I haven't bought a computer for many years and I was wondering:
what's the standard for a desktop computer these days?
How much ram? which motherboard? which cpu? graphics card? etc.
Basically, what I need is a PC to replace my laptop (I'm giving my laptop to my parents)
I need it for:
web browsing
word processing (MS Office)
occasional gaming (not a very important aspect)
I wouldn't spend more than about $700 on it. In fact, I'd like to stick to $500-$600 if possible. With a monitor, mind you.
Any tips? thanks
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Originally posted by mondu_the_fat: One minute you're arguing about meatlof and the next thing you know someone's sex life is being dredged up.
My playgroup: four people total.
We use the Legacy B&R list.
My meta consists of combo, control and some aggro / midrange decks.
My group uses proxies, so budget is not an issue. Because of this, things can get out of hand.
I'd just get a laptop. They're roughly the same price as desktops nowadays and tacking on the extra price of having to buy a new, separate monitor often makes the desktop more expensive.
At $500 - $600, I recommend a laptop with...
- 4 - 8 GB RAM
- i5 processor
- any dedicated graphics card
Practically any new computer on the market will meet your basic computing needs, though.
No, don't get a laptop, they tend not to last as long.
For about 700 my dad bought a computer with Quad core 2.3, 8gigs of RAM, and some crappy Graphics card. It also came with a 1080p monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
You can get a really cheap desktop that'll do pretty much whatever you want these days. $350 bought my current desktop a year ago, and I added a power supply and really low-profile graphics card and it runs everything fine at the resolutions I play at [usually 1024x768] while I multitask in a second window.
I got it off of the dell outlet. They currently have a Core i5 with 12 gigs of ram, a 1 TB HD, and a Radeon 6450[crappy but serviceable] for $570 - good, but way overkill for what you said you need. [And RAM is so cheap these days.]
I had a problem with my thing and the guy came by and replaced the hard drive, no questions asked, while it was under warranty. This might be a deal coupon: http://slickdeals.net/f/3750116-Dell-Buy-2-Get-1-Optipex-and-Latitude-50-Off-Precision-Workstation-50-Off-Vostro-100-off-Vosto-Desktop-20-selected-notebook
You don't need that much computer for what you want to do. Most games are GPU-limited these days anyways: it just depends if you care that, for instance, you can run Crysis 3 on 'Ultra'.
my mouth is full of winsome lies -
and eyes are full of death besides
but luckily the soul is wise -
it sees beyond my blindness and
forced failure makes a better guise,
so as i come again alive,
it feels like life's a decent plan
I agree with the fellow who recommended a laptop. I know it is not a direct answer to the question but nothing I've found while hunting for the right machine has convinced me that desktops have much of anything over laptops these days.
I agree with the fellow who recommended a laptop. I know it is not a direct answer to the question but nothing I've found while hunting for the right machine has convinced me that desktops have much of anything over laptops these days.
For the most part, performance-wise, desktops and laptops are pretty much equal. For me, since I will be in the market for a new computer soon, the decision between the two boils down to use patterns and upgradability. I have a rather static use pattern with my laptop. I have it on my desk and that is where it stays. I don't move about the house with it. Some of this may be due to the fact that my wife's laptop stays in the living room, but for the most part, when I am computing, it is at my desk. This makes the portability of a laptop pretty much moot.
After that, I would consider upgradability. To me, the upgrade path for a laptop is RAM, hard drives, and periferals (wireless to some extent). Laptops typically have near fully integrated motherboards. This makes upgrading graphics cards or wireless cards much harder. It also shortens their lifespan since if anything goes bad, it's pretty much irreparable. For a desktop, this is not really the case. You have expansion and upgrade capability for quite a lot of things (form factor willing). It is a lot easier to remove/replace damaged components. The appeal for me is that a desktop can have a longer lifespan due to the ability to tinker with the components more. Just by adding a tuner card and some software, it can become a home theater PC. When it finally gets too cumbersome, you can make it into a server for your home. Laptops are not that flexible.
My wife's laptop needs a new screen at the moment. Without it, it is just a waste of space. It is cheaper to buy a monitor and use a cable than try and repair it. This brings up the question of repair or replace. It's an otherwise fine computer, you just can't see what you are doing. Had it been a desktop, a quick monitor change would make this problem really easy to fix. That is one of the reasons I am wanting a desktop for my next machine. That's just my perceptions with my situation considered.
