New Computer

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I am thinking of getting a new computer, but am not sure exactly what I want to get. I have a buget of 5000 to spend on it as well. Any of you have idea’s on what would be a good spend in money? I don’t want to buy something that I don’t trust. A few people have suggested Alienware. what do you all think?

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I have heard that the “Alien” is great. I can only speak from personal experience. For the business I work for I only go high end Dell, I know some will chastise me however they have proven overall reliable. I have seen Gateway quality fall and have always been burned by Compaq and HP in the short run (frequent reinstalls). In the 80’s and now again in the new Millenium I build my systems. The thing is to watch out for the M-Boards. Many good companies have 1 or 2 boards that cause / are a problem.
Ask twice buy once.

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Well one thing I have noticed is that if i get a new computer and the OS is XP – Profesional than I need at least 256 RAM. Only this will leave me with about 20 RAM to work with daily. So I already know I’ll want to have a high RAM content, probably looking in between 500MB to a Gig. Any other ideas

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Keyrice, you don’t believe in small questions, do you?

‘They’ say that of the processors available, the AMD > 1Ghz range is good value for money. Look for this sort of spec (if you could build your own, it’s cheaper and you only have to trust yourself). I failed the last time only because the Asus mobo they sold me was duff). I assume you’ll want Windows XP, though your choice will be very much determined by what you want to do with your system. Let’s say home/office use with occasional games. If more than occasional, get the best graphics card you can afford.

Athlon 1900+
512Mb RAM
80Gb HD
GeForce 2 Graphics card or compatible (big choice)
CD-RW (combo with DvD player if IDE slots are short)
Cordless keyboard
Cordless Optical mouse
V92 Modem (not a Winmodem)
Sound card – huge choice, depending on upstairs neighbours, kids in bed etc.
4 USB 2 ports (or use a hub)
Removable Hard drive (hot swappable are good, but not cheap)
19″ monitor (Ilyama are superb)
Flatbed scanner
Printer (laser for monochrome or deskjet for color)
On-site warranty for at least 1 year.

All this should come in at well under $5 grand.

Would suggest not getting : TV tuner card, DvD writer, Firewire support (unless into video) Multi-function device (one fault, you lose the lot), SCSI drives (expensive though quick), and bundled software – most of which you wouldn’t think of buying anyway.
If you buy branded, you may be buying into proprietary memory and software. Personally, I wouldn’t do it that way. Beware box-shifters and the week-end technicians that go with them.

Much of the above will depend, of course, on whether you are more at home with a screwdriver than a cheque book….

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Well the computer is definately going to be used for personal, and business use. I am starting my own business so I will use the computer to develop some helpful systems and to keep track of my finances. Also it will be personal use such as PC games and the like. I do enjoy those when I have nothing better to do, and so I was planning on getting the GeForce4 (unless on better comes out before I buy). I never do buy the software bundles because they are a waste and your right I would most likely never use them anyway. The only software I ask to be included is usually MSOffice. I use this stuff all the time. Otherwise I already have the software I need for my other things. As for most of the other things I agree that I won’t need it. Why though would you suggest against SCSI? From my experience it is quite nice.

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….oh, it is, and worth paying for if you need it. For most purposes these days though, IDE is perfectly adequate. Look at a stock list and compare SCSI prices, like for like, with IDE.
From your other comments, I would definitely say that getting the components separately would save you spending cash on unwanted items. Mind you, if you can get a company to ‘bundle’ MS Office (don’t forget Publisher) they would probably also build you a very nice system to your own spec.

Luck!

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Thank you much. The company I have been looking into is Alienware and from what i have seen it is a very nice company. You can customize everything. So I have been leaning to them. They also give you the top edition of MSOffice so you get it all. I do thank you for the tips.

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Merc you said not to bother with a DVD writer I am hoping that means that you don’t expect DVD to replace CDs. Every time I wait until a given technology gets well established before I purchase it, they promptly replace it with something new. I am referring here to use as a backup system. I thought I was being wise to go to Colorado External; Outdated by Jazz Zip; Outdated by CD/w. I haven’t gone CD/w yet. Actually I am thinking external Harddrive might be better.
Edited because I went back and reread you post and am willing to bet you will recommend the Hardrive which you did mention.

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I am not sure that DVD’s will replace CD’s. Maybe in a data context, but I think the music industry will stay with the CD format over the DVD’s because they would likely not want as much space as a DVD can offer. But then again you never know what will happen.

