A couple new computers- 1000$ each

[Obsidian Spire]

Alright guys, I have my dad convinced to let me maybe build myself my own computer and buy a brand new desktop for the family who may not be as computer literate as they should be. My budget for each computer, separately, is around 1000$; but I have wiggle room, so don't be afraid to suggest slightly above that. I have some good ideas based on what I've seen in Tech Center and heard from other tech savvy people, but I would like a refresher and see if there's anything new out there like i7 or which brands I should prefer. All help is appreciated. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Obsidian

BTW, I looked at IbuyPower and customized one of the most awesome gaming computers I've ever seen. It only cost about 2000 too, so if you could maybe post the best I could get for that as a frame of reference. I haven't checked newegg yet, but I will later today probably.

[Basil.]

Re: A couple new computers- 1000$ each

Do you need keyboard, mouse and monitor for each computer? What do you plan on using the computers for?

[Obsidian Spire]

Re: A couple new computers- 1000$ each

Do you need keyboard, mouse and monitor for each computer? What do you plan on using the computers for?

My computer for gaming, game designing, movie making, photoshop, schoolwork; everything pretty much. The family computer should have high ram, high memory (1 TB), windows 7 home premium is fine, and not need to be upgraded for a long-*** time; my dad hates doing that. Also, the reason the Ibuypower setup was so kick-*** is because the keyboards/headsets I chose a lot of the better stuff. I have a monitor already, so I don't need that, but my keyboards are old and boring, so I want an upgrade (logitech gsomething I think with a game LED display) and a headset logitech g35 because it looks awesome. I have a cheap headset or two, but most of them aren't that good for communicating.

I hope that clears it up. ALso, the Ibuypower thing came with Assassin's creed 2 and Dirt 2 for free. :awes We have most of the mouse/keyboard/monitors lying around so we can utilize them well.

[Obsidian Spire]

Re: A couple new computers- 1000$ each

Also, my dad has a dell laptop with a port on the bottom which can be used for dual monitors? What's one of the better ones of those? I know Webs has one.

[Basil.]

Re: A couple new computers- 1000$ each

GIGABYTE GA-MA785GMT-UD2H AM3 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard $89.99

AMD Athlon II X4 630 Propus 2.8GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor $99.00

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit

Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 21.99

Antec earthwatts EA500 500W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.2 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC "Compatible with Core i7/Core i5" Power Supply $69.99

Western Digital Caviar Blue WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $69.99

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $59.95

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM $99.00

Total $575.89 without shipping.

If you want a video card
XFX HD-557X-ZHF2 Radeon HD 5570 1GB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card $74.99

How does that look for a family computer.

What do you plan on doing with your old PC. Maybe we can upgrade that one for the family PC and leave you more money for the gaming PC?

[Obsidian Spire]

Re: A couple new computers- 1000$ each

GIGABYTE GA-MA785GMT-UD2H AM3 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard $89.99

AMD Athlon II X4 630 Propus 2.8GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor $99.00

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit


Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 21.99

Antec earthwatts EA500 500W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.2 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC "Compatible with Core i7/Core i5" Power Supply $69.99

Western Digital Caviar Blue WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $69.99

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $59.95

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM $99.00

Total $575.89 without shipping.

If you want a video card
XFX HD-557X-ZHF2 Radeon HD 5570 1GB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card $74.99

How does that look for a family computer.

What do you plan on doing with your old PC. Maybe we can upgrade that one for the family PC and leave you more money for the gaming PC?

Hmm, my old computer was a windows Millenium that I completely ****ing hated. I donated that **** a long time ago. Right now, I only have a pretty good Sony Vaio laptop with an AMD Radeon HD4650 card/ something like that.

The list looks awesome, but I'd like blu ray and some upgrades. My dad wanted a 750 w or 800w power supply, 1 TB memory, 5-6 GB ram ddr3, and the need to not upgrade for at least several years. Also, my dad likes Dell so an intel i7 core would be good. My dad often programs on the home computer, so it still has to be pretty ****ing good.

[Basil.]

Re: A couple new computers- 1000$ each

you are going to need more money then that.

here is a dell with i7 ,1TB HD, 6GB ddr3 memory and a blue ray. don't know about the power supply they never gave me a choice..

Dell $1299.00 without taxes or shipping

maybe you guys should think about sharing a computer for now?

[Obsidian Spire]

Re: A couple new computers- 1000$ each

you are going to need more money then that.

here is a dell with i7 ,1TB HD, 6GB ddr3 memory and a blue ray. don't know about the power supply they never gave me a choice..

Dell $1299.00 without taxes or shipping

maybe you guys should think about sharing a computer for now?

