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buying new computer (5000$ dollar computer) help!!

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Hey everyone im in need of a little help here im asking people for any advice. im a college student and i do ALOT ALOT ALOT of work/term papers and i also play alot of games like gta3 and sof2 and what not. Well it seems like my cyrix 333mhz isnt really holding up anymore. i bought it at a garage sale a year ago just to surf the net. but now that im into more serious stuff like games and high graphics games at that.and i need a system that will last me a very long time. last week i was in my friends dorm room playing his computer cuz he got a fast ass rig (2200 amd athlon xp)and i always play his games cuz my comp cant handle notihng. so we were watching bob and silent jay on video (that movie is the sweetest) with our girls. and i was telling him how much my computer crashed and how much i need a new one and stuff. so he said he would build me a system that he guarantees will last me atleast 5 years probably more. but he said 5 thousand dollars for it. so i told him to go slap himself 5 thousand times. then he said trust me man i know alot about computers and [-peep-]. let me write down what i can make for you and give it to you tommorow morning so next day he gave me a peice of paper with everything written down and i thought hmm this might not be bad. maybe 5k is worth this. he said to trust him and that its worth it and will last you atleast 5 years or more and he said he will update every single driver get every single windows update and everything will be the most stable. he said if i dont like it he'll give me my money back too. i trust him since we were friends since we were 12 but i dunno for 5k can i really? heres the system specs that he wrote thme exactly as it is.

cpu-Pentium4 2.53ghz Northwood Socket 478 Processor w/Fan and Heatsink Retail

Graphics Card- ASUS Geforce 4 Ti4600 128mb ddram agp Retail

Motherboard- ASUS P4T533-CIntel 850E S478 W/LAN AUDIO USB2.0 5PCI 1AGP4X ATA100 2RDRAM (Retail) ASUS P4T533C FSB 533MHZ, RETAIL PACKAGE

Sound Card- Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum Retail

OS- Windows 2000 Proffesional Full Version Retail

mouse/keyboard- Logitech Cordless Freedom Pro USB/PS2 Retail

printer- Canon S900 Photo Printer 2400x1200dpi Retail

Hard Drive- 15000rpm 18.3GB-80pin 3.4ms IBM Retail

Monitor- Sony CPD-G520 21inch .24mm 2048x1536 80Hz FD Trinitron (21 inches) Retail

Memory- KINGSTON 512mb rdram (rambus) pc800 nonecc OEM

case- antec PLUS1080B 1080B BLACK FULL TOWER ATX12V 430W P/S TRUEPWR 4 5.25 6 3.5 BLK antec Retail

Speakers- Altec Lansing 641 4.1 5 Pieces Speakers Retail

CDRW- SONY 32X10X40 Int. ATAPI/IDE CD-RW Drive Retail

Floppy- ony Floppy Drive 1.44MB 3.5 Sony Internal Beige

Modem- us robotics USR5610B 56K V.92 Int. PCI Modem (NoVoice) - RETAIL Performance Pro FaxModem Data/Fax Only

DVD- SONY 16x DVD DRIVE Retail

I know he can make this kinda system. He is VERY VERY good with computers because hes taking computer programming in college. So i want everyones advice. should i get this? i just need a system that will still be hot 2 years from now or 3 years from now and slowly fade after 5+ years. i know its alot of money and im willing to sacrifice it. i just need something that i dont have to upgrade for a long time! should i get this from my friend or is this garbage?

Add a reply

Pfff, 5G for that?? Aahahahha. No! Also, comp programming teaches u diddly about comp hardware. That definetly won't be able to play top of the line stuff for 5 years- GF4 is old stuff man, u gotta wait for a Gf5 which will incorporate new tech.

My frog asked me for a straw...dunno what happened his ass all over the place :eek:

Reply to Flamethrower205

Excluding monitor, printer, scanner, and os (get it for free), that comp is ~$2100 (yes, I did just spend 10 mins calculating prices). Total rip what he's offering u, and believe me, it won't last 5 years.

