Help me find a new computerFollow

I know a lot of people promote building your own, which if you are comfortable with, is a good option. Only problem is, many times getting a company to honor a warranty on home built pcs can be like pulling teeth and it isn't always your cheapest option.

If you are a patient and Savy shopper, I believe Dell and other companies of the like can be very good deals. I got my computer as a scratch/dent through dell for 650- and it is a quad core 2.8ghz/6gb 1333 ddr3 ram/1TB HD with a 1GB 5770 Video card- Which is tough to build a computer like that for 650 once you add in windows ect.

I got my Wifes computer for 700 brand new (Intell 2.8ghz i5/6gb 1333 DDR3/1TB HD/ 5670 video card) and it came with a 21" monitor.

We have gotten a few computers from Dell and have had 2 issues with the computers failing. On one laptop we had a battery go bad after a few months- After being on phone with support for 2 hours checking everything, they sent a technician out to replace the batter... and the whole motherboard just incase something went wrong there.

On my scratch and Dent, the video card actually went bad on me (which happened right after my son spilled juice on the back of the computer) and within 2 days the Tech guy was back and replaced my video card.

Again, the trick is to find the deals- such as dell always has "coupons" and other deals that when combined, can get you a cheap computer. If you just go to dell, and build a computer, chances are you will overpay- look at the deals and you can find a simular computer for a big discount.

Just an update, I looked and choose a xps7100 and built it with AMD Phenom™ II X6 1075T + ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB/1 TB HD/6GB 1333 DDR3 for 879 dollars. Then if you go into Dell coupons there is a code to get 20% off- so your grand total would be 704. That was just a quick search- may be other deals which are better. the xps 9100's have 25% off for instance. Although you do have to look around, their site isn't very user friendly to find everything.

Any reason to buy AMD over Intel or vice versa?

Also, what's the likelihood of compatability issues? Meaning, say for example, I get a great motherboard and vid card, but for some reason they don't play nice together. Individually, great reviews, good stuff...but together something clashes. Does that even happen?

It's hardly significant enough to make a decision based on, though. Especially considering that AMD CPUs tend to be much cheaper for similar performance.

That depends on how much you'll invest

The Geforce 450 on Ultra settings at 1680x1050 resolution was clocking in 60.93 FpS. It's priced around 119 at Newegg.

AMD's Radeon 5770 was pulling in 62.14 at the same settings. Also priced around 119. So far so good.

But what if you're willing to spend 200 on the GPU?

Radeon 5850-- 83.81 FpS for $200.
Geforce 460-- 89.57 FpS for $150.

50 more for 6 fps less.

And up the max budget to $250:

Radeon 5870--84.80 fps for $230 (yes, only 1 more fps)
Geforce 470-102.42 fps for $250.

If you're buying the cheaper GPUs, it may not matter, but it does with the higher end ones.

However, that's only the GPU. Intel's CPU's are WAY better for WoW than AMD's. A dual core Intel CPU caps out at around 100 fps. AMD's dual core caps out at around 40.

If you are going for a cheap GPU, then either pick is fine (but I'd go for the Geforce 460). But it just isn't worth it to go AMD for your CPU.

[EDIT]

I should note that all these tests were performed using the same flight path, with the intent of giving the rigs periods of high density and low density--it was between two points in Twilight Highlands, though the thread doesn't specify which.

Edited, Feb 25th 2011 5:58pm by idiggory

Cap was a bad word, or rather the wrong word, that was the average FPS for that flight path, compared to the same flight path on intel chips.

Note the resolution and graphics settings. He's playing at 1680x1050, which is like a 20+ inch monitor at least, which is pretty damn large. And it's at full graphics settings.

Plus, AMD cores will increase fps the more you use (with only slight gains after 4). Intel basically caps out at 2 cores, with additional ones only giving slight more.



I can only say what their research tells me--it may be wrong, but I haven't seen any similar report done for Cata. This was also done during beta (I THINK), so it could have been a problem that has since been resolved.

[EDIT]

They were using a 6 CPU and turning cores off to act as lower core processors. I suppose it's possible that the chip just wasn't built for that, or that the newest chip itself doesn't like WoW and others do.

Edited, Feb 25th 2011 10:02pm by idiggory

Though it should be noted that the CPU with all 6 cores was only averaging 80 fps, with the intel with 2 averaging over 100.

If you're not planning on running super next gen games on max you can get an i5 at Microcenter for around $150 and an i7 for $199. Depends on where you live though. If there isn't one near you than newegg is your best bet.

I bought Adata ram as opposed to the more popluar gaming ram an it runs great. No problems so far at all and it was much less expensive than the other brands. For wow you could run an i5 with a gtx460 and spend less than 900 with everything included very easily. I spent 1100 on an i7/470 with 6gigs of ram and I could have just gone i5/460/4gigs, saving myself a lot of money. I really don't use the power and my 470 is a small space heater. I'll see if I can price out a full build for you if you're interested in building one yourself.

$160 Core i5

$80 Biostar Mobo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138281
(Has 2 PCI E slots in case you ever want to SLI)

$45 Adata 4gb 1600 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211409

$160 MSi Cyclone GTX460 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127512
(Plenty for WoW and runs cooler than some of the other brands)

$40 Caviar Blue 500gb 7200rpm http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769

$19 Asus DVD read/burn http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

$90 Corsair 650 PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
(There are cheaper brands but your PSU is your backbone and it's bad to skimp)

$55 Antec 300 case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066
(Cases vary in price but you want good airflow and space. This is just an example of a decent one
You may also be able to find a sleeker one to fit your mac taste. This is something you can go
look for in your local tech stores as the prices don't vary much with online deals. I found my
case at Fry's.)

$100 Windows 7

$749 leaves you $150 for a monitor if you don't have one.

This is if you're near a micro center. If not, new egg charges $209 for a sandy bridge 760.
( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115067)
Bringing your total to $789 before tax.
And it will run WoW on ultra!

Just some ideas for you. Good luck!



Edited, Mar 4th 2011 7:42pm by Transmigration

Hi Tellaria,

As a fellow Canuck, I can recommend newegg.ca as a great source for your new pc, it's where I bought mine from just over a year ago now. See this thread if you're interested.

I bought a Cyberpower similar to what you posted, and aside from initial audio problems, it continues to operate quiet well. The only thing I should have done was buy even more ram, just can't have enough it seems.

As a Computer Science major, I'd like to point out, none of you have ever built a computer. Assembled yes, as I am doing now myself, but not built, actually building one is a lot differnet.

/nerd off =P

Also, as others have said, Newegg rocks. I put together a monster rig for a thousand bucks using Newegg almost exclusively.

Hey Filter, where ya been?

Well, slack off (like me) and post more!