±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: HighestAce
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6648

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 751
Total: 751
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Community Forums
02: Home
03: Member Screenshots
04: Photo Gallery
05: LinkToUs
06: Community Forums
07: Community Forums
08: Home
09: Community Forums
10: Photo Gallery
11: Photo Gallery
12: Community Forums
13: Statistics
14: Community Forums
15: Community Forums
16: Home
17: Community Forums
18: Photo Gallery
19: Home
20: Community Forums
21: Photo Gallery
22: Community Forums
23: Supporters
24: Home
25: Home
26: Community Forums
27: News Archive
28: Photo Gallery
29: Community Forums
30: Member Screenshots
31: Downloads
32: Member Screenshots
33: Member Screenshots
34: Photo Gallery
35: Home
36: Photo Gallery
37: Community Forums
38: Community Forums
39: Treasury
40: Community Forums
41: Photo Gallery
42: Community Forums
43: Community Forums
44: Member Screenshots
45: Community Forums
46: Community Forums
47: News Archive
48: Photo Gallery
49: News Archive
50: Home
51: Member Screenshots
52: Member Screenshots
53: News Archive
54: Community Forums
55: Community Forums
56: Community Forums
57: Photo Gallery
58: Community Forums
59: Community Forums
60: Community Forums
61: Member Screenshots
62: Member Screenshots
63: Home
64: Community Forums
65: Community Forums
66: Member Screenshots
67: Community Forums
68: Community Forums
69: News
70: Community Forums
71: Photo Gallery
72: Community Forums
73: Community Forums
74: Photo Gallery
75: Member Screenshots
76: Member Screenshots
77: Community Forums
78: Community Forums
79: Community Forums
80: Home
81: Photo Gallery
82: Downloads
83: Home
84: Community Forums
85: Community Forums
86: Community Forums
87: Community Forums
88: Community Forums
89: Home
90: Photo Gallery
91: Community Forums
92: Home
93: News
94: Community Forums
95: Community Forums
96: Community Forums
97: Downloads
98: Community Forums
99: News Archive
100: Photo Gallery
101: Home
102: Community Forums
103: Photo Gallery
104: Community Forums
105: Community Forums
106: Community Forums
107: Community Forums
108: Photo Gallery
109: Community Forums
110: Community Forums
111: Photo Gallery
112: Community Forums
113: Community Forums
114: Downloads
115: Community Forums
116: Community Forums
117: Photo Gallery
118: Community Forums
119: Photo Gallery
120: Community Forums
121: Member Screenshots
122: Home
123: Photo Gallery
124: Community Forums
125: Home
126: Downloads
127: Community Forums
128: Community Forums
129: Community Forums
130: Community Forums
131: Community Forums
132: Home
133: Photo Gallery
134: Downloads
135: Photo Gallery
136: Community Forums
137: News Archive
138: Community Forums
139: Home
140: Member Screenshots
141: Community Forums
142: Photo Gallery
143: Home
144: Treasury
145: Community Forums
146: Community Forums
147: Photo Gallery
148: Home
149: Photo Gallery
150: Community Forums
151: Community Forums
152: Community Forums
153: Community Forums
154: Photo Gallery
155: Photo Gallery
156: Photo Gallery
157: Photo Gallery
158: Community Forums
159: News Archive
160: Community Forums
161: Community Forums
162: Downloads
163: Community Forums
164: Community Forums
165: Community Forums
166: Your Account
167: Community Forums
168: Downloads
169: Community Forums
170: Member Screenshots
171: Community Forums
172: Photo Gallery
173: Community Forums
174: Community Forums
175: Community Forums
176: Member Screenshots
177: Home
178: Downloads
179: Downloads
180: Home
181: Member Screenshots
182: Member Screenshots
183: News Archive
184: Community Forums
185: Community Forums
186: Home
187: Downloads
188: Community Forums
189: Community Forums
190: Home
191: Community Forums
192: Community Forums
193: Home
194: Photo Gallery
195: Home
196: Community Forums
197: Community Forums
198: Photo Gallery
199: Photo Gallery
200: Community Forums
201: Downloads
202: Community Forums
203: Community Forums
204: Photo Gallery
205: Home
206: Community Forums
207: Home
208: Community Forums
209: Home
210: Member Screenshots
211: Home
212: Community Forums
213: Home
214: Community Forums
215: Community Forums
216: Photo Gallery
217: Home
218: Statistics
219: Home
220: Community Forums
221: Community Forums
222: Member Screenshots
223: Community Forums
224: Member Screenshots
225: Member Screenshots
226: Member Screenshots
227: Treasury
228: Statistics
229: Community Forums
230: News Archive
231: Member Screenshots
232: News
233: Community Forums
234: Photo Gallery
235: Community Forums
236: Community Forums
237: Member Screenshots
238: Downloads
239: Photo Gallery
240: Member Screenshots
241: Community Forums
242: Home
243: Downloads
244: Community Forums
245: Photo Gallery
246: Home
247: Your Account
248: News Archive
249: Downloads