My frog asked me for a straw...dunno what happened his ass all over the place :eek:

Reply to Flamethrower205

Try this to get an estimate:

<A HREF="http://www.jumbocorp.com/b2b/buildpc/index.asp" target="_new">Jumbo Electronis</A>
<A HREF="http://www.pcbuildit.com/" target="_new">PC Build It</A>

At least you can get a ballpark idea for a good deal, then you try to beat it by building it yourself. You can get a lot of help and advice here in THGC.

An average human brain weights aprox. 3lbs., but a thought weights a load.

Reply to jc14all

You should definatly NOT spent $5K on a system in hopes of staying current for 5 years. Nevermind that it looks like your "friend" is trying to rip you off. Have you ever heard of Moore's law? Moore's law basically says that computer power doubles ever year or two. Other then a few flat spots here and there Moore's law has held true since personal computers were invented. Right now the fastest systems are around 2.5G (at least your friend quoted you good stuff) In 5 years the best systems will be at worst 4 times faster. It may seem impossable now but if you look at history this very thing has been going on since the beginning. E-machines will be selling 2.5G machines in the discount rack in 5 years. NOTHING you buy no matter how much you spend will be worth spit in 5 years.

Get a decent system for a couple grand and get an new one in a few years. That is how to stay current.

Just a few years ago I spent over $3,000.00 on a 300MHz system with expensive all SCSI drives and a 10,000rpm HD. After a couple years I upgraded to 600MHz. This thing is under 5 years old and now it sits in a corner having been replaced by a $350.00 1700+xp system.

Give me fuel, give me fire, give me that which I desire.

Reply to lakedude

5G for that?? Aahahahha. No! That is a total rip off, it's more like $2000 excluding the monitor.

Also, comp programming (or at least computer science) teaches u Alot about comp hardware, from memory allocation to the Von-Neuman Architecture.

Via chipsets, SiS chipsets -- all the same...all made in TAIWAN!

Reply to Stick_e_Mouse

That's computer science, and then depending which course u take. Strictly programming will only mention how bits are stored, etc, not how to build a comp or what makes a GF4 tick and why it's good. Comp architecure is a different story.

My frog asked me for a straw...dunno what happened his ass all over the place :eek:

Reply to Flamethrower205

Oh really? Not in my University...

Via chipsets, SiS chipsets -- all the same...all made in TAIWAN!

Reply to Stick_e_Mouse

Well I'm used to how they do it in Columbia University (dad went there, and I stuck around- I was very small. Hmm, wonder how that's influenced my life

My frog asked me for a straw...dunno what happened his ass all over the place :eek:

Reply to Flamethrower205

Okay, here's a few pointers when buying computers for school:

1. Don't get the absolute fastest thing out there. I always buy right where prices start to steepen. eg (and these are made up numbers btw): if your comp store's price list goes like this:

1.5 GHz - $150
1.6 GHz - $165
1.7 GHz - $168
1.8 GHz - $205
1.9 GHz - $255

definitely don't go for the 1.9 GHz part. Go with the 1.7. Computer prices are always like this, and scale exponentially, not linearly. Pick the parts that are at the base of the steep curve and you'll do fine for a good while.

Right now a Ti4600 is pretty much a stupid purchase unless you are REALLY into gaming and have a ton of money to burn. 5 years from now, the Ti4400 will run the best game at 22 fps, and the 4600 will run it at 23.5 fps. Save the extra money.

2. Can you tell us why you need an SCSI drive? If not, you don't need one. With what you are going to be using the computer for, you may as well go for an 80 gig 7200 rpm ATA 100 drive. I can guarantee you won't be able to tell it's any slower than the SCSI you have listed there, and you'll have over 4 times the storage space.

3. SB Audigy Platinum Retail??? Do you hook your guitar up to your computer and record yourself? If you want an audigy, the OEM non-platinum one will do fine. Better yet, just go with the live! 5.1 and you'll save some more cash and you won't know the difference.

