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*sigh* It's time fo a new computer...

L

Leright

2[H]4U
Joined
May 24, 2002
Messages
2,604
My current home built rig is FUBAR, so it is time to get a brand new one...the question is, should I build a new home built, or should I go for an OEM like Dell...

If I go with an OEM like Dell, I avoid headaches down the road (lack of support and sometimes lower reliability) and I don't have to put in the time of ordering parts and assembling a new pc...however, I have lower customizability with an OEM and I have to pay for the stuff I don't need (OS, speakers, keyboard/mouse, etc...)

If I go with a home built computer, I get greater control over the computer parts that go into the system, and I don't pay for the extra stuff that I already have, like the OS and peripherals....However, I get less support and quite possibly less reliability...and with this comes greater headaches and greater time flushed down the toilet...

I just feel like I've grown out of the hobby of building my own systems, and I just want to order something from HP or Dell to avoid the headache. I will also feel like a loser buying a dell among my geek friends though...lol...

:(

So, that brings me to my next question...if I go for an OEM of some kind, which OEM should I pick? What OEM gives the greatest bang for your buck with the highest degree of customizability? HPs seem to be fairly attractive machines for the price range from what I have seen...
 
Can't really recommend one because I have built all my own. But I would suggest you look outside the realm of Dell and HP.

Check out :


Manarch

Velocity Micro

and theres a ton more I'm sure someone else can plug in here.
 
what will u be useing it for?

HP for gaming (amd is an option)

dell for multitasking (intel only)

other, _________________(fill in blank)

or, well, u can get a custom build by www.monarchcomputer.com (lol seems like i put this option on the table a few times today) $50 build fee but u still have to pick out ALL the parts from their store. yes, u can choose any part they sell on their website (very big selection u wont find for a custom build anywhere else) but picking out parts will only take a few days if ur not picky
 
gamekid said:
what will u be useing it for?

HP for gaming (amd is an option)

dell for multitasking (intel only)

other, _________________(fill in blank)

or, well, u can get a custom build by www.monarchcomputer.com (lol seems like i put this option on the table a few times today) $50 build fee but u still have to pick out ALL the parts from their store. yes, u can choose any part they sell on their website (very big selection u wont find for a custom build anywhere else) but picking out parts will only take a few days if ur not picky
Click to expand...

hmmm...excellent...that sounds appealing...however, the price would get quite high if they charge the total of all of the parts.....especially since Monarch's prices aren't the best in the world.

I play some games, but for the most part I want it to be a half way decent multitasking machine...however, an AMD 64 processor will suffice for the most part.
 
Do not, DO NOT, DO NOT get a HP. Customer service sucks and they use inferior hardware. :mad:

(Oops, forgot the [/RANT] tab. :D )

I used a refurbished HP as my first computer, so I'm not a big fan of their work. Some of my friends who don't deal with computers as often as I do swear by Dell. They also have a section where you can customize a desktop for your needs. (Though, if you're not careful, you may end up going over your budget.)
 
oh, I forgot to mention....that $1200 is including a $200 CC gift card... :( So I have $1200 for something at CC, and $1000 for something somwhere else...

being a poor college student sucks...I wish I could just buy whatever. lol
 
If you really want to go the OEM route and still stay under your budget, I suggest that you get a low- to mid-range computer with a good processor inside and transport some of the working parts from your old computer (memory, hard drive, optical drives, sound/video cards, etc.) into it -- though I'm sure that's what you're doing with your speaker, keyboard/mouse, and monitor. (Unless your entire computer went FUBAR....)
 
Well, part of my $1200 funding will be generated by selling my old rig for about $500 (rig in specs, but with a geforce 6800 now...hopefully someone could buy it and make use of it with the scrap parts...I know a lot of computer guys...

lol...
 
buying from Dell? not building your own?

what kind of Hard|Gawd are you?!?!?!?!?!?!?! :D

Personally I'd build a killer mid-range system for that $1000 (you can get a few parts at CC with that fgift card, like hdd, speakers, cd drive, etc).

