Deciding on what computer to get for my birthday :)

[mihir]

and of you have a microcentre close by then even cheaper since i7 930 has 199 bucks
and i have seen many people on this forum who at the begining of the thread want to go with a prebuilt system but at the end we corrupt them towards the custom built systems because we have experienced and seen the difference in the prices and the systems that is why lol

 

[Metallica17]

There is no microcentre close to where I live. And with Newegg I would have to order and pay shipping and wait. And all of those things I don't want to do. I'm only paying about 50 dollars more from Computer Deli.

 

[Aastii]

There is no microcentre close to where I live. And with Newegg I would have to order and pay shipping and wait. And all of those things I don't want to do. I'm only paying about 50 dollars more from Computer Deli.

what you put for GPU is the PSU

GPU=Graphical Processing Unit aka graphics card or video card
PSU=Power Supply Unit

The memory you put is triple channel, you may as well get 2x2GB or 4x2GB instead

Computer deli is such a terribly laid out and hard to use site. I'll use the egg to get the parts, try to find them on the site or in store, if you can't and not sure if parts are comparable, post up and can help further

Storm Scout case that you picked out $104

CPU: Phenom II 955BE http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808 $160

mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131655 $180

Memory: 2x2GB G.Skill Ripjaws 1600MHz http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303 $110

Video card: Sapphire HD 5770 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102858 $160

PSU: Corsair VX550 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004 $80

DVD Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135202 $17

hard drive: 1TB Samsung F3 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Comes out at (After MIR) ~$861

Note the following though:

On the CPU, notice the model number, HDZ955FBGMBOX. That has C3 stepping, you can tell because the 4th digit from the end is M, not I, that is the one you want, the other has C2.

The case has enough fans in already, so that shouldn't be a problem, however if you want an after market heatsink and fan for your CPU, post up here.

You will need to get an operating system with that money too, or is the $1000 just for the hardware?

The DVD drive is SATA, not IDE. Make sure you get an SATA drive as they are faster than IDE ones, and aren't more expensive

 

[Metallica17]

I have a friend who has an operating system for me so I don't need that. But Aastii I have another question for you. Is 4 gb of ram enough? Or should I get more? I am going to be running windows 7 if that helps. And also do you think a 500W psu will be enough?

 

[mihir]

I have a friend who has an operating system for me so I don't need that. But Aastii I have another question for you. Is 4 gb of ram enough? Or should I get more? I am going to be running windows 7 if that helps. And also do you think a 500W psu will be enough?

Aasti made a perfect build for you he is a very experienced computer expert and helped me alot
4Gigs of Ram are enough and the 500 is more than enough

 

[Metallica17]

Okay thank you mihir. I will probably be building this in a couple of weeks as my birthday is on the 25th of this month. Thanks everyone for helping and I will let you know how it goes after I build it.

 

[Metallica17]

Okay so I went to Best Buy and the computer is in fact a quad core at 3.2 GHz with 8GB of ram. I am sticking with this because it also comes with a 24" monitor and a printer. I know for sure because I did a run of dxdiag to get the direct specs from the computer. So thanks to everyone who helped. It is much appreciated.

 

[Drenlin]

If you're still talking about the i5 650, then it's a dual core. It has Hyperthreading, so it shows up as a quad to windows, but it only gives a ~25% gain in performance...nowhere near what two more cores would add.

If you still don't believe me, then believe Intel:
http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=43546

Like I said, the 750 is the only true quad core i5.

 

[Metallica17]

So what is the difference in threads as to cores?

 

[Drenlin]

A thread, in this case, is the stream of data going through the processor. In other words, the data it's currently working on. Normally, processors only have one thread of data moving through each core at any given time, even though it's working with several different programs. It basically flip-flops between all of them....only one program can actually be using the processor's core. The rest just wait their turn.

Hyper-threading attempts to do this more efficiently by, more or less, cramming another thread into the parts of the processor's pipeline that aren't currently being used. (the extra thread shows up as another processor/core to windows) This maximizes the amount of data that can be moved through the pipeline, but it is no substitute for actually having two more full cores for the data to run though. Multiple cores essentially function like multiple processors, though they may share some resources, like the cache.

 

[Metallica17]

Okay I understand it better now. Thanks Drenlin. So would this processor be good enough for gaming? I might get this computer, sell the computer I am using now, and get a better processor, that is, if the dual core isn't enough. I'm just sorta confused as to why it would say it is 4 CPU's in the dxdiag.

 

[Drenlin]

It would be all right...not as good as a true quad though. If you get that computer, though, remember that you still have to buy another power supply and graphics card before you can even think about gaming. The onboard could probably handle a few older games, or maybe an MMO or RTS on very low settings, but that's about it. Intel graphics chips are not meant for gaming.

That computer will also have a locked BIOS, so anything beyond basic settings will be inaccessible to you. Almost all OEM companies do this. That means no overclocking, no setting your RAM up how you want it, etc. You'll also get low-quality components compared to a self-built rig.

You could honestly build a system that would out-perform that one by miles and still have enough left over to buy a monitor and printer.



edit:

It shows up as four CPU's because Windows doesn't differentiate between the real cores and the logical ones. It also doesn't differentiate between multiple cores and multiple physical processors. So, an i7, which has four cores and eight threads, would show up the same in task manager as a machine with two separate quad core processors.

 

[Metallica17]

There is no way that I could get all the stuff I am getting by building it myself. I used newegg to find the parts and added the price up and it was over a thousand for a quad core and 8GB's of RAM. Then I would still have to buy a 24" monitor and the printer. But I don't care about the printer I'm just going to sell it for money for parts for the computer I'm buying. My parents don't want to order from newegg cause they stupid but even if they did they would still be spending more money.

