Ready to buy a new computer, need your advice. Thanks

LazarusLong

New Member
Hello nice to meet you all,

Well I can spend around $5000 , by the way is that enough for a decent computer or do I need more money? Because I’m looking for a very very fine machine. I was thinking of building a computer but I simply don’t have the time, sorry about that. I do like computer gaming, but I would not call myself a professional gamer, just a guy that likes to play games now and again. What kind of computer would you recommend ... a Dell, a Samsung, an Alien, etc., etc,? Something altogether different maybe, that I’m not thinking of because I’m not smart enough?

So to reiterate, I’m looking for the best of the best for $5000, willing to go to $7000 if need be, simple to set up, a great computer that looks nice too, that is fast enough for computer games now and again. A wireless mouse and keyboard if possible. Good as a college workstation. Have plenty of space and be fast enough for games.

Thanks so much everyone for your advice, opinions and so forth.

Edit: I might of narrowed it down to much...all I need is a good approximation of my suggestions. Not even that really

LL
 
Last edited:

johnb35

Administrator
Staff member
You can probably get away with $1500 if that. If you aren't really a gamer you probably don't even need a high end video card and thats where most of the cost comes from. Would need a list of the games you want to play. How much storage space are you wanting?
 

beers

Moderator
Staff member
With that budget you can pick pretty much whatever from wherever. Consider that you're trading building time for more planning time, but it ends up being a similar amount.

Would suggest some variant of the Ryzen 7000 X3D when it drops in a few weeks.
 

LazarusLong

New Member
I should report I have thought about making my own computer, but I fear if I mess it up I will have no computer at all. So for now I’m thinking of buying “building your own computer for dummies” book. Then my second computer will be a build one myself. I heard all you really need is a screwdriver, is this true? I mean what about welding and stuff like that?

johnb35: Hi, nice to meet you. storage space is definitely a big deal for me, the more space the better. Typically I use external hard drives for more space, but I wouldn’t mind having a computer with enough space so that it is 1) fast enough to play my favorite games, I play outerspace games like No Mans Sky and Outer Wilds , and some intellectual stuff to keep my brain as sharp as possible, like chess, go, Tetris, and such. And just be a fast computer in general, the faster the better is for me.

beers: Hello, nice to meet you. It seems that over the years Ryzen has really come into their own, but isn’t Intel still ahead of the curve? Ryzen is probably more for hardcore gamers, which I’m not. But if you say it’s as good as an Intel I will definitely look into it.

Maybe you guys have a recommendation on what kind of All-In-One desktop computer I should go for. I don’t like apple, in fact I use Ubuntu on my old Microsoft computer. So I Microsoft computer most likely, but by HP, a Dell, a Samsung, for example what kind do you guys use? You would be helping me out if you told me.

Thanks a lot guys, I appreciate your help very much,
LL
 
Last edited:

LazarusLong

New Member
Ha, sorry, but really I’m not that much of a gamer, truly. Not much time for it, but I love the few games I do play, awesome stuff. I guess since you mentioned anything really for an All-in-one computer, what brand would you recommend that is a good one...like a Dell, HP, Samsung, etc? That’s all I really would like to know. And maybe I should go down to like $300 or $500 for the all-in- one desktop . Save all that money for when I have the time to build a computer.
 

johnb35

Administrator
Staff member
I wouldn't recommend an all in one. They are garbage and hard to work on if something goes wrong with the hardware inside.
 

LazarusLong

New Member
Thank you, I agree. Perhaps building my own is something to look into, I’m just worried how long it will take to learn everything to do that. Because I’m not a hardware computer specialist, so if I mess it up I damage everything I paid for and end up with a non-functioning expensive computer just lying there. I leave the building computers to you smart guys.

The only thing I can think of then is to buy the computer components separately. So the computer, the keyboard, the mouse, the monitor. I really didn’t have much good experience with my Dell, is HP any good? By the way can I buy a mouse and the keyboard, computer, and monitor from different brands? Like say a computer from HP and a monitor made by Samsung, or should they all be the same brand?
 
Last edited:

johnb35

Administrator
Staff member
I didn't say to build your own, just don't buy an all in one. You can buy a tower desktop pc at any electronics store. Honestly, its not that hard to build your own pc. You could even buy your own parts and have someone build it for you. You'll get better bang for the buck too.
 

LazarusLong

New Member
Well, I’m sure your right. Thank you.
Tower Desktop pc sounds like a good idea for someone like me.

Edit ; if I decided to build it myself I don’t know anyone that would put it together for me, so I would have to do it myself. Im thinking on this one.

I found a computer that comes with a mouse and keyboard but no monitor, it’s an HP computer. With no monitor, do I have to buy an HP monitor too, or can it be any brand?
What is the difference between computer workstation and just a regular computer?
Thanks for your help by the way. Maybe I should just be quite and build one, lol.