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Obviously I can’t speak for Merc but I did want to weigh in on the DVD issue with a relevant point:

CUrrent DVD writing technology is extremely expensive and not terribly compatible cross-platform. A new standard, the Blu-Ray DVD, was recently announced, and will be backwards compatible with current red laser based products. Thus, spending top dollar on something now would indeed be a foolish investment if you can wait.

DVD audio may at some point take off, because it enables much higher resolution and true 5.1 surround, and an album could conceiveably come in many different surround formats all on the same release. But currently, movies seem to be the big ting. Games will probably get out on DVD as they grow more complex (anyone who has juggled three or four game CDs will relate to this).

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Well one thing that I’d like to say is that games are already out on DVD. They are extremely hard to program and so it will take a bit of getting used to but Sony has already jumped in on that. The PS2 games are mostly DVD format. The only ones that aren’t are the blue backed disks. The clear back are DVD’s with the games on them. That helped a lot with Final Fantasy X because that is one large game. It would have deffinately been four CD’s if it were to have been made on the PSOne. Microsoft, and Nintendo will have to go that direction in there next system unless they can find a better way. Nintendo may be on the right track with Game Cube, but I don’t think so. They targeted little kids for sales because they can keep the games more simple. The only thing that would appeal to most young adults would be the sports games, and Resident evil at this point in time. Just a thought.

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Imagine a DVD encoded with VBR MP3’s. You could put a few -days- tunes on it, not just a few hours.

As to your original question, I don’t always hear good things about Dell (but I have a prejudice towards Gateway, I used to live near their original HQ).

For $5k US, you can get TWO good machines! (Wish I had that budget.) You should look at Alienware or anyone else who will use non-propretary components. And I WOULD have echoed MerC’s comments on high end AMD’s, until I read the latest article in Tom’s Hardware Guide. Intel is getting serious again.

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I would have done the same. After reading that article on the P4 though I’m not sure it would be worth the money to go with the new AMD. It would be much better to take the faster, and cheaper P4, especially if it is boosting a 2533 mHz processor speed. That could help quite a bit. Thanks for the web site.

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After talking to my friend, I decided to go with the AMD processor. He read the article and says that Tom is rather biased towards Intel so most of what he writes is well bull @#$!%. I trust his opinion and thus came to that decision.

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I don’t know if Tom’s Hardware is biased or not, but the website is well respected in the computer industry.

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Well like I said I don’t know either way. Everyone tends to trust there friends though. My friend could very likely be biased in his opinion as well. But we are friends with people partially because we can trust them and there opinions what good would a friend be if you couldn’t trust his opinion you know.

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AMD, Intel, sure one is probably better at running business apps than the other, while the other is superior for gaming. Keep in mind, though, that with the budget you have you’ll be able to buy lots of power in either chip, and difference you might (might!) notice will be negligible, anyway. With a processor running around 2 GHz, you’ll be able to work (and play) hard.

Besides, once you have your computer built, you probably won’t look back and wonder, ‘what if I’d purchased an Intel…’.

Have your friend help you, and when all’s said and done, buy him a beer , and enjoy your new computer!

Good luck!

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Ok, I have been working on my computer case since I last posted and have been talking to some people that are also working on it (need to send it off to others for certain custom options) and they told me they want to put it up on the net when it’s done. So when I have the system completed and the link to the site I will post it so you can all see what I have done with my system. Thanks.

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MerC has a good point with the Removable Hard Drive. I have a 40Gig Maxtor Portable Hard Drive.
It is USB and it is WONDERFUL ! I am a Database Systems Engineer and I take the Drive to work
with me and then unplug it and take it home so I can do complicated database programming in a
real nice quiet environment. Then back to work with my new code. I highly recommend a Portable
Hard Drive.

You might give IBM a looksee at ibm.com for a new system. I have had lotsa success with them.
They have gone to the Gateway – Dell Marketing Model and now build your computer to your exact
specs same as Dell does.

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I’ll have to check that out. My parents just recently got a new IBM, and I rather like it. They always make me come over to show them how to work stuff out. I don’t mind though because it gives me a chance to mess around with a new computer. So I’ll take a look.

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For what it’s worth, I just ordered a boxed P4 1.8gig, Soyo motherboard (can’t remember what model), case, powersupply (400w I think), keyboard, and wheel mouse for $480 from Outpost. I already have the ram, mobo uses SDRAM, nvidia graphics, monitor, and printer. Nothing at the extreme end of the spectrum like DDR or plus 2gig speed, but will be quite an improvement over my HP6635 Celeron533 with a 100w power supply!

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Forgot to add, I also got a WD 80gig hard drive in that total too…

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I looked through outpost. However, I need something that will last me for a couple of years. I am leaning towards the Alien systems because from just about everyone I talked to they have heard nothing bad about them. Not only that you can fully customize the system. They have a computer that is even called the custom. You basically chose every component put on that computer. It is rather nice.