@OP
I would just get a midrange PC with an Intel processor and at least 4gb of RAM, and you can always add more later. Anything in the $500 range (sans monitor) should be able to do everything you listed without a problem. Your gaming needs will tell you what to go with for the graphics card. Even if it has an integrated graphics card, you can add a better one later if your needs require it. You should be just fine with that, granted this is what I have gleaned from some cursory research on the subject.
Actually, if you buy from a retailer like Sager (or the more user-friendly http://www.xoticpc.com/), who buys a chassis from Clevo and fills it with user-configured hardware, you can upgrade the GPU and the CPU yourself if you should ever want to. The problem is that standalone laptop hardware is ridiculously overpriced compared to what you pay when you buy it inside of a new laptop (I paid $2000 for my laptop with a Radeon HD 6990M - the card alone, I believe, would cost $800 - $1000).
You still have to pay more for a laptop to match the performance of a desktop, but the mobility is worth it for most.
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I'm nerd enough to link my WoW Armory Though I'll put it in a small font.
At the moment I'm thinking about two configurations that differ only in the CPU and the graphics card. I'm looking for an office desktop. From what I understand, my friend recommended me a gaming desktop (more expensive one).
More expensive setup:
CPU LGA1155 Intel® Core™ i3-2100,3.10GHz/3MB BOX 32nm
Monitor 21.5" BenQ GL2250 LED, 1920x1080(FullHD) 5ms DC12M:1 DVI
Total: $535
I'm going for a cheaper but comfortable set of keyboard and mouse.
How much performance am I going to lose by buying the less expensive setup? Should I just suck it up and get the more expensive one and I won't regret it later?
Originally posted by mondu_the_fat: One minute you're arguing about meatlof and the next thing you know someone's sex life is being dredged up.
My playgroup: four people total.
We use the Legacy B&R list.
My meta consists of combo, control and some aggro / midrange decks.
My group uses proxies, so budget is not an issue. Because of this, things can get out of hand.
An i3 is better than a G530. I don't know if it's $100 better. Honestly, since you can get i5 laptops for $500 [and i3 ones drop to like $400 sometimes] I never thought I'd have to consider going below ... that.
If those are all parted out I would definitely ... you -have- to be able to get some of those parts cheaper. When 8 GB of RAM is $40, why buy 2? [If you're getting it shipped that way and this is some sort of pre-made place I can kind of understand, but ... still.]
>I did slight research. You lose hyperthreading and a little L2 cache. For $100? It's not worth the upgrade for you, I think, processor-wise.
As for graphics card, though, it definitely is. The 6670 is >> the GT 520.
my mouth is full of winsome lies -
and eyes are full of death besides
but luckily the soul is wise -
it sees beyond my blindness and
forced failure makes a better guise,
so as i come again alive,
it feels like life's a decent plan
An i3 is better than a G530. I don't know if it's $100 better. Honestly, since you can get i5 laptops for $500 [and i3 ones drop to like $400 sometimes] I never thought I'd have to consider going below ... that.
If those are all parted out I would definitely ... you -have- to be able to get some of those parts cheaper. When 8 GB of RAM is $40, why buy 2? [If you're getting it shipped that way and this is some sort of pre-made place I can kind of understand, but ... still.]
>I did slight research. You lose hyperthreading and a little L2 cache. For $100? It's not worth the upgrade for you, I think, processor-wise.
As for graphics card, though, it definitely is. The 6670 is >> the GT 520.
Yeah. I'm doing some research myself, since I'm not very computer savvy. I forgot to add that there is 2 x 2GB (4GB in total)
Prices may vary here in Serbia, and the guy at the computer store said that the prices might drop in January.
So you recommend an i3 and 8GB of RAM? Anything else? the graphics card?
It's not a premade configuration, I'm just experimenting with different setups.
You lose hyperthreading and a little L2 cache. For $100? It's not worth the upgrade for you, I think, processor-wise.
So... should I go with the cheaper CPU? I'm just trying to save money, since I do have a budget.
Originally posted by mondu_the_fat: One minute you're arguing about meatlof and the next thing you know someone's sex life is being dredged up.
My playgroup: four people total.
We use the Legacy B&R list.