It would kill any Dell at that pricepoint and IMHO Dell support isn;'t really all that great (unless you need a good Chicken Tandoori recipe...if you catch my drift) ;)

Talk about not knowing anything about my Axim, they kept asking me questions after I told them what the problem was = 2 hours of collective Q&A to get my way.

I hate dealing with them for our work computers too (to get replacement for warrantied computers)., sometimes I wish I could just slap whatever part I could buy locally instead of talking to "them" and waiting a few days for a simple stick of ram to replace the cheapo Infineon they put in the GX280s.
 
Keep the 6800... isn't that supposed to be new?

And what parts do you have that's still salvagable (besides the video card)? Because if either the processor or mobo is dead, you're better off selling the parts individually (or you could take my earlier advice...).
 
tiraides said:
Keep the 6800... isn't that supposed to be new?

And what parts do you have that's still salvagable (besides the video card)? Because if either the processor or mobo is dead, you're better off selling the parts individually (or you could take my earlier advice...).
Click to expand...

the proc and mobo are fine...in fact, the system posts.
 
not to mention, it's an AGP 6800... :( So any half way decent system will not support it.

And I freaking hate Dell's online customization...there is just not enough customization. When you're building a system, you don't get the option of mixing parts from different product lines. You are kind of restrained.
 
Bad news: it only gets worse (not to mention more expensive) from there:

* I hate HP/Compaq computers, so I rarely even mention them.
* Gateway/PeoplePC brands are only a step or two above the Wal-Mart brands. (And they're the cheap ones....)
* Nowadays, you're only paying for the Sony name... more so if you're buying a Vaio-based PC.
* I don't have enough knowledge of the "store-bought" PCs (Monarch, Cyberpower, etc.) to confidently endorse them.
* And the Alienware, Falcon Northwest, Velocity Micro, Voodoo PC, Hypersonic, ABS brand(s) of "boutique" PCs are very expensive (their basic models won't even touch your budget limit).

So it's either get a Dell (dude) or build it yourself. Now, I would gladly spend a weekend to build and set up a new computer. But I'm not you.... :rolleyes:
 
tiraides said:
Bad news: it only gets worse (not to mention more expensive) from there:

* I hate HP/Compaq computers, so I rarely even mention them.
* Gateway/PeoplePC brands are only a step or two above the Wal-Mart brands. (And they're the cheap ones....)
* Nowadays, you're only paying for the Sony name... more so if you're buying a Vaio-based PC.
* I don't have enough knowledge of the "store-bought" PCs (Monarch, Cyberpower, etc.) to confidently endorse them.
* And the Alienware, Falcon Northwest, Velocity Micro, Voodoo PC, Hypersonic, ABS brand(s) of "boutique" PCs are very expensive (their basic models won't even touch your budget limit).

So it's either get a Dell (dude) or build it yourself. Now, I would gladly spend a weekend to build and set up a new computer. But I'm not you.... :rolleyes:
Click to expand...


Maybe I'll just build it myself...however, it's not the time spent initially to get the computer working that agonizes me (I actually have no problem with this...), but it is the headaches that follow...and they seem to occur at the worst possible times...

For some reason, this doesn't occur with "store bought" systems. I just want a reliable system...that's all.

I just think I am overanalyzing this...in fact, I AM overanalyzing this...I just need to do something. lol

I will probably go with a diy system.

Thanks for the help guys.
 
:D It turns out I fixed my current computer. It was the ram. I tok out a stick and the ystem worked liek a charm. lol :p
 
tiraides said:
Do not, DO NOT, DO NOT get a HP. Customer service sucks and they use inferior hardware. :mad:

(Oops, forgot the [/RANT] tab. :D )

I used a refurbished HP as my first computer, so I'm not a big fan of their work. Some of my friends who don't deal with computers as often as I do swear by Dell. They also have a section where you can customize a desktop for your needs. (Though, if you're not careful, you may end up going over your budget.)
Click to expand...
HP/Compaq luser systems...oh yeah. they suck balls. But their business PC's are a whole lot of alright - since I support a couple hundred of them, I know :)
 
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