Buying New Desktop. Need Help Urgently

swashbucklord

New Member
Hi all. I'm new to these forums and I am hoping to get some help.
I've decided to get a powerful desktop PC, but I have a lot of questions. If you can answer any of them it would be of great help.
I don't know much about computers and I have had a MAC for the last two years, so please tolerate my ignorance. Here is my situation:
My price range is essentially $1000 - $2000. My priorities (as far as I can see now) are lots of space, music storage, gaming, and storing notes for college. I am not quite sure what a priority list of someone more educated in computer technology would look like (I am not sure if I even wholly understand the capacity of what computers are capable of). For this reason I also ask that you list some of you own high priorities in computers. Here are my questions:

1. What, in your opinion, is the best PC or deal I could purchase?
2. Would it be cheaper to build my own computer from seperate pieces? (I am confident that I could successfully put together a computer with detailed instructions) (ALSO I have 4 friends who are computer experts who have built their own and will help me)
3. What brand do you like most? (If you believe some brands do certain things better, then list the brands and their respective qualities)
4. If I were to build my own, what specific parts and pieces do you think I should purchase to build a quality machine within my price range?

Thank you all so much in advance. I also ask that if you have any advice or information that happens to not fit into my 4 questions, please list it.
Again, my thanks.
 
Last edited:
Go for it! Build it yourself!! :)

It will save you a good amount of money building it yourself, AND you get to pick exactly what you want, make it look the way you want, and you get a better understanding of how the computer is built and how it works, which helps later on when you replace or upgrade some parts.

If you have the help, definatly go for it, and there are always tons of people on here willing to help you with any questions or concerns, and there are some great "How To's" on here as far as how to build it and whatnot.

Here is what I would suggest as far as parts :) :

Pick your own case so it's more "your style", but post the ones you like on here and the more experienced people on here will let you know if it's good or bad as far as airflow or quality. Same goes for Keyboard/Mouse

What kind of gaming will you be doing?

Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128089

CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115018

CPU Cooler:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118019

GPU: (get 2 for CrossFire if your playing games like Crysis or even CoD4)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103050

PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341002

RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220315

HDD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288

Sound Card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102006

OS:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488

Optical Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151153

thats around 1200 without a monitor, keyboard, mouse or case. :)

Good Luck,
Mike
 
Hi all. I'm new to these forums and I am hoping to get some help.
I've decided to get a powerful desktop PC, but I have a lot of questions. If you can answer any of them it would be of great help.
I don't know much about computers and I have had a MAC for the last two years, so please tolerate my ignorance. Here is my situation:
My price range is essentially $1000 - $2000. My priorities (as far as I can see now) are lots of space, music storage, gaming, and storing notes for college. I am not quite sure what a priority list of someone more educated in computer technology would look like (I am not sure if I even wholly understand the capacity of what computers are capable of). For this reason I also ask that you list some of you own high priorities in computers. Here are my questions:

1. What, in your opinion, is the best PC or deal I could purchase?
2. Would it be cheaper to build my own computer from seperate pieces? (I am confident that I could successfully put together a computer with detailed instructions) (ALSO I have 4 friends who are computer experts who have built their own and will help me)
3. What brand do you like most? (If you believe some brands do certain things better, then list the brands and their respective qualities)
4. If I were to build my own, what specific parts and pieces do you think I should purchase to build a quality machine within my price range?

Thank you all so much in advance. I also ask that if you have any advice or information that happens to not fit into my 4 questions, please list it.
Again, my thanks.


1. - Not Sure, would have to do some research
2. - Build your own!
3. - HP, Acer
4. - As below.

Go for it! Build it yourself!! :)

It will save you a good amount of money building it yourself, AND you get to pick exactly what you want, make it look the way you want, and you get a better understanding of how the computer is built and how it works, which helps later on when you replace or upgrade some parts.

If you have the help, definatly go for it, and there are always tons of people on here willing to help you with any questions or concerns, and there are some great "How To's" on here as far as how to build it and whatnot.

Here is what I would suggest as far as parts :) :

Pick your own case so it's more "your style", but post the ones you like on here and the more experienced people on here will let you know if it's good or bad as far as airflow or quality. Same goes for Keyboard/Mouse

What kind of gaming will you be doing?

Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128089

CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115018

CPU Cooler:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118019

GPU: (get 2 for CrossFire if your playing games like Crysis or even CoD4)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103050

PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341002

RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220315

HDD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288

Sound Card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102006

OS:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488

Optical Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151153

thats around 1200 without a monitor, keyboard, mouse or case. :)

Good Luck,
Mike

Nice recommendation, good parts.
 
I just bought an HP AMD Athlon™ Desktop 2.80GHz, 640GB HD, 4GB MEMORY, 22" LCD.

I paid $947 from Sams. I don't game but I do 3d grahics and it works fine for my needs.
 
Oscary's list looks pretty good, of course the case is your choice. Only thing I would change for sure is getting a Sata 3.0 dvd burner, not an IDE one.
 
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