My meta consists of combo, control and some aggro / midrange decks.
My group uses proxies, so budget is not an issue. Because of this, things can get out of hand.
Ah, it depends on your use for RAM. 4 GB is likely fine for you then [and yes, you being in Serbia is important to know: non-US places often have higher prices] - if you enjoy multitasking 6 or 8 GB's is never a bad thing.
The i3 will be better, but again, how much better is an issue. Your monitor's like $150 of the cost, so eh. I would personally probably pair up the worse CPU and the better graphics card, but if I were you I'd research a little on my own too and make sure that's what I wanted first, since I don't really have much experience at the low-beyond-i3 end of the processor pool. Though Celerons have horrible reputations [old ones were total garbage], I've heard the more recent ones are actually decent.
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my mouth is full of winsome lies -
and eyes are full of death besides
but luckily the soul is wise -
it sees beyond my blindness and
forced failure makes a better guise,
so as i come again alive,
it feels like life's a decent plan
Basic rule of thumb to use to think on. When a Desktop and Laptop share the same specs most cases the laptop will be slightly more money while the desktop is actually better at using the specs. Plus parts are much easier to replace on a desktop then a laptop without wanting to rip your hair out. The ONLY reason to get a laptop is for the fact it takes less space and is portable. Outside of that desktops will always beat out a laptop of same specs. Plus Desktops are much easier to upgrade a part as well.
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I'm going to get this desktop configuration for about: $688
I'll still have to get a keyboard, mouse and a wireless router.
I've also been told that prices for computer parts will drop in January. How much can I count on that?
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Originally posted by mondu_the_fat: One minute you're arguing about meatlof and the next thing you know someone's sex life is being dredged up.
My playgroup: four people total.
We use the Legacy B&R list.
My meta consists of combo, control and some aggro / midrange decks.
My group uses proxies, so budget is not an issue. Because of this, things can get out of hand.
I know the floodings in Thailand shut down one of the main factories building parts for hard drives. Last time I checked (before Christmas), prices for HDD were still absurdely expensive, and the shop owner told me it wouldn't get back to normal until end of January.
If you can afford to spare some time, it might be worth to inquire on wether you can get a cheaper HDD along the line, or even better, get a larger HDD (1TB would be the minimum these days).
But regardless of this, if you are not planning to go heavy on gaming and just do office work, a laptop will give you more options than a desktop.
Why would I get a laptop when it's just going to sit on my desk?
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Originally posted by mondu_the_fat: One minute you're arguing about meatlof and the next thing you know someone's sex life is being dredged up.
My playgroup: four people total.
We use the Legacy B&R list.
My meta consists of combo, control and some aggro / midrange decks.
My group uses proxies, so budget is not an issue. Because of this, things can get out of hand.
One day you might need to take it with you for a joint project you are doing, or you might want to take it to the kitchen to check on the details of an online recipe while you prepare it.
The situtions where you will ask for portability are potentially manyfold, and the downsides (laptops not being great for gaming) does not seem to be an issue. So why not? you can even get an external keyboard and mouse for cheap down the line, plus a cheap external monitor, and your laptop will behave like a desktop.
But I already have a laptop and I'd like to have something that will last for years to come. Laptops just break too easily.
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Originally posted by mondu_the_fat: One minute you're arguing about meatlof and the next thing you know someone's sex life is being dredged up.
My playgroup: four people total.
We use the Legacy B&R list.
My meta consists of combo, control and some aggro / midrange decks.
My group uses proxies, so budget is not an issue. Because of this, things can get out of hand.
I'm going to get this desktop configuration for about: $688
I'll still have to get a keyboard, mouse and a wireless router.
I've also been told that prices for computer parts will drop in January. How much can I count on that?
Can you get an i5 processor instead of an i3? They are supposed to be better and should help with keeping this machine relevant over time.
Overall, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive should be more than enough to keep you occupied. I assume that the upper limit of RAM is 8GB. That should be enough for quite some time. Seems to be a pretty decent setup.
As to the price drop, I have no idea what that is about, unless it is in reference to some kind of price drop on last year's hardware.
Can you get an i5 processor instead of an i3? They are supposed to be better and should help with keeping this machine relevant over time.
Overall, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive should be more than enough to keep you occupied. I assume that the upper limit of RAM is 8GB. That should be enough for quite some time. Seems to be a pretty decent setup.
