Looking to Replace

[itsanss]

Bought Call of Duty 5: World at War. I've had all the challenges and weapon challenges completed for six months on Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Ready to try something different...

Installed COD 5, and couldn't ever get it to work. Turns out my hand-me-down computer doesn't meet the system requirements for the game; specifically the video card. This was my grandparent’s computer until it died. Needed a new power supply. Been pretty faithful except for the motherboard has a channel (?) dead on it. Where my 2.0 GB memory sticks of RAM are plugged into, two work and two do not. Please forgive my newb.-ness when it comes to computer components. I really am not up on all the PC lingo, I just know how to use a computer.


Although I can simply buy a video card to be able to play COD 5, I've decided to upgrade my whole machine. Actually, I am going to replace it. I've found an already built machine online that sounds up my alley as far as power and cost.

My question is: Does this sound like a pretty decent machine for price and power?

First, here is a list of basically what I do with my current machine on a day to day basis, and will continue to do when I get a new machine.

Call of Duty
iTunes
PodMaxx '09
Quicken 2004
Check e-mail
Surf the web, i.e. YouTube videos, research for school (I’m a Yahoo! kinda’ guy), etc.
Microsoft Office 2007
Freecell

Somewhat simple...And honestly my computer keeps up fairly well, but if I am going to upgrade, might as well upgrade to where I can FEEL the difference. Plus, a brand new machine'll keep me satisfied for five years.

Here is what I have now…

Microsoft Windows XP, Service Pack 3
Intel Pentium 4, 3.00 GHz
2.00 GB of RAM
Radeon X300
SB Live! 24-bit audio
Western Digital 1TB external hard-drive
Boston Acoustic speakers and subwoofer. Also, wired in my home stereo, Philips Magnavox four speaker stereo, to my computer. Hehe
SyncMaster 205BW monitor
Standard keyboard
Standard mouse

This is what the machine I am looking at online has:

AMD® Phenom II™ X4 Black Edition Quad Core (professionally overclocked to over 4.0GHz x 4)

Case color choice

System Lighting color choice

System Cooling: High-Performance Liquid Cooling

Power Supply: Multi-GPU Approved Power Supply

Graphics Processor: 2GB GDDR3 ATI® Radeon® HD 4850x2 with CrossFire™ Technology

Memory: 8 GB« Low Latency Dual Channel gaming DDR2 SDRAM at 1066MHz

Motherboard: AMD® 790GX/SB750 Motherboard

Operating System: Windows Vista® Ultimate 64bit with Service Pack 1

System Drive: Dual Drive High Performance Raid 0 Configuration - 2x500GB SATA 3Gb/s 7,200RPM 32MB Cache

Optical Drives : Single Drive Configuration - 22X Dual-Layer Burner with lightscribe (CD/ DVD±RW)

Internet: Single High Performance Gigabit Ethernet Port

Sound Card: High-Definition 7.1 Performance Audio

Keyboard: Standard Keyboard - Standard Keyboard

Mouse: Standard Mouse - Standard Optical 3-Button Mouse with Scroll Wheel

Optimization: Full system burn in, testing, and optimization for stability and benchmark performance, restore discs created

Warranty: 1-Year parts and labor on entire system....lifetime manufacturers warranty on key system components

optical drive BLURAY
hard drives 2x 1TB
digital tv tuner with remote, dvr direct to dvd, and vista tv sidebar gadget
55 in 1 media reader w/direct media to media swap
Hardware monitor for monitoring temps on cpu, gpu, and ambient temps, + control fan speeds

That’s for $2,400. I priced a similarly built Dell and Gateway desktops to this computer. Dell, with similar components is $5K and the Gateway, which doesn’t have nearly the goodies this one has, was $3K.

On a side note, I currently have a 6.0 Mbps down and 512 Kbps up Internet connection and am about to upgrade to the ‘Gold Package’ which is 10.0 Mbps down and 1.0 Mbps up for $10 more per month.

Thanks, ya’ll!

 

[fullmetall]

for $2400, you can get a high end i7core computer built. just, have to order it part by part, not built.

