Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Dadsguns on November 06, 2010, 03:52:22 PM
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I started this thread in the Oclub and probably should have started here.
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,299738.0.html
Not sure what I would need since I don't build computers, but anything would be better than what I have now.
I want enough ability to run the game with no problems and to also handle video editing and pictures from time to time. Of course, bang for the buck.
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So what's your budget? Are you willing to build it (it's incredibly easy)? If you're willing to build will you re-use anything out of the last system?
I'd say off hand $700 get's you a decent but somewhat marginal system that can run AH, 1000-1500 gets a system that has no issues maxing AH and anything more is overkill. That's building just the box and not re-using any old parts except keyboard, mouse, monitor and speakers.
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I didn't have alot of cash on hand, so I fiananced one through Dell.
Have had it for a couple months now and I am more than satisfied.
Payments are about 50 bucks a month, though I plan on paying the whole thing off in a year, so I'm paying more.
I bought the Studio XPS 9100 with the i7 930, windows 7 home premium, 12 gigs of ddr3 ram (a little future proofing) 1 terabyte HD and an Ati Radeon HD 5870 video card.
It also came with a 24" HD monitor and a pretty good warranty.
The power supply is 525 watts, which is actually pretty good as the video card only pulls about 260 watts max.
Total was 1649 and I feel pretty good about it and think it will give me some pretty damn good performance for years.
However if you have the cash, there are some guys in here who can build you a high performance machine for less.
I've had some guys in here say that Dell leaves no room for future expansion, I say they're wrong.
Way wrong.
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Yes.. really it all comes down to budget.
If you just simply ask "what computer is best?" we can point you towards a system that can easily cost you $2000+.
If you reuse your monitor, keyboard, and mouse, speakers, etc. you can build one for under $400 (Operating system included) that will run Aces High "reasonably well". Even cheaper if you can reuse other parts like your case, power supply, optical drive, etc... No it won't be maxed but it will run it. The drawback to this is you'll be scraping the bottom of the barrel as far as components go, so quality and upgradeability will be severely hindered.
Likewise, for $400-500 you can purchase a name brand system that will... again.. run Aces High "reasonably well", but to get any real performance out of it, you'll be spending another $200-300 on a new power supply and video card. (By the way, if you can replace a video card and power supply, then you can build a PC)
My biggest issue with name brand systems is that you never truly know what's inside. Example, they can advertise a "800 Watt Power Supply" but you don't know if it's a quality brand like Seasonic, or some cheap chinese-made part that is going to fail the day after the warranty is up (if it lasts that long). They tend to go with cheaper quality components so they can stay competitive with the other brands, and if you think getting all that software makes it a good deal, think again. You get a 'preinstalled' copy of Windows (yes you can restore it, but only along with the other junk) along with a TRIAL version of bloatware anti-everything software, a TRIAL version of bloatware Microsoft Office, a TRIAL version of some backup software, a few useless games, some kind of "system helper" utility that will eat up 20% of your computers performance and do nothing except monitor the internet for software updates, and god only knows what else...
Do yourself a BIG favor and spend several hours researching building your own PC. It really is not difficult at all and you'll find it to be a very rewarding project. If you are strictly against that sort of thing, then I would highly recommend purchasing your system from a system builder (such as TilDeath) who will work with you one on one and really want to make you happy. Bravo to TilDeath by the way. I tried going that route with my career and never could make a profit off of it. Then again, I didn't have his connections.
Name brand retail systems do have their place in the computer world... for uneducated consumers who want to fork out $1000 for a system for them to play solitaire and surf the web. Now, business systems are a whole different ball game altogether.
1Boner I see your recommendation about financing one through Dell. I'm not automatically saying that Dell is a bad deal... on the contrary their higher end systems aren't bad at all. The thing is that I could have built that same exact system for under $1100. To me $500+ savings for a few hours of my time is significant. As far as credit worthiness, if you can get financed through Dell, you can usually have a credit card with very similar terms. Now with all that being said $1649 isn't a bad price for a higher end Dell system like that, but they also make a lot of their money off of people who make minimum payments and stretch it out over a few years, or those who regularly make late payments. Not many people these days are that responsible with their credit.