250: Photo Gallery
251: Downloads
252: Community Forums
253: Photo Gallery
254: Community Forums
255: Member Screenshots
256: Member Screenshots
257: Community Forums
258: Community Forums
259: Photo Gallery
260: News Archive
261: Community Forums
262: News Archive
263: Community Forums
264: Photo Gallery
265: Home
266: News Archive
267: Community Forums
268: Community Forums
269: Statistics
270: Photo Gallery
271: Home
272: Community Forums
273: Photo Gallery
274: Photo Gallery
275: Home
276: Home
277: Community Forums
278: Photo Gallery
279: Photo Gallery
280: Home
281: Photo Gallery
282: Community Forums
283: Community Forums
284: Photo Gallery
285: Statistics
286: Photo Gallery
287: Home
288: Community Forums
289: Community Forums
290: Community Forums
291: Community Forums
292: Community Forums
293: Photo Gallery
294: Home
295: Community Forums
296: Community Forums
297: News Archive
298: Downloads
299: Home
300: Photo Gallery
301: Community Forums
302: Community Forums
303: Community Forums
304: Community Forums
305: Community Forums
306: News Archive
307: Community Forums
308: Community Forums
309: Photo Gallery
310: Community Forums
311: Downloads
312: Downloads
313: Community Forums
314: Home
315: Community Forums
316: Your Account
317: Community Forums
318: Downloads
319: Community Forums
320: Community Forums
321: Community Forums
322: Community Forums
323: Photo Gallery
324: Community Forums
325: Photo Gallery
326: Community Forums
327: Photo Gallery
328: Community Forums
329: Community Forums
330: Home
331: Community Forums
332: Member Screenshots
333: Community Forums
334: Home
335: Photo Gallery
336: Community Forums
337: Community Forums
338: Member Screenshots
339: Community Forums
340: Photo Gallery
341: Member Screenshots
342: Community Forums
343: Statistics
344: Home
345: Home
346: Home
347: Community Forums
348: Community Forums
349: Downloads
350: Community Forums
351: Home
352: Community Forums
353: Community Forums
354: Community Forums
355: Treasury
356: Your Account
357: Member Screenshots
358: Photo Gallery
359: Member Screenshots
360: Home
361: Photo Gallery
362: Community Forums
363: Community Forums
364: Community Forums
365: Home
366: Photo Gallery
367: Community Forums
368: Home
369: News Archive
370: Community Forums
371: Member Screenshots
372: Member Screenshots
373: Community Forums
374: Photo Gallery
375: Community Forums
376: Community Forums
377: Photo Gallery
378: Downloads
379: Photo Gallery
380: Member Screenshots
381: Community Forums
382: Photo Gallery
383: Community Forums
384: Member Screenshots
385: News Archive
386: Community Forums
387: Downloads
388: Home
389: Photo Gallery
390: Community Forums
391: Downloads
392: Member Screenshots
393: Community Forums
394: Photo Gallery
395: Community Forums
396: Community Forums
397: Downloads
398: News Archive
399: Downloads
400: Member Screenshots
401: Community Forums
402: Downloads
403: Community Forums
404: Downloads
405: Community Forums
406: Home
407: Home
408: Community Forums
409: Community Forums
410: Home
411: Community Forums
412: Community Forums
413: Downloads
414: Home
415: Photo Gallery
416: Community Forums
417: Home
418: Community Forums
419: Photo Gallery
420: Member Screenshots
421: News Archive
422: Downloads
423: Photo Gallery
424: Photo Gallery
425: Community Forums
426: Community Forums
427: Community Forums
428: Community Forums
429: Community Forums
430: Photo Gallery
431: Member Screenshots
432: Member Screenshots
433: Home
434: Member Screenshots
435: Community Forums
436: Photo Gallery
437: Community Forums
438: Community Forums
439: Downloads
440: Home
441: Community Forums
442: Member Screenshots
443: Home
444: Home
445: Community Forums
446: Community Forums
447: Community Forums
448: Photo Gallery
449: Photo Gallery
450: Member Screenshots
451: Community Forums
452: Community Forums
453: Photo Gallery
454: Photo Gallery
455: Community Forums
456: Community Forums
457: Member Screenshots
458: Community Forums
459: Member Screenshots
460: Community Forums
461: Downloads
462: Downloads
463: Downloads
464: Downloads
465: Community Forums
466: Downloads
467: Community Forums
468: Downloads
469: Community Forums
470: Member Screenshots
471: News Archive
472: News Archive
473: Community Forums
474: Photo Gallery
475: Community Forums
476: Member Screenshots
477: Community Forums
478: Community Forums
479: Community Forums
480: Photo Gallery
481: Community Forums
482: Community Forums
483: Community Forums
484: Community Forums
485: Downloads
486: Community Forums
487: Community Forums
488: Member Screenshots
489: Community Forums
490: Photo Gallery
491: Community Forums
492: Home
493: Photo Gallery
494: Downloads
495: Member Screenshots
496: Downloads
497: Community Forums
498: Community Forums
499: Community Forums
500: Community Forums
501: Home
502: Home
503: Community Forums
