Planning a new CPU purchase

[*NastySaw*]

Ok. My PC has treated me well. One crash but I recovered. The machine is 5 years old (VP Matrix which was a Best Buy Brand b4 emachine) and I am getting ready for a new one.

As I look at ads for PC's from the big box stores I see nothing that interests me. They all have integrated (onboard) video chips. Where would you begin to look for a machine that would be a half decent gaming machine?

Alieware is out of my price range. I'll ignore the Vista issue for the moment. I expect to run XP.

[snowman]

I bought one of these in March www.cyberpowerpc.com

There service sucks, but the product is first rate. All name brand, high end parts. I've been very happy.

Also....they must have been out of the video card I ordered so they stuck in a $250 card in a system that I only paid $670 for.

I went with the AMD Dual Core, but they sell both. You can customize it to your heart's content. (i didn't even bother buying an operating system cause I had an XP disk)

[*NastyJR*]

i think emachine is gateway now a days9don't quote me) hp an compaq are the same, stay away from anything with celery in it, AMD is the way to go onboard is nothing you get a good vid card throw it in an disable the onboard of course there may be good onboard but i wouldn't want vid sharing my ram, i believe gateway has ventured into stores now as well, what you may want to do is find a barebones and then add to it what you like. Check www.tigerdirect.com they always got good deals. HD hmm no need to spring big bucks on a hd you can pick one up cheaper an throw it in yourself, not that hard an usually comes with instructions, make sure it has plenty of usb ports for what you plan on running, uh hmm i once bought a pc off of ebay lol it was good pc just a small time pc builder selling on ebay is all it was pc lasted an got money worth but thats just from one guy i'm sure some could tell stories, oh don't go for top of the line, well you did say alienware was outta range but what i mean is top of line pay out the arse an tomorrow is outdated an 1k cheaper well not that quick but you get it. pc shopping can be a nightmare if you trust yourself then get minimal an add to it but first get specs an what can be upgraded, memory slots how many what can they hold cpu what is in it an what can it go to an such, buy meiocre an build it yourself in time, todays hot item will be on sale in short time. IF you search an find one you like maybe post link an people can give opinions on it of course that could make for a long thread an you never getting a new pc

[*NastyJR*]

thx snow i added that to my favs, need 2 more pc's here but just can't afford it right now, g/f laid off 2nd week ina row and unemployment is going to suck because part of last year she was off due to a work related injury an workamans comp doesnt count

[*NastyJeff*]

I buy everything I get for building/working on peoples machine at tigerdirect.

[[R3D]BuLL]

I would just build it yourself saw if you have time that is, the best way in my oppinion.

Don't have any sites for you though mate, I only use british ones

Have you got a budget to work too?

[*NastyJR*]

saw just got a email from tiger on a gaming barebones dual core amd bro under $400 just finish putting stuff in it an i'm envious, sent you an email earlier with link to it because it's one of those long links that will not work right on the forum, any1 wanna see an comment copy an paste the url www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2848310&CatId=1916&CMP=EMC-TIGEREMAIL&SRCCODE=WEM1281SS

[*NastyJR*]

hmm link works imagine that

[*NastyJR*]

www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/configdetails.asp?Base=2705961#

configure it the way u want it

[*NastyJR*]

just seen this, not my pc of choice but sharing it anyway
A powerhouse HP dx2200 MicroTower Desktop PC www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=2787436&sku=H24-RT784&CMP=EMC-TIGEREMAIL&SRCCODE=WEM1284SS
with a 3GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor with Hyper-Threading Technology, dual layer DVD/CD burner with Lightscribe Technology, a blazing fast 160GB SATA hard drive, a spectacular ATI RADEON video card and a half gig of DDR2 memory … for less than $300 bucks!

[*NastySaw*]

Thanks Jr. I have my homework assignment.

[*NastyJR*]

www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=2790603&sku=H24-RT766&CMP=EMC-TIGEREMAIL&SRCCODE=WEM1287SS