Help me buy a computer!

[Qwertfyu2]

Hi, I havn't played PR in over a year and I'm dying to do so but I havn't been able to because of slow and inefficient computers ! Now my family and I are looking into an affordable computer that can do all the normal stuff E.G. surfing the internet and daily tasks but I want a computer that can also play some games like project reality and BF2. I have been looking and I also read a thread saying that getting a desktop is more for your money and is easier to upgrade and will not become inefficient over a year due to the technology evolutions that happen from year to year. The price range is 0-700$ american dollars.

Here is one computer that I have looked at but I don't know that much about it and if it's able to play PR or BF2 smoothly and over the next few years.

CyberPowerPC Gamer Ultra A103 Desktop PC with AMD X4 630 Processor & Windows 7 Home Premium

Additional Specifications
Processor Type: AMD Athlon II X4 630
Hard Drive Size: 500GB
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Monitor Size: N/A
Processor
Type: AMD Athlon II X4 630 / 2.8 GHz
Multi-Core Technology: Quad-Core
Cache Memory
Type: L2 cache
Installed Size: 2 MB
RAM
Installed Size: 4 GB
Technology: DDR2 SDRAM
Storage
Hard Drive: 1 x 500 GB - standard - Serial ATA-300 - 7200 rpm
Operating System / Software
OS Provided: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Edition
Graphics Controller
Type: PCI Express x16 - plug-in card
Graphics Processor / Vendor: NVIDIA GeForce G210
Optical Storage
Type: DVD±RW
Expansion / Connectivity
Expansion Bays Total (Free): 4 ( 3 ) x front accessible - 5.25" x 1/2H ¦ 2 front accessible - 3.5" x 1/3H ¦ Internal - 3.5" x 1/3H
Expansion Slots Total (Free): 1 ( 0 ) x PCI Express x16 ¦ 2 ( 2 ) x PCI ¦ 2 memory - DIMM 240-pin ¦ 1 ( 0 ) x processor - Socket AM3 ¦ 1 ( 1 ) x PCI Express x1
Networking
Networking: Network adapter - integrated
Dimensions
Product Form Factor: Tower
Width: 7.9 in
Height: 16.9 in
Depth: 19.7 in
More Information
Model No.: GUA103
Shipping Weight (in pounds): 35.0
Product in Inches (L x W x H): 20.0 x 7.5 x 17.0
Assembled in Country of Origin: USA
Origin of Components: USA

Thanks!

[boilerrat]

Buying from sites like that, you are usually getting ripped off compared to if you purchased the parts separately and assembling the computer at home.

If I have time later I might help you out on that, but have a look on this site.

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!

[Qwertfyu2]

Buying from sites like that, you are usually getting ripped off compared to if you purchased the parts separately and assembling the computer at home.

If I have time later I might help you out on that, but have a look on this site.

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!

Thanks I'm looking into it.

[boilerrat]

I wouldn't suggest buying anything from that site for your set up unless you know it's all compatible.

Find a friend who is fluent in hardware to guide you.

[Qwertfyu2]

I know the computer technician at my school and I'll talk to him and I'm sure he'll be glad to help. Thanks for the input.

[Not A Tumour]

Boilerrat is right. But the parts individually and ask someone who's tech savvy and has done it before. I would also recommend buying from Tigerdirect.com. Its probably the best Online store for computers in the US.

[Qwertfyu2]

Sweet! Thanks for the help i really appreciate it!

[Sir.Grossi]

A great resource is also a site called 'Tom's Hardware'

The 'Rip-Off' on sites like CyberPower is the cost of
assembling the item and the overheads for setting up the business
and some profit (Why else would you run a business)

Buy your OWN components at your OWN RISK.

If you do not know much about PCs then get as much help as possible.
Particularly where compatability of components is concerned.
You might want to use a similar site to ensure that the bits work together
and THEN see if you can source them cheaper elsewhere.

You will find the difference is not actually that big (relatively speaking)
beacuse you can't command the same discounts as lager comapnies
who buy in bulk!

Good Luck with your project. Do plenty of research before you commit to
buying from boutique sites or indeed buy and assemble yourself!

G

[SocketMan]

The main problem with these pre assembled PC's are the no-name motherboards
that are used. In this case it's a DDR2 based motherboard,rather then DDR3.
The latter is compatible with future AMD cpus,the former is not.

[Sir.Grossi]

The main problem with these pre assembled PC's are the no-name motherboards
that are used. In this case it's a DDR2 based motherboard,rather then DDR3.
The latter is compatible with future AMD cpus,the former is not.

