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Lost in the search for a new computer

DorkmanDorkman Registered User regular
edited February 2011 in Help / Advice Forum
Well it seems the old 7 year old brick is on it's last legs, and I need myself a new computer.

I have a budget of about $800 Canadian, and I am really at a loss as to where I should buy a computer. I really don't have the know how to build one, so that is right out...but is it better to get one mailed in? Buy one from a local big box store? Any specific computers I should be looking at?

For someone that spends most of his time on one, I know sweet fudge all about them.

Help me internets!

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Posts

  • SkeezicksSkeezicks Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Are you looking for a gaming machine or are you only going to use it for the internets and e-mail?

    Skeezicks on
  • DorkmanDorkman Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Little bit of A, and a little bit of B.

    I would like to be able to play SC2, and Dawn of War 2 and those type games. Maybe something that will be able to handle Diablo 3 when that comes out. That's about as far as I need I do believe

    Dorkman on
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  • OnTheLastCastleOnTheLastCastle let's keep it haimish for the peripatetic Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Newegg.com. I recommend CyberPowerPC or iBuyPower as manufacturers.

    OnTheLastCastle on
  • RikushixRikushix VancouverRegistered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Also Tigerdirect, or if you really want fast shipping, NCIX, whom I adore.

    Rikushix on
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  • GumfaceGumface Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    I recommend building a computer, it will be cheaper and better. I know it can be daunting, but its really really easy

    Gumface on
  • SkeezicksSkeezicks Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Rikushix wrote: »
    Also Tigerdirect, or if you really want fast shipping, NCIX, whom I adore.

    I love using NCIX. Here's something in your price range. It includes the following:
    Athlon II X4 640 Processor
    GeForce GTS 450 1GB DX11 Graphics
    Windows 7 Home Premium
    4GB DDR3-1333 Memory (RAM)
    8 USB Ports (2 front)
    2 IEEE1394 Firewire (1 front)
    eSATA Port
    500GB 7200RPM Hard Drive
    22x DVD/CD Writer
    520W 80 Plus Power Supply
    7.1 high definition audio
    Onboard Gigabit Ethernet

    Skeezicks on
  • DorkmanDorkman Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Normally I might have a go at building one, however with school being as crazy as it is at this point I don't think I really have the time to learn.

    The misses and I were out window shopping and we did find something like this: http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/hewlett-packard-hp-pavilion-elite-amd-phenom-ii-945-quad-core-computer-hpe-400f-hpe-400f/10154025.aspx?path=6ca8f8aeb3eba8fc727019a17d2ce10een02

    Would this seem reasonable? Are HP's notorious for being junk? If I chose to install better components later (i.e. Graphics card) would it be possible.

    Christ, you don't know how clueless you are till you really start looking at it eh..

    Dorkman on
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  • WezoinWezoin Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Dorkman wrote: »
    Normally I might have a go at building one, however with school being as crazy as it is at this point I don't think I really have the time to learn.

    The misses and I were out window shopping and we did find something like this: http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/hewlett-packard-hp-pavilion-elite-amd-phenom-ii-945-quad-core-computer-hpe-400f-hpe-400f/10154025.aspx?path=6ca8f8aeb3eba8fc727019a17d2ce10een02

    Would this seem reasonable? Are HP's notorious for being junk? If I chose to install better components later (i.e. Graphics card) would it be possible.

    Christ, you don't know how clueless you are till you really start looking at it eh..

    That looks like a pretty solid deal as long as you have a monitor you like.

    Wezoin on
  • brain operatorbrain operator Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Wezoin wrote: »
    That looks like a pretty solid deal as long as you have a monitor you like.
    I agree, with one caveat: Windows 7 is preloaded, but not actually included in the package. If your previous PC is 7 years old, your Windows on that machine (presumably XP) should arguably be replaced. Just not being able to use the latest DirectX will show, not to mention how your quad processors and memory will be used (or rather, not used). I would really suggest picking up an OEM version of Windows 7 with the new PC. Preloaded is nice as long as everything keeps working fine, but once you need a reinstall...

    brain operator on
  • MushroomStickMushroomStick Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Wezoin wrote: »
    That looks like a pretty solid deal as long as you have a monitor you like.
    I agree, with one caveat: Windows 7 is preloaded, but not actually included in the package. If your previous PC is 7 years old, your Windows on that machine (presumably XP) should arguably be replaced. Just not being able to use the latest DirectX will show, not to mention how your quad processors and memory will be used (or rather, not used). I would really suggest picking up an OEM version of Windows 7 with the new PC. Preloaded is nice as long as everything keeps working fine, but once you need a reinstall...

    Most prebuilt computers have only come with the recovery partition (as opposed to a cd) for a few years now, so I don't really understand why this is such a big deal.

    MushroomStick on
  • CelestialBadgerCelestialBadger Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Preloaded is nice as long as everything keeps working fine, but once you need a reinstall...

    AFAIK machines with windows preloaded allow you to create a backup image of your windows install to a DVD or five. Not as good as a real copy of Windows, but all is not lost if things go wrong.

