Tech Help: Buying a new Desktop

[Niteflier]

As the subject says, in the next 4-8 months I'm going to be buying my wife a new desktop. I need help, though, being woefully undereducated about current capabilities of computers. The primary purpose of the desktop would be document processing (IE, writing, powerpoint, excell) and playing City of Heroes. The budget is going to be about $1700. Can someone please give this poor soul some helpful information?

[Ankhani]

Well, the first question hereabout is do you want to grab a PC from retail or get the stuff yourself and put it together (Though you can probably find an assembly service from parts sellers)? Also, what OS are you looking at running?

I can probably run with it from there.
---

The Master said: "It is all in vain! I have never yet seen a man who can perceive his own faults and bring the charge home against himself."

>Analects: Book V, Chaper XXVI

[Niteflier]

Retail, prolly. I could put it together with instructions, but I'm not tech-savvy. As for OS, the wife doesn't know *nix or Mac, so it will probably be some for of Windows (She's already running 7 on her laptop.)

[Logan Darklighter]

I'm sure there are people here far more tech-savvy than me, but heres some links and thoughts -
If it's going to be used for playing City of Heroes - or any PC game - buy for the graphics abilities. Don't worry about the word processing. That'll take care of itself. Any PC capable of rendering CoH in Ultra mode will be MORE than capable of handling dinky document processing tasks.
A quick Google using the phrase "Top Recommended Gaming PCs" netted me a few links. As always, caveat emptor.
Cyberpower page Most of the PCs listed here are within your stated budget range.
I keep hearing good things about Alienware. City of Heroes officially seems to like them.
City of Heroes also appears to like Razer. Don't know much about them, but here's their page.
They also appear to like AMD graphics cards. Though I've always gotten by just fine with Invidia.
Here's a PC buyers guide from About Dot Com
A lot of the above options may come standard with any particular PC you get.
Oh - I guess one other bit of advice I can offer. Again - I'm not uber-tech-geek material. But one thing I've learned the last decade that's served me well and extended the life of each PC I've owned:
Even if you buy online - go to a "brick and mortar" store and do some preliminary browsing.
IMPORTANT: Ask the Store employees if they would crack a couple of display cases open for you to look at. The main thing you are looking for? The capacity for the motherboard to accept upgrades. Computer PC manufacturing seems to run in cycles. Motherboards will either have a lot of upgrade slots, or they'll have everything as "onboard" and integrated into the motherboard as they can get. As new technologies become "standard" they are integrated into some of the cheaper machines as onboard parts of the core system. It's cheaper to build them that way and thus those types of machines are attractive to people - and especially companies - on a budget. Companies can afford to buy such machines in bulk much cheaper. Often they don't care about the ability to upgrade because either the machines are going to be doing limited tasks, or they'll be replaced on a regular cycle anyway.
But you want a motherboard with as many PCI/PCI Express slots and extra RAM slots as you can get. See if it has room for an extra drive bay. Check the connection ports. See if how many USB slots it has. More is better. Why? Because you want this computer to last several years. And while parts of it WILL become obsolete, you can keep from falling too far "behind the curve" with upgrades.
My last PC was a single core CPU running Windows XP. It was 4 years old, but I was still more or less satisfied with it. And if it hadn't been STRUCK BY LIGHTNING last year I might still be using it! Because when I bought it, I made sure I could upgrade it. It started with 1 GigaByte of RAM and standard sound and video cards. By the time I was forced to replace it, I had 4 Gigs of Ram on it, a top end Invidia Graphics card, and a better sound card. And it could run Ultra mode Graphics from City of Heroes with hardly any loss in framerate. I probably still would've had to upgrade it by this year anyway. But it may have been possible to do it piecemeal by simply replacing the motherboard and getting a multi-core system, a replacement power supply, and a Windows upgrade. Which would've been cheaper. But I wound up pretty much at the same place when dad gave me a new PC replacement as an early Christmas present. But I had thought all of this out anyway.
This is also one reason why I will never consider a laptop as my "primary" PC. Because they HAVE to be integrated to the point that upgrading is nearly impossible. Or just not worth it. If I ever have the funds for two computers, I'll get a laptop. But if I only have enough for one PC, it's going to be a Desktop.

[Black Aeronaut]

I can't say much myself because my computing needs, by virtue of my occupation, must remain mobile. I won't be interested in desktops until sometime after I get married and settle down into a nice apartment in Yokohama.

[Zilem Kain]

If you don't mind buying a PC online http://www.digitalstormonline.com/ is where I got my last rig from.  Any Q's or so about the place just post here or zap me a PM.
-ZK
"There are no problems that cannot be solved with cannons."
-Chief Engineer Boris Kraus of Nuln

[jpub]

Holy crap, with $1700 I can make you a stupidly awesome gaming machine. Do you need a monitor?

Let's say, yes?

