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ignitorr   10-30-2009 at 02:22:23 PM

I am buying a new PC for home use and need help deciding between an Intel processor or an AMD processor. The PC will be used primarily for browsing the internet and viewing/storing videos and pictures. No need for gaming. I have been looking at Best Buy.com and would greatly appreciate it if a couple of folks could chime in on which computer would be the best fit for me. Thanks!

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jj463rd   10-30-2009 at 02:39:28 PM
- 0 +

Why not build your own instead.You will get a better PC if you build it yourself.
You get to choose the parts that go in it.
Most OEM name brand PC's use low end components (especially motherboards and power supplies) to maximize their profits.If they didn't make a profit they wouldn't be selling PC's.
But basically Intel wins on the high end,upper mid range CPU's and AMD wins on the lower mid range and budget CPU's.

Reply to jj463rd
sub mesa   10-30-2009 at 03:19:36 PM
- 0 +

Get an Athlon X2 250 or Phenom X2 550 its a great CPU for light tasks while still being very low consuming when idling. A cheap AMD micro-ATX board with AMD 785G chipset and you don't need a separate add-on videocard; saves you alot of money.

Invest the money in a good monitor, sound and keyboard/mouse which will be of most use to you! Don't spend more than 300 euro on the PC itself.

------------------------------ ...man will occasionally stumble over the truth, but usually manages to pick himself up, walk over or around it, and carry on.
Reply to sub mesa
jj463rd   10-30-2009 at 03:25:46 PM
- 0 +

I agree about a 785G based motherboard but how about this CPU instead as it's less expensive at only $87 and performs nearly as well as the Phenom II X3 720 BE

http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] ,2452.html

Reply to jj463rd
sub mesa   10-30-2009 at 03:29:25 PM
- 0 +

Good choice as well yes: Athlon II X3 435 at 2.9GHz.

------------------------------ ...man will occasionally stumble over the truth, but usually manages to pick himself up, walk over or around it, and carry on.
Reply to sub mesa
xaira   10-30-2009 at 04:47:14 PM
- 0 +

you dont need alot of power for what ur uses are, the athon x2 240 and 240e will do just fine

------------------------------ "Envy is ignorance" - Henry Thoreau : Best quote ever.

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 Reply to xaira
KidHorn   10-30-2009 at 05:30:12 PM
- 0 +

Here's my advice. Got to the dell outlet and subscribe to their emails. They send out special codes every couple of months or so for 15% off. You can frequently get a core i7 920 system with 6GB of RAM for around $600. It will probably be refurbished, but when you get it, you won't be able to tell.

It's way better than the gateway you're thinking of getting.

Reply to KidHorn
xaira   10-31-2009 at 02:55:51 AM
- 0 +

that bestbuy pc makes no sense at all, pairing a pentium with 6 gigs of ram psh

------------------------------ "Envy is ignorance" - Henry Thoreau : Best quote ever.

http://www.pingtest.net/result/3022953.png
 Reply to xaira
ignitorr   10-31-2009 at 04:38:45 AM
- 0 +

which would you reccomend for less than $600

Reply to ignitorr
masterasia   10-31-2009 at 04:46:55 AM
- 0 +

If it's not for gaming, then just buy one from Best Buy.
The one you want from Best Buy comes with a 5400 RPM hard drive.
That is slow, if you care about speed. Once you fill that thing up with
videos, music, and pictures, it will be even slower.

But if you do want to build your own, go AMD for your needs. You can probably
get a decent AMD build for about $400.

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to masterasia
ignitorr   10-31-2009 at 05:03:36 AM
- 0 +

I would prefer to buy a pre-built one. Any reccomendations based on Best Buy's current offerings?

Reply to ignitorr
ignitorr   10-31-2009 at 05:04:08 AM
- 0 +

masterasia wrote :

If it's not for gaming, then just buy one from Best Buy.
The one you want from Best Buy comes with a 5400 RPM hard drive.
That is slow, if you care about speed. Once you fill that thing up with
videos, music, and pictures, it will be even slower.

But if you do want to build your own, go AMD for your needs. You can probably
get a decent AMD build for about $400.



I would prefer to buy a pre-built one. Any reccomendations based on Best Buy's current offerings?

Reply to ignitorr
Raidur   10-31-2009 at 08:00:36 AM
- 0 +

I wouldn't support best buy. :) Go for a popular online vendor. Maybe a newegg pre-built system or cyberpower or something. Best Buy makes a living trying to trick people into buying stupid things and overpaying.

Take HDMI cables for example. They show you the monster cable and the other named brand expensive cable.
$100+

What they don't show you is that you can get a generic HDMI cable that has THE SAME VIDEO QUALITY. But would only last you say... 5 years instead of... 20?
$6+

Don't get me started on Geek Squad. :)

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by Raidur on 10-31-2009 at 08:01:20 AM
------------------------------ Intel Q9550 @ 3.6Ghz 1.23v / Abit Quad GT IX38 CrossFire / 4870 1GB /
2x2GB Gskill DDR2-1066 / WD Black 640GB / Rosewill 630w
 Reply to Raidur
Daggs   10-31-2009 at 08:47:45 AM
- 0 +

ignitorr wrote :

This is the one that I am leaning towards:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Gatewa [...] 8120537563


the 775 are a dead socket, I saw amd based systems (which you build) that costed the same, perform better and are future proof

Reply to Daggs
jitpublisher   10-31-2009 at 02:43:04 PM
- 0 +

That Gateway you have picked out is worth the money, and is more than you need to suit all your needs. You will be quite happy with it, if you like it buy it!


Message edited by jitpublisher on 10-31-2009 at 02:43:31 PM
Reply to jitpublisher
BadTRip   10-31-2009 at 04:38:54 PM
- 0 +

Raidur wrote :

I wouldn't support best buy. :) Go for a popular online vendor. Maybe a newegg pre-built system or cyberpower or something. Best Buy makes a living trying to trick people into buying stupid things and overpaying.

Take HDMI cables for example. They show you the monster cable and the other named brand expensive cable.
$100+

What they don't show you is that you can get a generic HDMI cable that has THE SAME VIDEO QUALITY. But would only last you say... 5 years instead of... 20?
$6+

Don't get me started on Geek Squad. :)




Do I ever agree with you on this. Best Buy salespeople are either idiots or scum, and I wouldn't let the Geek Squad program my abacus, lol.

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to BadTRip
masterasia   10-31-2009 at 08:57:37 PM
- 0 +

BadTRip wrote :

Do I ever agree with you on this. Best Buy salespeople are either idiots or scum, and I wouldn't let the Geek Squad program my abacus, lol.



Geek Squad sucks. I applied there for a seasonal job like 3 years ago. Got hired on the spot, but they only pay $10/hr.
70% Sales (tricking people into buying their crap), 20% customer support, and 10% actually doing anything related to computers. They said they stopped their
commission program, but I suspected it was still going on, just that you weren't paid in commission anymore, you'd get
fired if you didn't meet your quota, maybe not right away, but it all leads up to it.

If you have a Microcenter or CompUSA near you, I'd go there. Their sales people seem to know more than the Geek Squad.

Reply to masterasia
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