Simviation Forums

Well found out there is a possiblility of us getting a new computer in a couple weeks...Im just curious sence everyone around here has many makes and models what is a good brand...I was looking at an HP and it seems reasonable (2.8 ghtz) Plus moving my g-card over.  There is also a Compaq but ive heard some bad things about them.  Emachines as well.  So far still looking at the HP........So, What should I go for???...They are all around the same price but they do have some differences.  All would average out to about the same speeds.

 My first PC is a system I built myself; it's not as hard as you might think, and I got exactly what I wanted for less money, with the added satisfaction of having put it together myself.
 I'm a technician and pretty handy, but I found that it didn't require any special hand skills or fancy tools... the hardest part for me, being a newbie caveman-type when it comes to computers, was figuring out if my desired parts would play with each other peacefully. And it worked out OK, except for the fact that although my RAM and gfx card met the published minimum spec for FS9, they had to be upgraded... but whatever; once i upgrade my mobo, I'll almost have enough parts to make a second machine, to use as a music server or whatever.
 I tried shopping retail for a PC, but was turned off by the hard-sell tactics (like the guy who started signing me up to order a Compaq after I asked about an E-Machines system on display), and they always wanted to throw in some crappy printer or something, and there never seemed to be just the right combo of HD, monitor, and USB ports. Then there's the rebates. A rebate is an interest-free loan, and I always feel like a sucker when I sign up for one (which is rare- only when I have no choice!). I just don't believe in loaning some big company over $100 so they can invest it and pay me back when they feel like it ,without interest! The "discount" with such an arrangement is negligible, when you consider the markup on most electronics.
Anyway, it's just a thought. Even if you're not handy, it's a fun project. FYI, I ordered all my parts from NewEgg.com- they're amazing.
Sorry I can't recommend a particular brand of "turnkey" system, but I will advise you to spend a little more whether you buy or build to get the latest stuff- it'll all be obsolete in a year or two, but the closer to the cutting edge you get, the better.

if i am in a position to make suggestions

Alienware, Zeus, or dell (lol)
P4 HT Extreme or AMD Athlon 64FX
a gig of ram
anything ATI 9XXX
20 inch monitor
Altec Lansing speakers, with at least a sub woofer
1 CD-RW Drive
1 DVD-RW drive

and throw in 6 USB ports, and make sure 2 of em are USB2.0

and make sure your computer has options for a second (and mabye 3rd) hard drive (unlike mine, i stuck it in the 2nd CDROM spot)

thats all i can think about right now

Afraid i dont have the time or patience to learn how to build one...even though I have CD roms and several main parts to start with.  Alienware would be great but im afraid way out of the price range.  System from Alienware for $1500+ that i can get a very similar HP for about $500  Thought of a Dell but out of the 3 people i know who have them 2 have had nothing but problems :-/   So my most likely choices at this point (all similar specs & prices) are....

HP
Emachines
Compaq
or Custom from somewhere.  Only problem is the other 3 choices also include a flat screen monitor  Could use a new one

My system is listed below.....it is a Dell Dimension 3 XPS and I've had no trouble out of it to date. My biggest complaint would be that the wireless mouse seems to eat AA Batteries....a fresh pair last all of about 2 days. So I bought 2 pair of rechargeable nickel cad batteries and a charger to solve the problem.

This system was extremely expensive!!!

NEVER ever get emachines. They rank below average in every respect.
Compaq is good. PC Wrold (a big compuer chainstore in the UK) speaks well of them. We bought one and it runs great. We also have an emachines and well.... :-/

HP and Compaq have consolidated a few years ago to form one big company while maintaining the two separate brands. They now share most of the components and of the productive processes. There should be little difference between a HP and a Compaq from the same price range, quality-wise.
I'd recommend a HP if you are not willing to pick all the parts yourself/trust the vendor about what parts to choose, and if you're concerned about warranty and support.
A branded PC is also often packaged in a good quality and silent case, while some "bulk" cases used for custom assembled PCs are poorly cooled and employ noisy fans, which not all people like expecially if the PC is going to be switched on most of the time.
On the other hand, you pay for the brand. That means that you can surely pay less to have more if you care to pick all the components. Branded general purpouse PCs often are far from "top of the edge" performance-wise, and not always they use top quality components expecially for what graphics/hard disk/memory are concerned.

I bought a DELL XPS Gamer, the original. I had a Compaq that ran well but had to spend some money to upgrade it. Even now, todays games are way beyond it's ability.

Now for the DELL. I decided when I was ready to buy a new machine.....what will be my most intensive use of the machine. Well, for me it was GAMES. This old fart loves them!!

So why not go for a quality machine that is expressly built for that purpose. Did my research and decided on this DELL XPS Gamer. Like Alienware it is built to high standards, quality parts, and all of the set up is geared to the intense system demands that games place on it. Believe me, I was not disappointed.

THERE is a plus to spending the extra money. Several really...

1] Pretty much guarantee that it all works to gether.

2] System set up is geared to intense requirements.

3] Your machine doesn't become outdated so fast as with Desktops.

4] You are extremely satisfied and glad you made this choice.

Read around the forums and see how many posts there are about peeps buying the more expensive desktops and are still having problems. Not all, but sure are plenty of them.

I would strongly recommend that you save a little longer and get exactly what you want.

I believe that with the fast developement of games these days, any desktop you buy, then have to upgrade and tinker with, will STILL become outdated very quickly if you are into gaming.

I know this, my XPS Gamer is a 'lil over a yr. old. In another three or four yrs. I will buy the latest XPS from DELL. This is how satisfied I have been with their product.

Good luck in whatever your choice is. If you just have to stick with a desktop, then Drumlineramos's advice is very good. Would also suggest that the power supply is up there, at least a Gig of RAM and plenty of cooling.

...that i can get a very similar HP for about $500..

Couple things to check if your looking at off-the shelf models are:

Power supply-they will generally have marginal reserve power for upgrades, and may use proprietary forms that are not easily upgraded.

Graphics-most always integrated, so make sure there is an AGP slot (or PCI-X maybe now-a-days) for upgrade. If it only has PCI available, your limited to Geforce 5200fx, or ATI equivalent.

You may have to look this info up yourself as the sales person may not know, and these shortcomings are not generally listed on the box.  

Cheers,
Dave

Can't you get a local and small PC store to build you a custom gamer?

It will be a little expensive I imagine, and you know why?

Because it will work!  ;)

But if you have some of the parts.........

You probably only need a mainboard, CPU, and RAM upgrade, and for $500, you could do really well, slotting yourself into a nice socket 939, 64bit rig!

Dell, HP, Compaq, Emach.............?       NO WAY!

Dell, HP, Compaq, Emach.............?  NO WAY!

This is a Dell, Compaq, eMachine, PCworld, Tiny etc recommendation free zone

Can't you get a local and small PC store to build you a custom gamer? It will be a little expensive I imagine, and you know why? Because it will work!  

Possibly - but not if the local shop stocks Mercury, Jetway, asrock, expert vision etc components! With Dell (and all of the above) you know the parts will be cheap and flimsy - with the local shop unless your sure what

Seriously take a look at the full systems at www.overclockers.co.uk - they seem to be watertight and stable as hell!! Good prices too!
Dan

I recommend you built your own.