New Computer

[hockey3 0]

For a grad present my parents are buying me a new desktop computer. All i will be using it for is typing up essays, downloading music, surfing the internet, burning cds, and playing games. I will have about 1500Cnd to spend and i was wondering what i should take a look at. I want to stick with windows, and i am also wondering if it is worth waiting for Windows Vista to come out.

[Project_2501 0]

Vista will only necissitate you spending more money in graphics cards that for $1500US (not even canadian) you really wouldn't have enough to built a competant computer with.

That said, you didn't say what you're using the computer for, and thus I really can't build one up for you.

[hockey3 0]

That said, you didn't say what you're using the computer for, and thus I really can't build one up for you.

All i will be using it for is typing up essays, downloading music, surfing the internet, burning cds, and playing games.

[dieselbro 0]

Whatever you end up buying, my advice would be to go with custom made one. If you're going to be gaming and such it will perform much much better then a package deal(ie. Dell etc.). Just talk to your local computer store they should have some good knowledge that will be able to help you more then this

[Project_2501 0]

That said, you didn't say what you're using the computer for, and thus I really can't build one up for you.

All i will be using it for is typing up essays, downloading music, surfing the internet, burning cds, and playing games.

Wow, I am good...

Sorry about that.

Now, are you looking to go Intel or AMD?

Oh, and I wasn't even considering Retail. Don't even mention warrenties, you'll just have a few different ones, and have to troubleshoot yourself. That's where messageboards come in handy.

[Vapor 0]

Dell or a big company like that could probably get you a better price than a local store. They buy chips by the million, not the hundreds, so they have more wiggle room. If your up for building it yourself, its really an easy process.

[roostingmx 0]

go with a custom made comp and it's great but if you go with a cheaper model like dell you wont get the same graphics card and such

[Chadd 916]

Don't wait for Vista, it is a resource pig and buggy as hell.

[Project_2501 0]

go with a custom made comp and it's great but if you go with a cheaper model like dell you wont get the same graphics card and such

Sorry, but Dell has a thing called "Renegade." You may wish to look into it before you make a stupid comment like that.

However, this is the only reason to go Dell, and is way out of the OP's price range.

[BK 0]

Vista will only necissitate you spending more money in graphics cards that for $1500US (not even canadian) you really wouldn't have enough to built a competant computer with.

That said, you didn't say what you're using the computer for, and thus I really can't build one up for you.

wtf are you smoking?

I am running vista beta on a p2 900mhz with ati rage tnt videocard.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvi...e/vistarpc.mspx

<_<

[BK 0]

BTW.. These aren't bad for the price.. they are TINY too (making it easier to move). My computer is a pain in the ass to move because of the huge monitor and big case..

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping...=computer_store

This plus a flat panel upgrade from them and you are still well under your 1500CA mark.

Its a media center pc (even has a tv tuner) making it nice for those tight dorm rooms because it doubles as your dvd/tv/"downloaded media ;) " player.

[Project_2501 0]

Vista will only necissitate you spending more money in graphics cards that for $1500US (not even canadian) you really wouldn't have enough to built a competant computer with.

That said, you didn't say what you're using the computer for, and thus I really can't build one up for you.

wtf are you smoking?

I am running vista beta on a p2 900mhz with ati rage tnt videocard.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvi...e/vistarpc.mspx

<_<

Do you have full Aero Glass effects? Didn't think so. Sorry, but running an OS and not having any discernable difference is utterly pointless.

[BK 0]

Im running aero on this computer right here...

1.8ghz p4, Intel 950gsm 128 shared memory.

whoopty fucking dooo.. any computer with onboard video can run aero as long as its dx9 compatable.