4. Do you really need a cordless mouse? Sure it's nice, but if you're a college student, it's not necessary. Corded are fine and you can save some more money there too.

5. A nice case is a definite advantage. I just bought an antec 1030B case and it's awesome. I'm going to be keeping it through future computer upgrades for sure, but if you want to save some more money here, you can just get a generic case.

Honestly, the only choices I really like in there and would definitely recommend you spend the extra money on if you have it are the monitor and MAYBE the case. Those don't go obsolete nearly as fast as the other components do, and you can definitely be using those in 5 years.

If my baby don't love me, I know, I know, her sister will.

Reply to silverpig

i would say i'm one of the nice guys here, but dude your friend is a fuckinn idiot

BTW you should tell him to go slap himself for the penneys

<A HREF="http://www.lochel.com" target="_new">Go To My Site</A>

Reply to scamtrOn

your daddy? Geez.

:smile: i like toasted cpus but not AMD-inside. :smile:

Reply to Anonymous

this config for playing games, business applications and print some papers. roflMAO
and for $5000. roflMAO (bis)

buy the same config as your friend with an AMD cpu.

note: your graphics card will be crap after 2 years even maybe 1 year.

SCSI drives aren't needed.
your printer normally you will keep it for a while as your monitor. they be worth the investment.
latest Intel based system is not needed.

for $2500 you can have a machine which fit your needs and kick the a$$ of your friend.

and with the difference, buy a DSL modem, offer yourself a DSL subscription and a 16/9 TV to watch your DVDs (with yours girls). :-)

:smile: i like toasted cpus but not AMD-inside. :smile:

Reply to Anonymous

your "friend" is ripping you off! youre a student right? so you want cheap right?
AMD 1800+ £80
Gigabyte GA7VRXP mobo £120
512MB DDR ram £80
Geforce4 ti4200 £150
soundblaster live! £50
seagate 40GB udma 100 7200RPM £80
lite-on 40x12x48 cdrw £60
pioneer 16x dvd 40xcd £65
17" monitor £100
case £30
floppy £10
keyboard, mouse, speakers £15
total £840!
and this system will be good for at least 2 years with minor upgrades ie graphics card, operating system, ram.
it will do EVERYTHING your friends ripoff system will do for 1/6th of the cost!
by the way if he has a axp 2200+ then he has a tbred and they only came out last week.. where did he get hold of one that quickly??? ive looked everywhere online and no one seems to be selling them

I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message.

Reply to rcj187

i have already found some xp2200+ resellers.

:smile: i like toasted cpus but not AMD-inside. :smile:

Reply to Anonymous

Quote :

i have already found some xp2200+ resellers.

cool where did you find them and how much were they going for?

I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message.

Reply to rcj187

thanks for everyones help guys. im still not sure what to do. i cant build my own since i dont know how and i will definetely screw something up. but i talked to my friend and he said that intel based systems are better then amd and amd has alot of problems like overheating and what not. he said its ok if i dont buy from him but if i do he will give me a kick ass system. he said if i want i can get low end parts like amd and ati and other stuff and he will sell me cheaper. im not sure yet. anyone know any site where they hve good quality components like my friend will put in?

Reply to TylerDurden

Don't remember the last time amd was low end cause my amd sys will still kick a P4's ass in 3d s max rendering. Anyway, AMD doesn't have problems w/ overheating, and they don't have problems. IMHO, they have less problems than intel systems. I wouldn't go w/ Ati simply b/c the drivers make me wanna kill someone. Wait till the GF5 + sledgehammer imo.

My frog asked me for a straw...dunno what happened his ass all over the place :eek:

Reply to Flamethrower205

Before we get into this please note that I have BOTH an AMD system and an Intel based system and have no brand loyality.

