Thinking about new computer.

[Sp4de]

I really like hp computers. I dont know how much money my mom will give me but I have 750 dollars.  I just bought a 6600 256mb and a gig of ram for my hp pavilion a230n.. It helped alot but its still a 2.1 ghz(I thought 2800+ amd64 meant 2.8ghz) I would like more power.  Not knowing much about computers I am asking for help.

This is what I am looking at

I figured "Superior all-around value" was good because I can get a 3.0 ghz computer or higher.

Or I can get the "Power and expandability" which is more money and has AMD Athlon64™ (2.4GHz) and Athlon64™ X2 4200+ dual core processors (2.2GHz)
So.. Which one should I get as a base? I dont know which would be better( I would guess a 3.0 but if you combine 3 2.0 ghz that would be 6... Then again I know nothing.)

Other then that I guess its easy just get a gig of ram a soundblaster card. Stuff like that, I will probly need help on anyways lol.  The price im looking to spend is under $1,500 if possible but I can probly get my mom to pay more.

[OOZ662]

Somewhere in the HP/Compaqs, there's always a huge bottleneck ending in horrible performance. Why don't you just build one? Only takes some good research and usually costs less. You get what you want and don't have to pay for any bundle software. Go nuts on NewEgg, where cheapness and quality reign.  

I built mine without doing enough research, burnt an HD, a powersupply, and decided to replace the heatsink I had with a better one, and still paid just under $1,300.

MB: GIGABYTE GA-8IPE1000PRO-G
CPU: Intel Pentium 4 w/ HT, 3.0GHz Northwood core
Video: nVidia 6800
Sound: SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS
HDD: Maxtor DiamondMax 10 6L120P0 120GB
Power: Thermaltake Silent PurePower TT-420AD(DUAL FAN) ATX 420W

Total: $1272.38 WITH screwups.

[ALF]

Most of the time you just need to look at the chipset.  The newer HP/Compaqs often use a very good chipset in their upper models.  Now you will have about zip in the overclockability dept, but these days overclocking isnt worth much.

I can only say that often you can get a better deal on the AMD chips.  $1200.00 and it'll scream....Ive got an older single core amd 64 3800+ w/6800gt  and its a monster.

I will tell you you'll want to look for a good CPU heatsink...cause the HP ones work very well....you can tell by the screaming jet engine sound comming from the case

    price     $1,344.00     *
     mail-in rebate    âˆ’ $150.00    
     price after rebate    $1,194.00    
     you saved    11.2%    
        as low as $40/mo+
12 months no payments. Apply now.
      
Estimated build date:
September 20, 2005
Monitors and add-ons are in stock and ship immediately.
     
Click "edit" to modify your customized pc order.
Operating System    Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Home Edition with SP2    
edit
   
Processor    AMD Athlon(TM) 64 3800+ operating at 2.4GHz    
edit
   
Memory    FREE UPGRADE from 512MB to 1024MB 400MHz (2x512)    
edit
   
Hard Drive    160GB 7200 rpm SATA Hard Drive    
edit
   
Primary CD/DVD Drive    FREE UPGRADE from DVD-ROM to 16X DVD+/-R/RW    
edit
   
Front Productivity Ports    Front USB, FireWire and audio ports    
edit
   
TV & Entertainment Experience    None    
edit
   
Graphics Card    256MB DDR NVIDIA GeForce FX 6800, DVI & TV-Out    
edit
   
Sound Card    Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS for MS Home or Pro OS    
edit
   
Keyboard and Mouse    HP Keyboard, HP Scroller Mouse    
edit
   
Productivity Software    Microsoft(R) Works 8.0/Money/MSN Encarta Plus

[JTs]

your in orange country they have fry's there.  go and check out the stuff you see on new egg.  build your own its cheaper and some of us actually find it fun (holds geekometer up to mirror whew still reading on the safe side)

[Sp4de]

I'd love to make my own computer... But i dont know anything I need.  I'd probly get ripped off

[OOZ662]

Then get everything I did. Works unbelievably well, but not THE BEST.

Power supply
You need a case; get an ATX size case.
Hard Drive
Motherboard
Heatsink
nVidia 6800 Video Card. I paid around $234 for it before the discount.
Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz Northwood. Make sure to get a Socket 478 if you go differently.
Sound Card
RAM
Arctic Silver
Use the CD-ROM drive from your old compy; unless you want better. You really can't get ripped off buying CD drives.

If you wanna find other stuff, NewEgg lets you compare and power search for exactly what you want.

If you use Norton Internet Security 2005, get a different Sound Card to avoid the clashes.

If they go out of stock and show a list of different stuff instead, reply about it and I'll give you a reccomendation.

[Slash27]

Originally posted by Sp4de
 The price im looking to spend is under $1,500 if possible but I can probly get my mom to pay more.

If you decide not to build it, check these guys out


http://www.abspc.com


 You will get more bang for your buck then with HP and its a quality company. Also,  Newegg is a safe place to buy from to build your own, and you wont get ripped off.