Need a new comptuer...what to get? - Page 2

kennydoe · #16 10-25-2005, 03:24 PM

thanks for the replies guys.

I definitely don't want a Mac, thanks. I'm PC thru and thru. Been working with them since 1995 and don't have any desire to relearn what i already know. Anytime i've sat in front of a mac I've felt like i'm on another planet. I don't have anything against them...they're just not for me. please don't hijack my thread into a PC vs Mac debate. Not interested.

moving on....

I am good with hardware installation and stuff, so maybe building one IS the way to go. i just don't know where the state of the art is at this point because i haven't been keeping up with the times.

I poked around Dell's site and couldn't find what i wanted. Didn't really want one anyway. Thanks for pointing out that not all systems have dual IDEs - I thought that was standard. Good info.

mOp's recommendations were the type of suggestions i was looking for...I bought a couple of systems from a company called HugeBee and have had zero problems with them, but they seem to have come & gone.

My budget is $300-450, so alienware is OOtQ. I don't need a fully blown system like that anyway.

Keep the recommendations coming guys!
~K

**jemsite** · #17 10-25-2005, 03:40 PM

IDE PCI cards are like $15... not a deal breaker. the difference between $300 and 450 PC is finding a sale/discount or not.... same level. Given your budget this is about what you're gonna get...

$329 & has AGP slot. needs ram upgrade
http://emachines.com/products/produc...Machines_T3104
or
$399 & has AGP slot (512mb & larger HDD)
http://emachines.com/products/produc...Machines_T3302

then find whatever DVD-burner you want on sale from here and swap the one it came with for simplicity:
http://www.newegg.com/ProductSort/Ca...sp?Category=10

kennydoe · #18 10-25-2005, 03:53 PM

Thanks for doing the research Glen

How can i tell if the board has a dual-IDE or not (before looking in the box, of course)?

Also, i know this is probably a stupid question...but...Those light-scribe DVD burners look cool as hell to me...i know the media is a little more expensive if i want to actually burn a label on there...will the drive burn a standard CD/DVD-R if i don't care to burn a label on there?

I wish I could trade in some of the crap i don't need (speakers, modem) for upgrades.

~K

kennydoe · #19 10-25-2005, 03:55 PM

oh...also, is the on-board video total crap? would i need to get a decent video card on these systems?

~K

**jemsite** · #20 10-25-2005, 04:09 PM

that vid card is sufficient. 64mb card. if you want to do HDTV or gaming or add a Tuner card the AGP card will allow that and upgrade it. if you buy a $699 pc the vidcard will be marginally better.

those drives are CD-RWs (burns CDs) that play DVDs (not burn) too.

you can't tell if it has 2 IDE channels but if you google the model# you'll probably get your answer. I'd just rip out that drive and swap in a DVD+/- DL drive and the discussion is moot. No need for 2 drives IMHO it's just a hassle.

i recently build a HDTV capable HTPC and did alot of researching, including using cheap emachines but at the time the ones available lacked AGP slot and overall the box didn't have enough HDD space that i needed, so i did a barebones kit... glen

kennydoe · #21 10-25-2005, 04:14 PM

thanks

my question was about Light Scribe CD/DVD drives
http://www.lightscribe.com/about/index.aspx

You burn a Disc, then flip it over and it burns the label right on the disc. You need to use their media though - it's a little more expensive. I'm pretty sure it'd probably just be for the 2nd step, not the first. But uf anyone knows for sure, i'd love to know.
~K

**jemsite** · #22 10-25-2005, 04:18 PM

gotcha.... that is how it works. you need the right media
such as this

kennydoe · #23 10-25-2005, 04:28 PM

i know if you want to burn the label side, you need their media, which costs about 2x more than standard media.

My question is...does the DATA side need to be their media too, or can i use any standard media. I don't need to burn a label on every CD/DVD i make. I emailed them and hopefuly they'll send an answer.

~K

fettouhi · #24 10-25-2005, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim777

As an employee of HP, I'd say get an HP

NOT

Regards

André

fettouhi · #25 10-25-2005, 05:22 PM

Be sure to get a dual layer DVD writer

. The LG's are pretty good and cheap.

Regards

André

kennydoe · #26 10-25-2005, 05:30 PM

ok boys..lets compare....

HP Pavilion s7210n $499
( http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/sh...=EG198AA%23ABA )

eMachines T6412 $499
( http://www.emachines.com/products/pr...Machines_T6412 )

megadeth · #27 10-25-2005, 07:22 PM

ok, as a geek...i'd suggest you to buy a DELL. NO one can compete a mass production company.

Buy a Dual Core processor..totally worth it. LOTS of RAM.

I have a Dell dimension 9100..
2.8GHz Dual Core.
2.5 GB RAM
280 GB SATA HDD.
256 MB x600 ATI card or something...(don't really care about it).

....and this baby is FAST \m/ ideal for studio work and multitasking... coz I am student and I do run SQL Server etc in the backend+download naughty stuff off P2P+record..

kennydoe · #28 10-25-2005, 07:39 PM

I think i've decided on the eMachines T6412. It just meets and/or outweighs the HP in every category.

Dell's $499 system doesn't compare in the "bang-for-the-buck" department.

~K

JESTER700 · #29 10-25-2005, 08:12 PM

Do realize that there is often a reason for unusual "bang for buck". The Emachines cheapos I've worked on had the most pitiful power supplies I've ever seen. But that may have changed - this was a few years ago.

Also, Dell has deals every week - buying at "regular price" is unusual. If you have a couple weeks to play with, keep an eye on slickdeals.net or similar.

But again, any of these will probably be fine.

**jemsite** · #30 10-25-2005, 08:35 PM

the cheap dells suck as far as expandability with no AGP/PCIe slots, etc. They're good if you never expand them beyond purchase though and never need a repair or to call india for support. FYI - power supplies are $30. Not an issue with a PC that will be all MOBO powered anyways. This isn't a video game system that will be overclocked. I'd pass on slimline HPs myself.

Kenny the $100 emachine upgrade gives you a somewhat better integrated graphics card and PCIe slot which is great. If you don't need that Light Scribe writer, it's probably a good purchase ($50 video card upgrade and PCIe + the $50 writer already installed). Keep in mind the cheaper one is a smarter purchase if you want cherry pick your DVD drive and maybe get a niiiiiiice video cards later.

You can use any regular media w/ LightScribe as long as the format/speed matches up (ie. if you t use 16x DVD-Rs on drives that only support 4x DVD-R it will write at only 1x probably)... glen