AMD chip do so have POTENTIAL problems with overheating as shown quite dramaticaly <A HREF="http://www17.tomshardware.com/cpu/01q3/010917/index.html" target="_new">http://www17.tomshardware.com/cpu/01q3/010917/index.html</A> If an older generation Intel chip starts getting hot it locks up like two dogs. If an older AMD chip gets too hot it burns up. The newer Intel chips are really nice because they don't lock up anymore, all they do is slow down when they get too hot. Only the very newest AMD chips and only if the motherboard is up the the task have any viable heat protection. Those chips will lock up if they get too hot. This is quite a primitive solution compared to Intel's.

Of course all you need to do is make sure your heat sink is on corectly and make sure your fan is in good shape and you will be perfectly fine running AMD and you will have a faster processer for the money. This guy is not so whippy with the computer stuff so for him I say Intel is the better choice. If you are going the tell him to go AMD then I think you should qualify your statement with a warning about the importance of a good cooling solution on AMD products. Whenever I transport my AMD box I always check to make sure I didn't knock off the HS in transport. Since I have more confidence in the Intel system I do not check it for the same problem because it is not going to burn up.

I'm not saying AMD is bad by any means. AMD is definately the best bang for the buck. I personally think that AMD is bettter suited for more involved users who can respect their pluses and are better equiped to deal with their minuses.

Give me fuel, give me fire, give me that which I desire.

Reply to lakedude

Quote :

Don't remember the last time amd was low end cause my amd sys will still kick a P4's ass in 3d s max rendering

cuz of your Quadro DCC card (or whatever) right?...
anyways...TylerDurden...your friend is an idiot....

:eek: Who fixed ATI's leaky faucet?? :eek:

Reply to pr497

Where do you live? Can I come kick your "friend"'s ass for you?

Hi mom!

Reply to FatBurger

I'm speaking this only to state the facts, not out of loyalty (I too have intel and amd systems, and may be getting a quad proc 2.6Ghz P4 sys). That video is an exxageration, cause who would ever take off their hsf? I don't think amd procs are only for those who know comps inside and out- I have freinds who know didly about comps and bought amd, and are extatic over their performance (maybe it's cause I hand configed it). IMO though, the athlon line is somewhat dead, I mean hammer's comin out, and from what I have heard, athlon production will cease in 2003.
pr: final render has nothing to do w/ vid card(although I'll be working on a plugin that does!)

My frog asked me for a straw...dunno what happened his ass all over the place :eek:

Reply to Flamethrower205

Crap, lol, I forgot one of the more important things I was gonna say- see what summer vacation does to u! twice actually the hsf has become detached from my 1.2Ghz T-Bird, and the system has simply locked up then, no fryage.

My frog asked me for a straw...dunno what happened his ass all over the place :eek:

Reply to Flamethrower205

>>If an older generation Intel chip starts getting hot it locks up like two dogs.

ROFLMAO!!!
You nasty guy, you =)

Via chipsets, SiS chipsets -- all the same...all made in TAIWAN!

Reply to Stick_e_Mouse

..OK.., Antec 1080, 19" mon., XP 1800 Retail, A7V266-E, 60 Gb - 7200, 512- 2100 DDR, DVD, CD-RW, AIW 8500, SB Live 5.1, 5 speaker, with MS XP, etc. etc., 3 weeks old. You can have it for $2500.00 CDN FOB my basement. That's like, ..oh, 1500 USD, and I had it built by a local shop...
With friends like that...

"But I don't have an "any" key...

Reply to rtfm7235

he said if i want i can get low end parts like amd and ati and other stuff and he will sell me cheaper.

1st of all your friend is an idiot. 2nd of all AMD and ATI are hardly low end.

This is what you should do.

1) Get a new friend.
2) Get a parts list for a recommended system.
3) Order all the parts.
4) Have NEW friend assemble computer.
5) Enjoy your new system for under $2500 by trying out the Shift key.

Seriously, you should have no problem finding someone else who knows how to build computers. You can get a nice P4 1.6a cheep and probably OC to 2.2 gig no problem. Only splurge on the monitor and printer, the rest will be obsolete in 2 years!

