New PC

[VFN]

I'm thinking in case my machine decides to commit hari-kiri I should have an idea about what to replace it with. For the least amount of American dollars what's my best bet? The only things I do on the computer is visit websites, watch some youtube videos and the like, watch sports streams and play low level computer games because my specs can't handle more.

Thanks.

 

[Patonb]

Hey,sorry for no replies.

What's your price/funds?

I'd get an i3/i5 a gt740/r 930

Basically a $500 tower. But do ensure you get at least a 500W power supply. Ibuypower and cyberpower are good places to look at for prebuilts.

 

[VFN]

Thanks. I'll check those places out.

Why a 500W power supply?

 

[Patonb]

90+% of video cards will run on a decent 500W power supply, ideally a 650W would be best, so this way you can upgrade video cards if you need in a year or 2.

I always say to get the best you can afford. I liken the psu to your heart, if your heart goes it takes everything out, just like a psu.

 

[VFN]

Thanks. Been reading about it.

 

[whs]

You did not say whether you look for a laptop or a desktop. For laptops, this is a good buy for $400.

HP Pavilion Laptop Computer With 173 HD Screen AMD Quad Core A8 Processor 17 f053us by Office Depot

 

[VFN]

Thanks.

 

[whs]

Thanks.

The buggers changed the price to $500 - today on Sunday. I bought it for $400 last week. I guess one has to be fast.

 

[VFN]

Yeah, you have to keep your eyes out for these short-lived sales. In terms of power (GPU, CPU, RAM) can't you usually get more in a tower for less than a laptop?

 

[whs]

Right, you can pack a lot more into a desktop. I work only with desktops. But the wife prefers laptops - she now has five. One she lets me share.

Pricewise it is probably a wash if you figure in the monitor and a decent keyboard and mouse (the stuff that comes with the box is usually useless).

 

[Barman58]

The old rule for laptop v Desktop was you get twice as much for half as much by going Desktop rather than laptop.

This is now getting less fixed as the economies of scale take effect, as people have moved to laptops the prices are falling.

there are a lot of good laptops available at reasonable prices.

Desktops still have a edge where performance is compared or when you consider possible future upgrades but of course laptops are portable, you don't see many people lugging a desktop into their local coffee shop

 

[Patonb]

The biggest thing is even a cheap laptop has more than enough power for 75% or more users. So desktops just are too bulky.

 

[whs]

Nigel, I think things have changed dramatically. Last week I bought this laptop for the wife for $400 (now theu raised the price again). I think that you would be hard pressed to find any equivalent PC/monitor combo for that price.

I myself am a desktop guy. I need raw mips for my video work. I also need a 22" monitor in order to see anything.

 

[Barman58]

Wolfgang,

It's interesting that you mention the monitor, I have used my one current monitor (a 1920*1080 32"), on my last three desktops, and I think this is not an unusual scenario. Monitor technology is not as rapidly evolving as that of the actual PC hardware and so can be easily recycled in this way, whereas of course you are obliged to purchase a new monitor with each laptop.

My way of working is to purchase a new Bare-bones system every few years, and recycle any suitable components from my existing kit, which is usually then used as a backup system. It's not unusual for a system to also be upgraded about half way through it's life with a later processor and possibly RAM, Video card Etc.

Following this route is not possible using a laptop so keeping at the same technological level would be considerably more expensive. the "bang per buck" of a laptop has certainly increased tremendously since I first started using and maintaining them (late 80's I think), but there is still a strong case for a desktop where portability is not an issue

 

[whs]

Fair point Nigel. I just wanted to compare apples and apples - full system on both. But I agree with you, laptops are not for us - only in emergencies. Laptops are for little old ladies. My wife has five by now (2 Gateways, 1 Toshiba, 1 HP, 1 Asus) and lets me share one of them, LOL.

 

[Barman58]

I have two desktops, A laptop, (HP Similar to the one you purchased), a Netbook, (old unit running Linux), A Google Nexus 7 Tablet, and several Android Smartphones - I use them all at various times - to suit the conditions of the task at hand.

Edit

Just noticed that the systrm shown on my specs here is one that no longer exists it's the one that I originally ran Vista on when it originally was released will update to latest at some time, latest is in my specs at SF

 

[whs]

Yeah, that's a constant pain to keep that info up-to-date on the forums. I do not even bother any more. That would be a full time job for the dozen forums I visit.

The Nexus 7 is handy. I use it to make free calls from Europe to the US - with Groove IP and Google Voice. Else I would go broke with the amount of time she calls her mother in NY. With my W8 Phone I have to pay 1.2c/min on VoIP.