504: Community Forums
505: Downloads
506: Photo Gallery
507: Community Forums
508: Community Forums
509: Community Forums
510: Community Forums
511: Photo Gallery
512: Community Forums
513: Member Screenshots
514: Member Screenshots
515: Photo Gallery
516: Community Forums
517: Member Screenshots
518: Community Forums
519: Member Screenshots
520: Community Forums
521: Community Forums
522: Community Forums
523: Member Screenshots
524: Community Forums
525: News Archive
526: News Archive
527: Downloads
528: Community Forums
529: Downloads
530: Photo Gallery
531: Member Screenshots
532: Community Forums
533: Community Forums
534: Community Forums
535: Community Forums
536: Community Forums
537: Photo Gallery
538: Community Forums
539: Photo Gallery
540: Community Forums
541: Community Forums
542: Home
543: News Archive
544: Home
545: Photo Gallery
546: Community Forums
547: Photo Gallery
548: Community Forums
549: Community Forums
550: Community Forums
551: News Archive
552: Photo Gallery
553: Community Forums
554: Downloads
555: Community Forums
556: Member Screenshots
557: Community Forums
558: Photo Gallery
559: Community Forums
560: Photo Gallery
561: Community Forums
562: Home
563: Community Forums
564: Home
565: Community Forums
566: Home
567: Photo Gallery
568: Community Forums
569: Community Forums
570: Member Screenshots
571: Community Forums
572: Community Forums
573: Community Forums
574: Downloads
575: Community Forums
576: News Archive
577: Photo Gallery
578: Community Forums
579: News Archive
580: Community Forums
581: Community Forums
582: Community Forums
583: Photo Gallery
584: Home
585: Community Forums
586: Photo Gallery
587: Photo Gallery
588: Community Forums
589: Member Screenshots
590: Community Forums
591: Home
592: Photo Gallery
593: Member Screenshots
594: News Archive
595: Community Forums
596: Downloads
597: Member Screenshots
598: News
599: Home
600: Community Forums
601: Photo Gallery
602: Home
603: Photo Gallery
604: Community Forums
605: Member Screenshots
606: Home
607: Photo Gallery
608: Community Forums
609: Photo Gallery
610: Community Forums
611: Community Forums
612: Photo Gallery
613: Community Forums
614: Community Forums
615: Community Forums
616: Community Forums
617: Photo Gallery
618: Downloads
619: Community Forums
620: Community Forums
621: Community Forums
622: Member Screenshots
623: Community Forums
624: Photo Gallery
625: Member Screenshots
626: Member Screenshots
627: Community Forums
628: Community Forums
629: Community Forums
630: Statistics
631: Community Forums
632: Community Forums
633: Photo Gallery
634: Home
635: Community Forums
636: Home
637: Community Forums
638: Photo Gallery
639: Community Forums
640: Downloads
641: Member Screenshots
642: Home
643: Community Forums
644: Community Forums
645: Member Screenshots
646: Community Forums
647: Photo Gallery
648: Photo Gallery
649: News Archive
650: Community Forums
651: Home
652: Community Forums
653: Community Forums
654: Community Forums
655: Community Forums
656: Community Forums
657: Community Forums
658: Photo Gallery
659: News Archive
660: Photo Gallery
661: Photo Gallery
662: Member Screenshots
663: Home
664: Community Forums
665: Community Forums
666: Community Forums
667: Community Forums
668: Home
669: Home
670: Community Forums
671: Community Forums
672: Community Forums
673: Community Forums
674: Community Forums
675: Your Account
676: Community Forums
677: Home
678: Community Forums
679: Photo Gallery
680: Home
681: Community Forums
682: Community Forums
683: Community Forums
684: Photo Gallery
685: Photo Gallery
686: Community Forums
687: Community Forums
688: News Archive
689: Community Forums
690: Community Forums
691: Community Forums
692: News
693: Community Forums
694: Community Forums
695: Photo Gallery
696: Photo Gallery
697: News
698: Downloads
699: Photo Gallery
700: Community Forums
701: Community Forums
702: Community Forums
703: News Archive
704: Community Forums
705: Photo Gallery
706: Home
707: Photo Gallery
708: Community Forums
709: Home
710: Photo Gallery
711: Photo Gallery
712: Member Screenshots
713: Statistics
714: Home
715: News
716: Community Forums
717: Community Forums
718: Photo Gallery
719: Member Screenshots
720: Member Screenshots
721: Community Forums
722: Photo Gallery
723: Community Forums
724: Photo Gallery
725: Home
726: Community Forums
727: Community Forums
728: Community Forums
729: Community Forums
730: Community Forums
731: Community Forums
732: Home
733: Photo Gallery
734: Community Forums
735: Community Forums
736: Community Forums
737: Photo Gallery
738: Community Forums
739: Member Screenshots
740: Community Forums
741: Community Forums
742: Home
743: Community Forums
744: News Archive
745: Community Forums
746: Community Forums
747: Home
748: Community Forums
749: Photo Gallery
750: Community Forums
751: Member Screenshots