I think it would be best to buy online, definitely cheaper compared to what I would pay at a local Walmart, Target or Bestbuy. I could buy the same tower desktop pc on-line at the same store , at Walmart.com for example, for a much lower price. I’m not good at economics either, but I do know when I buy online things they are always cheaper then store bought products. I like neweggs.com, do you guys and girls? If there is a better site for hardware please let me know.

You don’t have to answer all my silly questions, sorry about that, just telling me anything helpful has been a huge help so far. So I thank you very much for your time.
Perhaps this forum is too smart for me, but I could find none other online computer forum, they are all basically the same. They should have a computer forum for idiots, ya know, but they don’t. I can tell you guys are tech savvy but have pity on the rest of us, lol.

If I decide to build is there anyone here willing to help me out? On what to buy? Perhaps even walk me through it? I’m not saying an every day kind of thing, just when they have the time to help a monkey out now and again would be a great help.

I’m an Intel guy still, everyone loves Ryzen on all these various computer forums ( this is the best computer forum I have come across by the way ) because they are cheaper, and great for gamers, but still they haven’t surpassed the Intel yet, they are trying really hard to get close though. I’m sure you guys could google a computer for me, if you did that I would buy it. Say around $400 to $800 pick a good one for me please. I’m totally lost.

How long would it take to build your own computer? Assuming I’m smart enough to even do it. How long would it take the average person to build a fine looking, fast, lots of storage space like 2 TBs, lots of RAM, computer?
 
Last edited:

beers

Moderator
Staff member
If you're asking if a keyboard is compatible or that you can buy it separately, I'd probably stick with prebuilts.

i7/32g/nvme will give you something peppy in the desktop space. Just pick capacity on a major name brand for storage.

Spec out whatever GPU you want at the performance target you want for the resolution you want. Buy the monitor based on that target and VRR preference (gsync/freesync).

Otherwise that's really the only considerations:

CPU
RAM quantity & speed
Storage capacity/interface (I'd just get a large pcie4 drive like 2TB+)
GPU
Monitor
Peripherals
Hit order
Receive package
Remove from box and attach monitor/kb/power.
 

LazarusLong

New Member
I was thinking about prebuilts myself, it may be good for me , I’m not sure because I’ve been thinking of building my own recently. It seems relatively easy to do it, all you need is a screw driver and I assume you buy the relative hard ware you want, or need, and screw drive it right in. I bought Build your own PC for Dummies, but really it’s a little too comprehensive, it’s complete overkill. Do you guys or gals know any free internet guides on building a PC that is a smaller read , but tells you everything you need to know, and is for beginners? That would actually be a good idea for this Computer Forum, maybe you guys and the other moderators and administrators of this forum can write it. I’m sure you know enough guys/girls on this forum to write an easy guide for beginners for this Computer Forum, I hope you think about writing one for this forum, I think it’s an excellent idea , or maybe you could all find a bunch of great YouTube videos on how to build your own PC for beginners and make a permanent thread of it, well just a thought.. but I hope you do something like that some day, it would really help out beginners to this forum very much. Because I’m sure you get at least one person coming here every week asking what they should do and what computer to buy , just like me ,and you suggest logically that building their own PC is the best thing for a person to do.. (assuming it’s as easy as you mentioned).

beers and johnb35 what do you think? You are the one who told me building one wouldn’t be too hard, any suggestions for me on hard ware and components to buy? I need a really fast computer, with a lot of storage space like 10TB, also I would like my computer to look cool inside and out. Also any good websites you can recommend where I can best buy the hard ware and various components I will need to build a computer? I use Newegg , feel free to suggest the place you buy your hardware and computer stuff from? Also know any good “Build Your Own PC” YouTube videos you guys would like to recommend for a beginner like me, I would much appreciate it it if you did.

One last thing, if one wanted to build a very, very, very great computer how much would it cost to build one yourself? Would I have to go in the $3000 to $7000 range, maybe even higher, or could one build there own PC and make a great one for say in the range of $500 to $700 ? I personally would rather spend hundreds of dollars rather then thousands of dollars, but if that will not get me good hard ware and other components for my DIY PC , then what price are we talking about for a great build it yourself PC? Thanks.

Thank you guys very, very much for the suggestions and recommendations thus far.
 
Last edited:

Darren

Moderator
Staff member
I appreciate the enthusiasm but given your posts, I would heavily encourage you to just a prebuilt. If you have to ask if you need an HP branded monitor with an HP system, well... let's just say that's indicative of experience level. :)
 

beers

Moderator
Staff member
beers and johnb35 what do you think?
Building a PC is easy until the slightest thing goes wrong. Do you have the ability to troubleshot a system that doesn't power on the first time? It's not a super complex process, but with minimal amount of experience, given the questions asked and if 'building a PC for dummies' appears to be complex then the confidence that DIY is the right solution simply isn't there.

