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Getting a new PC, need help!
Hello, all! Thanks for taking the time out to help me out! I am looking to get back into PC gaming after a long break and my computer is past its prime. On NewEgg there seem to be quite a few decent machines for good prices and I would like some suggestions on which of the two machines that I selected I should get. If you know of a better deal or machine for around the same price, let me know that as well!
Cheers!
Option A
$639.99 from NewEgg.com:
General Spec |
|
Brand |
HP |
Series |
Pavilion Elite |
Model |
HPE-112Y(VT637AAR#ABA) |
Type |
Home / Home Office |
Processor |
AMD Phenom II X4 925(2.8GHz) |
Processor Main Features |
64 bit Quad-Core Processor |
Cache Per Processor |
4 x 512KB L2 Cache |
Memory |
8GB DDR3 |
Hard Drive |
1TB SATA |
Optical Drive 1 |
SuperMulti DVD Burner with LightScribe Technology |
Graphics |
ATI Radeon HD 4350 graphics card with 512MB dedicated graphics memory |
Audio |
Sound card - Integrated |
Ethernet |
10/100/1000Base-T network interface |
Wireless Card |
Wireless LAN 802.11a/b/g/n |
Keyboard |
HP USB keyboard |
Mouse |
HP USB optical mouse |
Operating System |
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit |
Motherboard |
|
Chipset |
AMD 785G |
CPU |
|
CPU Type |
Phenom II X4 |
Installed Qty |
1 |
CPU Speed |
925(2.8GHz) |
L2 Cache Per CPU |
4 x 512KB |
L3 Cache Per CPU |
6MB |
CPU Socket Type |
AM3 |
CPU Main Features |
64 bit Quad-Core Processor |
Graphics |
|
GPU/VPU Type |
ATI Radeon HD 4350 |
Graphics Interface |
PCI Express 2.0 x16 |
Memory |
|
Memory Capacity |
8GB DDR3 |
Form Factor |
DIMM 240-pin |
Memory Spec |
2GB x 4 |
Memory Slot (Total) |
4 |
Memory Slot (Available) |
0 |
Maximum Memory Supported |
16GB |
Hard Drive |
|
HDD Capacity |
1TB |
HDD Interface |
SATA |
HDD RPM |
5400rpm |
Optical Drive |
|
Optical Drive Type |
DVD Super Multi |
Optical Drive Spec |
SuperMulti DVD Burner with LightScribe Technology drive |
Audio |
|
Audio Chipset |
Integrated |
Communications |
|
LAN Chipset |
Integrated |
LAN Speed |
10/100/1000Mbps |
WLAN |
802.11a/b/g/n Wireless LAN |
Front Panel Ports |
|
Front Audio Ports |
2 |
Card Reader |
Front panel 15-in-1 memory card reader: supports SmartMedia, xD, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital (SD), Mini Secure Digital, Compact Flash I, Compact Flash II, IBM Microdrive, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro Duo, RSMMC, MMC Mobile, MMC+ |
Back Panel Ports |
|
Video Ports |
1 VGA, 1 DVI, 1 HDMI |
Rear IEEE 1394 |
1 |
RJ45 |
1 port |
Rear Audio Ports |
6 ports |
S/P DIF |
1 port |
Expansion |
|
PCI Slots (Available/Total) |
(2/3) PCI Express x1 (0/1) PCI Express x16 |
Mouse |
|
Mouse Type |
USB Mouse |
Keyboard |
|
Keyboard Type |
USB Keyboard |
Manufacturer Warranty |
|
Parts |
90 days limited |
Labor |
90 days limited |
Option B
$599 from NewEgg.com:
General Spec |
|
Brand |
iBUYPOWER |
Model |
Gamer Power 538D3 |
Type |
Gaming |
Processor |
AMD Athlon II X2 240(2.8GHz) |
Processor Main Features |
64 bit Dual Core Processor |
Cache Per Processor |
2MB L2 Cache |
Memory |
4GB DDR3 1333 |
Hard Drive |
500GB SATA II |
Optical Drive 1 |
24X DL DVD+/-RW Drive |
Graphics |
NVIDIA GeForce GT240 1GB |
Audio |
Sound card - Integrated |
Ethernet |
10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet |
Power Supply |
700W |
Keyboard |
iBUYPOWER USB Deluxe Keyboard |
Mouse |
iBUYPOWER USB Mouse |
