I apologize if this is cover in a sticky, but I looked them over and didn't find the help that I need!
I'm trying to buy a new computer and will be using it mostly to play video games online. I've tried to use Google, but all I seem to get returned are sites that actually sell the hardware and I do not trust their (I assume) biased guides on how to select a rig. I would appreciate any help I can get on how to get the most for my money. I'm getting married in the fall, so I can only stretch my budget to $900 tops - I only need the tower.
I have a lot of questions and don't know how best to go about getting them answered, so please excuse the flow of conscienceless that follows...
Is there a recommended website I should order form, or am I best off using a place such as Best Buy?
Minimum specs? (processor speed, RAM, etc..)
AMD vs. Intel?
How do I tell if a video card is any good?
Whats the difference between RAM and video memory?
Circuit City...
GAMER515TX
Best Buy...
m8430f
m8530f
GT5678
Are any of these any good? Does one appear to be the best for the money? Am I way off the mark and have no idea what I'm looking at?
Also, recommendations on a firewall, virus program and any other necessities are very much appreciated!
Edited, Jul 7th 2008 8:27pm by Bongaru
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How to: Buy a Gaming PC?Follow
First off, you'll get a much better deal if you build you rig yourself. It's not difficult.
Custom PC magazine currently has this for a bargain basement rig:
Case – Coolermaster Elite 330 Black Case
PSU – Coolermaster eXtreme Power 460W PSU (included in above case)
Motherboard – Gigabyte GA-P31-DS3L iP31 Socket 775 8 channel audio ATX Motherboard
CPU – Intel Pentium Dual Core E2180 2GHz Socket 775 800MHz FSB L2 1MB Cache Retail Box Processor
HSF Cooler – Artic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
Memory – Corsair 2GB Kit (2x1GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 XMS2 Memory Non-ECC Unbuffered CL5(5-5-5-12) Heat Spreader Lifetime Warranty
Graphics Card – XFX 9600GSO 384MB DDR3 Dual DVI HDTV Out PCI-E or Zotac 8800GT AMP Edition 512mb GDDR3 Dual DVI PCI-E Graphics Card
Hard-Drive - Maxtor STM3160215AS 160GB SATAII 7200RPM 2MB Cache
Optical Drive - Optiarc AD-7200S 20X DVD±RW/DL/RAM Internal SATA Bare Black Drive
Total Price - £309.95 or 333.45 with the Zotac graphics card.
Okay, these are UK market prices - I can't be ***** finding the US tech shops right now. However, all of these products should be available and you shouldn't have to spend more than about $500. Then you've got to consider options for a better PSU, case, and graphics card.
The CPU can be overclocked big time, especially with the F7P heatsink.
As far as the machines you linked go, they all suck. If you're going to be playing games on your computer (who wouldn't be?) then there's no point having a very good cpu (the HP machines have really good ones) with a terrible graphics card (they all have very bad video). It's much better to spend more on the video card than the processor.
Custom PC magazine currently has this for a bargain basement rig:
Case – Coolermaster Elite 330 Black Case
PSU – Coolermaster eXtreme Power 460W PSU (included in above case)
Motherboard – Gigabyte GA-P31-DS3L iP31 Socket 775 8 channel audio ATX Motherboard
CPU – Intel Pentium Dual Core E2180 2GHz Socket 775 800MHz FSB L2 1MB Cache Retail Box Processor
HSF Cooler – Artic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
Memory – Corsair 2GB Kit (2x1GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 XMS2 Memory Non-ECC Unbuffered CL5(5-5-5-12) Heat Spreader Lifetime Warranty
Graphics Card – XFX 9600GSO 384MB DDR3 Dual DVI HDTV Out PCI-E or Zotac 8800GT AMP Edition 512mb GDDR3 Dual DVI PCI-E Graphics Card
Hard-Drive - Maxtor STM3160215AS 160GB SATAII 7200RPM 2MB Cache
Optical Drive - Optiarc AD-7200S 20X DVD±RW/DL/RAM Internal SATA Bare Black Drive
Total Price - £309.95 or 333.45 with the Zotac graphics card.
Okay, these are UK market prices - I can't be ***** finding the US tech shops right now. However, all of these products should be available and you shouldn't have to spend more than about $500. Then you've got to consider options for a better PSU, case, and graphics card.
The CPU can be overclocked big time, especially with the F7P heatsink.
As far as the machines you linked go, they all suck. If you're going to be playing games on your computer (who wouldn't be?) then there's no point having a very good cpu (the HP machines have really good ones) with a terrible graphics card (they all have very bad video). It's much better to spend more on the video card than the processor.
Newegg
Tigerdirect
ClubIT
Frozencpu
Sidewinder
Hardforums
Tom's Hardware
These are all trusted well known sites. I have personally built and ordered parts through all of them.
Newegg
This is the first place I like to go to. They have a wide selections and usually some great deals on things. They also have a nice review system that people actually use. So you can see what other people are rating it. This is a good place to go to purchase or set a general direction for your computer
TigerDirect
Another place like newegg. Once I have find out what I want for my computer its time to shop. This is a good place to shop as sometimes you can find even better stuff or just cheaper prices.
ClubIT
Like TigerDirect this is just another source for you to shop and find better deals or cheaper prices.
FrozenCPU
I use this for specialty cooling parts and such. Good place for fan controlers and all kinds of interesting thing for your computer.
Sidewinder
This si the ultimate stop for cooling your computer. Even thought the site looks a bit dinky, they have excellent customer service and they really know what they are doing.
HardForums
This is your one stop shop for all computer questions. They do some serious testing on these forums and the users are very savvy. They have excellent list of good parts and bad, good powersupplys and bad, and all kinds of stuff. Its just a good place all around.
Tom's
Another useful tool in reviewing computer parts and the like.
Hope this helps!
Tigerdirect
ClubIT
Frozencpu
Sidewinder
Hardforums
Tom's Hardware
These are all trusted well known sites. I have personally built and ordered parts through all of them.
Newegg
This is the first place I like to go to. They have a wide selections and usually some great deals on things. They also have a nice review system that people actually use. So you can see what other people are rating it. This is a good place to go to purchase or set a general direction for your computer
TigerDirect
Another place like newegg. Once I have find out what I want for my computer its time to shop. This is a good place to shop as sometimes you can find even better stuff or just cheaper prices.
ClubIT
Like TigerDirect this is just another source for you to shop and find better deals or cheaper prices.
FrozenCPU
I use this for specialty cooling parts and such. Good place for fan controlers and all kinds of interesting thing for your computer.
Sidewinder
This si the ultimate stop for cooling your computer. Even thought the site looks a bit dinky, they have excellent customer service and they really know what they are doing.
HardForums
This is your one stop shop for all computer questions. They do some serious testing on these forums and the users are very savvy. They have excellent list of good parts and bad, good powersupplys and bad, and all kinds of stuff. Its just a good place all around.
Tom's
Another useful tool in reviewing computer parts and the like.
Hope this helps!
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