Stephanie2008

Hi, again.

I'm not sure if I should continue in this thread or make a new one, but I think I've found someone who might be willing/able to build me a computer.

It seems buying one that has what I want/need would mean spending a lot of $$$ for a custom-ish build given I want XP, given Cyberpower is too scary to gamble with given my level of knowledge and the need to find a reliable company that can deliver something solid and ready to go.

From my limited knowledge, it seems there are two ways to go here:

1. Build a very basic but solid XP system that has the 8800 GT video card and good enough ram (2 MG?) that is not expandable, expecting it to hold me good for a few years. (This seems like a viable option given the technology seems to be on the cusp yet again of major, major changes not far down the pike)

2. Spend more money to get future expandability with the knowledge that it may end up being a waste of money depending on how the trends play out and how prices follow, i.e., SLI ready, etc.

As a reminder, I am basically wanting a 'good' gaming computer that I can play games that are not only recent, but have come out over the past years....without the frustration of, lag, fuzzy screens, lock ups, etc. (I haven't been able to play anything graphic on this computer for years and I'd love to play questish games like Black and White series, Icewind Dale, check out WoW finally). Other than that, just to do my internet/basic word processing/etc...

I will need a monitor. I will need to buy the OS. Keyboard (like the idea of it being under-lit with a dimmer) and mouse (I'm addicted to rollball mouses that don't require me to move the mouse around), though I can buy those separate. I'd like to get the little Bose speakers, again, that can be separate. But I need everything from scratch, basically.

As to the price range, that depends. I'm willing to go as high as I need to in order for the money to make sense and for me to end up with something solid without wasting my cash. I guess the price depends on whether I go with more option #1 or #2? I'm not sure what's reasonable here, but $1000'ish for option #1 and $1500'ish for option #2 sound right?

For cases, I'd like to go with something that is stylish and easy to clean, something that has good cooling and is quiet. I don't want something that looks like something a teen mega-gamer would be envied for (no offense, that's just not my niche). I don't want a huge case, but am willing to get one if I need it for future expandability and/or cooling. I've shopped a bit and been lurking around a bunch of places and I do like:

Antec P182 Gun Metal Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129025


I know I want the 8800GT card and I -think- 2 RAM should be enough for what I want?

Anyone want to take a stab at convincing me which way to go and mocking up a build for me?

I really appreciate your sound advice so far - and for steering me away from that scary, scary Cyberpower. I'm just not sophisticated enough to fight with them if there were to be problems...

Thanks again!

oscaryu1

2GB you mean.

Wait for the 45nm's.

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Pyrox920

Basically, the new Processors come out in a month or two (maybe sooner), and that's when your going to to want to buy it. Have you ever put together a shelf, using the instruction manual? Build a computer is no harder. The hardest part is deciding what to buy, and we're all willing to give you an exact list of what you need.

You should get a good computer now that you won't need to upgrade for a while. Get 2GB RAM and an 8800gt like you said, along with a new intel Quad-core when they come out, and don't worry about SLI. You can tell that everyone agrees, SLI sucks.

So just keep an eye on the forums and you'll see when the new processors come out (or do they already have a date?), then we will give you the exact items to order, then you will build it yourself using an online guide, such as this one.

Stephanie2008

You guys have way, way, WAY too much faith in me and are not necessarily comprehending the prefaced warning I gave at the beginning of this thread.

So, I really should wait for these new processors? Even if I am limping along on a very, very problematic computer? That's going to mean March/April, potentially, to have it running?

Also, Newegg won't ship my computer case to Alaska, where I live.

Is whining allowed? If not, just skip right past this next part.

I think I have now spent something like 80 hours trying to research and feel no closer to owning a computer. I cannot even seem to get the GB/MG/MB initials right yet *laugh*

oscaryu1

8 bits -> 1 Byte -> 1000 bytes -> 1 megabyte -> 1000 megabytes -> 1 gigabyte -> 1000 gigabytes -> 1 terabyte -> 1000 terabytes -> 1 petabyte (I think...)

Anyways, you don't need to know anything to build one.

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