Hopefully this is the right forum.
I need a new computer, basically. The one I have now is 4-5 years old, outdated, old and when my DVD-ROM kicks into action it sounds like a small commercial jet preparing for take-off.
I want a small (minor thing - I don't plan on moving it around a lot, but I do move it once in a while for LAN parties etc.), silent and fast computer with enough power to run some of the modern games out there today.
Now, I don't necessarily need a step-by-step guide on what things to get. I would honestly prefer if someone else put the stuff together so that I know it'll be done the right way and that I can phone someone if the **** stops working for some reason.
I want quality over quantity. I don't want a dozen dual-core whatever from Taiwan in my box. I want silence, power and speed, at the same time. If you want to list some items to get (like what processor, graphics card, etc.), awesome, but you don't have to. I would just as much prefer a short "Get dual-core over single, even if it's more expensive" advice and a link to a Build-it-Yourself website.
I'll be making this computer from the scratch. Only things I'll be keeping from my old is the monitor, keyboard, mouse and sound system (for now).
I would need a new CPU, GPU, RAM, DVD-ROM, HDD and a lot of other acronyms. DVD-burner isn't a must, but it would be nice.
The budget is: $2,600.-
Thanks.
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Please "talk up" if your comprehension white-shifts. I will use simple-happy language-words to help you understand.
if you want portability, try the Shuttle selection ( http://us.shuttle.com/home.aspx ). They do fully-built boxes and 'barebones' units that you can fit your choice of CPU/graphics/RAM in, etc.
This one seems to fit your budget and is configurable to suit your needs:
http://us.shuttle.com/ConfigurePackage.aspx?package=SYP2-3700-G
Edited, Feb 18th 2007 4:31pm by Tanq
This one seems to fit your budget and is configurable to suit your needs:
http://us.shuttle.com/ConfigurePackage.aspx?package=SYP2-3700-G
Edited, Feb 18th 2007 4:31pm by Tanq
All right, thanks! I'll take a look at the site.
Anyone tried the Mac Pro from Apple? Worth the cash if you don't plan on running a Mac OS on it?
Anyone tried the Mac Pro from Apple? Worth the cash if you don't plan on running a Mac OS on it?
Please "talk up" if your comprehension white-shifts. I will use simple-happy language-words to help you understand.
Mazra wrote:
All right, thanks! I'll take a look at the site.
Anyone tried the Mac Pro from Apple? Worth the cash if you don't plan on running a Mac OS on it?
Anyone tried the Mac Pro from Apple? Worth the cash if you don't plan on running a Mac OS on it?
looks gorgeous! Can you run a non-MacOS on it?
From what my cousin told me (he's got a couple of Mac's), you can install Windows on it. I'm not 100% sure though as he didn't show it to me.
EDIT: I found some info on it:
http://www.mobiletechreview.com/editorials/Vista-on-Mac.htm
It does look gorgeous and I almost wet myself when I saw the specs on it.
But the price... ohh, the price.
Edited, Feb 18th 2007 4:43pm by Mazra
EDIT: I found some info on it:
http://www.mobiletechreview.com/editorials/Vista-on-Mac.htm
Quote:
So you want to run Windows Vista on your Intel Mac-- no problem. There are two ways to do it, one is by using Parallels Desktop for the Mac. Parallels is a virtualization application that runs inside the Mac OS. It allows you to literally run Windows in a window, without rebooting. Parallels works with Vista as well as XP and they provide you with support if you purchase their program. So you don't need our help on that one. If you do go the Parallels route, keep in mind you must also buy or own a copy of Windows XP SP2 or Vista, that's not included with the $79 Parallels Desktop application package. And it is a VM, which means Windows doesn't have direct access to the Mac's hardware as it would if it were running under a normal installation. Boot Camp, Apple's free utility, does allow you to install Windows just as if you were installing it normally on any PC, and Windows will have normal, direct access to all hardware as will 3rd party Windows-based programs. This makes it easier to use peripherals such as Windows Mobile smartphones and PDAs and other devices that plug into the Mac's ports. Video games will run much more quickly in a Boot Camp install than they will in a VM. The downside is, you'll need to reboot to switch between Mac OSX and Windows, whereas you can run Windows as if it were just another application inside Mac OSX when you use Parallels.
