So here's what I got...

[Giovanni]

I finally changed my damn computer and got a brand spanking new one and tadam! I have a somewhat monster of a beast.

I know alot of you told me not to go with a package deal from any maker really.

But I was assured by one of my tech friends that the one I purchased was entirely upgradeable, the case can be changed, pretty much everything can be changed. In fact, although it comes with alot of bundled shit, most of it will be removed in the next few days by my friend and it will be striped to basicly be a brand spanking new computer... I just got it at a lower price.

I got the HP m7860n media center. So I have media center free, all the accessories for it, a free vista upgrade (premium, and ultimate for 250$ more...) and alot of fun features.

I have a core 2 duo 6400 running a 2.13ghz... I'm confused about the whole core 2 duo thing so I'm guessing it runs better then a 4.0ghz... I can also overclock it...

It came with the so-so card 7300 ls from Nvidia but meh... better then the 9250 from radeon I used to have...

2 gigs of DDR2...

500 gigs of hard drive...

As a whole I didn't lose anything... 1150$ canadian... and I got all that... I also got insurance for it for 5 years... basicly allowing my friend to do any work on it for free... 250$ also got the eclipse 2 keyboard from saitek... fucking sexy for 65$ (I would of gotten the g15... but he was out of them and the damn thing is huge for my desk...). and a 20$ mouse from logitech... not my choice mouse but he was out of g5's.

So all in all with tax about 1600$... (the taxes in canada are 13.5% so... yeah...)

I have a computer that blows my old one out of the water... some glitches will have to be worked out such as the shitty looking case and the so-so graphics card. But it's so fucking quiet and does everything better and quicker then my old piece of crap.

You can rant away on my bad decision. (I still love it)

[Hamma]

Dumb Move!

Your tech friend doesn't know what he is talking about.

[OneManArmy]

Just let it go Hamma. He's Canadian.

[Peacemaker]

if you crack the case your 5 year warrenty = void.
Its not that bad really, but you spent prolly 500 ish you didnt need to.

[GraniteRok]

For what he got, it's pretty much average in $ for similar systems up here. Taking out our extortion taxes and converting for exchange rate, it works out to be roughly US$1150 for the whole shebang.

[Rbstr]

There's something about asking for advice on something from -relative- experts, and then not following it in the least that's rather dumb.

[Mag-Mower]

Originally Posted by OneManArmy

Just let it go Hamma. He's Canadian.

Your logic is failed. I am canadian, and I advised agsint the move in the first place.

[Infernus]

The core 2 duo thing means that you have 2 64bit 2.13gHz Processor cores running simultaneously on the same chip.

If you have 2 processes running, each one has its own core. If you have 4, each core runs 2 processes. If you have 16, each core runs 8.

But it only applies to singular processes, so a process won't be split across both cores. Its one reason that a lot of companies (adobe for example with their new CS3) are beginning to split their overall programs into a bunch of subprocesses, that way one program can run on multiple cores at the same time.

In strict terms, you don't have the equivilency of a 4 gHz processor, because a game is generally only one process and therefore will only run on one of the 2 gHz cores. By having more cores, however, the processor is able to divide its resources better.

[Giovanni]

Dumb move? Why? Do explain... I got it for cheaper then a self-built computer... the warranty is a shop warranty... and it's a small shop it's not best buy or anything so everything is guaranteed by my friend, not the manufacturer.

Like I said the bundle stuff with the right program will be removed... I get windows vista for free... and good pieces.

From what I saw... if I even wanted to be near what I got with that... I had to spend the same amount for just the tower and I had to get pieces that were from other builders then the original ones... like sapphire...

So... how exactly do I lose?

[Derfud]

Well, the free vista upgrade thing isnt hard to find. The card you got isn't fully DX10 compatible (which is the reason you would want vista), my dad got basically the same setup, only with a better GFX card, and a case that is ridiculously quiet for only about $1200 CDN with taxes.

[Hamma]

Well let's just put it this way Gio - I probably buy a fair amount of computers a year, and a huge amount every few years (talking 100+ PC's here) but when I go to have my own PC I build my own based on the experience i have had with the vendors. I've messed with HP's Compaqs on the large scale and most recently dell. Which is awesome for a school or work enviroment but just has to much strange stuff going on for me to have my own.

Originally Posted by GraniteRok

Taking out our extortion taxes

Amen to that - your taxes are teh debil!

[Giovanni]

Meh well... it's only until I have more money to build a real monster this will do for a few years...

[Hamma]

I feel your pain though, I am going to be building 2 new ones soon.

[Kyonye]

I have enough money to buy a nice case... I guess I can imagine there are parts in it :-/

[OneManArmy]

you got herpes. thats what you got.


dunno why that just hit me now.... gettin old i guess.