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Hi GB .. talking to a local tech here in Tasmania about you current situation . His advice is spend less & update more often .
Why would you need an I7 CPU ? I7 's r built for high end processing ... an I3 is a dual core with hyper threading which is Intels best gaming CPU .
An I5 is quad core that doesn't have hyper threading ... Google I3 vs I5 vs I7 .. One thing to remember is you only need 1 gig of RAM per core .
Here's an example of an I7 PC here in AUS . I'm sure you can find them on Amazon cheaper .http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/INTEL-Core-i ... 35b10fd9a4
This is just a 5 second look on E - Bay . It needs a graphics card but you can get a Raedon or Nvidea card 1GB DDR 5 for under $150 .
Hope this helps your hunt for a new puter . Do not spend over $1000 .
Give me a yell if you need more assistance .

srry the URL didn't highlight as I am newwwwwwb .

Thank you for the link and advice. The only reason I wanted the i7, I suppose, is because I want to keep the computer for as long as possible before it's completely obsolete...And without worrying too much about upgrades along the way. So getting a high-end processor seemed a good idea. Thanks for directing me to e-Bay, I didn't even consider that as a good place to buy a new computer... (Though I did buy a "laptop" Tandy there once for $25 ). There's a whole bunch of options similar to what you've linked to on eBay Canada at similar prices, so it seems like an option... But the savings actually don't seem that big once you add it all up. In addition to a graphics card, for most of these options I'd also have to buy the operating system separately (though I guess you can find it at a discount), and then there's shipping for everything... It still works out cheaper, of course. I'll have to try adding up the costs and think about whether it's worth it -- still, thank you for the option. Certainly putting in a graphics card sounds a lot easier than assembling the whole thing from scratch.

Also thank you Spinoza, those are good lists of components to look through... No pre-built systems since 1988? :S It's like no-one aside form me (and Mr. C., it seems) buys pre-built computers at all any-more...

Honestly, though, one thing that strikes me is that pre-built systems don't seem... that much more expensive? I mean, there's a difference, yes, but, well, let's compare: On the previous page, germloucks' list, for example, has $1,106.00 for components that include: an i7 2600k, 4 GB DDR3 RAM, a GeForce GTX 560, a 1 TB HD, all the stuff you plug this into, and the other odds and ends. This price does not include taxes and shipping.

Now I'm comparing this with Dell, which is where I'm still thinking I'll probably buy my pre-built system, unless I decide to go with turtle's eBay suggestion. One of the, uh, comparatively "less expensive" options I'm looking at comes in at $1,237.98 before tax (no shipping fees). (Now, normally it costs more like $1,500 -- the price is a discount. Then again, Dell often has various discounts. Either way, $1,237.98 + tax is what I'll be paying for it if I decide to get it!) This includes: an i7 2600 (no K, but I'm not going to be overclocking anything ), 8 GB DDR3 RAM, AMD Radeon HD 6870, a 1 TB HD; other odds and ends (2 USB 3.0 ports, the operating system, and, uh, the latest version of Microsoft Office, because it seems I'm behind one. >_<). Admittedly, the graphics card is a small step down from the GTX 560, judging from this, and I assume it doesn't have a "OCZ Solid 3 SLD3-25SAT3-60G 2.5 60GB SATA III MLC" boot drive... I don't know what that is! It sounds important. Argh. But anyway. Basically, it's a... I think, it's a comparable system (well, presumably a little worse, but... hopefully not downright terrible in comparison?) for what probably works out to be roughly the same price (especially once you consider no shipping fees and the OS is included). Obviously it's not going to be quite as good a deal, but... It doesn't seem like that huge a difference, is what I'm saying, especially if I'm willing to pay a premium to save myself from having to assemble the system...

So... I am guessing that those who build their own systems really do it for the joy of it, yes, at least in part? The savings, while present, seem to be not huge enough to warrant the additional hassle unless it's something you really enjoy...

Of course, I don't really know what I'm talking about in the end. And even if I do get a pre-built, I still do appreciate all the advice I've gotten; I'm actually really surprised -- I didn't expect so many responses from so many people, with obvious effort going into the replies, too. I really appreciate it, and I don't want to seem ungrateful if I don't end up taking the advice in the end -- it did help me figure out what I should be aiming for, I think...

hi GB .. I think a pre built I7 would be a good choice for you . The example I gave was to show that you could maybe save $300 - 400 to spend at a later date .
Although it didn't come with a graphics card I'm certain you'd have the nounce to add one . Such a system will let you play any new game + future options to upgrade . I reckon it would last you a good 4 -5 years at least for your needs . + it will have a 3 year warranty .
Good luck with your hunting .

girlyboy wrote:QUOTE (girlyboy @ Aug 31 2011, 05:18 PM) It's like no-one aside form me (and Mr. C., it seems) buys pre-built computers at all any-more...

In the real world that's completely untrue, in a community of computer geeks, well, we do it mostly for the fun and satisfaction

Re: "OCZ Solid 3 SLD3-25SAT3-60G 2.5 60GB SATA III MLC" boot drive

A Solid State Disk (SSD) is a hard drive that uses flash memory like a usb dongle only bigger. They are faster than traditional mechanical drives but the cost per GB is substantially higher. It's becoming relatively normal, at the high end at least, to have a small SSD with Windows and a few regularly used programs on and a large HDD for data storage. This will improve boot times and times to load applications. It's by no means essential though and the technology is only now reaching maturity IMO. If you're fairly tech savvy you can always add a SSD later in the PCs life to speed it up.