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this? :: Archived
Resolve issues with your computer problems here or read about the latest computer parts and information.
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Post new topic    Revive this topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  Hardware

Topic Archived View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 3:41 pm
Post subject: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

Just put this together on the Dell site. Would this be a good setup for the price for now and the future? XP, lots of HD space, 2 Gig mem, decent vid card. Nicer monitor than I have now...
And what the hell is "RAID"? And why would I need a drive controller? An' stuff.....?

This would be my replacement desktop.

I don't see where they spec the number of USB ports...and experience says you can never have enuff of 'em....

Whaddya' think?


_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 4:07 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

I would say - and I'm qualifying this with the knowledge you're not interested in building your own - that these Dells may do the job but having had one, they are not capable of many upgrades since they use some unique parts. Dell makes a good laptop, an excellent one, actually, but I would not go to them as the first choice of a Desktop.

The slower processor in that one is a killer as far as I'm concerned. In the other thread here, for $200 less than this total price, there's a Gateway spec'd out that's a full Gigaherz faster (2.66 Ghz), twice the video ram (512MB), and bigger hard drive (500GB). And that price is a month old or so. Thing is, there's some careful parts-swapping but it's easy.

Oh...on USB ports, don't worry they usually have lots (4 to 6) and you can buy a USB hub for cheapo that plugs into one USB port and gives you 4 more USB ports that sits on your desk.

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 4:15 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

Yo! Just what I was lookin' for...if they'll do with XP, I may just do it...

AND, I may just ask you to spec it out to a budget and post it so I can call 'em and order. No consultant fee, though, unless you work for strawberries.

MAYBE I'll do this before I leave, what could you put together for $2K or just under with ONLY a bigger monitor than I have now (17")? I have a good printer. Not even sure I want a new monitor but they're so cheap now.

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 4:22 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

Uh-oh.......

