no time to build a tower.. need to buy a good one asap..

M

MissTina

New Member
I need a good reliable tower for media work.. for music edits, pix edits, movie edits, artwork, animations.. runs cool and quiet, for under $500.
Am looking for a small sturdy tower that lasts and lasts, that doesn't have a bad rep...
about 6 to 8 gig ram, about 300 to 500 gig hd.

Plan is to delete the existing Windows OS, by running it through DBAN, then fill the hd up with ten top of the line Linux OS's.. Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, ArtistX, Debian, etc...

What's the best tower in this price range?

I checked out Apple deeply, but it seems Apple is now just an overly expensive PC with generic components like most of them these days. Nix for Apple.

Sony is way too expensive.

Acer seems to be the pits.

I don't know what to think of Dell yet..?

Ohhh I don't know..? I've been surfing till my mouse clicking finger has a cramp, my eyes are blurry, and my bum is sore as hell, and I still haven't found a good tower..

I run a search by keying the towers particulars, and add "is crap" to it, which pretty much gives me an up to date consumer's report.. I add "is the best", and I get nothing..

How do you pick a good tower from the hundreds out there..?
 
Why can't you build one? once you get the parts it would take like 30 mins to assemble then just install the OS's. But if you built your own it would kick anything else's ass.
 
You are oh so right.. I will build one as soon as I can locate the necessary compatible state of the art components.. but way out here in the stixs there isn't anywhere to buy good components, and no time to research component compatibilities..

This tower is for my 88 year old mum.. She needs a good computer for her "save the world" hobby, and for her inventing "new crystallographic math formulas and mind-geometrics"...

Couldn't find a price on the "eMachines ET1810-03"..? Do you happen to know the best price?.. Reads like it's a good machine.. I'm checking out consumer chatter on it.. The fact that it's out of stock says something...

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oops.. this report doesn't go well... http://reviews.cnet.com/desktops/emachines-et1810-03/4505-3118_7-33709100.html
 
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I wouldn't buy emachine, dell and arus are about the best for prebuilts, the customer support is the main issue, this thing, the power supply went out, and they wanted 200 plus shipping to repair it, luckily i had a cheap-o one laying around so it got fixed for 35 with a higher watt, probably higher quality psu.
 
Its for her mother who is 88,my mother also has a e-machine and has been working for many years,she plays games on it just fine,i upgraded her memory and upgraded her videeo card,she plays hidden object games and adventure games.

I am my mother's computer suport

walmart also has other cheap copmuters besides e-machines,they also have dell and hp and others.
 
jonnyp11 said:
I wouldn't buy emachine, dell and arus are about the best for prebuilts, the customer support is the main issue, this thing, the power supply went out, and they wanted 200 plus shipping to repair it, luckily i had a cheap-o one laying around so it got fixed for 35 with a higher watt, probably higher quality psu.
Click to expand...


I'm not sure which.. Dell or Asus.. but Asus is looking pretty good.. BUT the computer wizard at Staples tells me he runs an Asus 8 gig ram, and wouldn't run anything else less.. but he says that "if I go for an Asus $500ish unit, I would need to replace the low-end graphics card with a good one, which would require me to change the PS to a higher wattage unit".. I wonders what dollars we're talking..?

Me mum is a scientist in her own right.. She's in process of writing and publishing a save the world book, and needs a good tower to do up the illustrations.. She really needs a good PC.. Seems Asus is probably it.. unless Dell proves to be better, but I'm doubting it...

Ideally would be if a gamer wanted to update his or her games Asus, and sold the old good one to me... I figures the minimum is: 8g ram, 500g hd, min. 300-W PS, silent fans, and no tobacco and coffee stains on the covers.. for a couple hundred plus shipping... It hard to decide on new or used.. It's hard trying to find an honest seller.. You never know you got stung till you feel the stinger wiggling deep inside.. then it's generally too late.. like the time I picked up an old mother-board in the shed, and had accidentally trapped a large centipede between my finger and the wood... HoTDAM!@ You really really know you've been stung... but when a sharpie $stings a poor folk, it hurts ever worse.. Me thinks I just convinced myself to go new...

