computer anyways. With your motherboard supporting up to 8 Gig RAM, this memory would eventually get tossed out before you use it's life up anyways.

Western Digital makes fairly reliable drives that offer good performance. This is a low-cost hard drive to fit into your budget.

Computer case is also subjective by style and function. I feel that this has both.

Mouse / keyboard, what can I say - click click click... They get the basic job done and these will last your a long time.

...so there you have it. I blew your budget a few dollars. Sorry about that, but you can probably make up the difference by renting a DVD or two instead of buying! This is a nice little gaming system, with a future ready look on life. I honestly think that you would be impressed with the performance of this computer.

[Baron[CotC]]

Neo's Build will play CoD4 very nicely

[Akira]

I just built my own system recently (few posts below)

Here's the end result, at a cost of approx. $1600 CAD:


2.4Ghz Quad Q6600 CPU
8Gb OCZ Platinum RAM
Samsung 250Gb SATA HDD (plus my two previous 80Gb drives)
Two GeForce 9600GT Superclocked vid cards, running SLI
Windows Vista Premium 64
Asus P5N-T Deluxe motherboard
LG DVD-RW SATA
Ultra X2 750W PSU, nice chrome plated one
Enermax Uber Chakra case
Acer 22" widescreen LCD monitor

Case I got for cheap, $50 on Ebay. Other than that, rest was bought at store pretty much in one shopping spree. lol

So, take away $100 if you don't need a new HDD, $130 away if no Windows needed, $100 away if sticking with 4Gb of RAM, $200 away if not doing SLI (such as getting a single 8800GT). $150 off if you don't need new monitor too.

[Crappy Pants]

If you folks had 1K and were going to buy a system where and what would you buy? Or better, how would you spend the 1K if you had all the other gadgets?

Here's the direction that I would go in:
(Prices as found at New Egg)

Intel Core 2 Duo (Wolfdale) E8400 3.0 GHz CPU $199.99
ASUS P5K-E LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Motherboard $139.99
G.Skill 2GB (2X1GB) 240-pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $49.99
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 360 ATX ATX12V Power Supply $49.99
EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512 MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 (SLI-Ready) $189.99
Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600AAJS 160 GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0 Gb/s Hard Drive $47.99
LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model LH-20A1L-06 - Retail $32.99
COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 RC-534-KKN2-GP Case $52.99
Microsoft Mouse & Keyboard (Wired) USB combo $38.99
Windows Vista 64-bit Home Premium OEM $109.99

First off, thank you everyone for helping, I really appreciate it.

Second, from this list I am guessing that I'd buy each component and then build them here from the ground up?

This would be the best bundle for the money and get the job done, but I am somewhat scared of hardware/software conflicts, or is this an ancient idea?

[Baron[CotC]]

Honestly everything is plug and play these days -- a monkey could do it... just go look at the Dell production floor...

[Neophyte]

Honestly everything is plug and play these days -- a monkey could do it... just go look at the Dell production floor...

ROFLMAO!!!!

Oh, man, that's so true. And Dell doesn't even want their monkey's to have to pick from upgrade components. I've heard that they want a limited set of upgrades, narrowing your selection to the few components that they got the best purchasing deal on.

CP - you don't have jumpers, IRQ settings, COM Ports... Any of that legacy to deal with now. Like Red said, plug and play. Even static electricity is less of a big deal than before. If you're paranoid (and I am when it's over my dollar spent) touch the components metal bag or the plastic container to the computer chassis before opening the bag. This will ensure that energy transfers, and that you and the components are static free before handling. The most difficult part of the entire build is installing the CPU heatsink. And that's just because you have to use actual muscles.

[Rico]

Couple of things:

1.) Plextor drive. I have NEVER had a Plextor drive failure, and they make the fewest coasters out of all the ones I've used. Lightscribe is cool, but you want a reliable drive, trust me.

2.) PC Power and Cooling PSUs are so much better than the others. My IT guy now does routine replacement of OEM PSUs with PCP&C PSUs. Neo turned me on to them, and now my IT guy is a believer.

Other than that, I gots nothing.

[BD]

I gots nothing.