|
Author
|
Topic: What PC?
|
Hawk
JAG
|
posted 10-05- 12:56 PM
   
I need some advice from all you pc gurus out there. I want to buy another pc. Not upgrade mine, not build one (don't have the knowledge or time)just want to buy a pc that I can change video card and add memory.Can I go to my locale Best Buy or other and get just a box and not keyboard, monitor, ect? Nothing propriatory, something I can add to, extra slots, ect. ------------------
Hawk
http://rcwarbirds.com/
 [This message has been edited by Hawk (edited 10-05-2000).] IP: Logged |
Snickers
Pilot
|
posted 10-05- 01:12 PM
Most everything comes with a kbd and mouse monitor is extra. Define propriatary... Most systems you get from Best Buy or Comp USA are. (Compaq, HP etc) This doesnt mean you cant add things to them. What it usually means is that you cant chuck the motherboard, get a new one and use the same case.... I dont know who builds geneic PCs out there... Guys?------------------
Snickers
=FC=
 IP: Logged |
Spanky the Mad Dog
Pilot
|
posted 10-05- 01:23 PM
Spanky here... Your local mom and pop shop should be selling generic computers, sometimes they build them right there in the shop. If you go that route you should be able to specify the parts you want. Just like building your own custom but a bit more expensive since you don't want to do the building yourself. Since your getting exactly what you want it should be a resonalble price.
If you let us in on your preferences for Chip speed and brand I'm sure we can help you compile a list to take the shop.
With exact Motherboard models, vid cards and such. Personally I'm going with a Duron 700 or 750 and an abit or asus board pretty soon.
IP: Logged |
Hawk
JAG
|
posted 10-05- 01:33 PM
Can the motherboards in say a HP or Compaq accept the high powered video cards, I know the mb I currently have will not work because of it's low power capabilies.Snickers I guess I meant the abiltity to add or change memory, and the newer, more powerfull video cards. I wouldn't mind a propriatory mb if it has the power output for the newer vid cards. Spanky I would love to go that route but my wife can get some of the major brands at cost so I will have to stick with a name brand. I just need to know which one will let me add a heavy duty video card like a voodoo 6000 or equiv. and more or better memory. I currently have a voodoo 3000 I would like to start with. Thanks for your response so far guys. [This message has been edited by Hawk (edited 10-05-2000).] IP: Logged |
Tailslide
Pilot
|
posted 10-05- 01:44 PM
I would go to a mom and pop shop in your neighbourhood where you can pick out the components and have them build it for you.. get an abit motherboard, voodoo or geforce video card, sound blaster PCI card and some micron RAM and you'll be laughing. Some of the proprietary motherboards are a pain in the butt to upgrade. www.tomshardware.com has great reviews of all the components if you want to research them yourself TS ------------------
Patch It! www.airsims.com IP: Logged |
ArgonV
Pilot
|
posted 10-05- 01:48 PM
If you want a "name brand" computer but want to control some of what goes into it... I suggest a Gateway system.I personally built my own PC, but it appears you can only get a name brand due to what ever delima you have. IP: Logged |
Snickers
Pilot
|
posted 10-05- 02:01 PM
Most name brands come with AGPII support for video. Speaking as an ex tech support person (for a software company), dont get a Gateway... (sorry ArgonV...  _I would also sat away from IBM & Compaq. IF you want a name brand, HP is probably the best. Both of my machines are made by a company you probably never heard of (and is now out of business - something to consider as well). If you have someone build one for you, dont go with the cheap stuff.... I have seen motherboards so thin you could break traces just by insering a card... My main motherboard is by ASUS. ------------------
Snickers
=FC=
[This message has been edited by Snickers (edited 10-05-2000).] IP: Logged |
Mighty
General
|
posted 10-05- 04:54 PM
I'm thinking of getting a new computer when R/C Sim ships, and I'm leaning heavily toward starting with a name brand this time. Michael has had good luck with Dells. I'm also considering Micron and Gateway. Though, Gateway has had a very long reputation of impossible phone support.With any "boxed" computer. Stay away from the "value" models. Those often make it very difficult to upgrade. For example, a coupla years ago Dell had a BIOS that looked for a particular port on the sound card. If you changed the sound card it wouldn't boot. Today, the equivalent thing to do is build everything onto the motherboard and not put much effort into letting the user turn anything off. IP: Logged |
Jerry
Pilot
|
posted 10-05- 06:01 PM