Well okay I put this together befire coming back here and seeing your request - this is an exmaple based on similar pricing and NEEDS to be tweaked, but take a rough look here:



Note the faster CPU, bigger disk, and better vid card. Oh. sorry the HD don't show, but it's 500GB. My 250GB is gettin' full!!!!

Don't order it tho! I couldn't stand the responsibility!

I DID yank out the service stuff, so it's one year, you swap the parts. And I'm not settled yet on that exact CPU.

You need to know that Intel is on the verge of coming out with their next CPU which will drive current Core 2 Duo processor prices down further......I'd urge ya to wait until ya get back and get the new ;atpop all dialed in. Two new 'puters at a time makes for some busy and harried evenings at home when the new babies are settling down and need to be "burped" for this-thing or that-thing!

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 4:27 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

And I think it would be GREAT if someone here commented on those NVidia 7950GT cards. Don't know much about 'em, and have become an ATI owner (and satisifed).

I do hear that the ATi's are working better with that New-O/S-Which-Shall-Not-Be-Named (or installed on this system). That's about it.

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 4:34 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

Well, think it over....I don't wanna' swap the parts though...I want it delivered ready to rock. I travel too much now and I'm not as patient as I used to be...don't want to fiddle about. It doesn't have to scream, I'll settle for wail. Laughing If it has to be dialed back a notch to do that, I'm OK with that. In some ways, a "too large" monitor is a liabilty too, 22" is max.

Sharpen your pencil, Mr. Stoopy! Laughing

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 5:09 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

Hmmm. Well, in trying again a time or two, it looks like my pencil wasn't too dull - can't seem to do too much better. A few caveats:

- One thing I like about those options is the sound card. I just finished putting that VERY SAME ONE in my son's PC because there's a very EVIL thing going on nowadays and it's called "Intel VIIV technology". You can't get away from it innewer off-the-shelf systems it seems, it's a build-in sound card on the motherboard and comes with it's own drivers. But, get this - the speakers are USB (ewww!!) and also, Microsoft XP Media Center Edition managed to drop the drivers 4 times in as many weeks, resulting in no sound and annoying pop-ups on bootup about "No Windows Mixer Device Available". The solution? Get a real sound card, that uses real speakers with real cables, and real drivers. Disable the on-board audio, and THEN also rename the folder for the Intel Audio Studio software (that strangely CANNOT be Uninstalled or removed!) so that Windows can't even TRY to load it and then give annoying pop-ups. The LAST STRAW was when I had them all working together but Intel Audio Studio complained when we switched his screen to very hi-res with large (120 dpi) fonts - "Intel Audio Studio requires a font size of 96 dpi"....oh for the love of......SCROO'T!

- The CPU is "Non-HT" or, non-Hyperthreading. I chose it because it was fast and cheap.....clock cycles are the Holy Grail in flight simming! But non-HT means it'll stumble somewhat when tasked with running other thnigs in the background. However the HT-capable 2.40 Ghz CPU is another 600 bones or so, so I'm queasy on this choice right now. Ideally I've got my eye on the 2.66 Core 2 Duo CPU's which are HOT STUFF and coming down slowly but surely.

- You're going with XP Pro, right? Or maybe XP Home (which I have, and is fine). Not XP Media Edition.....please. Did Dell give you any price breaks for NOT going with VISTA? I know it's not likely.

- I chopped the extended warranty stuff out since I was focusing on parts. I don't know how much you're married to it so you'll need to add that in. Might put me over budget.

I think, subject to good feedback about the non-HT-capable CPU, that system should cook....it wont SCREAM like a $3000 system, but it shouldn't be any slouch at'all! 300HP Mustang GT as opposed to the 400HP GTO with higher price tag. Wink

I'll keep trying to tweak the pencil tho....