Operating System |
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit |
Special Features |
NZXT Gamma Gaming Tower |
Motherboard |
|
Chipset |
AMD 770 |
CPU |
|
CPU Type |
Athlon II X2 |
Installed Qty |
1 |
CPU Speed |
240(2.8GHz) |
L2 Cache Per CPU |
2MB |
CPU Socket Type |
AM3 |
CPU Main Features |
64 bit Dual Core Processor |
Graphics |
|
GPU/VPU Type |
NVIDIA GeForce GT 240 |
Graphics Interface |
PCI Express 2.0 x16 |
Memory |
|
Memory Capacity |
4GB DDR3 |
Memory Speed |
DDR3 1333 |
Form Factor |
DIMM 240-pin |
Memory Spec |
2GB x 2 |
Memory Slot (Total) |
4 |
Memory Slot (Available) |
2 |
Maximum Memory Supported |
16GB |
Hard Drive |
|
HDD Capacity |
500GB |
HDD Interface |
SATA II |
Optical Drive |
|
Optical Drive Type |
DVD±RW |
Optical Drive Spec |
24X DL DVD+/-RW Drive |
Audio |
|
Audio Chipset |
Integrated |
Audio Channels |
8 channels |
Communications |
|
LAN Chipset |
Integrated |
LAN Speed |
10/100/1000Mbps |
Front Panel Ports |
|
Front USB |
2 |
Front eSATA |
1 x eSATA (based on motherboard availability) |
Front Audio Ports |
2 |
Back Panel Ports |
|
Rear USB |
6 |
Rear Audio Ports |
6 ports |
S/P DIF |
1 x Optical |
Expansion |
|
External Bays |
4 x external 5.25" drive bays |
Internal Bays |
6 x internal 3.5" drive bays |
PCI Slots (Available/Total) |
1 x PCI-Express x16 2 x PCI-Express x1 3 x PCI |
Mouse |
|
Mouse Type |
USB Mouse |
Keyboard |
|
Keyboard Type |
USB Keyboard |
Physical Spec |
|
Dimensions |
20.78" x 7.48" x 17.64" |
Weight |
24.00 lbs. |
Manufacturer Warranty |
|
Parts |
1 year limited |
Labor |
1 year limited |
Comments
If you would be willing to spend just a little more, you could get this machine which hits the sweet spot for moderately priced PC's. Both you have listed have poor graphics cards and will struggle at higher resolution on current games.
I wouldn't mind saving a little more. I'm only 17 so I don't want to go too much over the $500 mark. Are either of these machines great except for the video card, in which case I could buy and install a different one? or would the machine ultimately be better and cheaper if I just got the $700 one you mentioned?
Well for a really budget PC you could go more this way. The 9800GT is probably the most power you will get at low end, looking at the cards on offer. It does only have a 2.6Ghz quad core, but that should handle most games ok. 4GB memory is just right for a PC right now.
What resolution do you play at? As this affects the graphics card needed, at lower resolutions Processor becomes more important.
The only way you will get a decent machine for that kind of money is to build it yourself. If you have any friends that could help, or want to spend some time watching videos, there are plenty on Youtube and similar sites. To play at 1920x1200 resolution you really need at leats an ATI HD5770 or equivalent, and you will not be able to buy a pre-built machine with one cheap enough.
Out of those machine for a similar price to the ones you listed, I guess the 5670 machine is arguably the best.
From your options i seriously suggest the Option A to Option B since it's soo much better however you anticipate you having to get a better graphics card with either 1 of the options afterwards which could be another $130+ so instead i think you should buy the one suggested by viddster as the graphics card will significantly impact your gaming experience
Thanks for all the help everyone! I think I'll go with the 5670.