What Brand should I get?

Hey, I built my computer for $300 a year ago, I never said it was top of the line.

I'd rather have 64 bit archetecture then a little faster chip... But I use slack... If I were a windows guy, I might prefer Intel.

 

If you are paying cash it is still a possibility to go into a shop and have one built and pay up front for what you order.......so do that.

Put together a list of wants based upon components that are top of the line and go to a jobber and get it custom built.....still cheaper than buying names and no service anyways and you will get your hit list at a good price.

Many smaller shops will also deal a little if in cash. I always do......lol

 

I don't recommend buying from Mom 'n Pop stores...no tech support whatsoever; and the last time I bought from one I got jipped on a 17" monitor and the place shutdown the day after my order arrived!

I'm running an AMD XP2000+ myself, but what I'm getting at is that Intel's are more stable and would be much more effective vs. an AMD in a work environment. I prefer AMD's for their flexibility and performance myself, though if I were specifically doing work in Office I'd want the Intel there instead.

 

If your going to buy a store bought computer go with a Dell. They are easy to work on if something breaks and you can find parts anywhere. I have an HP and my video card went and come to find out my video card is sottered onto the motherboard. I was able to disable it and still install the new video card but its such a pain in the ass.

 

Most third-party motherboards (if not all) come with built-in video, and you have to disable it via BIOS before installing a PCI/AGP card anyway.

 

I guess you probably did it ....hmmm Let me know if you did. No prob here just you ...ha.

 

my H.P came with nvidia MX 440 128mb it play any game until recent "stills works" i have a new PNY 6600GT way much better. The new power supply would not fit the H.P case and the 6600GT would not work with out one so now my H.P looks like this not bad for $69.95 im getting a new mobo but i well need another case since my next project is based on a Athlon 64 3800+.

 

by the way who likes wood ? i do

 

I think brand matters for notebooks, but for desktops and towers it don't mean much.

 

Pointbreak im far from a computer geek never the less i would never never buy a desktop computer when i can build a superior one for less . notebook are a bit difrence since they dont sell a wide range of stuff to build your own.

 

HP is awesome!

 

Yep, build your own!

The problem any HP, Compaq, Dell, Gateway.. you actually get inferior parts and the tech support isn't worth squat unless you already have good technical knowledge of the system anyway. Most of the time, the tech support will tell you to restore the computer instead of fixing what is most often a simple software problem.

An example of inferior hardware would be Read/Write tests being done on hard drives and the better performance drives get sold seperately in stores and the others get sold to the big companies at lower prices.

A good example of selling out is Gateway. If anyone remembers when gateway first started, they also knew better and would use higher quality parts that weren't masses produced for them. They soon realized they couldn't compete and started accepting the same parts everyone else uses and now are no different then any other company. Sad!

I never recommed any big company to an inexperienced user because simply don't have the required knowledge to assist the tech person during phone support and always end up losing all their data because of a restore.

However, somebody has to support the big companies. As long as they buyer doesn't come to me crying and not willing to pay for my help.

Now, with all of that said... if you insist, I'd have to say Dell.

 

all companies are BULLSHIT... shitty service, and way overpriced computers.

Build it yourself or get a friend to build it for you and save 700$... it is the ONLY way... anyone who is into hardware repair/installation knows this.

 

Mui i agree 100% there . but i think in the feature PC companies well develop a system too complex or have a monopoly on parts and home builders well be stamp out. it might be a while 5 or 15 years from now.