Got about $3000 to spend on new computer, suggestions?

[Stu]

Re: Got about $3000 to spend on new computer, suggestions?

No I definitely couldn't build that machine for $1000. I'm not the type of person that needs the latest and greatest stuff. All I really do is play games so I don't need a supercomputer.

My argument for building my own is obviously the price. If you do enough research you will find what parts will have conflicts and can hopefully avoid all of them. I purchase most of the stuff from www.newegg.com so quality has never been an issue. Another big advantage for me is not having to spend another $1000-$2000 every few years. I upgrade my parts as needed. The only things that really need to be purchased together are the motherboard and processor. The rest of the parts such as Hard Drive, DVD drive, Video card, sound card, case, etc can all be purchased and installed independently. This works well for me because it spreads the cost out over time.

[Stu]

Re: Got about $3000 to spend on new computer, suggestions?

No I definitely couldn't build that machine for $1000. I'm not the type of person that needs the latest and greatest stuff. All I really do is play games so I don't need a supercomputer.

My argument for building my own is obviously the price. If you do enough research you will find what parts will have conflicts and can hopefully avoid all of them. I purchase most of the stuff from www.newegg.com so quality has never been an issue. Another big advantage for me is not having to spend another $1000-$2000 every few years. I upgrade my parts as needed. The only things that really need to be purchased together are the motherboard and processor. The rest of the parts such as Hard Drive, DVD drive, Video card, sound card, case, etc can all be purchased and installed independently. This works well for me because it spreads the cost out over time.

[SoMiss2000]

Re: Got about $3000 to spend on new computer, suggestions?

Another big advantage for me is not having to spend another $1000-$2000 every few years. I upgrade my parts as needed. The only things that really need to be purchased together are the motherboard and processor. The rest of the parts such as Hard Drive, DVD drive, Video card, sound card, case, etc can all be purchased and installed independently. This works well for me because it spreads the cost out over time.

which is exactly what i'm doing. My gateway just turned 4 years old and I decided I didn't want to plop down money on something like a Dell. I'd rather just build myself. I've started buying the parts and yes, it does help spread out the cost. So far i've only bought the case which was $100, wireless keyboard and mouse, logitech mind you, $26.00 both from Newegg, and Seagate 160GB HD (from ebay), **shameless plug** i have a Seagate 120GB HD up for auction now, ending in 3 days. My dumb *** bidded on two and won them both.. My motherboard and processor will be the last two things I buy aside from the LCD monitor that I want. I'm probably going with the AMD 64 3500+ 939 socket. I'll probably be buying my dvd/cd drives and video card next. I figure to have it built by the beginning of summer. I'm in no hurry, the old Gateway is still kickin.

[SoMiss2000]

Re: Got about $3000 to spend on new computer, suggestions?

Another big advantage for me is not having to spend another $1000-$2000 every few years. I upgrade my parts as needed. The only things that really need to be purchased together are the motherboard and processor. The rest of the parts such as Hard Drive, DVD drive, Video card, sound card, case, etc can all be purchased and installed independently. This works well for me because it spreads the cost out over time.

which is exactly what i'm doing. My gateway just turned 4 years old and I decided I didn't want to plop down money on something like a Dell. I'd rather just build myself. I've started buying the parts and yes, it does help spread out the cost. So far i've only bought the case which was $100, wireless keyboard and mouse, logitech mind you, $26.00 both from Newegg, and Seagate 160GB HD (from ebay), **shameless plug** i have a Seagate 120GB HD up for auction now, ending in 3 days. My dumb *** bidded on two and won them both.. My motherboard and processor will be the last two things I buy aside from the LCD monitor that I want. I'm probably going with the AMD 64 3500+ 939 socket. I'll probably be buying my dvd/cd drives and video card next. I figure to have it built by the beginning of summer. I'm in no hurry, the old Gateway is still kickin.

[AtlantaFalconFan]

Re: Got about $3000 to spend on new computer, suggestions?

With all that money i would build my own computer or pay someone to build it you can have the sickest computer to date with 3,000.

ATI Radeon XT or geforce 6800 ultra $500
3.6 ghz pentium 4 chip processor $300
2 gb of ram $250
a really nice motherboard $300
a good sound card $100
Hard Drive $300
dvd burner $200
Windows op system $150
Wireless Mouse + keyboard $200


All of that = to 2,300 but you are getting top of the line stuff i mean better stuff from alienware or anything dell or any manufactor can produce. Just my opinion tho.

[AtlantaFalconFan]

Re: Got about $3000 to spend on new computer, suggestions?

With all that money i would build my own computer or pay someone to build it you can have the sickest computer to date with 3,000.

ATI Radeon XT or geforce 6800 ultra $500
3.6 ghz pentium 4 chip processor $300
2 gb of ram $250
a really nice motherboard $300
a good sound card $100
Hard Drive $300
dvd burner $200
Windows op system $150
Wireless Mouse + keyboard $200


All of that = to 2,300 but you are getting top of the line stuff i mean better stuff from alienware or anything dell or any manufactor can produce. Just my opinion tho.

