I've been reading comments on this site for a short while now. It seems to me most believe AMD is the king of gaming CPUs. However, some believe in the end Intel provides brute force strength in most other areas.
But anyways, I thought if I was going to game why not just buy a console, like the XBox 360 or PS3. I'm really leaning towards the PS3 since this may be the Messiah (the cell processor) we've all been waiting for.
Having a consule I know gives up tasks like web browsing, email, transcoding and other stuff. But with 95% of the posts here on THG are about problems with their systems its kind of depressing to keep reading.
So, I had an epiphany. Buy a basic AMD processor, low feature motherboard, some cheap ram, a dvd-burner, a hard drive and whatever else it takes to complete the system and buy the PS3 for gaming. This way I would avoid the hassles of breaking my pc but could game while its being repaired.
I truly believe this is my best senario. Would someone please support my decision?
Sounds like a very good option. You could put together an extremely low cost system using an AMD Sempron processor and a motherboard that features integrated graphics. You could even brag about underclocking (lol, just kidding about the underclocking).
Not only would you be able to build a low cost rig, you could build a pretty quiet one as well and have it not use much power (energy costs are rising).
I have also been considering the PS3, but I don't think I'll ever get away from a computer.
I know you hear a lot about computer issues here, but people don't usually post with the subject, "My computer works so great and I'm actually happy for once".
I recently put together my system (see sig for components) and had no issues, and it ROCKS on the games and it is by no means an expensive system. The mobo, proc, and video card cost me less than $600 and it is completely upgradable later (in fact, it's getting another gig of RAM today).
I had to satisfy my curiosity and throw together pricing for a low-end AMD Sempron system:
AMD Sempron 64 2800+ 800MHz HT Socket 754 Processor http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819104245 - This sempron runs at 1.6 ghz BUT has 256kb cache, which is good for a low-end proc. You could always overclock but you can't add more cache later.
$75.00
Gigabyte GA-K8N51GMF Micro ATX AMD Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128320 - This board doesn't just have integrated graphics, it has an integrated GeForce 6100. It would share you system RAM, but it would be nice to have a little horse power in case there was a PC only game, you could run it at low settings.
- Also, 8 channel audio, it's not Creative, but it would be good enough for your multi-media needs.
- This board also has a PCI-E x16 slot for a graphics card if you choose to upgrade
$59.99
RAIDMAX RX-380K 380W Power Supply http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817152019 - You might not get a true 380 watts out this supply, but whatever it's real rating is it will be OVERKILL for your low power Sempron system
$14.99
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Dual Channel Kit System Memory http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145440 - Yes, low end systems need a gig of RAM, and if you can get a gig of Corsair for under 70 bucks, why not!?
$66.08
SONY Black IDE DVD Burner Model DW-Q30A-B2http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827131264
- It's Sony, it burns, why not?
Western Digital Caviar SE 250GB 3.5" Serial ATA150 Hard Drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822144154 - Ya, you could skimp out and go with a puny 80gb hard drive, but we want a budget PC, not a joke, at less than $100 bucks a drive you cannot afford to have less than 250GB to address all your current and future storage needs
$95.00
RAIDMAX Astro ATX-268WSP Silver Computer Case With Side Panel Window http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811156019 - This is the case I purchased, it has a window, lots of space, and comes with two fans, you can't ask for much more than that at this price point.
$30.00
Total hardware cost: $341.06 + s&h
OS Cost (NewEgg Pricing): XP Home: $93.95
XP Pro: $146.95
XP MCE: $114.95
Yes, Dell can sell you a computer for "$300", however, there is a $100 shipping charge, plus what you'd be getting would be so inferior to the above hardware it wouldn't be funny.
I had to satisfy my curiosity and throw together pricing for a low-end AMD Sempron system:
Yes, Dell can sell you a computer for "$300", however, there is a $100 shipping charge, plus what you'd be getting would be so inferior to the above hardware it wouldn't be funny.
actually dell pcs are built to have no quality they extensively test them in the key areas of sucking
malfunctions
crashes
how much spyware and viruses they can collect
erasing vital files
monitor burning test
power supply frying other components
and etc
but they make sure that it fails a month after yo buy it so theres no refund
Well I think I could provide some good insight into this because I only recently (a year ago) got a pc. Before this time I was a ps/ps2 only person, I thought that they were great for gaming......then I built my pc. Well now my friend has my flat screen tv I used for ps2, my brother has my ps2; and for my xbox, I only bought after beating Halo for pc just so my cheep ass friends that don’t have a pc could play halo and halo2 multiplayer till 6 in the morning, sits on my dresser along w/CATV cable, controllers, and hub.
And as far as which games are better pc/console I will refer to a quote I read somewhere else in response to this question "What the hell do you think console games are made on? An etch-a-sketch? How can a console game be better that a pc game when it took a pc to make it?"