It does look gorgeous and I almost wet myself when I saw the specs on it.
But the price... ohh, the price.
Edited, Feb 18th 2007 4:43pm by Mazra
Please "talk up" if your comprehension white-shifts. I will use simple-happy language-words to help you understand.
Macs suck. Way overpriced, for less performance than a PC. If you are going prebuilt get a water cooled Alienware.
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I've thought about Alienware, but after I heard that they were bought out by Dell, or bought Dell out, or whatever happened, I've had second thoughts.
Still good quality?
EDIT: I just had a look and damn the price on those ALX Alienware machines is nuts. More than $6,000.- for one with the default spec?
Edited, Feb 18th 2007 7:26pm by Mazra
Still good quality?
EDIT: I just had a look and damn the price on those ALX Alienware machines is nuts. More than $6,000.- for one with the default spec?
Edited, Feb 18th 2007 7:26pm by Mazra
Please "talk up" if your comprehension white-shifts. I will use simple-happy language-words to help you understand.
I know that Dell gets a bad rap, but I've had my current PC for 3 years or so, and have had 2 major problems with it. Both times Dell stood up and backed their product up 100%. If you are to stay away from any of the mail order PC companies, stay away from gateway.
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At work we used to build all our own PC's, but due to a stupid change in policy beyond olur control, we had to start buying prebuilts. I expect them to reverse that policy someday. But anyways, we currently buy Gateways and Dells. The gateway desktops are peices of ****, and their monitiors have failed far more than they should. the dells are all laptops. They have held up really well. We also have alot of Dell monitors, and they are also quite well built. Whatever else you say about dell, tehy do make excellent monitors.
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Funny you say that Dread because my Mac Book Pro runs Windows XP much nicer then I have ever had it run on any of my custom builds and I build some high end rigs that make Alienware machines look like tinker toys.
If you are looking into a system which you can literally hang on to for years if you take care of it, you want a mac. All the macs I have owned one of which is an AppleII still boots and runs, no joke. Macs are very rock solid machine's which will last you a while thus the higher price.
Don't buy an alienware, they charge you far to much for the stuff which you can buy off the shelf and still have a very nice PC for around $2,000 easy. The problem with Alienware is sure they make a decent product but you can get the same stuff cheaper. If you know anything about cars it's like buying a Porsche over a VW even though they use the same engine type in some models (can't remember off the top of my head atm).
My opinion Mac or custom build, other options are just Meh to me.
If you are looking into a system which you can literally hang on to for years if you take care of it, you want a mac. All the macs I have owned one of which is an AppleII still boots and runs, no joke. Macs are very rock solid machine's which will last you a while thus the higher price.
Don't buy an alienware, they charge you far to much for the stuff which you can buy off the shelf and still have a very nice PC for around $2,000 easy. The problem with Alienware is sure they make a decent product but you can get the same stuff cheaper. If you know anything about cars it's like buying a Porsche over a VW even though they use the same engine type in some models (can't remember off the top of my head atm).
My opinion Mac or custom build, other options are just Meh to me.
Well, this is kind of exciting. Conflicting reports here.
Mac Pro has two dual-core (so, that's like four cores?) processors and all the other stuff the ALX/7500 from Alienware seems to have.
Outside of some cool lighting effects and liquid cooling, what does the Alienware offer?
It's a $1,000 difference, would like to know. Is it because Alienware runs AMD while the Mac runs Intel Xeon?
Mac Pro has two dual-core (so, that's like four cores?) processors and all the other stuff the ALX/7500 from Alienware seems to have.
Outside of some cool lighting effects and liquid cooling, what does the Alienware offer?
It's a $1,000 difference, would like to know. Is it because Alienware runs AMD while the Mac runs Intel Xeon?
Please "talk up" if your comprehension white-shifts. I will use simple-happy language-words to help you understand.
Yes the Mac Pro has 4 cores.
