Is this a good computer?

B

bLackout {RD}

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Specs
* ake a product tour


* Intel® Core™2 Quad processor Q9300 with 4 processing cores, 1333MHz frontside bus, 6MB L2 cache and 2.5GHz processor speed per core
* 4GB PC2-5300 DDR2 memory for multitasking power, expandable to 8GB
* Multiformat DVD±RW/CD-RW drive with double-layer support records up to 8.5GB of data or 4 hours of video using compatible DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL media; supports DVD-RAM; also supports Labelflash direct-disc labels using compatible Labelflash media

* The Intel® Core™2 Quad processor delivers 4 complete execution cores in 1 processor for better multitasking and multithreaded performance; Intel® Smart Memory Access optimizes data bandwidth to accelerate and improve instruction throughput
* Intel® Advanced Digital Media Boost accelerates the execution of Streaming SIMD Extension (SSE) instructions to significantly improve the Media Boost performance on a broad range of applications, including video, audio, image and photo processing
* 640GB Serial ATA II hard drive capacity (320GB x 2; 7200 rpm); Gateway Portable Media Drive Bay for adding an additional, removable hard drive (Portable Media Drive not included)
* NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT graphics with 512MB onboard memory; DirectX 10 support; S-video out and 2 DVI connections; high-definition audio (8-speaker support)
* 15-in-1 media reader with Smart Copy button supports CompactFlash I/II, Secure Digital, MultiMediaCard, MultiMediaCard Plus, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo, xD-Picture Card, SmartMedia and Microdrive
* Also supports miniSD, Reduced-Size MultiMediaCard (RS-MMC) and MultiMediaCard Mobile with optional adapters (not included)
* 2 IEEE 1394 (FireWire) interfaces and 8 high-speed USB 2.0 ports, both front and rear accessible, for fast digital data transfer and easy peripheral connectivity
* Built-in 10/100 Mbps Ethernet LAN with RJ-45 connector; high-speed V.92 modem
* Elite multimedia keyboard, USB optical wheel mouse and amplified USB stereo speakers
* Jet-black case finish with copper metallic accents
* Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition operating system with Service Pack 1 (SP1) preinstalled; software package included with Microsoft Money Essentials, CyberLink Power2Go, Gateway BigFix and more.


- http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...=product&tab=1&id=1204331806567#productdetail

Thanks in Advance!
 
Decent computer, but costs too much for what it is. Without running the numbers, you could build that machine for about $600-$700 comfortably

The PC2-5300 RAM is a little slow, 6400 can be had cheap now.

The 8800GT is a good midrange card, but it's getting a little tired now that the 9800's have come out. Discounted 8800GTS G92's would be a similar price with much better performance.
 
For about $200 more, I'd suggest [link=http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3443622&CatId=1887]this[/link].

I've personally been looking at [link=http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3685639&CatId=3423]this[/link], but once I get it, I plan on selling the 86GT for a 98GTX.
 
[quote1210910735=Dryft]
Decent computer, but costs too much for what it is. Without running the numbers, you could build that machine for about $600-$700 comfortably

The PC2-5300 RAM is a little slow, 6400 can be had cheap now.

The 8800GT is a good midrange card, but it's getting a little tired now that the 9800's have come out. Discounted 8800GTS G92's would be a similar price with much better performance.


[/quote1210910735]

Well, the problem is. I don't know how to build my own.


And Booster, yeah. The 1st one looks decent, good specs.
 
Just in case you wanted to learn how to build your own, this link was in the tech help sticky, figured I'd share it with ya.

[link=hyperlink url]http://computer.howstuffworks.com/build-a-computer.htm[/link]
 
You could probably get the same thing from CyberPower PC for a little less if you just play with the configurator for a few minutes. If you need help configuring any of it just ask someone tech savvy that's in vent at the moment. I'd usually be more than happy to help but I have a lot on my plate for the next couple of weeks.

Best wishes.
 
i suggest doing a little research and building your own. you can pretty much do it from a couple of how-to's and reviews on newegg. you pay less, and it is much more fun and rewarding to hand pick each piece of the system. plus, it is super easy to tailor the machine to what you want and need it to do.

Edit: The Cyberpower PC you linked can be built on newegg for about $785 right now, sans keyboard, mouse and OS including shipping and a $30 mail in rebate on the video card.
 