[ODogg]

Re: Got about $3000 to spend on new computer, suggestions?

With all that money i would build my own computer or pay someone to build it you can have the sickest computer to date with 3,000.

ATI Radeon XT or geforce 6800 ultra $500
3.6 ghz pentium 4 chip processor $300
2 gb of ram $250
a really nice motherboard $300
a good sound card $100
Hard Drive $300
dvd burner $200
Windows op system $150
Wireless Mouse + keyboard $200


All of that = to 2,300 but you are getting top of the line stuff i mean better stuff from alienware or anything dell or any manufactor can produce. Just my opinion tho.

I am paying someone to build it, Falcon! LOL, I know it could be built for cheaper as I've built my last 2 machines. The parts you say above are nice except the Intel I don't like. However the parts you get when you build it aren't necessarily better than what you get if you buy it from a vendor, it just depends on who you are buying it from. I can assure you that the things you buy on your own are not going to be superior to what Falcon has access to and will put in their machine. As for the 2 gig aspect I have read about that and priced it and did not figure it was worth going to over the 1 gig for the small (4%) increase in most apps. Falcon agreed with me on that as well btw.

As stated in post above though, I wasn't looking to save money this time around, I have other reasons that override saving money. I kinda think people should look at it like going out to eat. I can go home and cook my own steak I bought from Krogers for $7 and get just as full as going out to Outback steakhouse and having someone wait on me and serve me better cooked and better cut of steak for $30. Yeah you can save money by doing it yourself but sometimes there are other reasons beyond saving money that you do things I guess is what I'm saying.

[ODogg]

Re: Got about $3000 to spend on new computer, suggestions?

With all that money i would build my own computer or pay someone to build it you can have the sickest computer to date with 3,000.

ATI Radeon XT or geforce 6800 ultra $500
3.6 ghz pentium 4 chip processor $300
2 gb of ram $250
a really nice motherboard $300
a good sound card $100
Hard Drive $300
dvd burner $200
Windows op system $150
Wireless Mouse + keyboard $200


All of that = to 2,300 but you are getting top of the line stuff i mean better stuff from alienware or anything dell or any manufactor can produce. Just my opinion tho.

I am paying someone to build it, Falcon! LOL, I know it could be built for cheaper as I've built my last 2 machines. The parts you say above are nice except the Intel I don't like. However the parts you get when you build it aren't necessarily better than what you get if you buy it from a vendor, it just depends on who you are buying it from. I can assure you that the things you buy on your own are not going to be superior to what Falcon has access to and will put in their machine. As for the 2 gig aspect I have read about that and priced it and did not figure it was worth going to over the 1 gig for the small (4%) increase in most apps. Falcon agreed with me on that as well btw.

As stated in post above though, I wasn't looking to save money this time around, I have other reasons that override saving money. I kinda think people should look at it like going out to eat. I can go home and cook my own steak I bought from Krogers for $7 and get just as full as going out to Outback steakhouse and having someone wait on me and serve me better cooked and better cut of steak for $30. Yeah you can save money by doing it yourself but sometimes there are other reasons beyond saving money that you do things I guess is what I'm saying.

[BTB]

Re: Got about $3000 to spend on new computer, suggestions?

700 bucks isnt the same as 20.


I would never get a new computer without building it myself. It only takes a couple hours, its satisfying, and you save an a**load of money.

[BTB]

Re: Got about $3000 to spend on new computer, suggestions?

700 bucks isnt the same as 20.


I would never get a new computer without building it myself. It only takes a couple hours, its satisfying, and you save an a**load of money.

[BTB]

Re: Got about $3000 to spend on new computer, suggestions?

Btw you can get a TOP of the line system built yourself for 2000. Like absolute best stuff out there.

[BTB]

Re: Got about $3000 to spend on new computer, suggestions?

Btw you can get a TOP of the line system built yourself for 2000. Like absolute best stuff out there.

[ODogg]

Re: Got about $3000 to spend on new computer, suggestions?

Btw you can get a TOP of the line system built yourself for 2000. Like absolute best stuff out there.

Again, re-read my posts though, money isn't the only factor in a new computer for everyone.

[ODogg]

Re: Got about $3000 to spend on new computer, suggestions?

Btw you can get a TOP of the line system built yourself for 2000. Like absolute best stuff out there.

Again, re-read my posts though, money isn't the only factor in a new computer for everyone.

[wco81]

Re: Got about $3000 to spend on new computer, suggestions?

Is this computer mostly going to be for gaming or for work?

If the former, it seems like overkill. Xbox2 comes out later this year and will have a GPU beyond that $400 video card.

PS3 comes out next year, again with a next generation GPU.

So for gaming, the time to lay out big bucks for a PC is about 18-24 months from now, when that investment will be more likely to outperform consoles which will cost less than that $400 video card.

So if gaming isn't a big part of the equation, then no need for a $3000 PC anyways.

Get a phat laptop. Alienware, Voodoo PC and the rest make laptops too.