Re: Prebuilt vs eBay

If you're going to buy pre built I'd suggest that you buy from a retailer so that you get a decent warranty. Not that eBay is automatically untrustworthy but... At least with Dell you know exactly what you're getting and who to complain to if it breaks.

I wouldn't worry about the graphics card either, whilst the 560ti is better you're likely to be able to play anything you want for the next year or so with either card without compromising too much.

All good advice. Mostly it is a matter of taste. Except for touch screen. Just cleaning it all the time of prints is so.... unnecessary. And stupid. Keep It Simple Stoopid.

And surely you have a tame computer geek friend who will not fry your mobo if you let him do the building?

Prebuilt is generally a bit meh because you cannot customise to taste, but it is no big deal. No need to wait for the new tech. Flight sims are not as hard on the computer as they used to be and not driving the market any more. I would look at getting a nice power supply, cpu and graphics card, the motherboard you also do not want to cut corners on, but midrange should be fine. You may want to look hard at what apart from Alleg you are going to do gamewise, that should give you an idea what you want to do. Don't forget to figure in windows 7 professional retail, as I found it is good for backward compatibility and sorts out some graphics issues I had with European Air war and Nvidia. But here we are cruising firmly into nerd territory.

Usually I make friends with a computer tech who orders and builds the system for me. Best of both worlds plus warranty. My current system salvaged the tower, peripherals and indeed the graphics card from the previous unit. Price about 1100 dollars your money. (US) Biggest bite was mobo and processor. (I7) Given the competition you probably can do better over where you are, and your chances of getting a "gaming system" ready made are much higher

Trust me that some of the specs you looked at going with are much better than what I have. And I am doing fine given that I do not do individually rendered hair strands seductively blowing in the wind. How is it that real women never measure up to comic book standards? I want supergirl rendered and animated in real time

Noo build 'eee durn thing alreedy, myte

Continued thanks for the continued advice.

^^ Solid-state hard-drives are exciting. I vaguely remember a thread about them on this very forum from ages ago. Hopefully in a few years they won't be prohibitively expensive.

I very nearly went and bought one of the Dell builds I was looking at but then a sort-of computer geek friend pressured me into reconsidering, and returned with advice from a more fully certified computer geek friend-of-a-friend who (I am told) frequently builds computer systems. They are pressuring me into getting cheaper components because they say the stuff I wanted, like the i7 processor, is adding expense without adding performance for what I want, and that I'll get better performance with less expensive components that are carefully picked (by them) to work together optimally.

I am being recommended:

i5 2500k $240
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=57962&am...nufacture=Intel

4GB Ripjaws RAM $29 (might get two of these for 8 GB...)
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=42745&am...mp;promoid=1370

XFX Radeon 6950 $225
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=59117&am...mp;promoid=1370

1TB HDD ("because 2TB ones are either too slow for games or too expensive
right now") $60
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=58746&am...facture=Seagate

MSI mobo $104
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=59095&am...MSI%2FMicroStar

500W PSU $55
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=33040&am...CZ%20Technology

CM HAF 912 Case
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=55583&am...re=COOLERMASTER

DVD burner/drive
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=60680&am...mp;promoid=1370

A total of about $800 before tax, though once I add in tax, shipping, peripherals, and software, plus the extra 4 GB ram, it comes out to close to $1,200.

Also the online store where I would be getting this stuff (http://www.ncix.com) offers to do the job of actually building the system, if I order all the necessary parts together, for $50; or I could get the computer-knowing friend-of-a-friend to do it for probably the same amount (or the less-computer-knowing friend to do it for free, eventually, and he may even not have too many "spare parts" left over.)

I am pretty close to caving in to peer pressure here.

Also I am sleep deprived a lot lately. >_<

That's a perfectly good machine there. The only thing I'd question is whether or not you need the i5 2500k if you don't intend to overclock. You're paying a premium for a feature (unlocked CPU mulitplier) that you don't intend to use.

Apart from that, what sort of warranty do ncix offer if they build the system? If you're going to pay someone you may as well get the best warranty (which I guess your mate won't offer ) unless you want to sit down and do it together so that you can learn and have some of that feeling of "I made this".

Also, what are you doing for OS? Do you have a spare copy of Windows at home or are you intending to buy one? Or I suppose you could go linux but I'd recommend against it based on what you've said so far in this thread.

on second thought *delete*

this is a thread about Girly's computer not my work one. Its rare we stay so on topic

Please continue

Good call on the warranty Raveen. My old flight sims run fine off a bog standard 2 TB, of which I use two. (Movies, books, and not even prawn- knew someone would think that- shame on you!). Ditch the overclocking unless you know why and how much you can tweak Ram voltage, for instance, - I have not overclocked since 2003. Note to self: Motherboards are expensive - make sure the PSU has the quality not to cave in on you. Matter of taste, as I would be uncomfortable with a 550W. Looks good enough though.

As it is getting close to over budget, review the financial aspects the most to see what you toss, if any. Good luck deciding. As a normal user you should not run into games which need you to overclock, and by the time that is so it is - you guessed it - time for a new system.

My 2 US dollars, accounting for opinion inflation


Having trouble deciding? Write down what you want out of your system. Make it 10 points. Then assign each sentence a score based on how important you feel this is out of 10. That tells you what you want. Then you let a geek take over and tell you if you are blowing wind. You want movies, space becomes an issue etc.