As to the price drop, I have no idea what that is about, unless it is in reference to some kind of price drop on last year's hardware.
An i5 processor would cost me about $75 more. I'm still waiting for some cash to come in, so maybe I can get my hands on that... but would I really need it?
RAM is cheap, I'll give you that. I might expand it eventually should the need arise.
I have a question though. I have a parallel ATA hard disk with 250GB (WD Caviar). Should I bother connecting it to my new computer? I know that this motherboard doesn't have ATA connectors. Getting an older motherboard makes me feel uneasy.
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Originally posted by mondu_the_fat: One minute you're arguing about meatlof and the next thing you know someone's sex life is being dredged up.
My playgroup: four people total.
We use the Legacy B&R list.
My meta consists of combo, control and some aggro / midrange decks.
My group uses proxies, so budget is not an issue. Because of this, things can get out of hand.
Both include Windows 7, which might be a big deal if you dont already have an OS you can install.
Another option is to just buy all the individual parts and build it yourself. If you can manage to get a case and power supply, from say a relative who is throwing out an old PC, you can cut the cost down and just pick up the parts that you need. Looking through newegg, I can piece together an AMD setup with MOBO, CPU, HD and RAM for around $400. These other guys are right about HDs being super expensive right now though and you could save about half the cost of on the HD if you waited until prices come back down.
Both include Windows 7, which might be a big deal if you dont already have an OS you can install.
Another option is to just buy all the individual parts and build it yourself. If you can manage to get a case and power supply, from say a relative who is throwing out an old PC, you can cut the cost down and just pick up the parts that you need. Looking through newegg, I can piece together an AMD setup with MOBO, CPU, HD and RAM for around $400. These other guys are right about HDs being super expensive right now though and you could save about half the cost of on the HD if you waited until prices come back down.
I am very comfortable with piecing together my own hardware, so it's not an issue. I actually want to stay clear from these all-in-one deals because when I want to open them up and change the RAM or the processor, my guarantee is out the window.
As I said, I have an old HDD with 250GB, but I still don't know how I could fit that into my new computer. I have been told it's not worth the hassle or it wouldn't work. I also want a bigger HDD, even if it's expensive.
Someone help me with ATA/SATA conversion. I'm still not sure what to do, but it would save me some money.
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Originally posted by mondu_the_fat: One minute you're arguing about meatlof and the next thing you know someone's sex life is being dredged up.
My playgroup: four people total.
We use the Legacy B&R list.
My meta consists of combo, control and some aggro / midrange decks.
My group uses proxies, so budget is not an issue. Because of this, things can get out of hand.
The Asus motherboard has an integrated graphics card. -.-
I have a question though. Should I buy an older model because it would be cheaper?
My brother argues that I wouldn't need a lot of horsepower for my PC, but I argued that it's better to buy parts that are more up-to-date, rather than going back to old motherboards and processors which will last a lot less.
Originally posted by mondu_the_fat: One minute you're arguing about meatlof and the next thing you know someone's sex life is being dredged up.
My playgroup: four people total.
We use the Legacy B&R list.
My meta consists of combo, control and some aggro / midrange decks.
My group uses proxies, so budget is not an issue. Because of this, things can get out of hand.
You may not need a lot of horsepower for what you are trying to do, but by buying already older parts you risk undermining the purpose of this computer: having a long term upgradable device that will last. I would spend some extra money upfront to get better/newer equipment so that you can feel better about the odds that the computer is going to last.
Is an integrated graphics card going to bother you? You should have a slot for an external one that you can upgrade to should you want better.
As far as an i3 vs i5 processor, it's like I said about spending more upfront. If you get an i5, your computer should have better performance for a longer period of time, making the money spent more worthwhile. That's just my take, though.
You may not need a lot of horsepower for what you are trying to do, but by buying already older parts you risk undermining the purpose of this computer: having a long term upgradable device that will last. I would spend some extra money upfront to get better/newer equipment so that you can feel better about the odds that the computer is going to last.
Is an integrated graphics card going to bother you? You should have a slot for an external one that you can upgrade to should you want better.
As far as an i3 vs i5 processor, it's like I said about spending more upfront. If you get an i5, your computer should have better performance for a longer period of time, making the money spent more worthwhile. That's just my take, though.
