SCROLL DOWN TO SEE SEMI-FINAL BUILD, LEAVE SOME FEEDBACK Ok, now that your reading I require your help in choosing a laptop or a good computer configuration. The problem is that i have up to $1700 dollars to spend, i could go up to $2000, and I'm not sure what to buy. I could get a fairly decent laptop or a decent desktop. I'm not really looking for anything for hardcore gaming(i have a ps3), for i mostly play mmos, so i figure I don't have to go sli or crossfire. This is what I'm thinking in terms of a laptop- -i was thinking apple however its a bit out of price range, alien ware is pretty close but once you get the options to where u want its $3000 -could be either 15'' or 17'' -over 120 gb hdd -over 2gbs of ram -dedicated gfx if possible nvidia -intel if possible and over 2 GHz -wireless duh, n is preferred similar to this, just a bit better And for desktop- -I was thinking of building, and i rather would, but when I try get everything together shipped and the OS its pretty much the same cost, thats why im turning to you fellow bit-techers -a screen included isn't necessary but I don't mind if its the only way -a lot of storage space, I can add hdds no problem -(if built) Lian-Li if possible -Intel again -over 2 gb, 4gb if possible -nvidia again too -tv tuner card would be nice -lastly wireless n is preferred similar tothis, if you guys/gals think I could build better, I'd prefer to build it
I'm not hunting around to spec you all the components to build a PC... but if you decide a laptop would be the better option (do you actually need a laptop?): Dell XPS M1730 (I've got one myself ) @ $2,000 If that's too rich for your blood... or over-specced for what you'd use it for... their new Dell Studio 17 might be better suited (the top model starts at $1,049)?
for your laptop do you want a portable laptop, or a desktop replacement? If it's the former you'll have to nix the dedicated card.
@horizon - huh? since when do portable laptops not have dedicated graphics? if i were you i'd build a desktop. you can get a damn nice computer for $2K to build a computer similar to that HP: mobo-$100 q6600-$200 4gb ddr2 (6 is a waste, and will ruin dual-channel) - $100 HDD - $100 9800GT-$150 PSU+Case-$200 tv tuner-$50 vista home prem. oem-$100 total: $1000 and for that you get a better mobo than HP gives you, an intel proc, overclockability, exactly the parts you want, and the joy of building a new computer.
I think he meant that, in the sense that the graphics card in most is soldered onto the motherboard Only high-end laptops - like my 17" Dell XPS M1730, have graphics cards which can be swapped-out/upgraded (I'd like to think it'll be quite a while before I need to upgrade a pair of 512MB 8800M GTX though )
thanks everyone, and no hazardous im not asking u to hunt around to spec me lol thanks though, but supertoad that's what i was thinking this is what i put together off of your suggestion, what do you guys think? possessor- Q6600 $189 mobo- Gigabyte $84 ram- Dorsair 2x4gb $82 hdds- 2x 500gb Segates $139 and 160gb Segate $45 gfx- 9600 GT XXX Alpha Dog Eddition $149 case- Lian Li PC-65B $119 psu- Thermaltake 550W $79 tuner- Hauppauge WinTV-HVR $99 os- Vista Home Premium $109 Subtotal- $1109.90 Tax and Shipped- $120ish Grand Total- $1221.41 Any changes do u guys think i need, and other then what im getting what else would i need, a floppy drive right?
With Vista I wouldn't bother with a FDD, memory sticks have kinda taken over there. You may wish to consider a P45 based Mboard rather than the P35.
Yup, the Gigabyte DS3R is the sort of thing I was thinking of. Gigabyte have quite a selection of DS3 boards to choose from. The choice of a Gigabyte/Asus board is really a personal thing, I like the Asus as they have more SATA headers.
Oo ok, and would any of you recommend bare bone kits? Im just wondering if they're consider yay or nay kind of thing in the community, regardless I'm going to get the system above with the mobo change. Thanks everyone and hopefully when school gets settled and i get everything in ill put up some pics of the build!!
OK so here's the final list, think I need anything? Hardware- LIAN LI PC-65B Black Computer Case With Side Panel Window $119.99 Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor $189.99 GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS3R ATX Intel Motherboard $134.99 x2 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 500GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive $139.98 ($69.99 each) Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 160GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive $44.99 CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory $82.00 XFX GeForce 9600 GT XXX Alpha Dog Eddition PVT96GYDSU Video Card $149.99 Thermaltake TR2 RX W0134RU 550W Power Supply $79.99 Hauppauge WinTV-HVR 1800 MCE Kit 1128 $99.99 Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD $109.99 Cooling and Extras- Rosewill RCX-TC050 Thermal Grease $4.99 ZALMAN CNPS9500 AT 2 Ball CPU Cooling Fan/Heatsink $49.99 x3 Rosewill RCW-204 20" /SATA external data Cable 7Pin Female to 7Pin Female /Red $5.97 ($1.99 each) x2 APEVIA CF12SL-URED Red LED Case Fan $13.58 ($6.79 each) Subtotal: $1,226.43 Tax and Shipping: $145.00 Grand Total: $1,371.43 So whats the verdict before i hit confirm order?
If your going to get a 9600GT i would suggest this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814261013 it has an HDMI and Display port outouts also 1gb GDDR3 oh and its cheaper $139.99 Edit: I see you live in NJ, so if you ordering off newegg you have to pay taxes. You should check other sites like zipzoomfly to see if they have it for around the same price and not pay taxes.
NO!!! don't get a thermaltake PSU. get a corsair, or some other reputable brand. also, you may want to check around for some better prices. i'm seeing 500GB 7200.10 for $50 here in canada, and 9600GT for $119. if i were you i'd upgrade that graphics card to a radeon 4850 for $170. and what's with the 160GB drive? you mobo will come with a good selection of cables, you shouldn't need to buy any extra SATA cables unless 18" isn't long enough for you. and i'd suggest buying the base computer first and then adding extra cooling supplies later if you decide you need them. you might decide that the stock heatsink is good enough for you.
@supertoad, i was figuring ordering everything from one place... newegg and having it all conveniently shipped to my door in one (or two or three) boxes, but i think i mind as well save some money now that I'm shopping around a tad and im feeling for a larger lian li if i feel like sli-ing up the road. As for the hdd, i figure throwing the OS on one hdd and the rest for storage and so on... for the gfx i might go for a sli setup with these 8800 gt, sorry i dont do amd or ati. As for the mobo i can use sli on it right or does it have to be sli ready mobo, im not too clear on that... and the mobo i see ony 2 sata cables im planing on adding 2 more hdds that i have atm in my other computer. Sorry bout adding all the crap you say i don't need maybe i'm coming out of my impulse buying mode, i just got a summer bonus so I'm a bit cash happy
you are better off getting a single gtx260 than 2x8800gt. the only time you should be thinking about SLi is if the fastest single card available is not fast enough for you, or if you already have one midrange card and you want to upgrade by adding a second.
Yup, don't bother with SLI for now, it's gnenerally now worth the extra performance, especially considering you're using it mostly for MMOs. Also, you could swap the Q6600 for a faster dual core, especially one of the newer Penryn chips which will run cooler and overclock higher, eg an E8400. If you're just using it for gaming and general desktop stuff I don't think the Q6600 offers much benefit, I rarely use more than two cores on mine. And the motherboard will probably come with some SATA cables, you don't usually need to buy you're own these days. Same goes for the heat sink and thermal paste.