Not possible. We have 4 family members and we have around 10 computers in the house right now. I will just tell him that the deal is realistically that high price. He's willing to listen now because he finally ****ing realized I'm smarter than him sometimes. :P

---------- Post added at 05:16 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:14 AM ----------

Also, we like being in different areas of the house, so we have to have two really great computers. :/

---------- Post added at 05:22 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:16 AM ----------

NEW DESKTOP Tech Center Microsoft Office Discount for US Students -The Ultimate Steal- Office 2007 Software for $59.95 Why is Microsoft even offering Windows 7 Ultimate? | The Digital Home - CNET News Desktop PC - Computers | Sony Style USA | Sony
Desktop Computers & PCs | Dell Costco - $1,199.99 after $150 OFF Dell Studio XPS 8100 Desktop Core i7-860 2.80GHz 512MB Graphics iBUYPOWER Computer :: 2010 Paladin Dr. IThese are some of the things I was thinking of. The costco computer with Dell is frankly almost perfect in so many regards, it just fell short a little.

[Basil.]

Re: A couple new computers- 1000$ each

so on the costco pc is missing the blue ray and 750w+ PS. This is the same one from dell itself with blue ray. Dell. It also got a better video card but no monitor.

Talk him out of the big Power supply, unless he's going SLI or crossfire he doesn't need it.

[Obsidian Spire]

Re: A couple new computers- 1000$ each

Lol turns out I misunderstood him and he wanted a 750 cpu for the i7 not the gpu 750 watts. :)

[Obsidian Spire]

Re: A couple new computers- 1000$ each

Thanks for the advice. I think I 'm done with the searching and will buy them soon. It was really helpful. By the way, I really suggest the Dell customization because they have some amazing deals when you buy.

[Basil.]

Re: A couple new computers- 1000$ each

I prefer to build my own. I don't have a problem with dell, i just love building it myself.

Best of luck with your pc's. let me know what you end up with..

[Obsidian Spire]

Re: A couple new computers- 1000$ each

Well, I think I can build my own, but it would be a hassle and take longer than just having someone stick the choices I made together for maybe an additional 30$ to 50$. I'm a little too lazy at times. :S

I will post the specs after I order them.

[[CA]3|SWO.Virginian=RCT=]

Re: A couple new computers- 1000$ each

I prefer to build my own. I don't have a problem with dell, i just love building it myself.

Best of luck with your pc's. let me know what you end up with..

I'm with you there Basil. I've built my last 4 PCs (including the wife's). You save HOARDS, the upgrades aren't proprietary (meaning DELLS crap ONLY), and the proprietary software suites (Dell, COmpaq/HP have this on all machines) isn't installed and eating up valuable resources from the background. My current gamer is a little outdated but still will play MOST of the games on this site, it's my connection that wont do it :) I think i put like 384 into this system from barebone (had monitor, keyboard, mouse and 7.1 surround already). But building from barebone kits is definitely a way to save huge bucks and have a more versatile upgrading options platform than a proprietary machine. TigerDirect.com has awesome barebone specials and sometimes one day only deals that are just too hard to pass up. I'd recommend checking there as well.

[Obsidian Spire]

Re: A couple new computers- 1000$ each

Processors:
Intel® Core™ i7-860 processor(8MB Cache, 2.80GHz) OXI7860 1 [317-2913] 2
Operating System:
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64Bit, English W7HP6E 1 [330-6097][330-6470][420-6436][420-6576][420-7938][420-8873][420-9691][421-0092][421-0323][421-0530][421-0756][421-1603][421-2087][463-2282] 11Hardware Support Services:
2 Year Basic Service Plan S2OS 1 [412-0360][902-0931][905-9737][905-9738][906-1871][907-7710][950-3338][960-8700] 29
Memory:
8GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz - 4 DIMMs 8G1334D 1 [317-2890] 3
Monitor:
21.5" Dell ST2210 Full HD Monitor with VGA cable ST2210 1 [320-0928] 5
Video Card:
ATI Radeon HD 5450 1GB DDR3 AT5450 1 [320-8901] 6
Hard Drive:
1TB - 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache 1TBS 1 [342-0171] 8
Optical Drive:
Dual Drives: Blu-ray Disc (BD) Burner (Writes to DVD/CD/BD) and DVD+/-RW WB16DVD 1 [313-9993][420-8151][421-1414] 16
Speakers:
No speakers (Speakers are required to hear audio from your system) N 1 [313-6138] 18
Keyboard:
Dell Studio Consumer Multimedia Keyboard SMMK 1 [330-3828] 4
Mouse:
Dell Studio Optical Mouse OM 1 [330-3826] 12
Sound:
THX® TruStudio PC™ THX 1 [421-9898] 17
Studio XPS 8100:
Studio XPS 8100 O8100H 1 [224-7465] 1
Adobe Software:
Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 9.0 Multi-Language AAREAD 1 [410-1867] 15
Office Productivity Software (Pre-Installed):
Microsoft Works 9.0 XWRK9 1 [420-8103] 22
Security Software:
McAfee SecurityCenter, 36-Months MC1136M 1 [410-2443] 25
Datasafe:
Dell Online Backup 2GB for 1 year DOB2GB 1 [420-9518][988-0099][988-7707] 34


This is the configuration my dad ordered. It's pretty sweet. I'll upgrade my mouse, speakers, and keyboard later. I may want to switch the video card later as it's not that great.