Author Topic: Multipurpose PC – Store Bought, Online Store, Ebay or Home Built. (Read 711 times)

eskimo2 · « **on:** February 14, 2007, 10:37:29 AM »

I’ve been meaning to upgrade my PC for years. The machine I’m on now was bought on Ebay by a relative, used for a year and then given to me. I’ve upgraded everything but the MOBO, HD and case. It’s old though and I haven’t played AH in over a year. I want a machine that can play AH and do a bit of everything, like crunch/make movies, burn disks, graphics, etc. I’m not looking for anything fantastic or top of the line, just modern. Price range: $500 to $800 total with monitor, keyboard and mouse. Of course I want to stay away from Vista, which might limit my possibilities. I wouldn’t mind building my own, but if there are complete PCs for near the same price I’d just assume get a complete PC. I am not up on where the good deals are and probably would recognize a good machine at a decent price.

If you were going to get a basic computer capable of running AH would you look for a deal at Best Buy, Staples, etc., or order one online from a NewEgg type place, or shop on Ebay or would it be cheaper to build one from online parts?

If you’ve been shopping and are up on parts and PCs, please chime in.

BTW, I’m really just looking for a box. I’d be fine picking up a monitor, keyboard and mouse on sale locally. A package deal would be fine as well.

Irwink! · « **Reply #1 on:** February 14, 2007, 11:21:27 AM »

With your stated price range I'd say you better roll your own.

Airscrew · « **Reply #2 on:** February 14, 2007, 12:51:30 PM »

Eskimo, just depends what your needs are and your price.

I like Frys (sometimes)
http://shop2.outpost.com/product/5130796 $499.00.

Processor: Intel PentiumD 820 (S) DC 2.8 GHz
Memory: 2GB PC2-4200 DDR2
Hard drive: 300GB SATA
Optical Drive: 16X DVD(+/-)R/RW (+/-)R DL LightScribe drive
Video: Integrated graphics
Sound/Audio: Integrated
Memory card reader: Supports 9 formats
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 with Microsoft Service Pack 2

Video probably suffers suckage but you can upgrade later
If your limit is $800, then that still leaves ya about $200 for a monitor

or build your own, and get same but slightly cheaper

Skuzzy · « **Reply #3 on:** February 14, 2007, 12:56:32 PM »

I would not consider a Pentium D820 (D anything actually).

Although I would be hard pressed to suggest anything in the price range you are asking for eskimo2.

Dux · « **Reply #4 on:** February 14, 2007, 01:31:39 PM »

Eskimo, I just picked up a "discontinued" HP a1644x for $600 at CompUSA a couple of weeks ago. Discontinued because it's an XP Pro SP2 machine, I literally bought the last one they had. It's a nice little rig, 2.8 GHz, nothing fancy, but I realized that if I wanted to get something newer with XP still in it, I'd have to act quick.

I'm in the process of upgrading it now... I'm expecting it to be my main ride for a few years.

Eagler · « **Reply #5 on:** February 14, 2007, 01:59:14 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Skuzzy
Although I would be hard pressed to suggest anything in the price range you are asking for eskimo2.

that's what I was thinking.
In that price range, you can get a good box if you build it yourself but it will be a dead end model say a 939 pin mb with a dual core amd chip- fast for now but not an upgradeable unit for later

llama · « **Reply #6 on:** February 14, 2007, 03:50:26 PM »

Do you have ANY parts that you want to reuse, or will this totally be a new PC?

You even need a new monitor?

-Llama

eskimo2 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 14, 2007, 04:19:37 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by llama
Do you have ANY parts that you want to reuse, or will this totally be a new PC?

You even need a new monitor?

-Llama

Yea, I have an old machine that’s running Win 98; its monitor is going bad. We use the machine everyday. (We = myself, wife 2 kids and now the youngest is almost 2 and is starting to get how to use a mouse. The “new” machine is an Athelon 1400 I think. Both of these machines will remain in service until death do them part. We might shove the 98 into a corner with the CRT monitor and get flats for the 1400 and the one we get. I’m really too poor to spend more; I’m raising a family on a Catholic school teacher’s salary. I have three good printer though.

eskimo2 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 14, 2007, 04:20:55 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Dux
Eskimo, I just picked up a "discontinued" HP a1644x for $600 at CompUSA a couple of weeks ago. Discontinued because it's an XP Pro SP2 machine, I literally bought the last one they had. It's a nice little rig, 2.8 GHz, nothing fancy, but I realized that if I wanted to get something newer with XP still in it, I'd have to act quick.

I'm in the process of upgrading it now... I'm expecting it to be my main ride for a few years.

That sounds good...

eskimo2 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 14, 2007, 04:28:11 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Airscrew
Eskimo, just depends what your needs are and your price.

I like Frys (sometimes)
http://shop2.outpost.com/product/5130796 $499.00.

