See something like this seems like a great deal - especially with a 24" monitor (this is exactly the kind of stuff I was talking about before). And my guess is that NVIDEA could handle more than just "mild" gaming (can probably play anything on the market - granted not necessarily completely maxed out) - 10 years ago that video card would have been faster than a top of the line desktop.jimnolimit wrote:dell is still running their deal with the vostro 230 mini tower. for $574 you will get:
intel core2 duo 2.93GHz (E7500)
4GB DDR3 RAM
320GB hard drive
512MB NVIDEA video card
16x DVD burner
24" viewsonic monitor
windows 7 (either 32bit or 64bit)
this setup should be plenty good for internet, video and mild gaming.
PC Advice Needed
There are several games on the market right now that really need 1gb grapics cards. The upcoming Elder Scrolls Skyrim is going to be INSANE, and Grand Theft Auto 4 is probably at the top of the hardware demand list right now. I know guys with hardcore gaming rigs who can't max out the settings on that one.
~David
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DeathBySnooSnoo
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- Location: Toronto Canada
MIld gaming yes, but probably not so good for much that has come out the last year or will be coming out. Minimum I would say is quad core, and these days, I'd go with 6g Ram. The video card that I have is outdated and factory overclocked to over 1g and will only run to directx 10, and is pretty much getting maxed with newer games. So a better videocard would probably be a good idea too.jimnolimit wrote:dell is still running their deal with the vostro 230 mini tower. for $574 you will get:
intel core2 duo 2.93GHz (E7500)
4GB DDR3 RAM
320GB hard drive
512MB NVIDEA video card
16x DVD burner
24" viewsonic monitor
windows 7 (either 32bit or 64bit)
this setup should be plenty good for internet, video and mild gaming.
Other key things to look at, number of USB ports, Firewire connection, and number of optical drives (possibly, depending on your needs and use), and maybe a memory card reader.
Depending on the amount of data you want to store (gaming, video etc etc) you might want to go with a 2 hard drive system. One to run windows, one for storage.
On the hunt for...
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jackknifeh
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- Location: Florida panhandle
Dadgum deathby, why don't you just recommend a server with dual processors and a second tower for additional hard drives? :D :DDeathBySnooSnoo wrote:MIld gaming yes, but probably not so good for much that has come out the last year or will be coming out. Minimum I would say is quad core, and these days, I'd go with 6g Ram. The video card that I have is outdated and factory overclocked to over 1g and will only run to directx 10, and is pretty much getting maxed with newer games. So a better videocard would probably be a good idea too.
Other key things to look at, number of USB ports, Firewire connection, and number of optical drives (possibly, depending on your needs and use), and maybe a memory card reader.
Depending on the amount of data you want to store (gaming, video etc etc) you might want to go with a 2 hard drive system. One to run windows, one for storage.
Jack
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DeathBySnooSnoo
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- Joined: Tue Jan 18, 2011 6:30 pm
- Location: Toronto Canada
Ha Ha...well THAT might be a bit too much. But truthfully with modern games you need some serious power to get the most out of them. But RAM and a pretty **** good videocard aren't really expensive, so are easily bought and upgraded.
I like a dual hard drive system. Small primary drive for Windows (120gig) and a secondary drive for storage (I used 1TB). Makes it easy, insures that Windows runs nice and smooth and fast.
Course my home has my custom desktop and 2 laptops so I also have a home network set up...heh heh
I like a dual hard drive system. Small primary drive for Windows (120gig) and a secondary drive for storage (I used 1TB). Makes it easy, insures that Windows runs nice and smooth and fast.
Course my home has my custom desktop and 2 laptops so I also have a home network set up...heh heh
On the hunt for...
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jackknifeh
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- Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 6:01 am
- Location: Florida panhandle
Similar setup here. Two PCs and two game machines all connected to Inet. Got my wife a PC a couple of years ago and I use an 8 year old PC that won't run a 64 bit OS. We both have Win 7, but I have to use the 32 bit version. She plays games and needs more. We were planning on getting me a new PC but now she wants the new one and I'll get hers. :mad: That's ok really because hers is very nice and more than I need since I don't do games. She needs at least a memory upgrade and so on so... well you see where I'm going. :D I'm straying from the original subject. Sorry OP. Best of luck with your choice and I hope you have access to local help technically.DeathBySnooSnoo wrote:Ha Ha...well THAT might be a bit too much. But truthfully with modern games you need some serious power to get the most out of them. But RAM and a pretty **** good videocard aren't really expensive, so are easily bought and upgraded.
I like a dual hard drive system. Small primary drive for Windows (120gig) and a secondary drive for storage (I used 1TB). Makes it easy, insures that Windows runs nice and smooth and fast.
Course my home has my custom desktop and 2 laptops so I also have a home network set up...heh heh
Jack
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DeathBySnooSnoo
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- Joined: Tue Jan 18, 2011 6:30 pm
- Location: Toronto Canada
I hear ya...I'm getting ready to make some changes to my system. New case for better air flow, might do dual vid cards. Older system now, but really is lasting quite well. Sometimes new isn't needed. basic upgrades do the trick for much cheaper!
Yes far off topic though.
Sorry bout that...back on topic. Don't skimp on RAM, Vid card and processor...storage can be easily upgraded. make sure you buy from a place with good tech support.
Yes far off topic though.
Sorry bout that...back on topic. Don't skimp on RAM, Vid card and processor...storage can be easily upgraded. make sure you buy from a place with good tech support.
On the hunt for...