If the integrated graphics breaks, I'd have to replace my whole motherboard just because of that. I'll keep the i5 option in mind, thanks.
EDIT: I see that AMD has cheaper processors with 4 cores. I could use that money to buy more RAM. Thoughts?
Originally posted by mondu_the_fat: One minute you're arguing about meatlof and the next thing you know someone's sex life is being dredged up.
My playgroup: four people total.
We use the Legacy B&R list.
My meta consists of combo, control and some aggro / midrange decks.
My group uses proxies, so budget is not an issue. Because of this, things can get out of hand.
Is 400W enough, or should I go up to 500W - 600W? Which computer case to buy? Which case can hold all of this? More importantly, is it going to be well cooled?
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Originally posted by mondu_the_fat: One minute you're arguing about meatlof and the next thing you know someone's sex life is being dredged up.
My playgroup: four people total.
We use the Legacy B&R list.
My meta consists of combo, control and some aggro / midrange decks.
My group uses proxies, so budget is not an issue. Because of this, things can get out of hand.
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what's the standard for a desktop computer these days?
How much ram? which motherboard? which cpu? graphics card? etc.
Basically, what I need is a PC to replace my laptop (I'm giving my laptop to my parents)
I need it for:
web browsing
word processing (MS Office)
occasional gaming (not a very important aspect)
I wouldn't spend more than about $700 on it. In fact, I'd like to stick to $500-$600 if possible. With a monitor, mind you.
Any tips? thanks
My playgroup: four people total.
We use the Legacy B&R list.
My meta consists of combo, control and some aggro / midrange decks.
My group uses proxies, so budget is not an issue. Because of this, things can get out of hand.
At $500 - $600, I recommend a laptop with...
- 4 - 8 GB RAM
- i5 processor
- any dedicated graphics card
Practically any new computer on the market will meet your basic computing needs, though.
Something along the lines of these two laptops meet your needs.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834215206
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834157948
Use Passmark to compare graphics cards, The HP has much better graphics than the Acer in this case,
http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/high_end_gpus.html
For about 700 my dad bought a computer with Quad core 2.3, 8gigs of RAM, and some crappy Graphics card. It also came with a 1080p monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Gateway+DX4860-UB32P+Desktop+%26+20%22+LED+Monitor+Package/9999172100050005.p?id=pcmprd171800050005&skuId=9999172100050005
I found that after about 3minutes of searching and if you want to game on it, you could upgrade your graphics card and still be in your price range.
I reallyreallyreallyreally suggest not getting a laptop, unless your actually going to have to move it around often.
-Yogi Berra
I got it off of the dell outlet. They currently have a Core i5 with 12 gigs of ram, a 1 TB HD, and a Radeon 6450[crappy but serviceable] for $570 - good, but way overkill for what you said you need. [And RAM is so cheap these days.]
I had a problem with my thing and the guy came by and replaced the hard drive, no questions asked, while it was under warranty. This might be a deal coupon: http://slickdeals.net/f/3750116-Dell-Buy-2-Get-1-Optipex-and-Latitude-50-Off-Precision-Workstation-50-Off-Vostro-100-off-Vosto-Desktop-20-selected-notebook
You don't need that much computer for what you want to do. Most games are GPU-limited these days anyways: it just depends if you care that, for instance, you can run Crysis 3 on 'Ultra'.
E.G. you can get this:
http://slickdeals.net/f/3759084-Dell-Vostro-260-Intel-Core-i3-2120-3-3GHz-Dual-Core-Sandy-Bridge-Desktop-w-20in-LCD-429-S-H-Tax
and buy any set of RAM and install it, and you'll be fine. The hard drive is small but as long as it's only occasional gaming you'll be fine.
and eyes are full of death besides
but luckily the soul is wise -
it sees beyond my blindness and
forced failure makes a better guise,
so as i come again alive,
it feels like life's a decent plan
For the most part, performance-wise, desktops and laptops are pretty much equal. For me, since I will be in the market for a new computer soon, the decision between the two boils down to use patterns and upgradability. I have a rather static use pattern with my laptop. I have it on my desk and that is where it stays. I don't move about the house with it. Some of this may be due to the fact that my wife's laptop stays in the living room, but for the most part, when I am computing, it is at my desk. This makes the portability of a laptop pretty much moot.
