OT: Help buying a new computer

Fyron · #1 August 2nd, 2005, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Atrocities said:
is this a good case or how about this one? What about this one?

Personally, I think the second two look like crap. I like a more austere design, without all of the fancy baubles and shiney lights and side windows. I think Alienware, for example, makes some of the worst looking cases. But that's just me. The first one isn't bad, if you get rid of the lighted fans, but is definitely overpriced if that is just for the case. Go for cases that have sliding drive bay mounts, rather than just screws. They make life a lot easier.

I especially dislike cases that look like that Kandolf one... But again, its all personal taste and style.

If you are spending more than 60 or 70 dollars on just a case (including the fans that take a few cents to manufacture), I'd say you are buying the wrong merchandise, from the wrong places...

Thermodyne · #2 August 2nd, 2005, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Imperator Fyron said:

Quote:

Atrocities said:
is this a good case or how about this one? What about this one?

Personally, I think the second two look like crap. I like a more austere design, without all of the fancy baubles and shiney lights and side windows. I think Alienware, for example, makes some of the worst looking cases. But that's just me. The first one isn't bad, if you get rid of the lighted fans, but is definitely overpriced if that is just for the case. Go for cases that have sliding drive bay mounts, rather than just screws. They make life a lot easier.

I especially dislike cases that look like that Kandolf one... But again, its all personal taste and style.

If you are spending more than 60 or 70 dollars on just a case (including the fans that take a few cents to manufacture), I'd say you are buying the wrong merchandise, from the wrong places...

LOL, you can't run them this hard in a $50 case.
Sandra CPU

Fyron · #3 August 2nd, 2005, 06:27 PM

Sure you can. I spent 45 bucks on a case that easily matches those listed in performance, just without the gaudiness.

Ah, computer fairs.

Thermodyne · #4 August 2nd, 2005, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Imperator Fyron said:
Sure you can. I spent 45 bucks on a case that easily matches those listed in performance, just without the gaudiness.

Ah, computer fairs.

Well. Show us!

Atrocities · #5 August 3rd, 2005, 05:27 PM

So I guess I should ask, what is a solid mother board and cpu combination? Should a person get a PCI express video card or stick with AGP?

Cases - cooling and power are the primary factors when using in conjunction with an AMD. Cooling being the TOP priority.

And when they say PC400 - Dual -, and all you can find is 3200, WTF comes to mind. Any insights?

And thanks for the comments guys.

Enu is like 15 minutes from here so no shipping costs or sales taxes to contend with.

Will · #6 August 3rd, 2005, 07:18 PM

Memory types can be a bit confusing at times... especially because some sellers screw it up. "PC400" probably means "DDR 400MHz" since it says it's dual channel, which is the same as "PC3200".

Thermodyne · #7 August 3rd, 2005, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Will said:
Memory types can be a bit confusing at times... especially because some sellers screw it up. "PC400" probably means "DDR 400MHz" since it says it's dual channel, which is the same as "PC3200".

WTF:P......You want to splain that to me.

Dual channel means two memory channels as opposed to one for the old DDR standard. (Almost twice the bandwidth)
For DDR
PC2700 = 333MHz
PC3200 = 400MHz
Top end sticks are now
PC4800 = 600MHz
Top end DDR2 sticks are
PC6400 = 800MHz

If you are not going to OC, just get 2 sticks of the fasted standard that the board supports. It takes 2 sticks to make use of dual channel.

Thermodyne · #8 August 3rd, 2005, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Atrocities said:
So I guess I should ask, what is a solid mother board and cpu combination? Should a person get a PCI express video card or stick with AGP?

Cases - cooling and power are the primary factors when using in conjunction with an AMD. Cooling being the TOP priority.

And when they say PC400 - Dual -, and all you can find is 3200, WTF comes to mind. Any insights?

And thanks for the comments guys.

Enu is like 15 minutes from here so no shipping costs or sales taxes to contend with.

1} Almost any name Asus, Abit, Intel, and DFI are the big four. Abit is best for the AMD chips unless you really know what you are doing, in which case the DFI boards have more head room. NF4 chipsets for AMD and NF4 or Intel chipsets for Intel. AGP is end of life get PCI X16.

2)Intel needs lots of cooling too.

3) Lots of pc400 or faster out there, find a better store. Also, for Intel, DDR2 is the new standard.