Processor: Intel PentiumD 820 (S) DC 2.8 GHz
Memory: 2GB PC2-4200 DDR2
Hard drive: 300GB SATA
Optical Drive: 16X DVD(+/-)R/RW (+/-)R DL LightScribe drive
Video: Integrated graphics
Sound/Audio: Integrated
Memory card reader: Supports 9 formats
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 with Microsoft Service Pack 2

Video probably suffers suckage but you can upgrade later
If your limit is $800, then that still leaves ya about $200 for a monitor

or build your own, and get same but slightly cheaper

That's about what I'm looking for:

Specifications
Processor: Intel PentiumD 820 (S) DC 2.8 GHz
Memory: 2GB PC2-4200 DDR2
Hard drive: 300GB SATA
Optical Drive: 16X DVD(+/-)R/RW (+/-)R DL LightScribe drive
Modem: 56K bps data/fax modem
Video: Integrated graphics
Sound/Audio: Integrated
Network: Integrated 10/100 Base-T networking interface
Memory card reader: Supports 9 formats
I/O ports on the front panel: 3 USB, 1 1394, 1 headphone, 1 line-in, 1 microphone
I/O ports on the back panel: 2 PS/2, 1 Parallel, 1 VGA, 4 USB, 1 1394a, 1 LAN, 1 SPDIF out, 1 SPDIF in
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 with Microsoft Service Pack 2
Expansion slots
PCI - Three (Two available)
PCI Express x16 - One (One available)
Drive bays
5.25" external Two (One available)
3.5" external Two (One available)
3.5" internal One (None available)
Technologies
Viiv
Vista Capable
Keyboard and mouse
HP multimedia keyboard
Quebec Keyboard Kit (French Canada only)
HP PS/2 scroller mouse

**************************************************

I know this level of machine may suck compared to everyone else’s standards, but I’ve been milking the same machine for the past 5+ years. My cars cost less than what most of your PCs cost, my family wears second hand clothes; I just don’t have the money. Will it run AHII?

Most of the years that I flew AH I had machines that would scarcely run it; frame rates under 20. It’s all relative.

llama · « **Reply #10 on:** February 14, 2007, 04:31:36 PM »

OK, if you are considering building your own, I found this thread to be a good one:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=710828

Yes, it talks about making a media-room PC, but it is kept up to date, has prices, and lively discission. You would pretty much ignore the suggestions for cases (all you need is a good tower), but the rest of it is pretty spot-on. It even has tons of links and quotes from reliable hardware review websites. This one is worth bookmarking.

Now then, I'd be looking at something like this if I were you:

CPU: Core 2 Duo 1.86 Mhz: ~$163
Mainboard: ASUS P5B (~$131) (only one PCI Express slot, but at your price, you won't be doing SLI graphics.
Memory: 1 GB of Cricial brand ram DDR2 PC6400 RAM: ~$150
Hard Drive: Whatever Seagate SATA drive runs around $100. Currently 320GB
Case/Power Supply: Variable. Expect to pay $100 to $150.
DVD Drive: Anything from LiteON. $40
Video Card: I think a 7600GT model is a good bang for the buck. $150

Total price: $859 plus shipping, tax, keyboard, mouse, and monitor.

Hmmm. A bit high. Let me think some more...

-Llama

Nomak · « **Reply #11 on:** February 14, 2007, 06:51:54 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Skuzzy
I would not consider a Pentium D820 (D anything actually).

Although I would be hard pressed to suggest anything in the price range you are asking for eskimo2.

Just my opinion of course...... kinda hard not to consider a D series when they out perform everything else in the price range.

Dave

Nomak · « **Reply #12 on:** February 14, 2007, 06:54:14 PM »

Here ya go......

http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/06/12/your_diy_gaming_rig_for_720/

Of course you would still need a monitor.

Dave

Edit..... I know its not the kind of machine you are speaking of. It is an interesting build for the money though.

eskimo2 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 14, 2007, 07:47:48 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Nomak
Here ya go......

http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/06/12/your_diy_gaming_rig_for_720/

Of course you would still need a monitor.

Dave

Edit..... I know its not the kind of machine you are speaking of. It is an interesting build for the money though.

That looks like a great machine for the money. Is that enough RAM? Is the water cooler worth it; does it help that much?

DREDIOCK · « **Reply #14 on:** February 15, 2007, 08:03:53 AM »

From what I have seen. The thing that makes the majority of store bought complete systems a "great deal".
Is the monitor and printer that come with it.
the computer itself is usually mediocre at best touting this and that it looks great untill you find out exactly whats inside

You can build a much better system for less.
But once you add the monitor and printer it will cost you more unless you manage to find a really good deal on both.

If you want a deal on a monitor and printer that happens to come with a computer. Go with a store bought complete system.

If you want a good deal on a computer.
Build it yourself;)