[jbyun04 7]

my work got me a p4 2.8ghz dual core with 1gb ram and an ATi X300 gfxcard from HP (not sure how much they paid) and i'm loving this since my other cpu was a pos

if you are looking to order online, I get all my stuff from www.addaxcomputer.com

IMO they have good prices for systems

$1395 canadian can get you this

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4200+

ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe Socket AM2 MB

- 1GB PC-4200 DDR2

- 250GB 7200rpm SATA HDD

- GeForce 7900GT 256MB PCI-E

- Antec Sonata II Case w/ 450W PS

- 1.44MB Floppy Drive

- 16X DL DVD+/-RW

- Integrated Audio

- Integrated Lan

- Logitech X-530 5.1 Speakers

- Logitech Wireless Keyboard

- Logitech Wireless Optical Mouse

but i'm sure theres also better deals than that somewhere

[BK 0]

my work got me a p4 2.8ghz dual core with 1gb ram and an ATi X300 gfxcard from HP (not sure how much they paid) and i'm loving this since my other cpu was a pos

if you are looking to order online, I get all my stuff from www.addaxcomputer.com

IMO they have good prices for systems

$1395 canadian can get you this

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4200+

ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe Socket AM2 MB

- 1GB PC-4200 DDR2

- 250GB 7200rpm SATA HDD

- GeForce 7900GT 256MB PCI-E

- Antec Sonata II Case w/ 450W PS

- 1.44MB Floppy Drive

- 16X DL DVD+/-RW

- Integrated Audio

- Integrated Lan

- Logitech X-530 5.1 Speakers

- Logitech Wireless Keyboard

- Logitech Wireless Optical Mouse

but i'm sure theres also better deals than that somewhere

nice.. that will last him a while too.. that 7900gt is great for gaming.

p.s. My home cpu specs are..

Amd 64 x2 +4400

1 gig Ram

Two BFG 7600gt oc's in Sli

Audigy 2 Soundcard

Msi SLI Motherboard.

[Vapor 0]

Im running aero on this computer right here...

1.8ghz p4, Intel 950gsm 128 shared memory.

whoopty fucking dooo.. any computer with onboard video can run aero as long as its dx9 compatable.

Im sure it is running smoothly. I have use aero on my machine with a dedicated card with 256 mb of dedicated ram, and it was very lagging.

[Vapor 0]

Don't wait for Vista, it is a resource pig and buggy as hell.

It is a beta...

[BK 0]

Im running aero on this computer right here...

1.8ghz p4, Intel 950gsm 128 shared memory.

whoopty fucking dooo.. any computer with onboard video can run aero as long as its dx9 compatable.

Im sure it is running smoothly. I have use aero on my machine with a dedicated card with 256 mb of dedicated ram, and it was very lagging.

which gpu was it?.. the amount of memory on gpu's doesn't mean much if its a low end card.

[Vapor 0]

some cheap old geforce, 5500 maybe? Low end card I use in one of my old dells.

[Vapor 0]

When it comes to something like aero, it does. Aero is not a game which is very processor intensive. Aero is RAM intensive.

[Chadd 916]

Don't wait for Vista, it is a resource pig and buggy as hell.

It is a beta...

As with any Microsoft product, the final release will still be beta-quality.

[crutesie 0]

i wouldnt get vista if i were you if your thinking of downloading music illeagally as i heard it doesnt let you download anything without a license, but it does encrypt your data that it takes years to dencrypt..(when terrorists use this, we're screwed)

but hey im just going on rumours from various internet forums, so dont take anything i say for definite.

[Vapor 0]

it can't stop you.

[BK 0]

it can't stop you.

QFT..

If vista made it so you couldn't download any material off the internet, nobody would use it.

.. either that, or a crack would come out shortly thereafter.

[hockey3 0]

I've decided to go with Dell but i am stuck on which setup to go with. I dont know computers that well, and as stated before am only using it for games, internet, downloading music, and typing up projects for school. I dont want to spend more than i need to. These are the 3 that i am trying to decide between. With all 3 i would choose the top package deal that they are offering.

Dimension 9150 Desktop

Dimension 5150 Desktop

Dimension 3100 Desktop