[clug-talk] Need help in choosing a computer

[Shawn]

Gustin is a "power" user and puts a little more budget to the higher end 
components.  The i7 runs at $329 and jumps to $500+ for the next model 
up, for the CPU alone.  I opted to go a little cheaper with a Core 2 
Quad.  In all I paid about $520 for a cheap case (with power supply), 
motherboard, cpu, and 4 GB ram.  I had the monitor, hard drive. and 
optical drive ready to go from a previous system.  My focus was on a 
decent CPU and motherboard combo.  The rest I can modify if/when needed. 
  You can get cheaper still.

So, for what Gustin paid for his CPU, I got a computer.. :)

The irony is that I was replacing an AMD x2-6000 box with 8GB RAM (which 
became my server).  ANY box I put together with relatively recent parts 
was still faster than the X2-6000. (approx 2 years old...)

My thoughts.

Shawn

Gustin Johnson wrote:
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> Shawn wrote:
>> Based on what you have given us thus far, I think just about any
>> new/modern hardware will do what you need.  With that in mind, find one
>> that matches your budget.
> 
> I was not sure what to recommend given that there was no mention of
> budget.  IMO you can't go wrong with a Core i7, 6 GiB or more of RAM, a
> good SSD drive, and an ATI 58xx.  Of course the price tag for all that
> may be too high.
>> Font size is independent of the LCD monitor - that would be a software
>> setting.  Modern LCDs tend to be just fine in terms of readability -
>> I've never heard a complaint from a non-techie, and even then only from
>> those who knew specifically what to look for or had another LCD to do
>> comparisons against (contrast ratios, brightness, etc.).
>>
> There is a maze of acronyms here, and most of the measurements are no
> longer "real".  There is a resolution jump at 24", and this is where I
> would start.  The resolution you are looking for is 1920x1200 or
> 1920x1080.  The 22" monitors are typically 1680x1050.  From there it is
> a matter of personal taste (unless you are a video or graphics
> professional).  I like matte finished monitors but a lot of people seem
> to like the glossy monitors.  I find the glossy ones uncomfortable to
> look at for long periods of time due to the glare, but in the end get
> the one you enjoy using.
> 
>> Having *just* replaced my desktop computer, I know it can be done for
>> around $500, for just the tower.  Add another $200ish for a
>> monitor/keyboard/mouse.  If you spend more than $700 (ish) you'll either
>> be looking for something specific (more RAM/CPU/Storage, a better case,
>> etc) or you are being "over sold".  But that's an opinion, not a fact.
>>
> I would not say this.  My main machine died a couple of weeks ago, and
> replacing the CPU, Motherboard, GPU, and RAM cost ~$1000 and there was a
> lot of room to bump up the parts.  This also did not include case, power
> supply or hard drive.
> 
> You can get a system for around $500 and it will meet all of your needs
> except the video transcoding one (or video editing for that matter).
> You will probably end up replacing that $500 sooner rather than later as
> Shawn said.
> 
>> I do suggest though to try to get the newest generation of CPU your
>> budget will allow.  This will help keep your computer relevant longer.
>> (i.e. buying an Intel Celeron or AMD X2 now means you'll likely be
>> looking for a new computer next year, instead of in the next 3 or 4
>> years....)
> 
> I currently favour Intel CPUs over AMD ones, and ATI GPUs with Intel in
> 2nd place.  If you are going to do any gaming then that removes Intel
> from the mix.  Quad core gives you a little more future proofing, and
> the Core i7 is the king right now.
> 
> Since the hard drive is the slowest component in your machine, I would
> recommend a Western Digital "Black" drive.  They cost slightly more but
> the performance gain is worth it.  Of course if you can afford them the
>  Intel SSDs are king.  Be aware that not all SSDs are created equal.  If
> you are serious about going this route, make sure know what to look for.
>  The best source for this is the following Anandtech article:
> 
> http://anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=3631
> 
> f you have the time and inclination, the first two articles are worth
> the read (they are linked from the link I gave).  You absolutely must at
> a minimum read the link I just gave you if you are looking at an SSD.
> If not you can safely ignore it for now.
> 
> FWIW, my current rig is an Intel i7 (860), 8GiB of RAM, ATI 4870, and a
> WD VelociRaptor 150 GB.  All in you can expect to pay around $1300 to
> $1400 for this without an OS.  I payed less because I already had the
> case, power supply and hard drive.
> 
> Hth,
> 
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