Im thinking of getting a new PC soon as my current one is getting ancient..Im willing to spend bout 3000-3500 Canadian (thats all i got lol)What do you guys think I should get..? Oh and I have no clue as to how to build a computer and no clue how to overclock..So would want to buy it.. This Dell Dimension XPS looks not too bad for $3500 Canadian -Pentium 4 3.4GHz w/800MHz FSB, HT Technology (I know the AMD 64 ones are faster) -1GB Dual Channel DDR SDRAM at 400MHz -160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) -8x DVD+RW Drive (Burns CDs 32x) -16x DVD-ROM -256MB DDR ATi RADEON 9800 XT -Sound Blaster Audigy 2 So what should I be going for here, with specified price range, similar/better specs to the xps
Hey $3,000 - $3,500 Canadian (about the same in AUD) is plenty for a New Computer. I wouldnt touch a Pre-built computer from Dell, Compaq, HP etc... with a 10 foot pole. I have been building my computers for several years aswell as for other people. It works out alot cheaper and u can get it to wat the customer wants. Your best bet is 2 go down to ur local small comptuer shop and give them a rough idea you want and get prices. Praetor is in Canada... You might be near him, he could built u a sweet computer for that amount, im sure. That computer does sound like a sweet comptuer, but my personal preference is not with a computer from large companies like that as they give u all crap shit and its never to the specifications you want. I could build basically the same as you said below for $1800 (Tower Only) or $3,200 with 19" LCD, Wireless Keyboard/Optical Mouse, 7.1 Speakers... And Still have Change. The only good thing really about the packages you get software... But they throw is crappy OEM stuff that they would get as cheap as... Regards CoZZa
Madskillz, nice proposed specs although you forgot the mobo in any case, here's something to worth with: CPU Intel NorthwoodC p4-3. 4 ($630 CAD) MOBO ASUS p4c800 deluxe ($250 CAD) A solid canterwood board, the asus boards offer the most performance (by a non-trivial margin) of all the Canterwood boards). http://usa.asus.com/products/mb/socket478/p4c800-d/overview.htm MEMORY ocz pc3700eb platinum 3-[2-3]-2-8 ($550 CAD) although i'm traditionally a corsair guy, this is some very nice memory indeed. http://www.ocztechnology.com/produc...3700_Platinum_Enhanced_Bandwidth_Dual_Channel OPTICAL Plextor px712as ($300 CAD) I dont know why you would want to burn at 32x .... Cds are just not reliable after 24x (some would argue 16x) ot to mention burning copy-protected backups is a pain in the arse to do that fast. In either case, I dont know of a single dvdburner, +, - or both that does 32x. Which is why I reccomend this one since its of the few 2-sheep rated dvd burners on the market -- and exceeds the spec without busting your budget. Http://www. Plextor. Com/english/products/712sa. Htm Pioneer DVD120 ($35 CAD) your run of the mill, basic dvdrom. Nothing special here. http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/product/detail/0,,2076_17573129_2000827,00.html VIDEO ATI Radeon 9800xt 256mb ($650 CAD) a solid card in all respects. Shouldnt be a dissapointment. http://usa.asus.com/products/vga/r9800xt/overview.htm SOUND Soundblaster Audigy 2 ZA Platinum Pro ($300 CAD) a very sweet soundcard especially with the breakout box and remote control. Http://www. Soundblaster. Com/products/audigy2zs_platinum_pro/ HDD Hitatchi Desktar 160GB 7K250 ($190) A sweet drive by arguably the best harddrive manufacturer in the world. Doesnt get much better. http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/desk/7k250.html HSF Thermaltake DIY Tower112 ($80 CAD) an excellent cooler, you can either rig this up with two volcanos for extreme cooling or two silentboosts for quiet cooling. Http://www. Thermaltake. Com/coolers/combocool/cl-p0024tower112/cl-p0024tower112. PSU DiabloTek 550W ($85 CAD) 550 watts .... two massive fans (not often do you find a full sized 80mm fan in PSUs, often they are low profile). Premodded. http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=541436&Sku=D15-1000 COOLING Vantec Vortex ($50 CAD) I picked this over the Thermaltake because it has a much sleeker, less "teenybopper" kinda look to it and that it has a crossflow blower. http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicati...tails.asp?EdpNo=674609&Sku=V13-1000&CatId=495 CHASSIS Chemning 601AE ($100 CAD) A very common tower for a good reason (and you'll have the hardware to boot). Comes with a 400W PSU although I dont know the make of it so you may or may not want to get the DiabloTek PSU. http://www.chenming.com/601ae/601ael.htm NET COST $3220 before taxes, $3703 after taxes. Ok so I breached the $3500 upper ceiling but I spec'd out a far superior system and you can easily drop the price by dropping the DiabloTek PSU and/or not getting the absolute top of the line soundcard (not to mention i spec'd MORE than you did )
That looks sweet and all but I havent the clue as to how to build a computer.. So how would I be able to get something like you just said?