Dang. Well, that is really cool but kinda scary. My guess is that there will always be another game on the horizon that will bring the best system to it's knees. Finding a good blend of value and performance is probably still a good idea unless you are really into playing the latest and greatest games at the highest settings.Evil D wrote:There are several games on the market right now that really need 1gb grapics cards. The upcoming Elder Scrolls Skyrim is going to be INSANE, and Grand Theft Auto 4 is probably at the top of the hardware demand list right now. I know guys with hardcore gaming rigs who can't max out the settings on that one.
I totally agree. Best bang for your buck is right there.DeathBySnooSnoo wrote:Sorry bout that...back on topic. Don't skimp on RAM, Vid card and processor...storage can be easily upgraded. make sure you buy from a place with good tech support.
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jackknifeh
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- Location: Florida panhandle
Here is a bit of trivia that I'm 99% sure is true but still don't quote me. I remember when Pentium processors were getting popular at different speeds. I heard that since they didn't have the technology to make the processors at different speeds they just made the processors. Then they would test each processor to find out how fast it would process data, label and sell it as that speed. Of course the price would reflect the speed even though it didn't cost any more to make the faster ones than it did to make the slowest one off the line. I heard that from a co-worker when I was working on computers and he also had computers as a hobby and was always overclocking his equipment just for fun and to see how fast it would run before blowing up. I think he now works for a knife company that likes to stab car doors to test their knives. :D :D
Jack
Jack
I've been fairly happy with Dell. At one time I couldn't stand them, but my last 2 systems have been Dells and I've been overall pleased.
My current system (about 2 1/2 years old) is a Dell 630, 2-500gb Raid drives, ATI Crossfire vid card.
Will run pretty much any game you like.
Got the liquid cool option and it's the quietest desktop I've ever had...totally silent, which is a pleasure. First time I ever tried liquid cooling and didnt realize what a huge difference it made.
Total price in 09 was ~1800, rather over your budget.
Dell offers good warrantys, but their support seems a bit of a roller coaster, going from supurb to poor and back to supurb, which is troubling.
Laptops - I would look at Dells, but really try for an Alienware...gonna cost more, but very good systems.
There is a local vender (Atlanta) who sells nationwide, Vision Computers. Good folks with a great rep locally. Build everything from budget to high end systems.
In your case, you best bet could be asking around and finding someone reliable locally who builds systems. You tend to get the best bang for the buck that way, and can get exactly what you want.
As to upgradeability - it has always sounded like a good idea, but in 20+ years doing this stuff I've almost never actually upgraded a system, nor have any of my more techie friends. There is the occassional hd upgrade, or video card, but the truth is by the time most folks really need to upgrade, the cost of upgrading several components to an outdated system makes little sense and a whole new system is more economical.
My current system (about 2 1/2 years old) is a Dell 630, 2-500gb Raid drives, ATI Crossfire vid card.
Will run pretty much any game you like.
Got the liquid cool option and it's the quietest desktop I've ever had...totally silent, which is a pleasure. First time I ever tried liquid cooling and didnt realize what a huge difference it made.
Total price in 09 was ~1800, rather over your budget.
Dell offers good warrantys, but their support seems a bit of a roller coaster, going from supurb to poor and back to supurb, which is troubling.
Laptops - I would look at Dells, but really try for an Alienware...gonna cost more, but very good systems.
There is a local vender (Atlanta) who sells nationwide, Vision Computers. Good folks with a great rep locally. Build everything from budget to high end systems.
In your case, you best bet could be asking around and finding someone reliable locally who builds systems. You tend to get the best bang for the buck that way, and can get exactly what you want.
As to upgradeability - it has always sounded like a good idea, but in 20+ years doing this stuff I've almost never actually upgraded a system, nor have any of my more techie friends. There is the occassional hd upgrade, or video card, but the truth is by the time most folks really need to upgrade, the cost of upgrading several components to an outdated system makes little sense and a whole new system is more economical.
Jackson wrote:Dang. Well, that is really cool but kinda scary. My guess is that there will always be another game on the horizon that will bring the best system to it's knees. Finding a good blend of value and performance is probably still a good idea unless you are really into playing the latest and greatest games at the highest settings.
True...it's the nature of technology that as soon as you buy it, it becomes obsolete. This is why when i buy something PC related, i generally wait until it's already out dated and i can buy it cheaper...and in the long run everything i build is still new/fast to me, and because i buy it cheaper i can afford to upgrade as i go along and/or build another system altogether if i get too far behind the curve. I'm usually a latecomer when it comes to playing the newest games, but i don't get into online gaming or hype so i can deal with the wait.
Some games though, are just too tempting to hold out on...like the new Elder Scrolls game...i'm already scrambling to build something for when that game gets here.
~David
This is definitely what I'd suggest. For right around $1000 you can get an Apple certified refurbished 21.5" Core i3 iMac from the Apple store. It will be extremely reliable, can handle all of the tasks you outlined, should serve you well for quite a long time, and (of course) runs Mac OS X. You get a 21.5" LED backlit display, 3.06 GHz Core i3, 500 GB hard drive, and 4 GB of RAM, plus some nice items like the wireless keyboard and mouse, iSight camera, etc. You can even install and dual-boot Windows if you decide you want to at some point.crm7290 wrote:Maybe look into a Mac?.
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/s ... TkyMTQ3ODE
I'm a Network Admin on the Server Team at a large hospital. Worked my way up from PC Tech and have been building computers since 1990.D1omedes wrote:I need recommendations, guys. :)
The one you're looking at from Puget is way overpriced . Their add-ons are overpriced, too.
Check out the TigerDirect SysteMax computers. They're custom built using standard parts.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... 7+systemax
Computer #2 is the one I'm planning on getting.
There's already been a lot of good advice given here, especially about the name brand computers being extremely hard to upgrade. I'd never get one except as a last resort.