[quote1210971484=Ryken]
i suggest doing a little research and building your own. you can pretty much do it from a couple of how-to's and reviews on newegg. you pay less, and it is much more fun and rewarding to hand pick each piece of the system. plus, it is super easy to tailor the machine to what you want and need it to do.[/quote1210971484]
You might also take into consideration that he might not want to put up with the hassle of building everything himself and just buy something that is a 100% qualified gaming computer, like the ones from CyberpowerPC (and NOT those atrocious 4 letter word computers). Everyone knows you can just to go newegg or tigerdirect and get stuff cheaper. But then again, it is like building a fence. You can either spend your entire weekend building the fence with the stuff you bought yourself and put in all the manual labor and work out all the problems that arise and deal with the frustrations you encounter yourself, or you can pay a crew to do it for a few extra hundred dollars. Some people are willing to pay that money just so they won't have to worry about anything and can just hit the power button and start playing.
 
Yea id say configure on on cyberpower. I actually bought one last year and it has ran great! i dont use it now for gaming but my parents use it all the time without problems. I configered a pc for like 1130 on there and it had a watercooled q9300 cuz i bet that pc comes with a stock heatsink on that processor.
 
The specs are good, but that is before Gateway installs 950 different bloat-ware apps on it, as well as that virus that they call Vista.... You'd have to spend about 5-6 hours removing that and changing the OS settings to get it running well.
 
Good specs... not so good of a price...

And don't listen to all the whining about Vista... most of it comes from non-users, still on their XP 'corporate' copies..

The gf's laptop has been running Vista since day one, with no problems (besides a network file transfers being too slow) -- and it's not for lack of trying to find some. The biggest problem with performance is when people disable the indexing service thinking it's a good idea -- just leave it on, and disable indexing for all directories except for the User folders (right in the file/folder properties), and you won't experience the annoying menu lag. Vista is faster (yes -- faster), more stable (due to a higher standard for apps and drivers), and is certainly easier to use (once you get past the 'bubbly' interface). One use of the explorer address bar alone, and you'll be hooked.
 
If it were me, I would build my own (and I did this my first one). I spent a good deal of time researching how to and what to get for the money. The kicker with any new system is not hardware costs, but operating system (for games you need windows) and what you can get it for. I got mine through school for cheap and my hardware compared to the latest alienware, yatta, yatta, etc for 1/4 the cost.

Thats the way to go and the knowledge you get (and versatility in switching out components when you need to upgrade) is invaluable. It's just, do you have the time and patience. I can tell you now from my perspective it's all easy and I build systems for people I know. Send me a PM if you want help in this.
 
Wow, some great help here. I'm in the market for a new computer... budget at $1000.

I DO know how to build the thing myself, my problem is... I am clueless as to which stuff is good right now.
Next few days I'll prob look for some help.

Heres a quick question... if I build something, would you suggest using my old copy of XP or getting a copy of Vista?
 
If you already have a copy of XP, and don't plan on using it on another computer right now, go for it. A lot of games play faster with XP (Crysis, etc.). Where you will run into the "I need Vista" problem, is when you want to start going up to 4GB+ of RAM. 32 Bit Windows XP or Vista will not support this amount of RAM (not all of it will be recognized). I would wait a month to see what the next cycle of graphics cards hold for you, and take a look at the new quads q9550's. I just built my rig a few months ago:
Mobo: MSI P7n Platinum
CPU: q6600 g0 stepping w/ Noctua heat sink
GPU: 8800GT
RAM: 2x2GB gSkillz
 
new macs cost more than that. I'm not promoting anything here, at least I don't intend to, but the new iMacs can run all of the games you want w/ bootcamp. I don't use it, but I may have to if I don't wanna revert to vista. not sure yet.
 
I wouldn't mind helping you select parts off newegg if you told me what you were looking to do (Mainly how much storage you need, what kind of applications you would run, what kind of gaming performance you're looking for and any peripherals you need like keyboard, speakers, mice, monitor, etc... )
 
nossr50, not sure if you were offering that for me.... if so i might take you up on that.

Only using it for games... I'd like good performance. Don't need much storage.
 
the specs are nice but jou could build one at Tigerdirect.com with sli 9600's for the same price.
 
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