If you want i can spec out a rig for you.

 

[itsanss]

for $2400, you can get a high end i7core computer built. just, have to order it part by part, not built.

If you want i can spec out a rig for you.

I read reviews on i7 versus Phenom II. From what I saw, they are pretty well neck and neck. I gathered that the super high-end machines urge the use of the i7, but the Phenom II is still really good.

If you'd like to get a list of parts and prices for me, you certainly may. You build computers for a living or in your spare time?

Thanks

 

[fullmetall]

a PII is basically a alternative for an i7 due to budgets. Yea you can say that, during work when i have nothing to do, i come here alot, or i build on old models.

 

[batuchka]

Hmm for a purely/mainly Gaming rig no need for a Blue Ray ODD hehe and i have no idea where u buying that from but here is a simiiar P2 X4 rig configuration on Egg

The monitor plays a huge part in a gaming experience so hit a 24"

..and you set to go at a far cheaper price point!

 

[doormatderek]

Please tell me you get a monitor with that price??

 

[batuchka]

Updated

 

[fullmetall]

The 610w you chose doesnt have any sort of 6/8pin, any x2 card from 3870 and up as i've seen requires that connection.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.aspx?CurImage=14-102-809-S02&ISList=14-102-809-S01%2c14-102-809-S02%2c14-102-809-S03%2c14-102-809-S04%2c14-102-809-S05%2c14-102-809-S06&S7ImageFlag=1&Item=N82E16814102809&Depa=0&WaterMark=1&Description=SAPPHIRE%20Radeon%20HD%204850%20X2%20100270SR%20Video%20Card%20-%20Retail

heres a pic. of the connection, you would have to find the picture of the connection, its the 2nd to last pciture i think.

Plus, I would want more wattage to deal with my 4870x2 and a high end PII.

 

[Why_Me]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137 $89.99
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006 $129.99 ($109.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128375 $209.99 ($194.99 after $15.00 Mail-In Rebate)
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202 $288.99 Free Shipping*
Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233026 $26.99
XIGMATEK nepartak - s983 92mm HYPRO Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233027 $9.99
XIGMATEK ACK-I7361 CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231247 $109.99 Free Shipping*
G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136283 $89.99 Free Shipping*
Western Digital Caviar Black WD7501AALS 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152 $24.99
LG Black 22X (CAV) DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X (CAV) DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD±R DVD Burner - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150334 $349.99 Free Shipping*
XFX GX285NZDFF GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488 $99.99 Free Shipping*
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020 $6.99
ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009125 $279.99 Free Shipping*
Acer P243WAid Black-Silver 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor with HDCP Support 400 cd/m2 3000:1 ACM - Retail

Total: $1,717.87 (not including shipping and rebates)

 

[Why_Me]

double post ....

 

[itsanss]

Please tell me you get a monitor with that price??

No monitor included in the $2,400.

Hmm for a purely/mainly Gaming rig no need for a Blue Ray ODD hehe and i have no idea where u buying that from but here is a simiiar P2 X4 rig configuration on Egg
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q205/batuchka/98XDenebOS.jpg

The monitor plays a huge part in a gaming experience so hit a 24"
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q205/batuchka/24LCD.jpg

..and you set to go at a far cheaper price point!

Well, I figured since BluRay was the latest and greatest, might as well throw that in the mix.

The last five features on the list of the machine I’m lookin’ at is for an extra $400. Making the total $2,400.

optical drive BLURAY
hard drives 2x 1TB
digital tv tuner with remote, dvr direct to dvd, and vista tv sidebar gadget
55 in 1 media reader w/direct media to media swap
Hardware monitor for monitoring temps on cpu, gpu, and ambient temps, + control fan speeds

Also, the monitor I have is a 20” widescreen. Although $279 is not bad considering I can sell the one I have now for some of that. I am contemplating selling my current machine and now possibly my monitor to my uncle. My current computer far surpasses my uncle’s. Rather sad. lol Just from the basic description, what is mine worth including monitor? Few hundred?


