Need semi-gaming computer

[dalaamprince]

Hey all,

My girlfriend is tired of her custom built PC she bought from ecollegepc.com. Rather, she is tired of their service. We have already had to send the PC back 3 times for basically the same issue. Their service and ability to make contact with them is horrid. Eventually they built her a new PC (using some of the old parts) and had it shipped to her. 3 months later we are getting a networking error that I have tried for a good 6-7 hours to fix. The computer is out of warranty and we just want a computer with a nice warranty and service team.

She has $600-$700 to spend and doesn't need a monitor. We can probably salvage parts from her old PC if needed. We visited Best Buy and Circuit City today in hopes of finding a PC, here are her needs:

1) Windows XP or Vista, whichever is more stable.
2) A graphics card able to handle World of Warcraft at high settings (so nothing that fancy really)
3) 2 GB of RAM if possible
4) Multi-tasking capabilites (Dual core I assume?)
5) A pretty nice sized hard drive (100GB or more)
6) QUALITY SERVICE - We have been jerked around enough by ecollegepc.com and want fast, dependable service we can trust. I can not stress this enough.

She isn't a hardcore gamer or anything. However, from what I hear an onboard video card is bad and a card you can swap out and update is best.

We don't want to build a computer, we just want one ready to go out of the box with a 3 or 4 years warranty. I have been searching BestBuy.com and Newegg but not really sure what's best for our money. Any and all recomendations are much appreciated.

 

[PohTayToez]

If you're absolutely against a custom built, then I would recommend an HP. Also, buy online from them manufacturer's site, not stores like Best Buy or Circuit City. That way you can see EVERYTHING that is available, get a better deal, and no one is there to cram unneeded extras down your throat.

 

[chupacabra]

This one should do quite nice and it has the option of getting 2gb ram for free, you might want a better video card thou and maybe a psu

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/s...age&v1=Entertainment+and+multimedia&tab=specs

 

[dalaamprince]

I played around and customized the model chupacabra listed. I currently have the total at $610.

The processor I have selected is AMD Athlon(TM) 64 X2 4000+ dual-core - 2.1GHz and the video card is Integrated NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE. Since she isn't a hardcore gamer (only plays Guild Wars and WoW) do you think I should upgrade the processor to AMD Athlon(TM) 64 X2 4400+ dual-core - 2.3GHz or the video card to 64MB NVIDIA GeForce 7500LE, DVI-I, TV-out, VGA adapter? She only pick one of those upgrades in order to keep the final price under $700 (damn taxes).

Also, there isn't an option to upgrade the PSU, would I need to upgrade it if I purchased the 7500LE?

I truly appreciate your help.

 

[chupacabra]

I'd rather just upgrade to 2gb and get the video card/psu from newegg since it's a lot cheaper and better

 

[hermeslyre]

Save the $70 the 8300 would cost and buy this;

http://www.thestone.com/public/regis/register-vstone.html

It's $74 after MIR and loads better than the 8300.

Chupacabra wouldn't the PSU need to be an HP one?

 

[ThatGuy16]

Save the $70 the 8300 would cost and buy this;

http://www.thestone.com/public/regis/register-vstone.html

It's $74 after MIR and loads better than the 8300.

Chupacabra wouldn't the PSU need to be an HP one?

I get a strong feeling thats the wrong link

 

[chupacabra]

Save the $70 the 8300 would cost and buy this;

http://www.thestone.com/public/regis/register-vstone.html

It's $74 after MIR and loads better than the 8300.

Chupacabra wouldn't the PSU need to be an HP one?

Not really, the psu is a normal one, if it was a dell then yes it would need to be the same brand

 

[hermeslyre]

I get a strong feeling thats the wrong link

Oops, yeah lol

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130062

Chupacabra; Ok, wasn't sure if HP used proprietary PSU's.

 

[dalaamprince]

Thanks for the video card reccomendation. Are you sure there is an open (PCI Express I guess?) slot for the one you listed? I have never installed one myself though. Is it just like installing a new ethernet card?

Also, I have never replaced a power supply on my computer. Why would I need to and what would be a good one to get if I purchased the video card reccomended by chupacabra?

Sorry for all the newbie questions :/

 

[chupacabra]

Thanks for the video card reccomendation. Are you sure there is an open (PCI Express I guess?) slot for the one you listed? I have never installed one myself though. Is it just like installing a new ethernet card?

Is as easy as to install a ethernet card just that it might take a little more strength to push it down

Also, I have never replaced a power supply on my computer. Why would I need to and what would be a good one to get if I purchased the video card reccomended by chupacabra?

Sorry for all the newbie questions :/

Most power supply from pre-builders are crappy they barely can power the components they put so to upgrade or add something you'll need to add a new power supply, isn't that hard just try to memorize where the connections go and you'll be fine

 

[dalaamprince]

I think for now we are going to buy this at the CompUSA in Delaware (no taxes or shipping cost/wait time, hell yes). : http://www.compusa.com/products/pro...46114&cm_ven=CNET&cm_cat=&cm_pla=&cm_ite=feed

It has all the components I had customized on the HP website. If the video card can't handle WoW (although it should no problem) then we will upgrade it and the PSU.

We'll be picking up the 3 year Standard Desktop Plan from Circuit City as well for a grand total of $690 after the $50 mail-in rebate.

Best Buy is also carrying this model but would cost $720 total with their 3 year service plan. So really it has come down to: Which has the better service plan? Any thoughts?

Also, she has an NVIDIA GeForce FX 5500 in her old machine, how does this compare with the NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE? WoW and Guild Wars ran fine on her old card. We could just pop that in if it's any better than the 6150 SE.

 

[chupacabra]

I think for now we are going to buy this at the CompUSA in Delaware (no taxes or shipping cost/wait time, hell yes). : http://www.compusa.com/products/pro...46114&cm_ven=CNET&cm_cat=&cm_pla=&cm_ite=feed

It has all the components I had customized on the HP website. If the video card can't handle WoW (although it should no problem) then we will upgrade it and the PSU.

We'll be picking up the 3 year Standard Desktop Plan from Circuit City as well for a grand total of $690 after the $50 mail-in rebate.

Best Buy is also carrying this model but would cost $720 total with their 3 year service plan. So really it has come down to: Which has the better service plan? Any thoughts?

Also, she has an NVIDIA GeForce FX 5500 in her old machine, how does this compare with the NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE? WoW and Guild Wars ran fine on her old card. We could just pop that in if it's any better than the 6150 SE.

Don't get that 3 years from circuit city, believe me you'll regret it, once i had a problem with one gateway and i had 4 years warranty with them and i went to them to repair it when i got it back more than 80% of the hardware was changed to something even worst than it was, like a duron mobile 800 mhz while i had a 2.2ghz barton AMD

 

[dalaamprince]

But I am buying it from CompUSA not Circuit City. Which place had the bad service you were talking about? Or should I skip both entirely and buy it from Best Buy and get their service plan?

 

[chupacabra]

compusa is k, circuitcity isn't for extended warranty neither bestbuy

 

[dalaamprince]

Well as it turns out the CompUSA in DE I was going to pick it up from is out of stock. So it looks like I going to have to pick it up from the Best Buy in Delaware since it seems like the lesser of two evils. Wish me luck!