What else does alienware have, well honestly nothing I have been impressed with considering spec wise Mac Pro pretty much destroys an alienware machine in most aspects. Sure they use AMD which are monster CPU's considering the overclocking capability easily exceeding what you would think is possible.
Mac Pro
-Able to install 16GB of memory (yes 16GB not a typo)
-Can you say Quad Nvidia video cards?
-Can you say 3TB of storage?
Sorry if I seem bias but alienware components like I said last time are anything you can pick off a shelf where as mac stuff is custom built per machine model (sure making it more expensive but a lot nicer quality).
Not an easy decision because you are dropping a nice amount of cash so take your time and maybe go to a local apple store (if you have one) and mess around with the ones they have on display to get a feel for it. If you know someone who has an alienware try and see if you can use it. Reason I am saying this is because you can ask people but they will always be bias or not see the system aspects you want the same.
Good Luck.
What else does alienware have, well honestly nothing I have been impressed with considering spec wise Mac Pro pretty much destroys an alienware machine in most aspects. Sure they use AMD which are monster CPU's considering the overclocking capability easily exceeding what you would think is possible.
Mac Pro
-Able to install 16GB of memory (yes 16GB not a typo)
-Can you say Quad Nvidia video cards?
-Can you say 3TB of storage?
Sorry if I seem bias but alienware components like I said last time are anything you can pick off a shelf where as mac stuff is custom built per machine model (sure making it more expensive but a lot nicer quality).
Not an easy decision because you are dropping a nice amount of cash so take your time and maybe go to a local apple store (if you have one) and mess around with the ones they have on display to get a feel for it. If you know someone who has an alienware try and see if you can use it. Reason I am saying this is because you can ask people but they will always be bias or not see the system aspects you want the same.
Good Luck.
All right, thanks for all the feedback.
One last question: If I decide, somewhere out in the future, to add to my prebuilt computer, can I do that? Like order some more RAM and slap it in? Does it have to be Alienware/Apple parts?
Yeah, I'm a nub.
One last question: If I decide, somewhere out in the future, to add to my prebuilt computer, can I do that? Like order some more RAM and slap it in? Does it have to be Alienware/Apple parts?
Yeah, I'm a nub.
Please "talk up" if your comprehension white-shifts. I will use simple-happy language-words to help you understand.
Well in the instant of Memory it can be anything which is the same such as if it uses DDR800, etc, etc..
Now where you run into issues on a Mac is other hardware is pretty close nitch where you have to buy stuff that is made for apples unlike alienware which can install just about anything.
This is usually the deciding factor because while hardware is a little limited to apple because apple prides them self on "We know it will work because our operating systems are designed for it" unlike other systems in which you have to load a crap load of drivers for it to work correctly.
If your wanting to update;
-Memory
-Hard Drives
-Drives (DVD/CD/HD-DVD/Bluray)
You can do either Mac or Alienware
If you are wanting to update stuff like;
-CPU
-Motherboard
-Heatsinks (I think some manufactures are making them for macs also but Mac Pro has a awesome cooling system)
Then you are pretty limited to an ATX setup like Alienware
I am not saying you can't get other things to work with a Mac Pro but it takes a little more time again because the parts simply aren't that available but it's better then it use to be for us mac addicts.
Now where you run into issues on a Mac is other hardware is pretty close nitch where you have to buy stuff that is made for apples unlike alienware which can install just about anything.
This is usually the deciding factor because while hardware is a little limited to apple because apple prides them self on "We know it will work because our operating systems are designed for it" unlike other systems in which you have to load a crap load of drivers for it to work correctly.
If your wanting to update;
-Memory
-Hard Drives
-Drives (DVD/CD/HD-DVD/Bluray)
You can do either Mac or Alienware
If you are wanting to update stuff like;
-CPU
-Motherboard
-Heatsinks (I think some manufactures are making them for macs also but Mac Pro has a awesome cooling system)
Then you are pretty limited to an ATX setup like Alienware
I am not saying you can't get other things to work with a Mac Pro but it takes a little more time again because the parts simply aren't that available but it's better then it use to be for us mac addicts.
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