Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Sp4de on September 03, 2005, 07:27:12 PM
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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 (http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/generic_category.do?catLevel=1&storeName=computer_store&template_type=computer_store&landing=desktops&category=hp_pavilion&aoid=1425)
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.
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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 (http://www.NewEgg.com/), where cheapness and quality reign. :D
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.
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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 :D
price $1,344.00 *
mail-in rebate − $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
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Processor AMD Athlon(TM) 64 3800+ operating at 2.4GHz
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Memory FREE UPGRADE from 512MB to 1024MB 400MHz (2x512)
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Hard Drive 160GB 7200 rpm SATA Hard Drive
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Primary CD/DVD Drive FREE UPGRADE from DVD-ROM to 16X DVD+/-R/RW
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Front Productivity Ports Front USB, FireWire and audio ports
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TV & Entertainment Experience None
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Graphics Card 256MB DDR NVIDIA GeForce FX 6800, DVI & TV-Out
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Sound Card Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS for MS Home or Pro OS
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Keyboard and Mouse HP Keyboard, HP Scroller Mouse
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Productivity Software Microsoft(R) Works 8.0/Money/MSN Encarta Plus
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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)
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I'd love to make my own computer... But i dont know anything I need. I'd probly get ripped off
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Then get everything I did. Works unbelievably well, but not THE BEST.
Power supply (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817153006)
You need a case; get an ATX size case.
Hard Drive (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822144232)
Motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813128231)
Heatsink (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835106032)
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 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102178)
RAM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145440)
Arctic Silver (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835100007)
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.
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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.