Start here:

http://configure.us.dell....cs=19&kc=studio-xps-9100

[Sweno]

ya, $500 can get a you a rig that is perfectly capable of running COH with some of the ulta options turned on.

jpub has the right idea, my own rig ended up at $1300 and CoH doesn't make it sweat (built with ME/Borderlands/fallout 3 in mind)

Tack on $300 for a nice monitor and you are set.
-Terry
-----
"so listen up boy, or pornography starring your mother will be the second worst thing to happen to you today"
TF2: Spy

[Rod.H]

True all a that. I'm also currently under the impression that one of Dell/Allenware gaming/high-end lines uses off the shelf enthusiast bits in a custom case.

Software's where one of the big expenses are lately. Hmm, I don't recall Win7 64-bit being an OS of choice....oh I just remembered about the 8GB & multi terrabyte issues the 32-bit apparently has. I personally haven't seen too many corporates using Win7 64-bit in fact I've only come across one: KPMG; everyone else is still using Windows XP Pro, in either Service Pack 2 or SP3 forms.

--Rod.H

[Jorlem]

I still use XP at home, on my five year old laptop. It does what I want, and it plays the games I want to play. I don't really see the problem.





I'm looking forward to getting that joke at the end. I'm sure it will be hilarious.
-----
Stand between the Silver Crystal and the Golden Sea.
"Youngsters these days just have no appreciation for the magnificence of the legendary cucumber."  --Krityan Elder, Tales of Vesperia.

[jpub]

Seriously, unless you intend to reuse the MB/powersupply, the whole 'Dell doesn't use off the shelf parts' is a non-issue for 99% of enthusiast owners. You can replace the CPU, GPU, Memory, HD, and any other card you may want to. The only thing proprietary to Dell is those two bits.

Edit: I also run Win7 64, and I rarely have any problems - only with truly ancient stuff.

[CattyNebulart]

Seriously, unless you intend to reuse the MB/powersupply, the whole 'Dell doesn't use off the shelf parts' is a non-issue for 99% of enthusiast owners. You can replace the CPU, GPU, Memory, HD, and any other card you may want to. The only thing proprietary to Dell is those two bits.

I have seen dells with propreitary drive bays, you would need some plastic rails to properly fit drives into it or replace them. impotant when dealing with failed components.

mostly dell has just been overpriced. A word of warning on cyberpower, i had a computer from them almost a decade ago and it suffered from shoddy workmanship and many of the components failed after about a year. they might have become better, but do some due diligence.
E: "Did they... did they just endorse the combination of the JSDF and US Army by showing them as two lesbian lolicons moving in together and holding hands and talking about how 'intimate' they were?"
B: "Have you forgotten so soon? They're phasing out Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

[jpub]

*shrug*, every Dell we've gone through, from Optiplex, to Inspiron, to Vostro (my favorite line) to XPS and Alienware, the only bits that are proprietary is the MB and PS. Sure, they may have specialized drive rails, but all it takes it a screwdriver to move them from one drive to another. My current Thermaltake case has those.

[Niteflier]

Please enough about Dell. the only computer I've had from them that didn't have major problems was my first desktop. All the laptops I've gotten from them have had video card, CPU, or heatsink problems. I'm only using a Dell now because they had to replace the last one while it was still under warrantee. Please enough about Dell.

[robkelk]

As the subject says, in the next 4-8 months I'm going to be buying my wife a new desktop. I need help, though, being woefully undereducated about current capabilities of computers. The primary purpose of the desktop would be document processing (IE, writing, powerpoint, excell) and playing City of Heroes. The budget is going to be about $1700. Can someone please give this poor soul some helpful information?

I suspect that computers will be more powerful in 4-8 months than they are now. (Especially considering how many companies put out their latest-and-greatest-and-most-expensive just before Christmas.) You might want to start looking one month before you're ready to buy, instead of looking now...
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[jpub]

Please enough about Dell. the only computer I've had from them that didn't have major problems was my first desktop. All the laptops I've gotten from them have had video card, CPU, or heatsink problems. I'm only using a Dell now because they had to replace the last one while it was still under warrantee. Please enough about Dell.

I'm sorry you've had trouble with them, but I'm a happy customer with them personally, and we got through $1.5million in Dell equipment at my work a year, and we have few problems.

I will not, even if you've had problems, stop recommending them. They're the best PC manufacturer on the market.

[Logan Darklighter]

CattyNebulart wrote:

A word of warning on cyberpower, i had a computer from them almost a decade ago and it suffered from shoddy workmanship and many of the components failed after about a year. they might have become better, but do some due diligence.

*Shrug* Like I said - caveat emptor. Not in the market for one at the moment myself. That's just one of the first things that came up on that Google search parameter. 

[paladindythe]

Here's a good resource for you:
PC Perspective's Hardware Leaderboard -- This is a--monthly updated--cherry picking of the best bang for the buck for 3 different price points (well, if you include the Dream System, 4 price points). If I were building a system, I'd use the Mid-Range one.  Keep in mind that this components (and therefore the price) don't actually include a case, or anything outside the case (keyboard, mouse, monitor)

[Shader]

Ok...

I take it you are in the US.

That makes it idiotically simple for you. systems over here in Australia>

You can go Brand name or clone/custom. You can go to a Online store or you can go to a retailer.

Dell is good.... I got a US Dell. It works, they respect the warranty and you get a 'Brand Name Power'. .