Heck even TilDeath has joined in on a credit program... I think it was the "Bill Me Later" program... I think newegg does a similar thing...
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I've had some guys in here say that Dell leaves no room for future expansion, I say they're wrong.
Way wrong.
Not entirely. When you start to get left behind from a graphics perspective, anything that you'll want to upgrade to is going to require a new PSU. 525 Watts doesn't cut it with most current generation high end cards where 600 W is pretty much a bare minimum.
It just depends on how much you want to spend when it's time to upgrade.
I'd also be curious as to how many open drive bays you have (3.5" and 5.25"), RAM slots, PCIe x16 slots and are the open slots x4, x8 or x16, USB ports, etc. I'm guessing they've limited you so you don't fry an already marginal PSU.
Dell also limits the BIOS not allowing you to overclock the CPU.
Now many of those things may not matter to you but to imply that you have complete flexibiliy in upgrade options is simply wrong.
I've had (still have) a Dell and was completely satisfied with it for years until I built one. Now I'd never touch another pre-built system.
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Yes.. really it all comes down to budget.
Thats about it.
Best that I can tell, doesnt look like I will get what I want but rather what will do.
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Not entirely. When you start to get left behind from a graphics perspective, anything that you'll want to upgrade to is going to require a new PSU. 525 Watts doesn't cut it with most current generation high end cards where 600 W is pretty much a bare minimum.
It just depends on how much you want to spend when it's time to upgrade.
I'd also be curious as to how many open drive bays you have (3.5" and 5.25"), RAM slots, PCIe x16 slots and are the open slots x4, x8 or x16, USB ports, etc. I'm guessing they've limited you so you don't fry an already marginal PSU.
Dell also limits the BIOS not allowing you to overclock the CPU.
Now many of those things may not matter to you but to imply that you have complete flexibiliy in upgrade options is simply wrong.
I've had (still have) a Dell and was completely satisfied with it for years until I built one. Now I'd never touch another pre-built system.
There's a drop down door on the front that has 2 open bays, theres room to upgrade to 24 gigs of ram and not sure how many usb ports. Even though I have my wireless mouse, joystick and Ipod hooked up, I haven't used them all yet nor have I bothered to count them. As far as overclocking, I have absolutley no interest or need to do that. I think the i7 has some type of "turbo boost" that will kinda overclock itself if taxed.
I also don't think I will be "left behind" graphicly speaking for quite some time, so the 525 watts is more than enough for now and the forseeable future.
I don't think Dell is everyones cup of tea, but so far I have been more than happy with the unit, but given the chance in the future,I very well may make some type of "home built" unit myself.
I understand that Tilldeath makes some awesome units, and that is probably a great way to go for some people.
There also was not as much bloatware as I found on my old HP, and what was there was dealt with in less than a half hour.
And "complete" flexability? I don't believe I ever said that. I was refering to someone else who in another thread had implied that the Dell systems were notoriously "un" upgradable.
I like the Dell so far and I'm sure the OP will enjoy whatever he decides to buy.
If Tilldeaths new "payment plan" had been in place when I was ready to buy one, I'm sure I would have went that route.
He's been gaining a really great reputaion on these boards.
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Thats about it.
Best that I can tell, doesnt look like I will get what I want but rather what will do.
Thats the deal Dads, drop a number and a number of these guys will put together the best bang for your buck here. Then all ya got to do is buy it, and build it.
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Dads get ahold of Tildeth and talk to him he has financing available now.
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Dads get ahold of Tildeth and talk to him he has financing available now.
yup, I would do that first.
semp
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Get with TilDeath
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How many Computers has Tildeath built for players on here?
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Dozens if not hundreds I'm sure. Need to ask him LOL
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Dozens if not hundreds I'm sure. Need to ask him LOL
Hundereds??
PERK TILDEATH!!! :bolt:
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How many Computers has Tildeath built for players on here?
Probably a good 10 or 15.
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Over a hundred. :aok
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I think it is more than a hundred plus aanother couple of hundred parts. I myself got a case and ps from him.
Semp