So, basically, I can build the same/slightly better/slightly worse machine for half the cost?

Thanks so much for the info. thus far, ya’ll.

By the way, that computer I'm talkin' about is on eBay. It's an Alienware. Can I post a link to it on here? Some forums don't allow eBay links to be posted...

Thanks again

 

[itsanss]

Please tell me you get a monitor with that price??

No monitor included in the $2,400.

Hmm for a purely/mainly Gaming rig no need for a Blue Ray ODD hehe and i have no idea where u buying that from but here is a simiiar P2 X4 rig configuration on Egg
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q205/batuchka/98XDenebOS.jpg

The monitor plays a huge part in a gaming experience so hit a 24"
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q205/batuchka/24LCD.jpg

..and you set to go at a far cheaper price point!

Well, I figured since BluRay was the latest and greatest, might as well throw that in the mix.

The last five features on the list of the machine I’m lookin’ at is for an extra $400. Making the total $2,400.

optical drive BLURAY
hard drives 2x 1TB
digital tv tuner with remote, dvr direct to dvd, and vista tv sidebar gadget
55 in 1 media reader w/direct media to media swap
Hardware monitor for monitoring temps on cpu, gpu, and ambient temps, + control fan speeds

Also, the monitor I have is a 20” widescreen. Although $279 is not bad considering I can sell the one I have now for some of that. I am contemplating selling my current machine and now possibly my monitor to my uncle. My current computer far surpasses my uncle’s. Rather sad. lol Just from the basic description, what is mine worth including monitor? Few hundred?


So, basically, I can build the same/slightly better/slightly worse machine for half the cost?

Thanks so much for the info. thus far, ya’ll.

By the way, that computer I'm talkin' about is on eBay. It's an Alienware. Can I post a link to it on here? Some forums don't allow eBay links to be posted...

Thanks again

 

[fullmetall]

Your going to buy a build alienware computer on ebay? Im sure you can post a ebay link, send it on here and to spec out the rig, make sure it worth the buy before you buy it

 

[itsanss]

Your going to buy a build alienware computer on ebay? Im sure you can post a ebay link, send it on here and to spec out the rig, make sure it worth the buy before you buy it

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=120384015229

http://cgi.ebay.com/Quad-Core-i7-Gaming-Computer-PC-GeForce-GTX-280-1GB-SLI_W0QQitemZ170292451772QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDesktop_PCs?hash=item170292451772&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

The computers I've seen on eBay are considerably cheaper than on the company's website. Most sellers have good feedback. Seems like a good deal to me, but I've been known to be wrong.

I asked my dad this mornin' if he would feel comfortable building a computer from scratch. He said he would be fine with that, but he has never done it before. Honestly, I think I'd rather just spend a few hundred extra to have a warranty and have it ready to play with out of the box rather than build it piece by piece...

Let me know what ya'll think.

Sorry for the double post earlier. Each time I submit a post, the 'Page Cannot be Displayed', but my post goes through. Tried to delete the post, but said I was not signed in, even though I was. lol

Thanks

 

[fullmetall]

Only thing i dont like about that build is the choice of the motherboard brand that was chosen and harddrive.

I wish i had a company of my own where you can buy you products and the shippment gets shipped to us and the company builds the computer then ships it to the rightful owner. You could get a computer better than that with tighter timings, faster hdd, more reliable motherboard and possibly look into the coolermaster haf case.

 

[itsanss]

Can't exactly order parts and ship it to some other guy's house. lol

The only things you would change would be the motherboard and harddrive? Particular reason?

Thanks

 

[fullmetall]

well from my learning here in tomshardware. seagates kind of gone down the drain a little. Western digital black 640gb would be more of a reliable hdd and faster, runs on 2 platters(320gbx320gb)

MSI, quality wise, would stick to asus p6t or a gigabyte.

Well yea i know that, but, im saying if there was a business out there to do the things i like, I would be there building these rigs so people that don't know how to build could send it to that business, if wanted an os system installed, that could be installed, if wanted an oc, then and oc could be set in place for that person. Stuff like that.