Computer Opinions

[Unoriginal Name]

Could I please get some opinions on this computer bundle from Best Buy?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=pcmprd81600050012&skuId=999981700050012&type=product&count=0

We don't do much high end gaming. Really the only gaming we do is sim-type games. I would like to get in to photo editing. Maybe watch an occasional movie. How does this set-up stack up? Is it a good value for the price?

Also, if we were to get in to more high end gaming, other than replacing the video card how would this set-up work?

Thanks in advance!

[fishepa]

Re: Computer Opinions

You could get just as good a computer by going to Dell's website, probably even a better one.

[Cletus]

Re: Computer Opinions

I really don't trust Best Buy with computers, and I trust Gateway even less. If you're not doing much high end stuff, I don't see why you would want to spend that much on a computer. I just bought a laptop from tigerdirect.com for around 500 dollars and i'm enjoying it. I would go with Dell, that way you can get one built the way you'd like and most likely it will end up cheaper than the Best Buy route. Maybe this is more of me having no confidence in Best Buy and even less in their employees to have any knowledge than anything, though.

[Unoriginal Name]

Re: Computer Opinions

I have thought about trying to configure one myself but I guess my problem is that I don't know where to start and how to know what exactly I should be looking to get.

My wife and I mostly play SimCity type games with a few mystery type games like Syberia. We also would like the option to be able to do our own photo editing. Lastly, I wouldn't mind being able to use it as a PVR which is what drew me to that Gateway since it makes mention of that. What should I be looking to get? I would like to get something that is good enough for what I want to do but also won't be outdated too soon.

Thanks again.

[Holic]

Re: Computer Opinions

Go to Dell.com and get yourself a better computer for that price.

[mudtiger]

Re: Computer Opinions

Mmmm, that's not a bad deal for 1400. I think you'd have a hard time beating that at dell. The unknown is we don't know the quality of ram, tv tuner, or service from your BB.

If nothing ever goes wrong and you never have to deal with BB/geeksquad, I'd think you'd be happy with it. If you had to deal with BB/geeksquad and your local BB/GS are sales drones and not tech people, you may regret it.

Reading your description of what you want, you probably don't need a quad core cpu (Q6600) and would be fine with a dual core. Also windows premium includes windows media center, so any vista premium pc with a tv tuner can be used as a pvr, nothing special about this one.

If you aren't comfortable with computers and don't have the time to invest, don't try and build it yourself.

Looking at the BB system

$1400
#Q6600 quad core cpu -> I think this is overkill for you, you could save $ and get dual core and be fine. Quad is nice for video editing and running lots of applications at the same time. It's a nice upgrade over dual core, but probably not needed if you want to shave some $ off the total price.

It's a solid processor going for 279$

#Built in tv tuner -> no idea on the quality or if it is HD capable. A basic but good tv tuner will run around 100$

#3GB ram -> no idea on the quality or speed, 5300-667mhz or 6400-800mhz (or slower?). 667 would be the absolute minimum. 3GB for vista home 32 bit is maxed out and good, we just don't know the quality.

DDR2 ram is cheap cheap cheap nowadays. You can get 2 gigs of very good ram for well under 100$.

#GeForce 8500 GT -> decent I suppose, one of the cheapest DX10 cards you can get I think. If running the latest and greatest games on your new 22" monitor isn't a top priority the 8500GT will be fine.

8500 is under 100$

#DL dvd burner -> nice, 30-40$

#1 TB capacity -> nice, 300$ or so depending on brand and sales. Probably overkill though unless you have tons of music and video.

#15 in 1 card reader ->nice

#22" lcd -> nice, 250 - 500 range

#cheap printer/copier/scanner -> meh, when runs out of ink, it will probably be cheaper to buy a new one.

Plus case and power supply and I think that's a decent deal for 1400 if you don't mind dealing with your BB if something goes wrong.

If you go to dell, I would think any cpu you price out at around 1000-1500 would suit your needs. Here's one I quickly ran through

Dell inspiron 530 customized:
Processor E6550 core 2 (not quad core, but I don't think that's an essential for you)
vista home prem (includes media center so your pc can be a pvr with a tv tuner)
22" sammy lcd (great size monitor)
3 GB 667 ram (same amount as BB comp, just don't know the speed of the BB comp's ram, but would assume it's also 667)
500 GB hard drive (1 TB is 1000 GB, so the BB comp has double the space. Unless you are recording lots of video and/or copying your dvd collection to the comp, 500 GB should be fine. Cheap and easy to add more space later if you need it.)
dvd burner (probably similar or same as BB comp)
8600 Nvidia graphics card (better than BB comp's, could go cheaper at dell and get the 128MB ATI Radeon HD 2400 PRO and still be good)
Digital/analog tv tuner w/remote (nice tuner w/ OTA HD capability and remote)
no printer
decent but cheap speakers - 2.1 system

1529$ at dell.

If you wanted to get into high end gaming, replacing your vid card with a $300 card (currently a 8800 GT) is really all you'd need to do.

[jmw1137]

Re: Computer Opinions

I personally can't stand Dell...I think they're one step up from e-Machines. I'm a big fan of IBM (now Lenovo). You can get much higher quality stuff for just a bit more than Dell and the other cheaper brands.

If it's between the Gateway & Dell, I'd go with Gateway.

Also, you mentioned gaming, PVR, etc. I have a dual monitor set-up that's really nice for watching something on one monitor and doing work or whatever else on the other monitor. I think it's much nicer than a widescreen set-up since you essentially have 2 desktops. If you've never seen that before and want me to post a picture of what it looks like let me know. All you need is a video card that will support 2 displays.

[Unoriginal Name]

Re: Computer Opinions

I personally can't stand Dell...I think they're one step up from e-Machines. I'm a big fan of IBM (now Lenovo). You can get much higher quality stuff for just a bit more than Dell and the other cheaper brands.

If it's between the Gateway & Dell, I'd go with Gateway.

Also, you mentioned gaming, PVR, etc. I have a dual monitor set-up that's really nice for watching something on one monitor and doing work or whatever else on the other monitor. I think it's much nicer than a widescreen set-up since you essentially have 2 desktops. If you've never seen that before and want me to post a picture of what it looks like let me know. All you need is a video card that will support 2 displays.

Sure, I'd be interested to see how that works.

[Unoriginal Name]

Re: Computer Opinions

Also, and this may be a dumb question but here goes, how does an AMD chip match up to an Intel chip? Say there is a 6000+ chip from AMD, which I think is 3.0GHz how much vastly faster than say a 2.4GHz chip from Intel?

Thanks again.

[ODogg]

Re: Computer Opinions

Also, and this may be a dumb question but here goes, how does an AMD chip match up to an Intel chip? Say there is a 6000+ chip from AMD, which I think is 3.0GHz how much vastly faster than say a 2.4GHz chip from Intel?

Thanks again.

From all i've ready lately you want to go with Intel, no question