Now I needs to find out which Asus be the right one.. and what are the recommended graphics board and power supply replacements..??

I looked in ebay.. I didn't get a good feeling about what I saw on towers there... Those advert-blerbs made me feel like someone was trying to push their wrecks off on easy marks.. Some of what they're selling, I found in the computer library's garbage for free..
I suppose the best route is go new, unless there is such a thing as an honest used equipment seller who is selling good stuff... I never met one, but I sure have been stung a lot by "centepeeples"...


What's the best mid range new Asus..? and what might I expect in a deal on a high end used Asus..?
 
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honestly, if you need a proper GPU, you will be better off spending the 30-45 minutes to build one. The outcome will be far better than adding a GPU to a prebuilt Asus unit.

There is always the option to go to a brick and mortar store and have them build for you. That may be a good option.
 
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Originally Posted by Old93junk View Post
"Yea tho I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no zombie, as uncle Kalashnikov and his almighty AK-47 are at my side."
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Originally Posted by apj101 View Post
You're right Punk.....teletubbies can certainly dodge bullets"


_________________________________


"I heard that Plato captured irritating zombies, and sent them adrift in space in 3-foot by 3-foot by 5-foot inescapable cages.. Bullets don't harm zombies.. only love wipes them out from the core...

My brother dodged bullets three times... I'm a good dodger too...
Death is my best friend I've yet to meet.. Death is my ticket out of hell.. and most folks ticket to it...

_________________________________


It seems "building it" is the best way to go..
What components do you suggest?..
Is building more expensive than prebuilt?..
How do you know there aren't conflicts between components?..
I'm reading in forums a lot of troubles by builders who have picked state of the art almost everything, but fell off when they had to settle for not so state of the art bits, because there just aren't state of the art in some crucial things... I'm supposing the troubles happen when voltages and grounds aren't perfectly matched between components..?
 
We recomend compatible parts from trustworthy brands all the time, all day every day (except right now as it's getting late and i got school). Will post a build tomorrow, but wolfe prob has one half made now.
 
"untill i get the money for my build, gunna be while b4 this changes. "

_________________________


..is the usual biggest prob in building anything, especially for us poor folks...
 
ok, I will start a list here, and you can play around with it. Assuming she is not needing a bunch of hardcore computing power here also.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078 (CPU)
- This is as powerful as a quad core AMD and has the ability to over double the processing power by getting a 2500k and overclocking it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233 (case)
- Features for the price this is hands down the best option. Great cable management, which is good.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271 (Motherboard)
-Good brand, looks decent, Z68. Should be fine for everything she needs.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145345 (RAM)
-Reliable brand, cost effective, Heatsink, and 1600 MHz, not going to get much better.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148834 (HDD)
-2TB is a bunch of space, but in price to GB of storage it is 1/2 as expensive as a 1TB drive. Well, 1TB is .11 a GB while the 2TB is .06 a GB. And it is only 15 more for double the space.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130623 (GPU)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028 (PSU)
- Good quality brand, more power than you will ever need i think (jonny can double check that), and the least expensive quality unity for this wattage.

You still need windows and a DVD drive, but I think everything else is here.
 
Much thanks young prince..
May you find gold, rushes, and deep laughter on your next stroll in the forest..

This week I'm off to the big city to compare prices, and check availability, on these wicked components... I still can't bring myself to buy off the Net.. I just don't trust it.. but paypal seems to make a good offer.. Seems paypal filters out the evil gold-fevered ah's & the mindless bully kooks, plus they gives the buyer some reasonable security and guarantees.. Seems like it's a "retail money insurance company"... Is paypal the best way to buy on the Net?..
 
The best way to deal on the net is a multi sided security plan.

