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Planing on buying a new computer

Discussion in 'Computers & Modding' started by manny2260, Jul 9, 2008.

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  1. manny2260

    manny2260 Well-Known Member

    I was looking around and found this http://reviews.cnet.com/4321-3118_7-6623901.html?tag=prmo1. I am thinking of buying the Gateway GT5674 please keep in mind that I use Photoshop very often and other similar programs. What do you think of this computer do you think it is fit for my uses (occasional gaming,Browsing, and programs such as microsoft office and photoshop.)
     
    manny2260, Jul 9, 2008
    #1
  2. Loonylion

    Loonylion Administrator Staff Member

    Gateways tend not to be terribly well built, in my experience (having to fix them), but im not impressed with my acer laptop. Ati graphics cards have major driver issues, and neither card is suitable for up to date games. lightscribe (labelflash is similar) is nice if you're going to use it, but the media costs more. mini-towers take up less desk space, but are a nightmare to work inside (i.e upgrading) because they are so cramped. Whichever you get, reformat and install XP

    Your call.
     
    Loonylion, Jul 9, 2008
    #2
  3. manny2260

    manny2260 Well-Known Member

    Yea i planned to I despise Vista! Any other computers you would recommend? I really dont have much money to spend on a computer, I would appreciate it if you could give me a recommendation on a computer that would fit my needs and isnt all that expensive
     
    manny2260, Jul 9, 2008
    #3
  4. Loonylion

    Loonylion Administrator Staff Member

    Medions can be good, but are a bit of a lottery. Try to find a small computer shop local to you that can build you a good machine, if you can't build one yourself. Alternatively, I would probably suggest a HP pavillion or an emachines.
     
    Loonylion, Jul 9, 2008
    #4
  5. manny2260

    manny2260 Well-Known Member

    Any specific model you could recommend that as i said gets the job done and is of moderate price?
     
    manny2260, Jul 9, 2008
    #5
  6. Seph

    Seph Administrator Staff Member

    Thing you need to realize with laptops is that moderate price doesn't give you great quality. Laptops are loads more expensive for the same performance level compared to a desktop computer.

    If you want something you can game on then you have to be prepared to fork over the cash for it.
     
    Seph, Jul 9, 2008
    #6
  7. Loonylion

    Loonylion Administrator Staff Member

    I'm not really up to speed on prebuilt computers, I've never bought one in my life. (I only use self-built ones). I can comment on any you find though.
     
    Loonylion, Jul 9, 2008
    #7
  8. manny2260

    manny2260 Well-Known Member

    Ok thanks alot loony. Telling by what Seph said i've decided to spend up to six thousand USDs Im sure thats enough for something good. I've been looking at the AlienWare Area-51® ALX Overclocked Hotrod high Performance Gaming edtion. My father has a contact which can get me the AlienWare Area-51® ALX Overclocked Hotrod for about four thousand. I am aiming for optimal gaming and dont plan on buying much in the next few months if I decide to get it. I didnt plan on spending so much but my parents have decided to help me out financially

    http://www.alienware.com/products/area-51-alx-desktop.aspx?SysCode=PC-AREA51-ALX-R8&SubCode=SKU-DEFAULT
    That is the link to it what do you think Loony?
     
    manny2260, Jul 9, 2008
    #8
  9. Born2killx

    Born2killx Well-Known Member

    Looks cool, but I remember Loony telling me that RAID 0 shouldn't be used. Also, 2 GB of ram for a $4600 system sounds a bit low to me. But my thoughts cannot be taken as strongly as those of the tech god Loonylion.

    P.S. Liquid cooling, sweet.
     
    Born2killx, Jul 9, 2008
    #9
  10. Loonylion

    Loonylion Administrator Staff Member

    main flaw with alienware is they overheat, that applies to both their laptops and their desktops, although it is more of a problem for the former. Overclocking excerbates this problem, as well as shortening the life of the chip. The Sound Blaster X-fi is a load of crap, put it in a high performance system and it crackles like hell, I had to get rid of mine for that reason; it is known problem that Creative point blank refuse to fix. If you get this system, get a nvidia graphics card, don't bother with raid 0, and don't bother with the aegia physx either. I'd also advise selling the x-fi and buying an Asus Xonar if alienware won't fit one instead.
     
    Loonylion, Jul 9, 2008
    #10
  11. insanecrazy07

    insanecrazy07 Well-Known Member

    $6000 is a LOT of money to spend on a computer.

    moderately priced. lol
     
    insanecrazy07, Jul 9, 2008
    #11
  12. Born2killx

    Born2killx Well-Known Member

    My Sound Blaster X-Fi just stopped outputting sound a month ago. My computer detects the sound card, I think, but I'm not sure if the Sound Blaster Control Panel Thing detects it. I had to switch to onboard sound. :(
     
    Born2killx, Jul 9, 2008
    #12
  13. manny2260

    manny2260 Well-Known Member

    Yea lol I was originally going to pay for all of it myself but my parents offered financial assistance.

    How long had you been using the card prior to it failing? Did it have the crackling error that Loony had told us about?

    If i were to make all the mentioned adjustments that you stated Loony would it be worth its price tag? oh and the 2GB ram problem would you think i need more than 2GB?
     
    manny2260, Jul 9, 2008
    #13
  14. Born2killx

    Born2killx Well-Known Member

    About two months. I tried reinstalling the driver, then reinserting the card; all to no avail.
     
    Born2killx, Jul 9, 2008
    #14
  15. manny2260

    manny2260 Well-Known Member

    Wow as Loony said it is crap 2 months and it crapped out on you....................
     
    manny2260, Jul 9, 2008
    #15
  16. Almo

    Almo Well-Known Member

    6G, we dont even have PCs in NZ that sellf for 6G :p, Ive been looking for a desktop too, though since Ill be using it primarilly for graphics I think ill just get a iMac, also saves me the trouble of dealing with vista :p.
     
    Almo, Jul 9, 2008
    #16
  17. anandjones

    anandjones Well-Known Member

    If you go to DSE, there's plenty of "onsale" computers that have XP preloaded, they're trying to get rid of them. 2GB of RAM is plenty enough, if you're a hardcore gamer, 4GB is okay.
     
    anandjones, Jul 9, 2008
    #17
  18. Almo

    Almo Well-Known Member

    lol nah 360 for games, PC for porn and anything illegal.
     
    Almo, Jul 9, 2008
    #18
  19. manny2260

    manny2260 Well-Known Member

    lol great uses..................similar to mine! :p Im still trying to decide if I should get that computer..............
     
    manny2260, Jul 9, 2008
    #19
  20. Reemr

    Reemr Well-Known Member

    If you get an Alienware laptop will require a cooling pad. I had my video card overheat like a month after getting it, and you don't want to be on support with them for 3 hours. Good ol' Moses.
     
    Reemr, Jul 9, 2008
    #20
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