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Which computer to choose?

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  • CPUs
  • Computers
  • Hewlett Packard
  • Computer
Last response: in CPUs
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May 3, 2010 7:58:36 PM

Hi

I don't really know that much about computers but I very much enjoy this website and all the advise you get.

I am going to buy a new computer, primarely for gaming. I have three choices: two from a company called MM-vision, which built their own computers, put emphasis on quality parts, and have won many pc-magazine awards for their gaming computers and their support etc, and a Hewlett Packard from a computer version of Wall Mart. So what I hope someone could might answer is where I get most for the money, if I should go after the HP or the no-names. Another thing which is important is the noise level. I know the MM-vision computers are very silent, but I don't know about the HP. Here are the specs and prices:

Rig 1: HP Pavilion Elite Desktop PC HPE-115sc - $1,475:
Intel Core i7-860 (2.8 ghz)
8 GB DDR3 (1.066 mhz)
1 TB hard desk
1.8 GB Geforce GTX260 SE
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Rig 2: MM-vision - $1,500
AMD Phenom II 1055T (6x2,8ghz)
8 GB Kingston DDR3 (1.333 mhz)
1 TB Seagate hard desk
1 GB ATI HD5830
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Rig 3: MM-vision - $1,500
Intel Core i5-750 (4x2.66ghz)
8 GB Kingston DDR3 (1.333 mhz)
1 TB Seagate hard desk
1 GB ATI HD5830
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Alternatively I could down grade from a HD5830 to HD5770 and save $115 on the two vision computers.

I am not a hardcore gamer, so it won't freak me out if the detail settings aren't on "ultra high". What is important is that it works because if something breaks I can't fix it myself. Also I don't upgrade and I will not buy a new one for approx. 4 years. I currently have a Dell XPS Gen5 from 2005 which cost a smaller fortune then and it have worked almost without problems. What I basically worry about I guess, is that someone says that the parts you get in ex. a HP computer are cheap compared to the smaller companies building the computers themselves. I have read many threads to find out what to choose, because the money difference is very little. So what will be most future proof for a 4 year period, the AMD hexe. the core i5, which is recommended by Toms Hardware as best buy, or the HP core i7. I know I get more for the money in the HP, but is the quality lower?

Hope to get some feedback from the experts out there, you are doing a great job for people who don't know that much about computers.

More about : computer choose

May 3, 2010 8:16:48 PM

HP's are fine business class systems with a strong warranty that no corporation can ignore lightly. That said, they are not gamer centric by any means. Of the 2 remaining systems I vote for the AMD because I'm a fanboy, (actually fan-olddude but lets let that go), and expect the fireworks to fly well enough you should get information overload.

Seriously, of 2 and 3 flip a coin. $25 bucks more to get a very nice base would be well worth it to me.
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May 3, 2010 8:38:16 PM

the choice is between 2 and 3, i would say 2, for the xtra 2 cores in gaming you wont see a difference but if you ever decide to transcode video, the improvement will bet there
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May 3, 2010 11:40:54 PM

Why not build it all yourself..??
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May 4, 2010 12:53:56 AM

Build it Oyu'reself.
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May 4, 2010 4:44:42 AM

You would do better to build your own and most likely save a good deal of money in the process.
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May 4, 2010 1:03:42 PM

Thx very much guys for the replies. I don't think I have the skills to build one myself. I am an absolute noob when it comes to anything other than using the computer :-)
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May 4, 2010 6:41:19 PM

get a cheap pentium 3 or something and dismantle it and reassemble it, ull learn loads, its just like lego, once you ever put a lego project together, you will find building a pc very easy
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May 4, 2010 7:03:00 PM

xaira said:
get a cheap pentium 3 or something and dismantle it and reassemble it, ull learn loads, its just like lego, once you ever put a lego project together, you will find building a pc very easy


That's like assembling legos to learn abvout Nuclear Physics.
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May 4, 2010 8:40:19 PM

building a pc is as complicated as nuclear physx??? oh yeah, i forgot, ur an intel fan.........; )
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May 4, 2010 8:45:21 PM

xaira said:
building a pc is as complicated as nuclear physx??? oh yeah, i forgot, ur an intel fan.........; )

:lol: 
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May 4, 2010 9:22:55 PM

I think I'd lean toward Rig 2 or Rig 3.

The i5-750 is a fantastic processor, and four cores is plenty for current gaming. If it's a truly custom built machine, with a REAL CPU cooler in it, you can OC the i5-750 very easily.

The new AMD Phenom II 1055T will probably turn out to be a fantastic gaming choice. However, a couple benchmarks I've seen haven't really shown it to be necessary by any means (let alone any real advantage).

Honestly I'd see Rig 2 and Rig 3 as about equal "generally speaking". The AMD Phenom II 1055T will give you 6 cores to use 'some day' when software is better written to use multiple cores. However, as I mentioned, the i5-750 will OverClock very easily in most cases. I haven't seen much OC'ing with the AMD Phenom II 1055T yet.

Considering the i5-750 is benchmarked against the AMD Phenom II 1055T at stocks speeds and showing fairly decent against it, it's not going to hurt you to go either way.
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May 4, 2010 9:48:35 PM

I agree with most of the other comments. Building a PC yourself would be a good experience, and you can even head down to your local Micro Center or Fry's, and they would be able to help you.

Otherwise, 2 and 3 are negligible. I like 3, only because I know the architecture better and I really fail to see a lot of mainstream apps coming out in the next 3-5 years truly taking advantage of more than 4 cores. PCIe 2.0 support I think is more important.
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