Advise a Noob

[jdkirk904]

Mower,

 

I happen to be a senior, who has been around computers since 1993, but lacks the technical prowess to build my own computer. Thats why I joined this forum, so that I could get recommendations from people who are technically proficient, and not insults. Obviously you have some sort of personal vendetta against Dell or you wouldn't be saying things like that, but offering nothing but positive input (yes I see the above mention of Tiger).

 

So having said all I'm going to say about the subject anymore, I'd like to thank EthereaIN and StrongHarm for their assistance.

[Steel Jaw]

Dang Kirk, you have more class than me...I hate that. :D

 

Cheers, thanx for serving.

[Poor mans sniper]

Get a Gateway FX6831. I can run any game with this that I have without lag (I still don't have DCS: A-10C though). If this can run Bad Company 2 on max settings w/o lag, could it run A-10C on max settings?

[StrongHarm]

I started working on PCs .. officially.. after being a tech in Naval Aviation. I worked my way up very quickly to the lead tech at Gateway, then designer.. then left them for DBA/BusIntel stuff. During this entire time I didn't own one of their systems.. and I could have had one dirt cheap if not free. My systems were self built and much more powerful. Some people missed the transition where the manufacturers like Dell started paying only 30% cost, and increased their support and responsiveness to users greatly to push out competition. I agree that at one time building was the way.. I promise you that those days are gone.

 

Upon opening the case I came to find out that they had FILLED the open RAM slots with glue and physically REMOVED the 2nd IDE slot from the motherboard.

I can assure you that Dell doesn't do anything like this. They actually take pride in their work. All of my cables are nicely secured with reusable straps, the perm fixtures have a dab of hotglue on them as an added measure. There are extra fans (nice and quiet) and the case looks SWEET. Weighs alot.. but it looks like a 57Chevy and runs like a vet. I will say that they put some proprietary software on the system that I don't like, but all you have to do is format and reinstall clean windows as soon as you unbox it... works like a charm.

 

Get a Gateway FX6831.

Unless Gateway has changed in the last 4 years I would advise against using this company. I was there when they decided to start using subpar hardware and procedures. They were at one time such a great company.

 

Raid0 / SSD

I use a pair of Raptors in raid0 right now (stock from dell <cough>) that are extremely fast. I'm so excited about SSD that I can't sit still, but I really think transitioning now is premature. They will be launching much better SSD tech at a much cheaper price within the next two years.

[StrongHarm]

Example below:

-Take note that the processor alone in this system will cost you over $1200 on the standard market

-The two 1g vid cards will cost about $700

- With the cost of those two subsystems purchased individually we're approaching the full cost of the below referenced system with a long warranty, 64bit OS included, 6g RAM, Water Cooling unit and factory overclocking (warranty not voided by overclocking.. so they'll replace it if it burns up).. and basically all the parts other than the case and powersupply are standard manufacturer parts. Time have changed people.

 

 

XPS 730x - $2500

XPS 730x Desktop: Intel Core i7-965 Extreme (8M Cache, 3.20 GHz, 6.40 GT/s Intel QPI)

Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium

1 TB SATA II Hard Drive (7200RPM) 3.0Gb/s, 32MB Cache

6 GB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz (3 DIMMs)

Internal DVD-ROM, SATA

16X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability

SLi, Dual nVidia GeForce GTX 285 1024MB

 

[159th_Viper]

....I agree that at one time building was the way.. I promise you that those days are gone.....

 

Quite so.

 

With my current setup the system was cheaper pre-built from Overclockers than it was to purchase the individual components and build myself (amounted to a savings of appprox £200 all told from a bill of £1100).

[Georgio]

I built my first PC back in the early 90's when getting the components was a job in itself; I had to import a 17" Taxan monitor from the States as there were none in the UK at the time. It was funny as I was reliably informed by suppliers in the UK that 17" monitors didn't exist.

 

Anyways, I digress, since then I've built many computers for family, friends and work colleagues; I always got a kick out of bringing a new 'life' into the World :D

As I'm a designer I've used Macs for the past 15 years usually in parallel with my PC's for gaming, but since the advent of intel multi-cores,etc. and bootcamp I've been quite happy to ditch the PC and keep with the iMac for both work and play.

 

A10 runs reasonably ok on my iMac though my god it gets hot; I've jerry-rigged surplus processor heat-sinks along the top edge to try and dissipate some of the heat.

The newer i5/i7 cores will obviously win out but atm in the UK they're running at about £2k which is a big hole to burn.

So my point is that 'if' someone has a decent iMac and limited budget, try installing windows on bootcamp and give A10 a try, you might be pleasantly surprised.

 

(Saying that I'm tempted by an i7 Alienware...maybe Christmas will be kind to me)

[jdkirk904]

Crap, looks like I'm going to have to put the new comp on hold until after Christmas. Wife getting nervous about the communist tax invasion by Obama.

Edited November 24, 2010 by jdkirk904

[jdkirk904]

Crap, looks like I'm going to have to put the new comp on hold until after Christmas. Wife getting nervous about the communist tax invasion by Obama.

 

Man oh Man oh Man, the wife just told me to order the computer:

 

Alienware Aurora Desktop

 

Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit

 

Intel Core i7 960 Quad Core Processor (3.2 GHz, 8MB Cache)

 

6GB Triple Channel 1333Mhz DDR3

 

Alienware TactX Keyboard

 

Alienware TactX Mouse

 

23.0" Alienware AW2310 OptX Full HD Gaming Monitor, 3D capable

 

Dual 1GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460-SLI Enabled

 

500GB-SATA-II, 3Gb/s, 7,200RPM, 16MB Cache HDD

 

Single Drive: Blu-ray Disc (BD) Combo (Reads BD and Writes to DVD/CD)

 

Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio

 

High Performance Liquid Cooling

 

What say Ye?

[NotiA10]

Man oh Man oh Man, the wife just told me to order the computer:

 

What say Ye?

 

 

specs sound good to me. ahh and by the way, if your boss has told you to go and order the computer, i wouldn't waste any more time. :thumbup:

 

wbr,

Noti

[Silent Warrior]

Eh... Wantz one myself... Student-life's a b... bore some times, innit?