I've had a Gateway for 21/2 years. Pretty stable box. Upgrades to Win 98 and now to Me have gone well, unlike some of the horror stories you read on this board and elsewhere. Phone support is hit and miss. Usually it's good but 20 minute holds are common. When the problem relates to software/hardware incompatibility they will only go so far before they recommend the famous, "Reformat your hard drive and reinstall everything". I usually figure out the problem or a workaround on my own after they point me in the right direction...haven't had to reformat yet. I think I'll go to a local shop next but I would recommend Gateway unless you plan to add lots of hardware on your own. Then you're better off buying locally if you can get local support. IP: Logged |
nealg
Pilot
|
posted 10-05- 11:52 PM
I hate to make recommendations, what works for one doesn't always work for another...but just for fun, if you do check Dell and Gateway, also give these 2 sites a try: www.computercomputer.com and www.computerhq.com . Sounds like a barebones system is what you are talking about. Also, check www.pricewatch.com and do a search on barebones systems; it is amazing what kind of deals are out there if you already have most of your peripherals.And yeah, Abit or Asus boards still have to be the safest bet, though there are 10 to 12 really good ones now, for both Intel and Athlon. ------------------
nealg=FC= IP: Logged |
Mirthain
Pilot
|
posted 10-06- 08:14 AM
Also check out the Falcon systems..... high end PC's for gaming... and you can tell them what you want. The nice thing about the smaller "Mom & Pop" stores is that the manufacturers warranties are about the same if not better than the prebuilt systems. Also, I was a phone tech for Creative Labs and let me tell you, upgrading a compaq or dell or even gateway is a stone cold bitch. Sometimes you are lucky and it works perfect, but if it doesn't, write it off.... you will spend hours working it over and many times won't get it to work at all. If you consider yourself more than just a average user, then you need to step up to configured systems and step away from the prebuilt market.....
Mirthain=FC=IP: Logged |
Falck
Pilot
|
posted 10-06- 08:37 AM
FWIW I did some work earlier this year on installing network cards into computers for the new students here.Dell's arent bad, but you have to spend a lot to get good stuff. The lower end machines with integrated video are definitely not what you want. Gateways had a lot of problems. Dead hard drives and low CMOS batteries. Compaq's power supplies were a joke. 140W. I agree with TS, if you cant build your own, find someone who will do it for you. That way you get exactly what you want with no compromises. IP: Logged |
Gustang
Pilot
|
posted 10-06- 07:29 PM
FWIW,I think more important than a name brand system is well known, tested components. The big problem I've run into, besides not knowning what kind of stuff is in the box, with some of the pre-built systems (like those you can get from BB), is you may be voiding the manufacturers warranty simply by installing a card by yourself (PB for instance). With a home-built system (well, built by a local independent), each component has its own warranty. If you run into a problem with any of the components, you can often switch it with the local, without dragging the whole system in. Go to anandtech.com, tomshardware.com and some of the other hardware sites and do a little reading on components. You'll be suprised as to what you'll learn in a short time. Getting the right parts to begin with can save you tons of head and heartache later... Once you have a good idea as to what components you'll need and which names you're looking for, go to a mom and pop computer re-seller. Often, they'll have a link with a supplier that pre-builds systems and they'll usually be able to take a stock system and change out many of the components with those you're interested in (the ones you've researched). Quite a few years ago, I purchased my first system from a guy who built them in his spare time. It was a 386 dx25 w/ 4M of ram that I paid $2k for (ouch). It wasn't top of the line then either, but I got a good 2 years out of it. The point here is, never buy top of the line; rather, buy somewhere just before the price/performance curve goes skyward. Now, if you want a recommendation on components, that's another story... IP: Logged |
Pang
Pilot
|
posted 10-06- 09:04 PM
I played all last weekend on a Gateway 933 and it was just incredible. We had nine of them on a LAN (plus a couple of others) and basically played Counterstrike, or Urban Ops most of the time. Wow. If I could spring the bucks, this is what I'd do.IP: Logged | |
FSIC Messageboard
UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone! 