I think I'm going to just take it apart and upgrade with money from selling the printer and my computer now. I just want a better processor and video card, and I might have to get a better PSU since it probably won't be a great one.

And also, you said you can't overclock it? Just because I didn't build it myself I can't overclock it? There has to be some way. It's not too big of a deal but I think that is stupid since I own the computer.

 

[Drenlin]

No, you can't overclock it. They lock the BIOS on the motherboard specifically to stop people from doing that.

And yes, you can definitely build a quad rig for that. Give me a second and I'll post one. Not sure how you'd get it though, if you can't use Newegg. Makes no sense to me....Newegg is on of the most trusted sites on the internet.


Also, if you MUST buy one prebuilt, use a site like iBuyPower or CyberpowerPC. You pick what parts they use, and you get the same components that you'd get if you built is yourself. No locked motherboards or anything like that.

 

[Metallica17]

Yeah my parents want to go to a store and actually BUY it. The only store I could buy the parts from is Computer Deli like I said before, but they charge more for the parts so it's even more expensive. Try Computer Deli and see if you can get something cheap for a quad core and 8GB of RAM. But I don't think it's going to happen.

And also I do need an operating system, so that messes up the price even more, since it has to be a 64 bit.

Those two sites you gave are pretty awesome, but the prices are still way over 1,000. Without a monitor or printer.

 

[Drenlin]

From newegg:

Monitor- Asus VW224U- $179 shipped ($20 rebate) (this is a great monitor)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236050

CPU- AMD Phenom II x4 955- $160 (Quad core, with an unlocked multiplier to aid in overclocking)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808

Mobo- Gigabyte GA-890GPA-UD3H- $125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128435

RAM- G-skill Ripjaws 2x2GB- $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

GPU- Sapphire Radoen 5830- $220 ($20 rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102878

PSU- OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W- $80 ($20 rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017

HDD- Samsung Spinpoint F3 500Gb- $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181&Tpk=hd502hj

DVD/RW- Lite-On iHAS224-06- $21
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106333

Case- Thermaltake V3- $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133094

Total cost- $995, $935 after rebates.

I dropped the printer, since you said you were just going to sell it. If you want to add $40 or so to it, you could even get a hexa-core:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103851


Not buying online throws a wrench int hat, though. I don't understand the need to buy it from a store...they all overcharge, and mislead you just to get a sale. Anyone who knows anything about building/buying computers will tell you that Newegg is as trustworthy as it gets. Much more so that Best Buy.


edit: I just looked on Best Buy's site, and they only have ONE computer with its own graphics card. One. It's an HP, which you should avoid like the plague, and the graphics card is a 512MB Radeon HD5450, which is on the low end of things for gaming.

 

[Metallica17]

Okay but even with that the only thing better is the processor and video card. You gave me a 22" monitor, only 4GB's of ram, and only a 500GB hard drive. The computer I'm getting comes with 24 inch monitor, 8GB's of ram, and a terabyte hard drive. I get more for less. And I can sell the computer I have now to upgrade without spending a dime of my own money for a better processor and better video card.

And also I would still need Windows 7. I don't mean to be a douche but I'm trying to get as much as possible out of my money.

 

[Drenlin]

No, you don't get more for less.

1- That monitor has great resolution and picture quality, and a 2ms response time. Size isn't everything.

2- The hard drive is a reliable model, not the crap you'd get in an OEM machine, and is one of the fastest standard drives available. Hard drive speed is the main factor that limits how fast the computer "feels"...like when you're opening programs or loading a level on a game.

3- 8GB of RAM is more-or-less useless right now, and the RAM I picked is much better quality. Also, like most non-OEM memory, has a lifetime warranty. The only reason the Asus has that much is because the numbers look impressive. It's a marketing technique.

4- In a gaming machine, having a better processor and video card is far, far better than having more hard drive and RAM space. Same for having a physically large screen vs having good resolution and low response time.

Needing an OS is a problem, but I think you could still do it. I'll modify that build and edit it into this post.

edit:
Monitor- Asus VW224U- $179 shipped ($20 rebate) (this is a great monitor)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236050

CPU- AMD Phenom II x4 945- $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808

Mobo- Gigabyte GA-890GPA-UD3H- $125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128435

RAM- G-skill Ripjaws 2x2GB- $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

GPU- Asus Radeon 5770- $160 ($20 rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121363

PSU- Antec BP550- $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017

HDD- Samsung Spinpoint F3 500GB- $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181&Tpk=hd502hj

DVD/RW- Lite-On iHAS224-06- $21
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106333

Case- Thermaltake V3- $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133094

OS- Win7 64-bit OEM- $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

Total cost- $1005, $965 after rebates.

You could get it a bit lower, about $25, but that motherboard has a better chipset that allows you to crossfire another 5770 later on. It also has the fastest onboard GPU currently available on any motherboard.

 

[Metallica17]

Okay thanks for the help. I just don't want to have 4 gigs of ram and that not be enough. I've never had a awesome computer which is what I want. And my limit is 1,000 dollars right now. I will try and talk my parents into getting it from newegg, but the only way they would do it is if is cheaper than the 979 dollar one at Best Buy. I will wait for you to update the post and see what you get.

 

[Drenlin]

No problem

Well I didn't get it cheaper than 979, but I could attempt it. Wouldn't be as good, though. (edit: Actually, after rebates, it is cheaper)

4GB is plenty, trust me. It will be several years before 8GB is practical, and when that time comes, it'll be easy enough to just put another couple of sticks in there.

Do keep in mind that when it comes time to order, prices for some of this stuff may have changed. Some of it may go down, some may go up, and some of it may no longer have free shipping. If you do decide to order from newegg, check back with us to make sure you've got the best deals.