    CelestialBadger on
  • TNTrooperTNTrooper Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Wezoin wrote: »
    That looks like a pretty solid deal as long as you have a monitor you like.
    I agree, with one caveat: Windows 7 is preloaded, but not actually included in the package. If your previous PC is 7 years old, your Windows on that machine (presumably XP) should arguably be replaced. Just not being able to use the latest DirectX will show, not to mention how your quad processors and memory will be used (or rather, not used). I would really suggest picking up an OEM version of Windows 7 with the new PC. Preloaded is nice as long as everything keeps working fine, but once you need a reinstall...

    Most prebuilt computers have only come with the recovery partition (as opposed to a cd) for a few years now, so I don't really understand why this is such a big deal.

    Hard drive failure, or somehow accidentally deleting the partition.

    Edit: CelestialBadger shows how little I touch pre-built PCs.

    TNTrooper on
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  • RikushixRikushix VancouverRegistered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Yeah, as Trooper mentioned, HP computers will almost invariably have a backup partition that is next to impossible to delete. I don't know if there's any way you could do that on accident.

    Rikushix on
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  • LykouraghLykouragh Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    So I used to work for HP.

    I would strongly recommend an iBuyPower machine, or a similar computer-builder service, over what HP sells.

    You might also consider taking aside a knowledgeable friend and offering to take him out to dinner if he'll help you pick out matching parts and assemble them.

    If you do buy HP, unless something has changed in the last couple of years it comes with a recovery partition that lets you wipe your main partition, but you can also use that partition to make a recovery disk. That disk will never work on any other motherboard.

    Lykouragh on
  • OnTheLastCastleOnTheLastCastle let's keep it haimish for the peripatetic Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Seriously, iBuyPower or CyberPowerPC. You will get a top notch machine for a very, very reasonable price.

    OnTheLastCastle on
  • DorkmanDorkman Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    I am unsure how successful I will have convincing the GF to get a computer from a "non mainstream" computer company, but I will see if I will have any luck. Has anyone had any experiences with iBuyPower's customer support? I.e. If this thing goes up in a puff of smoke, how likely will I have to get any help at all.

    Also, the reason why Futureshop is kinda getting us interested as we would also like to get Microsoft Office at a reasonable price. We can get it tacked on for $99 there, where it seems we will be paying a bit more with Tigerdirect and Newegg. Are there other avenues I should be looking at to getting this package hopefully a bit cheaper (Legal of course).

    Dorkman on
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  • OnTheLastCastleOnTheLastCastle let's keep it haimish for the peripatetic Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Do you need more than excel or word because both of those microsoft products are free under their "Starter" label which puts the tiniest and most unobtrusive ad in the bottom right corner.

    Look on newegg for reviews, I've never had to use iBuyPower's customer support because their products work unlike Dell or HP.

    edit: And about Microsoft Office, if you're students, it is very cheap to get it through your school. Like $5-10.

    OnTheLastCastle on
  • DorkmanDorkman Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    I am a student, however I am going to Community College. And this place doesnt even have a used book section as "it allows them to sell us new books at a cheaper price!". So yeah, they are pretty useless. But it is something worth looking into

    Dorkman on
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  • OnTheLastCastleOnTheLastCastle let's keep it haimish for the peripatetic Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
  • AzioAzio Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Dorkman wrote: »
    Has anyone had any experiences with iBuyPower's customer support? I.e. If this thing goes up in a puff of smoke, how likely will I have to get any help at all.
    What city do you live in? NCIX, Memory Express, Tiger Direct and others have storefronts in various Canadian cities, where you can get in-person sales and service.

    Azio on
  • DorkmanDorkman Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Saint John, so no luck on the store front.

    Dorkman on
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  • BedlamBedlam Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Sorry to intrude but is there an easy way to pick a graphics card?

    Like is there a site I can go to that will give me a recommendation for a card based on what games I want to run in the future?

    Forgive me if this seems obvious but Id hate to under-upgrade.

    Bedlam on
  • SkeithSkeith Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Bedlam, you might want to peruse newegg and then poke around Tom's Hardware for benchmarks. It's been a while since I've done it myself, but it should say in the card's review if it'll have staying power.

    Skeith on
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  • witch_iewitch_ie Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    I would definitely recommend against an HP. Even though it's anecdotal, everyone I know who has bought one for home use has had a bad experience with them (including me).

    witch_ie on
  • RikushixRikushix VancouverRegistered User regular
    edited February 2011
    I have boycotted HPs entirely since the Pavilion laptop fiasco that resulted in a class action lawsuit in the US. But no money for me, because I'm Canadian.

    @ Bedlam: Futuremark used to have this applet that you ran on their website which performed a diagnosis of your computer and then told you how ready it was for any list of possible games. I can't find it now - this was like two years ago - but they do have a list of GPU and CPU minimum and recommended requirements for games. Really easy to read.

    http://www.futuremark.com/fmgames/

    Rikushix on
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