core 2 quad vs core 2 extreme - help!

L

laeboo

New Member
<<posted this before with wrong title>>


I need a comp for graphic design as well as things like light mmorpgs (second life - not for leisure though, so needs to be quite good), I am debating between the:

HP Blackbird 002 - Q9450 Core 2 Quad / 4GB / dual NVIDIA GT9800 512MB

and the

Gateway - Core™2 Extreme Processor1 QX6850 / 4GB / Dual NVIDIA® GeForce® 8800GT 512MB Factory Overclocked with SLI

The main reason im liking the whole Blackbird idea is because of its "upgradability" and toolless works.

Let me know what you think? I need to know soon cos I have to return the Gateway (was ordered by accident by my Dad) for the HP by tomorrow... :( I'm soooo confused!

Thanks!
 
It really is a toss-up.
Here are the specs:
Gateway has a faster speed core but much less of a Cache, and slower RAM
The HP has integrated sound, as apposed to the Xtremegamer on the Gateway
Video is almost the same (I think) - why the 8800GT and 9800GT are the same is beyond me.
The Gateway has a blue-ray drive, if it has vista, the Hp just has lightscribe
The HP has a 500GB HDD, the Gateway has 2 500GB HDD in RAID0

Basically, I have no idea, but if you don't care to have blue-ray or you don't mind buying an external sound card (which I would recommend) and a blue-ray drive, and another 500GB HDD and then putting it in RAID0 (granted you need that much space), I would go with the HP.
In other words, if money is not too much of an issue I would go with the HP and then upgrade it a little. Better core and RAM.
THIS IS ALL FROM 1/2 hour OF RESEARCH, for the record, as apposed to the hours I would put into it for myself. If you have the time send me more specs, like the PSU specs of the HP, and with that I would be able to provide more assistance.
 
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Well here are the links, if you click on specs then you can kinda compare side-by-side by switchin back n forth (unless u got a wide screen):

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...84501&sku=L251-GM333AA ABA&srkey=hp blackbird

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...1&sku=G180-1003&srkey=Gateway FX541XG Extreme

Actually, the REASON i have a gateway is cos my dad was meant to ask them what soundcard i should buy (im learning all my technical stuff as i go, so im not very tech-savvy), and he ended up asking WHAT COMPUTER has a better souncard! Before i knew it, the gateway was being sent over to the uk - no returns policy :( so now im about to sell the gateway but i want to be sure im doing the right thing...

if i did upgrade the soundcard, how do i do that? which soundcard would u recommend? since the whole system is toolless (watch the video, if u can) does that mean i simply slot in the new soundcard or is it different with the soundcard?

sorry for the overload of questions! and thanks!
 
i wish i could! but lacking the knowledge, as well as the patience (not mine, but my father's! he doesnt wanna spend money on something he is utterly sure i will ruin... faith in his daughter is non-existent <<sighs>>)
 
laeboo said:
i wish i could! but lacking the knowledge, as well as the patience (not mine, but my father's! he doesnt wanna spend money on something he is utterly sure i will ruin... faith in his daughter is non-existent <<sighs>>)
Click to expand...

building a computer in today's world is simply assembling the parts. you could save 1000-1500 buy building instead of buying. And in doing so you would have much better parts. If you would like a list of parts to buy from newegg, I can make out a shopping cart for you.
 
laeboo said:
is newegg american? id need the stuff by next week though... isnt assembling difficult though?
Click to expand...

newegg is based out of the USA as far as I know. and assembly is not difficult. picking out the right parts to order is, though.
 
It is real easy, as long as you follow the directions and can give up an afternoon. Good luck on whatever you do..
 
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