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New rig for my GF, what you guys think.
warmen_faith
Member Posts: 90
in Hardware
Well my GF wants a new PC. Shes sick of her laptop and and the integrated chipset. What are your guys thoughts on this pc. shes looking to spend around 350-450. We don't need a PC with a video card right now, as I will be putting my old 8800gt in it for now and prob my older power supply from my last build. She will be playing games like Aion, Allods and prob FF14 when it is released.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883109040
Comments
You can get a better laptop for the same price. Look I just did it right now. The nVidia 6150SE isn't a good chipset by todays standards. If you want to play FFXIV that means you need a midrange system of today, not an entry level system of 2004. Out of the ones on newegg, here are the ones I would look at. I also am aware you are planning to put your 8800GT in.
Here is what I would look at:
Shes looking for a desktop, and i will be putting my old 8800gt in the rig she buys. which is why we our picking a PC without a dedicated video card.
Not to sound rude Cleffy, but did you even read my post?
I think, that your girlfriend is a noob and you smell; stanky alien-san.
Just my opinion, but go with a Dell. You can get a better PC for the same price and probably alot better support incase something goes wrong. I'm not a big fan of any "pre-made" PC, but in my experience as a warranty repair guy and in buying one similar to what you, for your girlfriend, for my daughter, Dell is better.
They have deals all the time, so if you can wait, you might be able to get something even better than what she can afford for the same price. Good luck...
*Edit: Geez, sorry, didn't see the open box deal. Seems like a decent deal.
I was looking at that DIY kit as well, but the only thing is with the PC i linked it already comes with Windows 7, and 3GB ddr3 ram opposed to 2gb ddr2. The other thing is I wont have the time to put together a PC right now with school and work. I will keep that in mind tho. Thanks for the input.
Dells are complete shit as far as I'm concerned. The insperon that I bought a couple years ago was broke within 6 months (graphics card problems...which had drivers only available from dell). They told me it wasnt under warranty cause it was a software problem (?? i know right).
You won't be doing her any favors with a GeForce 6150 SE chipset. I didn't say it because it was your main video chipset, but whats implied when choosing a computer with it as a chipset. It means you are limited to a 1 Ghz Hyper Transport and an AM2 socket. You can probably afford a student copy of Windows 7.
Dells are complete shit as far as I'm concerned. The insperon that I bought a couple years ago was broke within 6 months (graphics card problems...which had drivers only available from dell). They told me it wasnt under warranty cause it was a software problem (?? i know right).
I agree, but when you're looking for something cheap and fast, Dell is usually better than going to Walmart and buying an even worse machine. None of them are built particularly well and unless you pay extra for warranties, you're going to run into that same problem time and again.
Personally, just build a PC yourself. It's cheaper, all the parts do come with warranties, and if the parts are broken NewEgg (my preference) has an excellent return policy. I had a bad heat sink for an Intel cpu and it literally fried the whole computer about 5 months after building it. I had to return the cpu to Intel, but I sent evertyhing else back to NewEgg and they sent me back all brand new parts. Definately couldn't complain about that.
Hmm I thought that motherboard was a AM3 socket because the AMD Athlon II X2 240 is a AM3 CPU am I right?
But yes that open box deal does seem like a good choice, Thanks for the advice.
The mobo is an AM3 mobo but it's not the CPU that give it away it's the DDR3 ram. There are a few nvidia 6150 chipsets on Newegg that are AM3 so apparently they updated some of the boards.
The AM3 CPU's will work in an AM2+ mobo so the CPU isn't a giveaway. DDR3 only works in AM3 mobos though.
So even though the chipset is a little weak it at least is AM3 + DDR3 ram which gives you better upgrade options down the line. I think it's a really good set up for the price, and the always limited choices you get when choosing a prebuilt.
Dells are complete shit as far as I'm concerned. The insperon that I bought a couple years ago was broke within 6 months (graphics card problems...which had drivers only available from dell). They told me it wasnt under warranty cause it was a software problem (?? i know right).
I agree, but when you're looking for something cheap and fast, Dell is usually better than going to Walmart and buying an even worse machine. None of them are built particularly well and unless you pay extra for warranties, you're going to run into that same problem time and again.
Personally, just build a PC yourself. It's cheaper, all the parts do come with warranties, and if the parts are broken NewEgg (my preference) has an excellent return policy. I had a bad heat sink for an Intel cpu and it literally fried the whole computer about 5 months after building it. I had to return the cpu to Intel, but I sent evertyhing else back to NewEgg and they sent me back all brand new parts. Definately couldn't complain about that.
Couldn't agree more with the build the pc yourself advice.
I did that after my terrible experience with dell and love my current set up. 2 years and running strong.
Even if you have no knowledge or no desire to build your own system, you could pick out the parts, have someone knowledgeable look over them, then buy them. After they get delivered you could go to a computer support store (dont dont dont use bestbuy...I'm sure they over charge like no one's business) and they can put it together for you. I know a local store here charges 85/hour (it only takes an hour to build it) and then another 85 to install the operating system (which is a complete rip off...even with basic computer knowledge I'd think you could install the operating system yourself...), but the point I'm getting at is that 85 dollars (to have someone else build it for you) would still result in a cheaper machine with higher quality parts then the Malaysian made piece of shit hardware that Dell uses.
Also, I fully agree with the endoresment of Newegg. They will forever get my business because of their amazing return policy and fantastic (bar none in my experience) costumer service.
Dells are complete shit as far as I'm concerned. The insperon that I bought a couple years ago was broke within 6 months (graphics card problems...which had drivers only available from dell). They told me it wasnt under warranty cause it was a software problem (?? i know right).
I agree, but when you're looking for something cheap and fast, Dell is usually better than going to Walmart and buying an even worse machine. None of them are built particularly well and unless you pay extra for warranties, you're going to run into that same problem time and again.
Personally, just build a PC yourself. It's cheaper, all the parts do come with warranties, and if the parts are broken NewEgg (my preference) has an excellent return policy. I had a bad heat sink for an Intel cpu and it literally fried the whole computer about 5 months after building it. I had to return the cpu to Intel, but I sent evertyhing else back to NewEgg and they sent me back all brand new parts. Definately couldn't complain about that.
Couldn't agree more with the build the pc yourself advice.
I did that after my terrible experience with dell and love my current set up. 2 years and running strong.
Even if you have no knowledge or no desire to build your own system, you could pick out the parts, have someone knowledgeable look over them, then buy them. After they get delivered you could go to a computer support store (dont dont dont use bestbuy...I'm sure they over charge like no one's business) and they can put it together for you. I know a local store here charges 85/hour (it only takes an hour to build it) and then another 85 to install the operating system (which is a complete rip off...even with basic computer knowledge I'd think you could install the operating system yourself...), but the point I'm getting at is that 85 dollars (to have someone else build it for you) would still result in a cheaper machine with higher quality parts then the Malaysian made piece of shit hardware that Dell uses.
Also, I fully agree with the endoresment of Newegg. They will forever get my business because of their amazing return policy and fantastic (bar none in my experience) costumer service.
I usually do build my own PCs but my life is kinda hectic right now(In the middle of moving,work and school) or else i would build her one. She is also kinda impatient, she really wants to play Aion lol.