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DVD will certainly replace CDs, just as CDs have replaced floppies. Mind you, you still see floppies out there, so they will co-exit for some time to come.

Just a quick tip: when looking at hardware that will stand the test of time, look for the stuff that has cross-platform support and is non-proprietary. While most of my friends were going nuts over the zip drive a few years ago, I held out. Today they

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, just as CDs have replaced floppies

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[/indent] I always thought CDs replaced black vinyl.

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So, what technology is doomed to the backwaters and what will [be] tomorrow’s standard?

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Precisely why I would not suggest a DvD WRITER. There are several different incompatible platforms, and I’m sure you don’t want to get the Betamax equivalent. DvD players are a different vessel of piscine containment. I would not be without mine – I don’t have a DvD attached to my TV, so its the only way I can watch them. A new computer system should have a DvD player (or combo) as standard equipment.

BookBox : I certainly do recommend (highly) a removable hard drive caddy system. I use mine constantly. I do not believe there is a more cost-effective method for cyclic back-ups and to remove data safely from the premisses (required by insurance demands). For this sort of serious purpose you can spend the money on a hot-swappable type. For home-office use, they are useful for transferring files larger than would fit on a floppy, and quicker than CDRW. They do not need to be hot-swappable, and are therefore very inexpensive, and an ideal way for utilizing those hard-drives you’ve replaced with larger ones.
I would not deny that these days there are merits in CDR, CDRW and On-Line Storage.

If you wannbe at the cutting edge, be prepared to bleed.

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I don’t think it is worth buying some of the “new technology” just look at some of the technology that was supposed to be so great, but never became cheap enough or worth the money. What happend to the laser disk? I know some schools have them, but they were always just so expensive the normal home owner never got one. Then DvD’s came out and laser disk was no longer an option for people. So it has become a use for education and thats about it.

As far as the question that was posed. DvD’s will most likely be tomorrow’s standard. It will be what replaces the VHS tape. Now VHS will be like the floppy disk though and continue to be around for those who do not get a DvD player or have a computer that has a DVD-Rom.

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I don’t wanna be at the cutting edge I just want equipment that will last more than two or three years and still be able to transfer data to the replacement.

Guess I will go see what this “ALIEN” outfit is.

I did manage to bypass 8-tracks But then I am still playing vinyls.

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Edited by WyllyWylly on 07-Jun-02 14:13.

being cutting edge isn’t always good, because sometimes that cutting edge technology can end up in the garbage can a year or two after being out. I also would like my computer to last me two or three years. The computer I have now just doesn’t allow me to do what I need anymore. I have to repare it more often than I think I should have to. Well if your going to checkout the out fit the web page is http://www.alienware.com[/url%5D. It is a rather nice place to check out.

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But then I am still playing vinyls

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PLAYING them? Isn’t that akin to sacrilege? Don’t they wear out or something? Aren’t you supposed to store them in liquid nitrogen and only bring them out at Christmas to show the kids?

Any offers for the complete boxed set of Haydn’s Symphonies – presently kept at 77.36K ?

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I do think that would be akin to sacrilege by playing vinyls. hmm…well looks like I’m going to go do something evil because it’s just so fun being the

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edited to fix broken link

Well if your really want to try something (well at least to some), look here to see what $4099 will buy you! Dual 1Ghz processers, 1.5GB SDRAM, 2 x 80GB ATA drives, NVIDIA GeForce4 Titanium, built in Gigabyte ethernet, built in wire-less networking etc. etc. And with an add-in of less that $250 can run your choice of 11 different operating systems including Linux, DOS, Windows 95, 98, ME, NT 4, 2000 Professional, XP Home or XP Professional. That is in addition to the two operating systems (one UNIX based) included in the price.

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Well I looked at the link, and well it was broken. Or at least an out of date link and the like. But I am not much of a Apple fan, so I don’t know.

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Sorry about the link, I’ve fixed it now. You may have to click through to get to the G4 desktop page but you get a chance to see the ‘Titanium’ powerbook and new iMac on the way.

Not everyone would be happy with a Mac but have a look at this page to see comments of a few that have switched. I am bilingual, Mac at home, PC at work. I use both, and prefer my Mac.

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Ok i decided to go a different way with my computer. I talked to a really good friend of mine and he told me he would build one. We also decided to go with an Alien theme. I will have an alien head shaped LCd with black light and green light on the inside to make the head glow. I don’t have all the specs yet but once I do I’ll post back to see what all you think.

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