Hey there, here is a call out to all geeks.

I am looking for my next desktop computer.

I want something that will not be old by the time it gets to my house.

I would like Hyperthreading.

3+gig CPU, and it MUST have Matching Ram!

A good chip package would be nice.

What would you get?

how much are you willing to spend, & what are you going to be using it for?

evenstar3 said:

I would like to cap the price at about 1300 without a monotor.

I would like a good video editing computer, that could also play basic PC games, nothing to detailed.

"Ok so video editing = dual core processor. The amd 64x2 is the highest performance cpu,they start around $299 for the 3800+. As far as your Hyper Threading & clock speed concrns neither of these will be a factor in the performance of the computer any longer. Clock speed is not a measure of performance for a cpu and hyperthreading is old technology (used to simulate proccessing with two cores, which is the point of dual core proccessors).

For the graphics card atleast 7600 or x1600 gpu, although I reccommend going for 7900gt or x1800 (these go for about $300 starting).

An SLI mother board is probably the best way to go for upgrades/expansion in the future. Which might be why nvidia is the best way to go as far as the gpu. Asrock has a very nice sli mother board for about $82, it supports the full 32 lane pci-express and has sata raid. This mother board also has a cpu expansion slot (for the release of AM2)

As far as ram goes standard ddr is required. Gskill has 1gb sticks starting at about $80. 1gb should start you off just fine. Getting 1gb sticks will save you money on upgardes later on.

Any standard Harddrive will work fine.
Any atx case is fine.

NewEgg.com is the best place to buy your hardware (awesome customer service & best prices)

Now if all of this is too much (ie you dont feel like building a computer yourself such as evenstar has just pointed out to me) then walk into your local best buy & take a look at the Gateway or Hewlett-Packard computers. The m7470n (HP), gm5072, gt5058, or gt5056 (Gateways) will all work for you just as well (and save you some trouble). Even on pre-built systems the graphics cards listed are still reccommended"

-says my boyfriend, the computer salesman/junkie. hope that helps.

For a good while I was totally that a girl could ever know so much about computers.




Oh, Oh!

PANDURITO said:

I know more than most girls, but not anywhere near THAT much.

Case (silver) : http://www.newegg.com/Pro...6811129154
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Pro...6813131568
Athalone 64 (3500) : http://www.newegg.com/Pro...6819103514
Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Pro...6820227210
Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Pro...6814150130 (if you want a more powerful one, go with the latest ATI cards)
Options (if you don't already have them)
Hard Drive (250 gig) : http://www.newegg.com/Pro...6822144701
Pim ass cooling fan: http://www.newegg.com/Pro...6835118223

I'm pretty sure you're using a PCI nic or a USB wireless Nic of somekind, so you can just canabolize that for the new system.

I really didn't want to have to build a system.

I am sure I could build a syster, but I understand that is an adictive process.

I have a wireless card. They are cheep enough that I would just get a new one.

MickG said:

I was just trying to impress you.

Imago said:

evenstar did a better job.

But thanks

andykeen said:

You need to check the links before posting them I went there and got this.

MickG said:

Build your own. Need help? orgnote me.

Imago said:

Oh I have thought about the G10s.

Imago said:

I just knew some Mac nerd would come on here at some point.

evenstar3 said:

Holy fuck, you know your shit like me.

Oh wait, your bf told you that [/turnedon]

Tell your boyfriend that he shouldn't recommend those cards since at the end of this year the DirectX 10 Graphics cards come out that will put those (very expensive) cards that are currently top of the range to shame. Buy a very cheap graphics card and settle for less until the end of the year when the new stuff is available.
[Edited 4/3/06 16:51pm]

Also do note that, as you say, computer building is incredibly addictive. This is why I bought a shuttle - they're so small it's hard to upgrade, so you end out buying the best of everything and leaving it futureproof for a good year at least.
[Edited 4/3/06 16:54pm]

http://www.alienware.com/

MickG said:

I looked at their cases a few months back, sooo beauitful

andykeen said:

Go wash your mouth out, bitch. They're the size of a shoebox; you can hold them with one arm and juggle they're so small.
Plus mine is the sexiest model

MickG said:

overpriced garbage. Save yourself 3 grand and build one yourself - you can buy immitate alienware cases if you're adament about the look.

Spookymuffin said:

lol Only my opinion sir , my desktop is a beauty and a beast, but each to their own

andykeen said:

I used to have a hideous monster with see-through sides and 12 fans with neon lights. horrible and noisy.

Spookymuffin said:

lol my best mate just brought a case just like that,lol he lives with me now and i can hear that piece of shit through the floor boards lol made it himself, but dont compare to my new system

Spookymuffin said:

I hear what you are saying, and on most levels I agree. However alenware, from what I understand is far from "junk". They use top quality components, this might lead to their products seemingly "over-priced", and I am sure I could "build" the system for less, but it isn't about the stylistic case. It is about my time being money. I would rather just be able to buy the system outright. I know someday I have to build a system, but I don't really want to worry about seprate pieces and their compatabilities right now.

MickG said:

They used to, and I was gonna get one, but they got bought by Dell which means they now use Dell "high" quality components - you can't trust them anymore. The best are small specialised companies if you don't want to build yourself, such as Savrow.