Currently you're just throwing around dollar amounts that vary from $300 to $7000 and it seems you have no idea what would make a computer that would support the use case you want to leverage it against.

Nail down the performance and cost you want and try to build a full list of compatible parts. That's the preliminary step for any system build.
 

LazarusLong

New Member
Thanks, any other steps I should know after that? If not , thank you everyone.

Reading build your own computer for dummies isn’t a hard read that’s not what I meant sorry, I just meant I could probably find a guide with less pages, because I’m pretty busy, on google, which I did, it was a free guide. It’s much less to read, more compact, and tells me everything I need to know to do it myself. I’ll prebuild if you guys thinks that’s best for me but I feel like I know more about building it myself at this point, then I know about prebuilts..if that makes any sense. Finished reading chapter 2 of the dummies book already, it’s still just discussing what each part does, the nitty gritty isn’t until chapter 5 and 6, but it’s not hard to read that’s not what I meant. So I can finish the guide I found on google , and the dummies book and dive right in to building it myself it’s really not as hard as I thought it was going to be, but you are still right what if I do build it and it doesn’t boot up. So you are guys are probably right maybe I should go with a prebuilt.

Thanks
 
Last edited:

beers

Moderator
Staff member
We could take a look at the list you compile if that is a value add for you.

These kind of threads are iffy to suggest proceeding, historically, since a week or two later the person usually comes back with a huge regret rant and frustration about their multiple thousands of dollars not working :p
 

LazarusLong

New Member
Hahaha...that actually made me laugh out loud when I read it. I really needed that, thank you . I was not aware that happened here, but I can see it, ha, That won’t happen with me, I’ll make sure it works. I am moving slowly and cautiously I assure you.

I think what you said is a great idea, I definitely want to compile a list and come back, so I will. I have been looking at numerous parts RAM, CPU, etc. . I’m still having trouble with CPU and what’s a good Graphics Card . For example should I go with Ryzen or Intel, I’m thinking Intel is still number and will always be number one , but then I read an article by Avast about AMD’s latest Zen-based processor and it said “it’s the most powerful consumer-grade chip on the market”. So like you said earlier when the new Ryzen chip drops I’m now thinking I should go for it, sounds like you may be right. Based on what I have read Ryzen seems to be the choice of most gamers and computer enthusiasts. But then I read a different article written in 2022 states “Intel still leads the market for CPUs, offering the best balance between price and performance. Because of their unrivaled single-thread clock speeds, gamers will certainly want to go for an Intel CPU. AMD is increasingly competitive, and their new Ryzen 9 chip is the most powerful consumer-grade CPU.” But that was 2022, maybe a lot has changed already? A lot of this sounds like a matter of taste as well, rather then how awesome the CPU will perform? Sounds like Intel is still in the lead, but Ryzen lovers still love it anyway.

But be sure to let me know if this thread is getting in the way of everyone else who has questions for you experts and helpers, I don’t want to hold them up. Although I have been purposely trying not to post that often so as to give other people a chance at asking there questions.

Ok, be back as soon as I can. It may take longer then expected, so other people have time to post their questions too. Still have a lot of reading and thinking to do on the subject. At first I just wanted to buy an all-in-one and just get it over with already, but they do sound like garbage to me now and I’m glad I didn’t rush things. So the more I learn the better my choices.

Thanks so much :)
 
Last edited:

LazarusLong

New Member
Ok, so this is a lot tougher then I thought it was going to be. I’m still looking for a nice case for my computer. I want it to look pimp! How many fans would you recommend for someone who wants a really fast, lots of memory and RAM? Two or three fans to keep it from overheating? I’m going to build this thing myself I think. I’m still looking at components for my computer, I want the best of the best, like the Mercedes Benz of a build it yourself computer. A computer that I can update over the years and it will never get old. Also I’m going to buy a virtual reality headset for my PC, which is the best? I have tried virtual reality and it’s like technological LSD man, it’s awesome! I haven’t tried LSD but I’m sure it’s something like virtual reality.

If I was buying a laptop, but I’m looking fir a desktop to build, I might go for a lazer or Alienware for gaming, and virtual reality hook up. Virtual reality is expensive but man it’s worth it, what a mind job. It’s like 3D films, why did they have to die man? I loved 3D movies and I have a whole collection of them , especially Martin Scorsese’s ‘Hugo’ which was perfect in 3D. I hope virtual reality catches on. It seems like it is because the new PlayStations has VR. I hope 3D tv makes a come back to.
 
Last edited:

Darren

Moderator
Staff member
Again, if you're still confusing RAM and memory (these are the same thing) then I think building yourself is a bad idea.
 
Top