I got to select EVERY component in my 'assembled' machine!
(obviously from their list)

[Psyrus]

For $700 you can't really expect a super computer, but I would recommend the following:
Prices include shipping:
CPU: AMD Phenom II x4 940 $131
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-870A-UD3 $107
RAM: Kingston 4GB DDR3 1333mhz $97
GPU [important]: ATI HD5770 $160-190 or Nvidia GTX460 $200-230
Case+PSU: Antec 300 + Antec NEO 520W $105
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade $104
HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 500GB $55

Total:
- With HD5770: $759 - $800
- With GTX460: $800 - $829

If you have a student in the family with a proper student email address, you can get the Windows 7 upgrade version for only $30, saving a lot off your total
Microsoft Student - Windows 7

Your new totals would then be:
- With HD5770: $689 - $730
- With GTX460: $730 - $759

Edit: And you could also save another ~$50 off the above prices by downgrading the quad to a dual core, such as this one.

Edit: And I believe because America can't just have a ubiquitous sales tax rate, expect to add 8-12(?)% on those prices depending where you live in the US

[DesmoLocke]

I just put together a system for my little brother and the GTX460 is amazing for the price. Reminds me of the 8800GT when it came out. Those are some good recommendations in the previous post.

[Tofurkeymeister]

Ok, I combo'd up on the items, so it is a much better value than Psyrus's suggested rig. If you want a nice computer, and you found someone to assemble it (or learned yourself), buy this rig.

(Note: Combos expire... quickly, often around the end of the month).

Newegg.com - LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA CD/DVD Burner - Bulk - CD / DVD Burners

Newegg.com - LIAN LI Lancool PC-K58W Black 0.8 mm SECC, Plastic + Mesh ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!




Phenom II 945: essentially the 940, but without easy overclocking. Then again, you don't really need to overclock that much, and its a lot cheaper due to the combo that it's in.

DVD Burner: self explanatory

500 GB Caviar Black: fast Western Digital hard drive, 5 year warranty

Gigabyte Motherboard: USB 3.0 (same mobo as Psyrus's)

OCZ 600W PSU: modular, so less of a cable mess

Windows 7 OEM

DO NOT GET THE UPGRADE!

You have to have an older OS on disk for the upgrade to work. The OEM edition is the same price, but doesn't require an older OS. (But you can't transfer the OS to a different computer, but you won't anyways so that's fine)

5770 GPU: Fast, 1337, like Psyrus said

Lian-Li Lancool Case: Looks beast. Easy to work with. Side window. No obnoxious LED's (although if you want you can get them for an extra $10). Imposing. 1337.

4GB DDR3: RAM, you need it. Cheap price, good performance.



$765.74 before Mail in Rebates (2 of them).

$730.74 after Mail in Rebates (Shipping included in this value)

expect to add 8-12(?)% on those prices depending where you live in the US

No tax if Newegg doesn't have a warehouse or office in your state.

(OT: Man, the sales tax in Australia sucks. The sales tax where I live is 6.5%, and we have no VAT )

[Psyrus]

DO NOT GET THE UPGRADE!

You have to have an older OS on disk for the upgrade to work. The OEM edition is the same price, but doesn't require an older OS. (But you can't transfer the OS to a different computer, but you won't anyways so that's fine)

Well two things about that:
1) It's wrong
2) Pretty much everyone in this day and age has some version of windows in the past, which is the only license condition.

Ok, I combo'd up on the items, so it is a much better value than Psyrus's suggested rig. If you want a nice computer, and you found someone to assemble it (or learned yourself), buy this rig.

While your final $$$ value is certainly a lower value, my prices won't change depending on the day of the week and what sale is on. I focus on the components & generally let the consumer decide if they want to pursue any additional pricing deals on those suggested components. This is mostly for my sanity as I do quite a few build recommendations . Also, I find Lian-Li cases butt ugly and I like my LEDs

(OT: Man, the sales tax in Australia sucks. The sales tax where I live is 6.5%, and we have no VAT )

It's a constant 10% here, and we have no such thing as 'tipping' really. Maybe on random occasions but it's nice to know that when you sit down for a meal or walk into a store, that the price you see is the price you'll pay (they've even started making car sales include all the drive-away costs in the advertised price). It shocked me when I went to NYC and went to pay for my meal, and realized that I had to add like 10% for a tip for the waitress & then another something % for the tax... but hey everywhere is different, I was just confused

[Tofurkeymeister]

Well two things about that:
1) It's wrong

Well I, for one, don't have an XP disk lying around. I understand what you're saying, but unless you're a student its the same price as an OEM disk.

Also, we pretty much picked the same stuff, except the case. I personally don't like the Antec 300, but, hey. That's the benefit of building your own PC, you can pick what you like.