After that, I would consider upgradability. To me, the upgrade path for a laptop is RAM, hard drives, and periferals (wireless to some extent). Laptops typically have near fully integrated motherboards. This makes upgrading graphics cards or wireless cards much harder. It also shortens their lifespan since if anything goes bad, it's pretty much irreparable. For a desktop, this is not really the case. You have expansion and upgrade capability for quite a lot of things (form factor willing). It is a lot easier to remove/replace damaged components. The appeal for me is that a desktop can have a longer lifespan due to the ability to tinker with the components more. Just by adding a tuner card and some software, it can become a home theater PC. When it finally gets too cumbersome, you can make it into a server for your home. Laptops are not that flexible.
My wife's laptop needs a new screen at the moment. Without it, it is just a waste of space. It is cheaper to buy a monitor and use a cable than try and repair it. This brings up the question of repair or replace. It's an otherwise fine computer, you just can't see what you are doing. Had it been a desktop, a quick monitor change would make this problem really easy to fix. That is one of the reasons I am wanting a desktop for my next machine. That's just my perceptions with my situation considered.
@OP
I would just get a midrange PC with an Intel processor and at least 4gb of RAM, and you can always add more later. Anything in the $500 range (sans monitor) should be able to do everything you listed without a problem. Your gaming needs will tell you what to go with for the graphics card. Even if it has an integrated graphics card, you can add a better one later if your needs require it. You should be just fine with that, granted this is what I have gleaned from some cursory research on the subject.
You still have to pay more for a laptop to match the performance of a desktop, but the mobility is worth it for most.
Though I'll put it in a small font.
Please stop hijacking my reply box.
-Yogi Berra
More expensive setup:
Cheaper setup:
I'm going for a cheaper but comfortable set of keyboard and mouse.
How much performance am I going to lose by buying the less expensive setup? Should I just suck it up and get the more expensive one and I won't regret it later?
My playgroup: four people total.
We use the Legacy B&R list.
My meta consists of combo, control and some aggro / midrange decks.
My group uses proxies, so budget is not an issue. Because of this, things can get out of hand.
If those are all parted out I would definitely ... you -have- to be able to get some of those parts cheaper. When 8 GB of RAM is $40, why buy 2? [If you're getting it shipped that way and this is some sort of pre-made place I can kind of understand, but ... still.]
>I did slight research. You lose hyperthreading and a little L2 cache. For $100? It's not worth the upgrade for you, I think, processor-wise.
As for graphics card, though, it definitely is. The 6670 is >> the GT 520.
and eyes are full of death besides
but luckily the soul is wise -
it sees beyond my blindness and
forced failure makes a better guise,
so as i come again alive,
it feels like life's a decent plan
Yeah. I'm doing some research myself, since I'm not very computer savvy. I forgot to add that there is 2 x 2GB (4GB in total)
Prices may vary here in Serbia, and the guy at the computer store said that the prices might drop in January.
So you recommend an i3 and 8GB of RAM? Anything else? the graphics card?
It's not a premade configuration, I'm just experimenting with different setups.
So... should I go with the cheaper CPU? I'm just trying to save money, since I do have a budget.
My playgroup: four people total.
We use the Legacy B&R list.
My meta consists of combo, control and some aggro / midrange decks.
My group uses proxies, so budget is not an issue. Because of this, things can get out of hand.
The i3 will be better, but again, how much better is an issue. Your monitor's like $150 of the cost, so eh. I would personally probably pair up the worse CPU and the better graphics card, but if I were you I'd research a little on my own too and make sure that's what I wanted first, since I don't really have much experience at the low-beyond-i3 end of the processor pool. Though Celerons have horrible reputations [old ones were total garbage], I've heard the more recent ones are actually decent.
and eyes are full of death besides
but luckily the soul is wise -
it sees beyond my blindness and
forced failure makes a better guise,
so as i come again alive,
it feels like life's a decent plan
I'll still have to get a keyboard, mouse and a wireless router.
I've also been told that prices for computer parts will drop in January. How much can I count on that?
My playgroup: four people total.
We use the Legacy B&R list.
My meta consists of combo, control and some aggro / midrange decks.
My group uses proxies, so budget is not an issue. Because of this, things can get out of hand.
Why would I get a laptop when it's just going to sit on my desk?