Hmmmm that would be a problem now wouldnt it? If you have some computer buddies who wouldnt mind building you one free of charge that would prolly be best but worst case, find yourself a small computer store somewhere (ones where the prices are already cash discounted) and get to a decent working relationship with the fellow and they prolly wont charge so much for assembly. Alternatively you could try building it yourself... like I said before, get a working relationship with some computer store and buy all or most of the parts there (its important that you buy the case, mobo, proc, and hsf from the same store) ... you can then prolly ask them to install the CPU/HSF/MOBO for you and you might even be able to get them to mount the mobo on the case for you. For most people, those are the hardest/most-intimidaying things about building a comp so that might work. Worst case, get them to assemble the system for you. Most of them wont mind too much since you just dropped a ton of case on their doorstep. (If you're anywhere Waterloo, ON I might be able to help ya out for a fee )
Smartass I noted that you didnt either.... the reason I didnt mention it is because it is standard, when spec'ing a tower to spec' the tower, not extra crap because a lot of the time the extra crap is highly dependant on personal preferences (i.e., Logitech vs Microsoft, Logitech vs Klipsche, Samsung & Viewsonic vs Sony -- although I dont know why anyone would want the Sony). Here would by my pic: KEYBOARD & MOUSE Logitech Cordless MX Duo ($120 CAD) Ive got the Logitech Elite Duo and am quite happy with it except for one thing -- the battery in the mouse doesnt last very long. Because of that folly, they fixed it (as well as improved the sensor to provide 800dpi tracking) by adding the charger for the mouse. The keyboard lasts quite some time so it shouldnt be a problem .http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/CA/EN,CRID=1,CONTENTID=6831 SPEAKERS Logitech Z-680 ($420 CAD) If you've got the money or your landlord lets you, get these speakers: absolutely superb is how I would describe them. Whether you are playing games, watching a movie or just listening to music, these speakers will not dissapoint. http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/CA/EN,CRID=2,CONTENTID=5048 Logitech Z-640 ($90 CAD) If you can afford the ultra fancy 680s these speakers are also quite impressive. I enjoy both of them very much however I think the 640 gives more bang per buck. http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/CA/EN,CRID=2,CONTENTID=5047
I live in Coquitlam, right near Vancouver cozza.. what parts would you have in that system for 1800 or 3200 ?
Huh? There isnt a lot of "variety" or (detailed information for that matter) there _X_X_X_X_X_[small]ASUS A7N8X-X, XP2500+ OC'd to XP3200+ Samsung 1024MB, PC2700 OC'd to PC3200 480GB [3x160GB, 7200, 8MB] EVGA, GeForce4 Ti4600 128MB Rules and Policies: http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/2487[/small]
I gotta say you should go with an amd 64 fx 53 it beats the hell out of intels in the benchmarks and though I only have the 3200+ I love it ..really fast ...who knows though maybe I'm bias
1. LOL I wont get into an Intel/AMD pissing contest although I personally favour AMD. 2. I'll say it again -- MadSkillz doesnt have to get an FX53 -- if the guy wants a P4 then he wants a P4. Simple as that. c7015: Lets not forget that Intel also beats the hell out of the AMD in benchmarks too -- just like the AMD/nVidia debate, each product has its strong points as well as its weak points.
