Noob guide for buying comps???

godofdeath · Yari Ashigaru Joined: Jul 23, 2005 Posts: 305

Anyone got a noob guide to buying computers?? I need to get a new computer and I have no idea how to do it. I pratically don't know squat about computers. All I know is hard drive is for store stuff. I don't even know what is the difference betweeen 16x CD/DVD Burner(DVD-RW) and 16x CD/DVD Burner(DVD+RW). What does the 16x even mean I see all different numbers like 24x and 8x. Need help I'm useless to tech.

Jsy3k · Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 3:25 am Post subject:

Well, there are really nothing that we can do unless you know certain Tech things, but let me help you bit by bit and the rest, you have to do your research.

Before answering your question, I need you to answer my questions:

1. What do you use your computer for? Any gaming extremes or just for plain watching anime or something else?

2. Please state your budget since that will help us to see which kind of computer you are expecting.
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Raiden · Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 7:48 pm Post subject:

Hmm...that's an interesting questions you have there jsyek.

how 'bout both of the first category= for extreme gaming and watching animes. (maybe about $1000-$1200?)

this may also help godofdeath decide...
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godofdeath · Yari Ashigaru Joined: Jul 23, 2005 Posts: 305

well for some gaming not a no life lol just to play games like wc3, d2, and some others
need it for watching anime alot so prob need a big hard drive
iono maybe my old man will gimme 700

thugangel · Ronin Samurai Joined: Aug 27, 2005 Posts: 713

1x means the speed of recording the CD or DVD is the same as reading it. For example, burning 1x of an 80 minutes CD will take 80 minutes to burn. 2x will half the recording time and so on. If you see something like 12x8x24x, the first one is for burning a recordable CD (CD-R, recordable only once). Second is the speed for burning re-writeable CDs (CD-RW, which can be recorded as many as maybe 10,000 burns if I remember right. Who would care about that statistic anyway Razz

). Third is the speed your drive can read the media.

Note: 16x is the maximum theoretical speed the DVD-burners can burn at).
You may have seen DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD+/-RW, DVD-RAM, etc. I won't get into details about it. The only thing as a consumer should know is that the minus sign (-) indicates that the media is in original format and can be read by almost all readers. They are also cheaper. Even though (+) are more pricey, (+) have more of the tech edge and are recognized by the modern DVD readers. I'm pretty sure you're wondering what those tech edges are so I'm going to mention a few. (+) are more stable and the writing/reading quality is better because they can put more information on the DVD aaaand better at file storage. Those informations can also be used, say, when you're recording a DVD+R(W) or reading it, and you eject it, and you pop it back in again, you can continue from where you've left off. With (+), the burner can detect the defects of the media in the background and easier to be avoided or move the data to some other location. (-) can do this, but it requires a lot of help from the software. I would stick to +R(W)s since the price nowdays are about the same as -R(W)s, unless a reader can't read it and you have to use -Rs (like the old PS2 sytems). Most of the DVD+RW burners should be able to burn -R(W) medias.

Also, if you're concerned about the Rs and RWs, just get the one with RW. If you can rewrite for a lot of times, surely you can write at least once (-/+R).

Jsy3k · Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 8:39 pm Post subject:

thugangel · Ronin Samurai Joined: Aug 27, 2005 Posts: 713

Since it's going to be a $700 rig or less and you don't know much about computers, you're most likely buying one that's already pre-built. I suggest to get AMD since Intel tends to be more hot and problematic. You'll be in safe hand if you get Athlon64 processor.

Bigger monitor is nice. 17" is okay but try to get 19".

Bigger the RAM, the better. 512MB is okay for everyday tasks. Try to get 1GB or more if you could. Those games you mention will run nice with 512MB but most of the games now days will require at least 1GB.

What I notice the most when I fix computers for people is that their pre-built computers like HP, Dell, Compaq, Gateway, and etc. have pretty fast processors and decent RAM and Hard Drive size/space but the Hard Drive's speed is really really slow. Ask for the clerk if they put 7200rpm Hard Disk Drives instead of the 5400rpm ones. If not, upgrade to 7200rpm and ask them to install it, though that will cost you a price.

The cheapest yet great graphics card I would recommend is 6600GT. Though, most of the pre-built systems are equipped with ATI with different models. Anyway, try out the systems they have on display and see if you like the performance.

idjota · Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 12:33 am Post subject:

look through pc magazines, they usually have ads for decent computers, that are prebuitls, some might be barebones but for $700 is probably the best way for you to go, and like the guy above me said, get an amd and if you can get something like amd64 3000+ or 3200+ with a 939 socket, its a decent processor that you won't have to update for a long time

and oh yeah, don't get a dell, compaq, or e-machines they all suck (i haven't tried the dell xps yet but others were quite bad)

also you might want to consider geting a laptop, it might be better for you depending on your needs.
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Jsy3k · Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 12:35 am Post subject:

But, idjota, laptop with a cost of US$700 are pretty rare. Unless you get second hand, then that is possible to get one with that price Wink

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godofdeath · Yari Ashigaru Joined: Jul 23, 2005 Posts: 305

thx guys you had been great help no need to listen to my cuzin to get a krap few gig cpu. how much do crt monitors cost nowadays??? gonna keep my 17" lcd for me and have my old man give himself a crt lol

doubt i need a good sound card rarely use music does sound cards affect mp3 recording??

Jsy3k · Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 9:58 pm Post subject:

thugangel · Ronin Samurai Joined: Aug 27, 2005 Posts: 713

crt's are cheap now. you could find em in less than a hundred dollars

PlasticChicken · Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:53 pm Post subject: Computer buying

My comp is built on a budget but it runs all top tier games with decent fps. For about 850 Dollars i got a very effiecient comp.
Here are the specs
3400+ AMD 64 - try and get 939 socket but 754 runs perfectly fine
80 gig IDE hard drive - i use ide since sata seems unstable to me
nforce4 msi platinume Motherboard - its only $100 and has many features
NEC dvd burner double layer 16x - very very cheap maybe $45
Thermaltake venus CPU fan - i think the stock ones are noisy
512 x 2 = 1gig crucial memory ddr 400 - i got these for only $80
Chaintech Geforce 6600 256mb - $120 budget video card
forget the sound card and the floppy unless u need them (the motherboard has a decent internal sound chip thingy)
just buy all the parts and put them in a case of your choice.
i get all my parts at www.newegg.com

Long_91 · Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2005 4:25 pm Post subject:

Me i bought a homebuild Computor it is for gaming and whatever you want
i got mine for 500$ 5000 swedish kronor
1.6 ghz
512mb ram
132 gig memory to save files
Ati Radeon 9600 pro 200mb something
Really strong good at the most thing
it is a good computer don't need much better.

isamu2 · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 4:05 am Post subject:

hey how would you rate i believe a 32bit amd athlon(tm) 3000+
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