New computer (Need comments and advice)

Giovanni · 2007-01-20, 09:51 PM

HP Pavilion Media Center a1640n,

http://shopping.hp.ca/cStoreCA/BaseD...BEId=5&LANG=EN
That's what I'm getting... see... I'm being a lazy slob and I calculated what it amounts too...

Yes I do get a shitty case but as far as I know... the parts I get are worth alot more then what I'm going to pay for it and all I really need is a new graphics card so in the end it might cost me around 1300$ total canadian... to get a high end system correct?

I mean correct me if I'm wrong but I should be able to run most or everything on the market, I'll be able to run it for a couple of years (4 at most if I push it) and I'll have a good machine on hand that's vista ready and comes with a free upgrade to it. On top of wich I get the vista ultimate upgrade for 250$ instead of 500$...

So...

a. I need to get a good card that's gonna last me a while and be DX10 ready
b. Can anyone help me find one?
c. Am I right about the whole thing? I mean sure it has bundle shit of course but I can take care of it... programmer friends can remove the crap off it to make it less clutered with shit I don't need.

OneManArmy · 2007-01-20, 10:51 PM

oh dear god no. let rbstr up in here. I'm too lazy (read drunk) atm to do it any justice. but dear god no.

Mag-Mower · 2007-01-20, 10:54 PM

The only DX10 compatible cards at the moment are the 8800GTX, and 8800GTS. The GTS Would set you back about $500 canadian.

OneManArmy · 2007-01-21, 12:10 AM

buy a cheap sm3.0 card like a 76-7900 gs gtx etc whatever. that should only set you back somewhere around 100-150 or maybe less american. then once dx10 gets fully underway (read next year) drop the cash for one.

Giovanni · 2007-01-21, 08:50 AM

Good point. I know it's a pre-built computer but... I don't have as much time to bother building one... I don't really care about the esthetics of it and I do beleive it would do the trick... then again... I could be wrong I suppose.

Kyonye · 2007-01-21, 11:29 AM

I don't know much about computers in general, but from what I have seen with HP computers in the past, they haven't been too quality. It could be different now, but a few years ago, I saw a few just breakdown (brand new). That is just my opinion though.

Mag-Mower · 2007-01-21, 12:20 PM

You could build one your self. They are cheaper, and only take an hour or so to build.

Sentrosi · 2007-01-21, 01:15 PM

Giovanni, please, for the love of all that is holy, do NOT buy an HP! Hell, you give me a budget and I can build you a pretty decent PC for about 2/3rds what you're going to pay for it. And you can trust me to get it to you in good working condition.

Biohazzard56 · 2007-01-21, 02:40 PM

I work with these everday, those HP cases arent bad and they do have nForce 4 chipsets. But here are my concerns: No SLI, low FSB speed (533mhz, as opposed to the standard PC6400s 800), weak PSUs and massive ammounts of HP crap. Then you have to buy a video card.

When you cross that bridge, id use a 7600 or a 7900 GT as a placeholder card until mid-range and upper midrange DX10 Cards come out.

For that price, I would say no.

Mag-Mower · 2007-01-21, 02:42 PM

I agree with Bio. One thing I have figured out is that these pre-made systems have very lame power supplies. And with lame Power Supplies, you have a really hard time putting a decent graphics card in it.

Rbstr · 2007-01-21, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by OneManArmy

oh dear god no. let rbstr up in here. I'm too lazy (read drunk) atm to do it any justice. but dear god no.

The specs are OK, except for the GPU, the CPU is also the lowest C2D on the market not thats all that bad of a place to be in.

There's not much to say that hasn't been said, DX10 cards aren't really out there, but a 7900 is quite good for now.

But FFS build the thing yourself, it takes an hour or two tops when you include putting windows on the thing. You'll save money.

Giovanni · 2007-01-21, 05:34 PM

Hmk well... yeah I see your point... basicly I'm looking for a gaming rig... a friend of mine will help me I have about 1200$ to put in it no monitor or anything else needed... I can sell mine for about 150$...

Windows vista thought... It's out by the 1st right? Vista ultimate will cost how much? =/

Edit: if you have a rig you can suggest please do.

Biohazzard56 · 2007-01-21, 05:55 PM

Ive played around with the RTM (Retail) Build that comes out on the 30th. My friend is a member of MS Tech Net. For everyday tasks and general computing its stable, takes up 600mb of RAM (idle) running Premium versions. For gaming there are a TON of negatives.

In a 32 bit environment XP beats Vista 32 bit by 10-15 percent
In a 64 bit Vista environment that emulates 32 bit Direct X9; 32 Bit XP has it beat by 20-30 percent.

I would stay away from Vista until (ANY version of it) can run games just as good as they would in XP. There is no reason to upgrade now.

Mag-Mower · 2007-01-21, 10:14 PM

Holy shit! 600mb ram, thats a bit excessive, no?

Infernus · 2007-01-21, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by Mag-Mower

Holy shit! 600mb ram, thats a bit excessive, no?

It is windows.