hello world,
I've been looking into purchasing a new computer for the last month or so and have done a bit of research into the latest and greatest. Though I have never build a computer from scratch I have disassembled and reassembled my own for entertainment/learning value, so I think I am competent enough to build a custom. I used to avidly game but my hardware is insufficient for the task now. I, like most, am looking for a "bang for buck" scenario, though I have approximately 3,000 available to spend I am looking to purchase a television as well, thus limiting my computer budget, unless I decide to forgo that expense in order to attain some insanely powerful PC w/ superb monitor.
The question boils down to finances and performance. Here are my options:
1. Buy a Dell Studio maxed out with 8GB 800mHz RAM and a 2.83 or 3.00 GhZ C2Q
+ Dell monitor 24" (cheapest video card, upgrade with the 4830 I have in my fried desktop)
total comes down to approximately 1300-1400)$, not including discount codes
actually see the 3.0GhZ refurb for 999, no monitor!
2. that slick new HP firebird with 4GB of RAM and same specs as Dell, except with the SLI'd video cards. Turn off for me is the notebook-class HDD. But I really do like the looks, and the liquid cooling (inducing optimum silence), of course for this I must pay a premium.
I don't know of anyone with hands on experience with this thing, does the price justify it? Honestly I don't have a lack of space at this point so the fact that it is small is not a big plus for me. Though I hear it is extremely power efficient, and I would end up saving 700 dollars over the course of 2 years. If you do own it how do you like it?
3
A custom build, based upon the core i7 processor. I would be ashamed building anything less. I pretty much have the parts picked out at this point if I were to tally it up it would end up costing approximately 2,000 maybe a pinch more. Naturally this would provide extreme levels of power and I likely wouldn't need a new machine for a couple of years.
Though this is not a build advice thread I thought perhaps I ought to fill out the form anyhow, seeing as it would be pertinent should I choose a custom build.
1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Gaming (BTW, who here knows, what specs does one need in order to play CRYSIS @ the absolute MAX settings with framerate @ 30+ with AA on on a 1080p monitor?)
Photo-edit, movie-edit, web design, office application, music dev, media center
2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
0 - 2,400
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
United States, Calif
4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.
nah
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
nope
6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
All over the net.
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Naturally
8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
After the release of i7 950, 975.
I foresee price drops. Perhaps I may go "all out" and get the 950 itself.
I've been looking into purchasing a new computer for the last month or so and have done a bit of research into the latest and greatest. Though I have never build a computer from scratch I have disassembled and reassembled my own for entertainment/learning value, so I think I am competent enough to build a custom. I used to avidly game but my hardware is insufficient for the task now. I, like most, am looking for a "bang for buck" scenario, though I have approximately 3,000 available to spend I am looking to purchase a television as well, thus limiting my computer budget, unless I decide to forgo that expense in order to attain some insanely powerful PC w/ superb monitor.
The question boils down to finances and performance. Here are my options:
1. Buy a Dell Studio maxed out with 8GB 800mHz RAM and a 2.83 or 3.00 GhZ C2Q
+ Dell monitor 24" (cheapest video card, upgrade with the 4830 I have in my fried desktop)
total comes down to approximately 1300-1400)$, not including discount codes
actually see the 3.0GhZ refurb for 999, no monitor!
2. that slick new HP firebird with 4GB of RAM and same specs as Dell, except with the SLI'd video cards. Turn off for me is the notebook-class HDD. But I really do like the looks, and the liquid cooling (inducing optimum silence), of course for this I must pay a premium.
I don't know of anyone with hands on experience with this thing, does the price justify it? Honestly I don't have a lack of space at this point so the fact that it is small is not a big plus for me. Though I hear it is extremely power efficient, and I would end up saving 700 dollars over the course of 2 years. If you do own it how do you like it?
3
A custom build, based upon the core i7 processor. I would be ashamed building anything less. I pretty much have the parts picked out at this point if I were to tally it up it would end up costing approximately 2,000 maybe a pinch more. Naturally this would provide extreme levels of power and I likely wouldn't need a new machine for a couple of years.
Though this is not a build advice thread I thought perhaps I ought to fill out the form anyhow, seeing as it would be pertinent should I choose a custom build.
1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Gaming (BTW, who here knows, what specs does one need in order to play CRYSIS @ the absolute MAX settings with framerate @ 30+ with AA on on a 1080p monitor?)
Photo-edit, movie-edit, web design, office application, music dev, media center
2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
0 - 2,400
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
United States, Calif
4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.
nah
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
nope
6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
All over the net.
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Naturally
8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
After the release of i7 950, 975.
I foresee price drops. Perhaps I may go "all out" and get the 950 itself.