Computer Advice

[O4L]

For a grand I would like to include the monitor.

tRdoc - when I click the newegg link it ask for log in info.

I was looking at a Gateway at TigerDirect.com. I have had two Gateways. Are they worth buying?
http://www.tigerdirect.com/cgi-bin/ShoppingCart.asp?prchbcart=y&msg=&q=1, 1, 1

How does it compare to the build you chose?

Thanks

 

[tRidiot]

I tried to make the wishlist public, but I'll copy and paste here... gimme a few minutes.




Update

Rosewill R102-P-BK 120mm Fan MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Rosewill R102-P-BK 120mm Fan MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case
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ASRock Z68M/USB3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

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$94.99 -$10.00 Instant $84.99


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SeaSonic S12II 520 Bronze 520W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS 12V V2.91 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

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$84.99 -$15.00 Instant $69.99


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Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 BX80623I52500K

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Item #:N82E16819115072
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$229.99 $229.99


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Rosewill RCR-IC002 74-in-1 USB 2.0 3.5" Internal Card Reader w/ USB port / Extra silver face plate

Rosewill RCR-IC002 74-in-1 USB 2.0 3.5" Internal Card Reader w/ USB port / Extra silver face plate
Model #:RCR-IC002
Item #:N82E16820223109
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$16.99 $16.99


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G.SKILL Value Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-8GBNT

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Item #:N82E16820231422
Return Policy:Memory Standard Return Policy
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$36.99 $36.99


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Western Digital Caviar Green WD7500AADS-FR 750GB IntelliPower SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive -Bare Drive

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ViewSonic VA2231wm-LED Black 22" 5ms LED Backlight Widescreen LCD Monitor W/ Speakers

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$179.99 -$40.00 Instant $139.99


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SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner SATA Model SH-222BB/BEBE

SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner SATA Model SH-222BB/BEBE - OEM
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Item #:N82E16827151244
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Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM
Model #:GFC-02050
Item #:N82E16832116986
Return Policy:Software Standard Return Policy
In Stock

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$99.99 $99.99
Subtotal: $814.90

 

[NikatKimber]

If you were logged in when you copied the link it does it wrong, far as I can tell.

Here's the link, Newegg Public List, that will then have links to all the items used in the list.

Gateways of late haven't had such a stellar reputation. The last one we had had overheating issues, and then the video card failed. I discovered via google we weren't a fluke problem. I personally won't buy one in the future.

 

[O4L]

http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-IdeaCentre-K330B-77472FU-Desktop/dp/B006QHQN8O/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1329012821&sr=1-1

tRdoc

I can get this for $25 more than the parts you spec'd out. (less monitor)

Newegg parts - $675 - i5, 8GB RAM, 750 GB Hard Drive

Lenovo K330b - $700 - i5, 8GB RAM, 2TB Hard Drive

Wouldn't this be a better deal than going through the aggravation of building one, downloading software, drivers, etc.?

 

[doctorjj]

If you have a grand to spend, buy a Mac mini and upgrade the ram by buying from Crucial. Get a 24" monitor from Amazon and call it a day. You'll be happier in the long run.

 

[O4L]

If you have a grand to spend, buy a Mac mini and upgrade the ram by buying from Crucial. Get a 24" monitor from Amazon and call it a day. You'll be happier in the long run.

No optical drive, no keyboard, no mouse, 2GB Ram, I don't think so, but thanks anyway.

 

[WTJ]

Just buy a Mac and save yourself the pain of Gatesitis. My dad is 76 and recently got an iPad, and now wants a MacBook. Hardly uses his Lenovo, which has been in the shop once a year since he bought it. Check out a refurb, same warranty and cheaper.

 

[tRidiot]

http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-IdeaCentre-K330B-77472FU-Desktop/dp/B006QHQN8O/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1329012821&sr=1-1

tRdoc

I can get this for $25 more than the parts you spec'd out. (less monitor)

Newegg parts - $675 - i5, 8GB RAM, 750 GB Hard Drive

Lenovo K330b - $700 - i5, 8GB RAM, 2TB Hard Drive

Wouldn't this be a better deal than going through the aggravation of building one, downloading software, drivers, etc.?

In my opinion, no way. Like I said, I never never recommend prefabs anymore. You don't have to download anything, all the parts come with drivers, really the only drivers you need are for the motherboard. Windows7 will run everything else. A simple anti-virus like Avast is free when you register it.

To compare apples to apples, drop the monitor and add a 2TB hard drive for maybe another $50-75 and you're still saving $50 or so and have a better machine, IMO.

Don't get me wrong... I'm not slamming your choices, I'm just stating my very biased opinion that home-built machines are almost always better choices than prefabs. This is my preference based on experience, and I've been doing it for many years as a hobbyist. I've probably built... I dunno, 30 or 40 machines total?

I think upgradeability is your biggest thing in a home-built that sets it apart. Driver support from manufacturers seems pretty horrible after a few years. I've seen literally a few dozen machines from Dell, Compaq, HP and Packard-Bell (there's a blast form the past, eh???) that we couldn't get drivers for after 5+ years. This essentially renders them useless huks of metal.

I could tweak that machine to make it significantly better in terms of long-term viability and still keep it within your budget. Like I said, that was a quickie throw-together, as I was at work (and am again). My opinion, get a slightly better motherboard to help with later upgrades. Nothing WRONG, per se, with the one I chose, but another $100 on the MB and you're rockin'.

I built a 2600k with a monster PSU, ASUS Maximus motherboard and 16GB of RAM for somewhere in that range.

There are so many factors... but it's definitely doable. You can get probably equivalent performance (for you) with an AMD, but I haven't messed with them since the Socket 939 days, really. Nothing wrong with them, they do fine. Maybe a bit more bang-for-the-buck kind of performance. But I really like the Core i3/i5/i7 on-board video these days. And plenty of room to upgrade.

That's the key... upgrades. And in my experience, prefabs are not very good in that dept.

 

[bettingpython]

Tr he said laptop...

I will come out and say it for laptop go macbook. Screw a bunch of learning a new user interface bs. In less than 2 days I learned hate the UI for windows laptops.

I had a choice between a loaded macbook pro or a dell precision m6500 for work, I chose the dell, a month later I bought a macbook pro as my personal laptop and am glad I did.

 

[tRidiot]

Tr he said laptop...

I have always had desktops so I don't know if I would be happy with a laptop, because of the keyboard/mouse, and screen size. I really don't need portability. That being said, if someone has a big screen laptop that they want to recommend, that's ok.

No, he didn't. He said he would consider a laptop. Anyways, there's no point in me posting any more. He's got plenty of info here, and plenty of Mac people to show him the light. lol. Just adding my opinions, and I personally have used Macs a few times and never liked them