Cya

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4? 4.Nxe5?? Qg5 5.Nxf7 Qxg2 6.Rf1 Qxe4+ 7.Be2 Nf3#

Reply to Lowlypawn

Maybe not splurge on monitor, cause several improvements on LCd are being brought to market that won't increase price, and will have significant effect with regards to displaying moving images and viewing angle, so maybe save some dough for that (max of 1G, which will get a 19" LCD). Depends if u find it easier on the eyes.

My frog asked me for a straw...dunno what happened his ass all over the place :eek:

Reply to Flamethrower205

If you were even considering spending close to that kind of money you should just go ahead and purchase a "Gaming" system from a professional company. I reccomend <A HREF="http://www.falcon-nw.com/" target="_new">FalconNW</A>. They have been around for a long time plus you will get a complete gaming system and a warranty if anything goes wrong. I think even Dell makes gaming rigs now days.

Good luck

Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.

Reply to Pettytheft

Lol, falcon is a HUGE ripoff.

My frog asked me for a straw...dunno what happened his ass all over the place :eek:

Reply to Flamethrower205

June 19

Forums Back Up To Speed and Newegg Has 2200+ Thoroughbreds In Stock For Sale Now For the latter, looks like you'll get a lower price if you can wait a week or so, but they are available.

Intel for free. AMD for fee.

Reply to Anonymous

what the heck are you doing here at this time???

are you in amaraca

<A HREF="http://www.lochel.com" target="_new">Go To My Site</A>

Reply to scamtrOn

No. He isn't.

The shortest distance between two points is under construction. :lol:

Reply to OldBear

is he in maxaca

<A HREF="http://www.lochel.com" target="_new">Go To My Site</A>

Reply to scamtrOn

Nooooo.

The shortest distance between two points is under construction. :lol:

Reply to OldBear

is he in arapa

<A HREF="http://www.lochel.com" target="_new">Go To My Site</A>

Reply to scamtrOn

Noooo...geting warmer.

The shortest distance between two points is under construction. :lol:

Reply to OldBear

ahah he is in asa

<A HREF="http://www.lochel.com" target="_new">Go To My Site</A>

Reply to scamtrOn

Cooler.

The shortest distance between two points is under construction. :lol:

Reply to OldBear

um
afaraca

<A HREF="http://www.lochel.com" target="_new">Go To My Site</A>

Reply to scamtrOn

stuppug.

Intel for free. AMD for fee.

Reply to Anonymous

i live in the U.K. here our prices are higher. and the price you talk about is high even for here. i advise you get in touch with Fatburger, he has the right idea about how to proceed. for $5000.00 you can pay my flight and i'll come over, seriously kick your buddy'y ass, get your machine, save you some cash and make sure your now wheelchair bound buddy stays on hand as your personal slave.

When a boy reaches puberty, he says goodbye to childhood and looks forward to his adultery.

Reply to Tom_Smart

Quote :

but i talked to my friend and he said that intel based systems are better then amd and amd has alot of problems like overheating and what not

if your friend knows somuch about computers and he thinks AMD are worse than Intel how come he is using an AMD processor????
the fact is yes AMD run warmer han intel. is this a problem? not at all, its just the differnces in design between the 2.
as for stability - AMD systems are no more unstable than an Intel one. if a system is built and configured correctly it WILL run 100% stable. if its not configured right then you ay have instability problems. this holds true for intel and AMD systems.
if you REALLY want to spend $5000 on your friends system then fair enough. at the moment it is a top end system. but in a year it will only be mid range. in 2 years it will be budget and in 5 years it will be obsolete. the way to keep up is to buy at mid range now and upgrade in a year or two. no system no matter how much you spend will still be good in 5 years. for example just look at what was a topend system 5 years ago... a P2 266?? would ou really be using a system based on that right now?
hope you find a good computer at a good price. dont let your friend put you off AMD. let us all know how it goes

I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message.

Reply to rcj187

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