If you want a custom build... you can get a sweet build... some places have already been mentioned, you just have to look. Off the top of my head look at Tigerdirect, Buy.com and um.... Newegg. There a wealth of pages you can go to if you want to build a system...

Oh what I could do with $1500.

Mind you that's just off the top of my head without thinking or even looking for a system or at a page. I know that there are at least 3 other dealers that I can't think of atm that are in direct competition to Newegg and would give you a good deal if you have the power of a screwdriver and can run a CD driver. I just can't think of them.

Basically follow the advice of those above... and above all read and ask questions... (and ignore everything I say. )

How much bang you want? What do you really need and when do you really want it? A week is a -long- time in the computer building business... and a month or two an eternity.

((Jorlem: Now you're thinking with Portals.))

[s3yang]

Drogan:

2 questions that you should answer to give the rest of us a better idea of where to direct our suggestions:

1: Are you comfortable with buying parts and putting the computer together yourself?

2: In the $1700 budget, do you need to buy the OS and the monitor as well? Or just the base system?

[Wiregeek]

I've rebuilt three dells out of the retired wreckage of five dells in the last five days, so I'm getting a kick out of this thread. (My new 'Garage Computer' is a sweet little Optiplex 210 - lapped the CPU and heatsink, upgraded the thermal goop, got 2gb of DDR in it, still the same 'ol P4 3.0, up to 500gb of disk and a weird low-profile ATI vidya card, but I'm pushing 1600x1200 to three monitors and am just as clappy as a ham).
"No can brain today. Want cheezeburger."
From NGE: Nobody Dies, by Gregg Landsman
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5579457/1/NGE_Nobody_Dies

[Niteflier]

1: Are you comfortable with buying parts and putting the computer together yourself?
2: In the $1700 budget, do you need to buy the OS and the monitor as well? Or just the base system?

1: Not really. If I had step-by-step instructions, sure. But I don't think I can do it on my own.
2: That's for *everything*: Hardware, software, all the way down to the mouse.

[Rod.H]

I've rebuilt three dells out of the retired wreckage of five dells in the last five days, so I'm getting a kick out of this thread. (My new 'Garage Computer' is a sweet little Optiplex 210 - lapped the CPU and heatsink, upgraded the thermal goop, got 2gb of DDR in it, still the same 'ol P4 3.0, up to 500gb of disk and a weird low-profile ATI vidya card, but I'm pushing 1600x1200 to three monitors and am just as clappy as a ham).

Ah huh, did you also remember to check the electrolytic caps on the mainboard 'cos that model Optiplex ya got's not far off the ones that got the batch of dodgy caps. From memory I'm pretty sure it was the Optiplex 260-280 which copped 'em. The firms that had 'em and which I refreshed were quite happy to see 'em go as they generally failed around the time the warranty ended.

Drogan there are books and websites dedicated to building a computer. In fact I'll link a book http://www.makershed.com/ProductDetails ... 0596526865]here I've spotted it in me local Borders a few times and considered getting it but as I've been messing with computers for awhile I'm at the point of not needing a book or guide sheet to assemble one. Then my PC's also a combo of grandpa's axe & a car nut's project car I'm always tinkering and replacing parts as cash & tech allows. I've pretty much hit the limit of what I can do with a LGA775 Core 2 Duo system, with out going to SLI or overclocking.

In the end it basically boils down to: do you feel confident enough to solo build a PC, if so can you get the parts to build the equivalent or better than a major brands PC of the specs you want cheaper and/or sooner then they could ship a complete system to you.

--Rod.H

[Jorlem]

I've rebuilt three dells out of the retired wreckage of five dells in the last five days, so I'm getting a kick out of this thread. (My new 'Garage Computer' is a sweet little Optiplex 210 - lapped the CPU and heatsink, upgraded the thermal goop, got 2gb of DDR in it, still the same 'ol P4 3.0, up to 500gb of disk and a weird low-profile ATI vidya card, but I'm pushing 1600x1200 to three monitors and am just as clappy as a ham).

For some reason, I read DDR as Dance Dance Revolution.
Portal is actually something of an exception for me. A freind of mine sat me down in front of his xbox a while back, and 'forced' me to play it. I did just get Civ 4 yesterday though. It's really a step up from Civ 3, once you get used to the differences. (One of the hidden benifits of the lag strategy is getting all the expansion packs right off the bat, usually in a bundle )
-----
Stand between the Silver Crystal and the Golden Sea.
"Youngsters these days just have no appreciation for the magnificence of the legendary cucumber."  --Krityan Elder, Tales of Vesperia.

[Wiregeek]

Cap Plague

I recapped a dozen 270s last year, six of 'em are at a local church running whatever for whoever, the other six are in archival storage.

The 280s work has been retiring are about 90% 'immune' to cap plague, so I'm doing alright - but you'd best believe I have a magnifier and I check 'em before I bother stuffing memory and disk in 'em!
"No can brain today. Want cheezeburger."
From NGE: Nobody Dies, by Gregg Landsman
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5579457/1/NGE_Nobody_Dies