1. Responsible company. Depending on what you are buying is where to go for good companies. Like Rock Auto if you are looking for For parts, LMC for older trucks, Newegg or Tigerdirect for computer parts, walmart for just about anything. If a company is reliable, it will have a BBB rating, or you will see large followings of buyers.
2. Paypal. This adds some security to the purchase, but there is still some risk.

Pretty much if you take the time to buy from trusted retailers online, you will save money, and be just as safe as buying in store.

If you buy from a retailer, you can vary some, but be sure to get quality components.
PSU: Anetc, Corsiar, NZXT, OCZ, PC Power and Cooling, Seasonic, Silverstone, or XFX ONLY.
HDD: Western Digital or Segate.
RAM: Kingston, Patriot, Gskill, Mushkin, Corsair, or Geil are good brands.
CPU: I would stick with a socket 1155 Intel, as they are the best performers around currently.
 
MissTina said:
I still can't bring myself to buy off the Net.. I just don't trust it..
Click to expand...
If you buy from Newegg or any other reputable seller such as TigerDirect or NCIX you'll be fine. You'll most likely save money by buying on the internet too.

I like the look of Wolfe's build, it's a nice spec and yes the i3 2100 is more than enough. I used one in a PC used primarily for Microsoft Flight Simuklator X and paired with the GTX 560 Ti it was running brilliantly. So I'd recommend that card and that CPU definitely. Windows 7 Home Premium x64 will be another $100 on top of the price and the DVD-RW drive will probably be about $20. Get the OEM copy of Windows 7 Home SP1 x64, you'll save money and it will work exactly the same.
 
Thanks for the super tips Wolfe..

A little fun tip for you that might make you actually fall on the ground to your bum after it makes your legs go so "rubbery" that they can't hold you up...

Get yourself as up as you can, and get you out into the bush where wolves howl at the moon.. Position yourself exactly right between the centre of the moon and the wolf songs in a perfect line, sounds to moon's centre..
Close your eyes, and listen from deep deep inside, to the wolves singing to the moon, believing it's the sun going to sleep.. You'll hear the little ones giving it their All..
Seems they "sing their lullaby to sing the sun to sleep so it will wake refreshed in the morning".. Seems the wolves believe "the moon is the sun closing its great eye for sleep".. Seems the wolves believe that "their song brings on the next day"...

Their song is so deep that it touches you right into the marrow.. "shivers your timbers"..
 
MissTina said:
Much thanks young prince..
May you find gold, rushes, and deep laughter on your next stroll in the forest...
Click to expand...

Lol, I'm sure he will find plenty of fat rushes.

I like the way you talk. Nice combination of British pirate, charming rogue, and playful wood-nymph. It's too bad your mother is 88.
 
wolfeking said:
ok, I will start a list here, and you can play around with it. Assuming she is not needing a bunch of hardcore computing power here also.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078 (CPU)
- This is as powerful as a quad core AMD and has the ability to over double the processing power by getting a 2500k and overclocking it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233 (case)
- Features for the price this is hands down the best option. Great cable management, which is good.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271 (Motherboard)
-Good brand, looks decent, Z68. Should be fine for everything she needs.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145345 (RAM)
-Reliable brand, cost effective, Heatsink, and 1600 MHz, not going to get much better.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148834 (HDD)
-2TB is a bunch of space, but in price to GB of storage it is 1/2 as expensive as a 1TB drive. Well, 1TB is .11 a GB while the 2TB is .06 a GB. And it is only 15 more for double the space.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130623 (GPU)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028 (PSU)
- Good quality brand, more power than you will ever need i think (jonny can double check that), and the least expensive quality unity for this wattage.

You still need windows and a DVD drive, but I think everything else is here.
Click to expand...

When you go looking, see if there's a microcenter around, and sometimes they'll ship it to ya, but you can get the i5-2500k and the same or similar board together for 50 off, and their prices on the intel cpus already kick but, so it's only a few bucks more in the end.
 
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