Tight budget pc my son really wants for his b-day

[mrbagrat]

But it also doesnt have windows on it wich would cost another 150 so i think im going to get him the gateway

Suit yourself...probably it won't be able to play games that well in a couple years due to the AGP slot instead of PCI-E so you might need to get another one. Praetor's is still better, and MCE goes for ~110$ depending on where you buy it from.

Fun scenerio: Integrated graphics can't handle Counter strike. You opt to buy an AGP video card. ~150$. Crappy PSU can't handle new video card, that sets you back another 50$ for one that can. But wait! Theres more! Imagine if Gateway makes proprietary mobos that only accept Gateway PSUs. You buy another mobo that works with the PSU. At least 60$ more. Thats about 260$, if not more, for all the stuff you would have to replace compared to half that for buying Media Center Edition.

Do want you want, but building will be much cheaper and easier then buying.

 

[m3incorp]

Based on the need to stay within his budget, I too have to say buy prebuilt. Doesn't have to be the one listed,though it isn't too bad. Building is great, but hard to meet a $500 budget, especially when factoring in the price of software. I know there are going to be some that disagree and say prebuilt comes with too much unneeded software. To that I say, either delete it or don't use what you don't need. Adding Win Media Center to Predators "budget" computer adds another $100.

 

[breakthesilenc21]

I dont mean to say your not right about building or anything because i am not the best when it comes to computer specifications and knowing what they mean
but i would like to stay at that budget or below.Also i dont think i trust myself building a pc from scratch.I today i came home and looked at pcs and found some bare bone systems that seem pretty good and pretty cheap but then again what do i know lol...The barebones systems were:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EPNJT0/ref=sr_11_1/104-6416318-1087138?_encoding=UTF8


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...1_301/104-6416318-1087138?_encoding=UTF8&s=pc

Or i could get this gateway that is cheaper and just get a video card?
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1927230&Tab=2&NoMapp=0


I really want a computer that would be good with media center But thats just a few so if anyone could tell me any system thats good for the price then please let me know.I am now thinking about building since it does seem cheaper so i would also like to know what my sons pc should inlude hardware wise...Thanks a ton

 

[34erd]

The second and third options would be the best, but keep in mind the second is a barebones, it still requires an HDD video card, and optical drives.

As for building, does your son game alot? Or would he just like to be able to play new games with decent frame rates? Does he play counter strike or counter strike source? If he's not a big gamer it would be worth fitting in a dual core pentium D 805. It would be worse than an athlon in games, but in the future many programs will be multithreaded, and if your ever up to it you can always overclock it.

If you dont feel comfortable building, there's usualy a small computer store around that will build for a small price.

 

[breakthesilenc21]

that last part in english please lol

but hes not that much of a gamer just he likes to play counter strike every few days.But he likes to run multiple programs at once, not like counterstrike and tv but more like internet itunes and aim and his current computer is pretty slow at opening folders internet and programs...

wich computer do you feel is the best?

 

[34erd]

wich computer do you feel is the best?

Personaly I'd take the gateway and upgrade the video card and RAM. Any of those are going to be much faster then your current computer though...

that last part in english please lol

CPU 101 should answer all your questions.

but hes not that much of a gamer just he likes to play counter strike every few days.But he likes to run multiple programs at once, not like counterstrike and tv but more like internet itunes and aim and his current computer is pretty slow at opening folders internet and programs...

Honestly, your not going to see much difference between any of these computers because your upgrading from such an old one. With the exeption of maybe the video card. Your needs dont sound too intensive either. The reason why folders take a while to open is because you've got an ancient CPU. A modern single core processor can run browsers, itunes, and aim at the same time without slowdown.

However... I would still try and fit in a dual core processor if you can.

 

[breakthesilenc21]

which gateway are you talking about?

 

[sumik]

I have a Pentium4 1.7ghz 128mb FX5700 128 ram 80gb hdd and unknown power supply. I have a slow ass machine and to tell u the truth counter-strike I play every day for few hours and it kicks ass. For counter-strike 1.6 u don't nned good computer and a lot of memory, but if u wanna all of a sudden play new games like Battlefield2 for example, forget about it, and increase your budget 3 times For internet and opening folders and Itunes also my computer is really fast. Those are basic applications that I was doing way back 8 years ago on my P2 333mhz and I never complained. And the computers that u mentioned are better than mine.

So if your son wants to play counter-stike only and older games plus internet and itunes and photoshop and all that all those machines will b enough.

Make sure that he's not just saying that to get a comp as soon as he can but he still wants to play never games, which he probably will, and in a few months he will outgrow the computer. In that case save a little more, and explain him that he can get something better in a little more time (of course if u can save up) cuz that way he will not outgrow it really fast.
And u can save up buy part by part which will come out cheaper and then go to computer store and for $30 they will put it all together.

And another thought. Look at classifieds that ppl post, spend some time on internet and look for websites with classifieds, very often if not almost 90% of the time u will find something waaaaay better for that price, it will b used but so are the computers u are looking at cuz they are refurbished. And if u'r scared that u will buy something different that the person is advertising just download a simple program like "cpuz" there's a link somewhere on this website that u just click on it and it shows u specifications of every component so u won't b tricked.