As for your situation, it sounds like you are not a hardcore gamer so I think a cheep pc with a console for gaming would be an excellent solution, especially with all the cross over games such as call of duty 2, half life, Doom3 and such being more and more common you can catch the best pc stuff. Only qualm I have is with the xbox only having a life of what a few years I think, not a good spend of several hundred bucks especially if you have to drop that kind of cash every 2 yr. but keeping up with a top notch pc is more costly. The advantage I found was that you can post pone upgrading a long time if you can deal without eye candy of the time then all at once buy a new mobo, proc, video card, ram and your good to go for a long time plus you can use that old stuff as a file server or what not.
Dell quality is actually quite good. Yes, I have had problems with their products in the past, but it is easy to have problems when you manage 600 PC's, many of those Dells.
Dell product engineering is great. It is very easy to work on a Dell PC, rarely do you need a screwdriver, it's 95% tool-less. When I need a part due to a failure while under warranty it is there in LESS than 24 hours. Now that is good service. And, with their Gold Technical Support you don't have to talk to people in India or wait.
Yes, it is cheaper and better to build your own PC. However, when you are purchasing PC's in large quantites Dell rules. I recently ordered about 50 Dell computers, and there is no way I could have aquired the parts and labor to build 50 comparable PC's at the same price level.
piddy, you are the opposite of a fanboy, you are a Dell hateboy! I know I won't convince you, but Dell is a good company with quality products, in my opinion of course (with my perspective as being a large-quantity purchaser).
However, I do agree with you the PC enthusiasts should be building their own rigs and should be putting AMD chips in them!
Dell quality is actually quite good. Yes, I have had problems with their products in the past, but it is easy to have problems when you manage 600 PC's, many of those Dells.
Dell product engineering is great. It is very easy to work on a Dell PC, rarely do you need a screwdriver, it's 95% tool-less. When I need a part due to a failure while under warranty it is there in LESS than 24 hours. Now that is good service. And, with their Gold Technical Support you don't have to talk to people in India or wait.
Yes, it is cheaper and better to build your own PC. However, when you are purchasing PC's in large quantites Dell rules. I recently ordered about 50 Dell computers, and there is no way I could have aquired the parts and labor to build 50 comparable PC's at the same price level.
piddy, you are the opposite of a fanboy, you are a Dell hateboy! I know I won't convince you, but Dell is a good company with quality products, in my opinion of course (with my perspective as being a large-quantity purchaser).
However, I do agree with you the PC enthusiasts should be building their own rigs and should be putting AMD chips in them!
dude i know that dell is paying you for this here go on this site maybe you'll stop being dells plant on these forums wait you wont the money is too good am i right?
I would say you should get a system with a VIA CPU, thats low power.
You are out of your mind sir. A low cost $300 (plus 100 or more shipping) Dell consists of this:
Celeron Processor
256 megs of RAM
Cheap Integrated Video (that can't run doo-doo)
80 gigabyte hard drive
How would that be better than this:
AMD Sempron
1 GIGABYE OF RAM
GeForce 6100 integrated graphics
250 gigabyte hard drive
Plus the AMD rig has a PCI-E x16 slot for future video upgrades. Also, I believe the Dell's only have one RAM slot on el-cheapos and that means you'd have to throw away that 256 if you wanted to put more in.
That is a very viable option. I personally have an xbox and my nephew has an xbox 360. I do like the 360 better simply because of the 1080i but I still prefer PC games. For some reason game designer tend to make console games more arcady(have to unload an entire clip into someone to kill them). I just prefer the feel of the pc games, they just seem to have more detail. But your decision is a valid one. PC games tend to push the envelope of current video cards. If you don't keep up with the card race you miss out on most of the graphic features they build into the games. That is one problem you won't have with a PS3 or 360. Realistically you could built a cheap system for about $400-450 (AMD) that would do everything well except game.
dude i know that dell is paying you for this here go on this site maybe you'll stop being dells plant on these forums wait you wont the money is too good am i right?
piddy, you are damaging your credibility, not mine. I am a technology professional that does purchasing and strategic planning for a K-12 school district. We are not going to build hundreds of PC's each year, we purchase them.
I have FIRST HAND experience dealing with over one-thousand Dell machines from Pentium II all the way up to the newest Pentium 4's. I do not know if you have had this kind of experience with Dell and Dell products. You may not be satisified with Dell products, but that does not dis-credit my experience and other people's positive experiences with Dell.
How many Dell computers have you owned or managed? Is your hatred for Dell based on experience? If so, why? What happened? I would be interested to know.
Keep in mind, although I am an AMD fanboy and am terribly biased in AMD-Intel discucssion I am NOT a Dell fanboy, my statements about Dell are rather unbiased. Dell is good for businesses and education, but you won't see it in my home.
this threads different