My playgroup: four people total.
We use the Legacy B&R list.
My meta consists of combo, control and some aggro / midrange decks.
My group uses proxies, so budget is not an issue. Because of this, things can get out of hand.
But I already have a laptop and I'd like to have something that will last for years to come. Laptops just break too easily.
My playgroup: four people total.
We use the Legacy B&R list.
My meta consists of combo, control and some aggro / midrange decks.
My group uses proxies, so budget is not an issue. Because of this, things can get out of hand.
Can you get an i5 processor instead of an i3? They are supposed to be better and should help with keeping this machine relevant over time.
Overall, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive should be more than enough to keep you occupied. I assume that the upper limit of RAM is 8GB. That should be enough for quite some time. Seems to be a pretty decent setup.
As to the price drop, I have no idea what that is about, unless it is in reference to some kind of price drop on last year's hardware.
An i5 processor would cost me about $75 more. I'm still waiting for some cash to come in, so maybe I can get my hands on that... but would I really need it?
RAM is cheap, I'll give you that. I might expand it eventually should the need arise.
I have a question though. I have a parallel ATA hard disk with 250GB (WD Caviar). Should I bother connecting it to my new computer? I know that this motherboard doesn't have ATA connectors. Getting an older motherboard makes me feel uneasy.
My playgroup: four people total.
We use the Legacy B&R list.
My meta consists of combo, control and some aggro / midrange decks.
My group uses proxies, so budget is not an issue. Because of this, things can get out of hand.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883220091
$699
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883220093
$649
Both include Windows 7, which might be a big deal if you dont already have an OS you can install.
Another option is to just buy all the individual parts and build it yourself. If you can manage to get a case and power supply, from say a relative who is throwing out an old PC, you can cut the cost down and just pick up the parts that you need. Looking through newegg, I can piece together an AMD setup with MOBO, CPU, HD and RAM for around $400. These other guys are right about HDs being super expensive right now though and you could save about half the cost of on the HD if you waited until prices come back down.
FREE BLOODBRAID ELF
I am very comfortable with piecing together my own hardware, so it's not an issue. I actually want to stay clear from these all-in-one deals because when I want to open them up and change the RAM or the processor, my guarantee is out the window.
As I said, I have an old HDD with 250GB, but I still don't know how I could fit that into my new computer. I have been told it's not worth the hassle or it wouldn't work. I also want a bigger HDD, even if it's expensive.
Someone help me with ATA/SATA conversion. I'm still not sure what to do, but it would save me some money.
My playgroup: four people total.
We use the Legacy B&R list.
My meta consists of combo, control and some aggro / midrange decks.
My group uses proxies, so budget is not an issue. Because of this, things can get out of hand.
FREE BLOODBRAID ELF
EDIT: So my brother came in today with the following setup:
I have a question though. Should I buy an older model because it would be cheaper?
My brother argues that I wouldn't need a lot of horsepower for my PC, but I argued that it's better to buy parts that are more up-to-date, rather than going back to old motherboards and processors which will last a lot less.
Opinion?
My playgroup: four people total.
We use the Legacy B&R list.
My meta consists of combo, control and some aggro / midrange decks.
My group uses proxies, so budget is not an issue. Because of this, things can get out of hand.
Is an integrated graphics card going to bother you? You should have a slot for an external one that you can upgrade to should you want better.
As far as an i3 vs i5 processor, it's like I said about spending more upfront. If you get an i5, your computer should have better performance for a longer period of time, making the money spent more worthwhile. That's just my take, though.
If the integrated graphics breaks, I'd have to replace my whole motherboard just because of that. I'll keep the i5 option in mind, thanks.
EDIT: I see that AMD has cheaper processors with 4 cores. I could use that money to buy more RAM. Thoughts?
My playgroup: four people total.
We use the Legacy B&R list.
My meta consists of combo, control and some aggro / midrange decks.
My group uses proxies, so budget is not an issue. Because of this, things can get out of hand.
Is 400W enough, or should I go up to 500W - 600W? Which computer case to buy? Which case can hold all of this? More importantly, is it going to be well cooled?
My playgroup: four people total.
We use the Legacy B&R list.
My meta consists of combo, control and some aggro / midrange decks.
My group uses proxies, so budget is not an issue. Because of this, things can get out of hand.