New computer time!

BoyEngland · 07-27-2008

Well my parents got around 5000GBP/$9000 back off their taxes this year so they are giving me 500GBP/$900 to spend pretty much how I like. I will be adding some of my own money to it and it's my birthday in little over a month so I am hoping to buy a new desktop computer.

I will probably be ordering a Dell (desktop) since HP UK don't allow customization, but I have a few questions... for now.

Questions:
1) Can more RAM replace the lack of a high end graphics card?
2) 512MB ATI Radeon 3870 or 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT?
3) With either of those graphics cards, can I get by with only 2GB of RAM?
4) Are those graphics cards considered "good"?

I am just looking at various options on the Dell site trying to piece together the cheapest option. The one I am currently looking at uses a Quad Core processor (varying specs), allows either one of those graphics cards I mentioned, and 2GB or 3GB of RAM.

Also note: I don't want to build my own since I wont have any time to do so when college starts, I am in the UK so we don't necessarily have the same component options as you lot, HDD size isn't a factor, the disk drive isn't a factor so long as it can burn DVDs, and I am totally out of the computing loop so have no idea about any of the components going into it.

Any help is appreciated as always.

Subject 17 · 07-27-2008

Freak. You sure you don't want to build your own? It'll only take a day to do so...

But alright. Dell usually ramps up their prices and loads their disks with software, but a few comments:

1) More ram does not replace a good graphics card. The graphics card actually processes data, RAM just stores it.
2) The quad core won't help your games much for the price increase. on a budget, just stick with a dual
3) Get the ati hd 4800. If dell doesn't offer it, well, don't go with dell.

That's basically all I have to say for now.

BoyEngland · 07-28-2008

Well I was talking to my friend last night and he has a 8800GT, 2GB of RAM, and a lower spec dual core and he can run Crysis with all high settings. That's good enough for me since I wont be playing really high spec games. The highest spec game I will probably get is Flight Sim X.

The only reason I am getting a Quad Core is because it is included in the price of the computer and I think it will be good for "future proofing". Otherwise, I would just go with a dual.

Edit - I have been messing around with the Dell customization for a few hours today and think I have found the best setup for me. It is a Dell XPS (desktop) 420 with the following specs (the important ones).

Processor: Intel Processor Q6600 Quad Core (2.40GHz, 1066Mhz FSB, 8MB cache)
OS: Vista Home Premium
RAM: 2048MB 800MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM (It's 2 1GB modules)
GFX: 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT
HDD: 500GB Serial ATA non Raid (7200 Rpm)
Price: £767.79/$1,300 (Taxed & Shipped)

An extra 1GB of RAM is 20GBP so I might just throw it in just incase.

To me, that is a good setup but I need other opinions from anyone who can help. I wont be ordering until the middle of August at the earliest (2 paychecks in the meantime) so I have plenty of time to change the setup.

kevinXcore · 07-28-2008

Get more than 2 gb of ram. My laptop has 2gb and Vista takes up half of it.

Also, don't get a Dell. I have one and have had nothing but problems with it.

AND

My Dad bought a new Dell last week, he set it up last night. As of right now (I'm looking at it), it doesn't connect to the internet. It doesn't shut down properly (it stays on the Logging Off screen until you press the power button) and of the two times I attempted to turn it on, both times have failed.

zero2000 · 07-28-2008

Are you REALLY sure you don't want to build you own?

lol

My first computer build took me 2-3 hours. -_-

With the amount of money you are going to spend on that, you could get a PC twice (if not more) as powerful. Mine was about the same price as what you are going to spend on that.

Big Red 11 · 07-28-2008

Really, when people say "Don't go with Dell," it's not a personal preference or company loyalty kind of thing. In all seriousness, Dell is garbage. Their desktops are not worth the effort. Look into Toshiba - I have had one for two years now and it's pretty fantastic. I can run Cod4 on medium settings with just a 1.8ghz dual core 2gb ram vista system.

Also, take a look on slickdeals.net and deals2buy.com and see if you can't find a good deal on a computer. I've seen some pretty amazing stuff on those sites that I wish had been around when I was shopping for a computer.

BoyEngland · 07-28-2008

I will only consider building my own if someone can give me 1 positive aspect to doing so. Also, you will have to list everything I need because I will forget half of it.

Looks like money is a bigger factor in my choice now though. After talking with my Step Dad, he seems to think I need the money for college so wont let me use it for a computer. I can probably just get the money from my Mum/Mom instead. If not, I wont have enough money until around October.

Minor setback, but it's not going to stop me. I can't seem to find any existence of a Toshiba desktop either. I was reading some of the reviews on the Dell site today claiming that the power supply in the XPs 420 doesn't fully supplement the requirements of the 8800GT. I did an online chat with a Dell rep and they have assure me that when you select a higher end graphics card, the power supply is also upgraded. Obviously in theory that is what they do, but why are people still saying it's an issue?

zero2000 · 07-28-2008

Benefits of building your own computer.

1. Save a lot of money
2. Better performance
3. Satisfaction of building a comptuer
4. Customization (get to chose your case, and etc)
5. Easier to upgrade later on
6. Cuts back on pre-loaded garbage

Things you need.

Case
Power Supply
Graphics Card
Processor
DVD Drive
Hard Drive
Motherboard
Ram
Audio card (Most motherboards come with integrated audio)
Processor fan (Almost all CPUs come with a stock fan)

Subject 17 · 07-28-2008

Also, you may want to think about internal wi-fi with your PC. Most motherboards (actually, I don't know of any which don't) come with a modem or ethernet port and usb ports as well, along with all the audio jacks as well (like zero said).

Building a PC really isn't as hard as you would think. Just make sure you get parts that fit right. The parts will obviously be labled with what type of socket/port/slot they take, and the mobo will also have listed what kinds of ports/slots and what CPU socket it is as well. Also, make sure to get everything together before you decide on a PSU. Take whatever wattage the processor and graphics card need, and tack on another like 100 watts to that to be sure, and buy a power supply that can handle that. Also make sure your PSU has all the extra supplementary power connections that a lot of modern graphics cards use.

Big Red 11 · 07-29-2008

Maybe the power supply/graphics card mismatch is when the users have bought the upgraded card themselves.

But anyway, why are you going for a desktop when you are heading off for college?