You there, the computer geeks!

[The_Real_Crunk]

Gonna be selling my laptop to my dad soon, so Im shopping around for desktop PC stuff. I want it to be somewhat of a gaming rig, but I dont really have the money to go all out on it.

Stopped by futureshop today. They have some nice setups there, but they are over the $1000 mark. I asked if they had any floor models they took off the shelves and the guy got all anal with me. Probably because he figured I knew what I was looking for and didnt need him to help me, so he wouldnt get a big fat commision on my sale.

They had a nice one for $799, and all it really needed was a good video card. I checked those out too.

I came down to two choices. Only a $10 difference. Which ones better?

Geforce 5500 256mb $199
Geforce 6200 256mb $209

Also went to some "hole in the wall" PC place called Sneakers Computers. They have a two okay looking systems. They have some flyers with different setups on them. They have a gaming machine, but its $1300. Loaded out the ying yang with power, but I didnt take the flyer for it.

Starter System-$499
ASUS mainboard, fully featured
AMD 2800+ Sempron 64bit 754 processor
512mb DDR PC3200 400MHz Memory
80gig 7200rpm S-ATA HD
52x32x52 CD/DVD burner drive
Integrated 3D video with available AGPslot for future expansion
AC '97 Stereo sound
10/100 LAN/Ethernet/Network adapter
17" tower case with 350 watt power supply
2 front USB 2.0 ports, 4 back USB2.0 ports
Windows XP Home, with CD and License(Futureshop doesnt give you your XP disc when you buy a PC)

Power System-$759
ASUS P5S800-VM Mainboard, Fully Featured
Intel630J 775 64bit 3.0e Processor
1x1024 MB DDR PC3200 400MHz memory
160GB 7200RPM S-ATA HD
16x Dual Layer +/- RW DVD burner
Onboard AC-97 Stereo Sound
Onboard Graphics with AGP slot for future upgrades
10/100 LAN/Ethernet/Network Adapter
17" tower case with 350 watt power supply
2 front USB 2.0 ports, 4 back USB2.0 ports
Windows XP Home, with CD and License

They will throw in a 17" LCD screen for $279, and a Keyboard, mouse, and speakers package for $59.If you buy the Tower, Screen, and Keyboard package they aso give you a 3 year warrenty for free. Future shop charges about $300 for a 3 year warrenty.

Im still learning what alot of this stuff is. Id like to eventually be able to walk into a store and know what the hell everything is, and whats a ripoff and whats not.

I just wanna hear your techno savy opinions on these. Ill post more info when I find more places to buy from. All these prices are in canadian too, just so you know.

Im also browsing around Newegg.com for things too.

[JLaCroix]

Re: You there, the computer geeks!

Do you want a laptop or PC?

If PC, I say build it, it's cheaper, however not everyone can do that.

One thing you should consider is the cost of Windows. Do you already have a Windows license? If so, why buy another one? If you have a Windows CD not installed anywhere, you should opt for no OS to be installed to get the cost lowered dramatically.

Without the Monitor, you shouldn't spend more than $500 if you build it yourself, or $600 if you purchase one. Keep in mind, if you buy one prebuilt, you may be paying extra for things you won't use.

For the Nvidia cards you posted, what are the clock speeds? Get the one with at least 256MB of Vram and the higher clock speed. Also, make sure the video cards you posted are compatible with the latest Directx. The prices you listed are still steep, I bought my 256MB Nvidia for $75.

[Alex]

Re: You there, the computer geeks!

This PC business is crazy stuff.

So many words.

[thetruecoolness]

Re: You there, the computer geeks!

For the video card go with the 6600 series, I'm pretty sure NVidia added in some new extensions to that card so newer games might require them, and plus since it's only $10 more might as well go for it. As they change series they usually add in a lot of nice features not in the old one which may make old games perform better and might be required for new games.

I agree with JLACroix about the building systems, but of course I get free windows through my school so I also don't have to worry about that, and have built all my computers and a couple for other people, though if you go with newegg (or probably any other hardware place) you can usually get a $50 or more discount on windows if you purchase it with hardware (it won't have the fancy box and manual but who needs those, I don't think I know anyone who has actually read a windows manual but you will have the cd).

For the systems you mentioned I would stay away from both of them as they are serious wastes of money (reason for the first Socket 754 will be abandoned soon in favor of 939 so no upgrade potenetial, and no video card, also no DVD burner (those are like $35 now) and the hard drive is a bit small, the second for similar reasons and because it's Intel so if you want gaming performance you should get AMD though it doesn't beat Intel on everything gaming is one area where it consistently beats Intel). Also when you buy these computers you have no idea the quality of your RAM or other components, and most motherboards come with gigabit ethernet build in (though you won't need this unless you have a crossover cable, since internet is still not up to 10Mb/s yet, and you would have to have a gigabit router to take advantage of it with your home network). You can get 17" Lcd (make that 19") monitors for less than $250 now, keyboard mouse are at most $20 if you don't care about having fancy ones. The power system you could probably get for $500 or less buying the parts seperately, including Windows in the cost. Plus building a computer isn't too hard now, only tough parts are setting jumper correctly, setting up your bios though that isn't usually required, and seating the heatsink on the processor.

If you tell me what you want and your budget I can get you something going on newegg and send you the list. Just give me a couple of days as it is finals week for me.

[Riotsword]

Re: You there, the computer geeks!

Trying to read the computer jargon =

[Alex]

Re: You there, the computer geeks!

[Snarf]

Re: You there, the computer geeks!

I have always gone with Intel/ATI but I dont play any FPSs. I prefer the ATI card for RPGs because of the color, detail and how landscapes look.

If youre going to play FPSs, I would go with AMD/nVidia.

[JLaCroix]

Re: You there, the computer geeks!

AMD/NVidia all the way. If you are into graphic design and not gaming get ATI, but beware of their drivers. Gaming is Nvidia, thats what I think, anyway. My games run VERY well on my machine.

[Smurf Taco]

Re: You there, the computer geeks!

Stopped by futureshop today.

First step, get the hell out of Canada.

Damn, I remember when Canada was second best to America. Now America is the poor man's Canada. Damn that Bush administration.

[Funk]

Re: You there, the computer geeks!

I'll stay out of Canada if you take Tim Horton's back.

[Jamos' Old Account]

Re: You there, the computer geeks!

Trying to read the computer jargon =

I think this is what Crunk is trying to say: "Computer run goooood, remember much, and burn flat wheel thing."
Of course, I have been wrong before.

[JLaCroix]

Re: You there, the computer geeks!

And by all means get a good TV Tuner card. (Non ATI). TV Tuner Cards **** own. Seriously. Everybody should have one.

[Snarf]

Re: You there, the computer geeks!

So tell me, JLa, when was the last time you gamed with an ATI?

I have never had any problem that nVidia people talk about. Never a driver problem and never any lag or artifacts. Maybe there were problems with early ATI cards but I would say that past 5 years or so, ATI cards surpass nVidia at richness and colors.

If your looking at sheer FPS benchmarks, yeah, go with nVidia.