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 5:22 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

- JG300-Stoopy
Hmmm. Well, in trying again a time or two, it looks like my pencil wasn't too dull - can't seem to do too much better. A few caveats:

- One thing I like about those options is the sound card. I just finished putting that VERY SAME ONE in my son's PC because there's a very EVIL thing going on nowadays and it's called "Intel VIIV technology". You can't get away from it innewer off-the-shelf systems it seems, it's a build-in sound card on the motherboard and comes with it's own drivers. But, get this - the speakers are USB (ewww!!) and also, Microsoft XP Media Center Edition managed to drop the drivers 4 times in as many weeks, resulting in no sound and annoying pop-ups on bootup about "No Windows Mixer Device Available". The solution? Get a real sound card, that uses real speakers with real cables, and real drivers. Disable the on-board audio, and THEN also rename the folder for the Intel Audio Studio software (that strangely CANNOT be Uninstalled or removed!) so that Windows can't even TRY to load it and then give annoying pop-ups. The LAST STRAW was when I had them all working together but Intel Audio Studio complained when we switched his screen to very hi-res with large (120 dpi) fonts - "Intel Audio Studio requires a font size of 96 dpi"....oh for the love of......SCROO'T!

- The CPU is "Non-HT" or, non-Hyperthreading. I chose it because it was fast and cheap.....clock cycles are the Holy Grail in flight simming! But non-HT means it'll stumble somewhat when tasked with running other thnigs in the background. However the HT-capable 2.40 Ghz CPU is another 600 bones or so, so I'm queasy on this choice right now. Ideally I've got my eye on the 2.66 Core 2 Duo CPU's which are HOT STUFF and coming down slowly but surely.

- You're going with XP Pro, right? Or maybe XP Home (which I have, and is fine). Not XP Media Edition.....please. Did Dell give you any price breaks for NOT going with VISTA? I know it's not likely.

- I chopped the extended warranty stuff out since I was focusing on parts. I don't know how much you're married to it so you'll need to add that in. Might put me over budget.

I think, subject to good feedback about the non-HT-capable CPU, that system should cook....it wont SCREAM like a $3000 system, but it shouldn't be any slouch at'all! 300HP Mustang GT as opposed to the 400HP GTO with higher price tag. Wink

I'll keep trying to tweak the pencil tho....


Laughing I didn't get one word of all that sound / H-T stuff Rolling Eyes Give me something where I don't have to understand or even deal with it. I have decent sound on my two lil' speakers and one subwoofer thingy now on my old system. Don't need anything mo' betta'.

No, I spec'ed XP Pro....have XP Home on my current system. Pro is the only option at Dell I think.

We got the three year warranty with on-site service for wifey notebook..$100...I think I want that...24hours call time, plus parts delivery time...worth it if the cost is comparable with Gateway.

Oh, my boss bought a silver lefover GTO last week for $25K, one of three left, less than my Mooostang cost. So sharpen than pencil! Mr. Green

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:17 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

EXACTLY my point on the sound-card thingy. You don't wanna know about or deal with it - it's gotten ugly and I'm disappointed that such a simple, inexpensive part of any system has now been screwed up for people. Getchya a proper built-in sound card like that one, with the system and properly integrated, and you'll happily plug in the cables and hear stuff the way it's s'posed to work.

Gateway is like 200 bones on the on-site 3-year warranty stuff, probably becuase it's a desktop and not a laptop...kind of comparing apples & oranges there.

The 22" LCD monitor at $160 is optional, but I'll tell ya this came with my son's rig and it is a SWEET monitor! Very nice. Something to think about is how you're gonna transfer all your old stuff from the old machine to the new. You could either get an external USB hard drive with that money and transfer everythign via it (plus, have it all backed up when you're done) or go with the new monitor and keep the old rig set up with the old monitor while you move stuff over via thumb drive or whatever - that's kinda like moving all the water from one bucket to another with a ladle, though.

Going down to a less-expensive model and building it up to the same specs makes it more expensive and I note the disclaimer about "give us a call about WIndows XP" is missing on those systems. So I have to say I think I got it pretty much right with that first stab - the one change I'm making is specify ONE 500GB hard drive, as opposed to a RAID setup which is two 250MB drives paired together. Helps keep heat and power draw down, against the arguable advantages of a RAID setup.

So......here she blows, WITH 3-year on-site: Yanked the speakers too, since the ones you have now seem to be making perfectly adequate bleeping, blooping and crashing noises. Also, added one more item there at the end, don't know if you've heard of it but it's kinda neat Laughing



Quote is saved under fake email name of "[email protected]" so you can call it back up - for some reason, an earlier system I'd been playing with is saved there too, just ignore it (it's from the other thread).

Your boss is a smart cookie.....not that I'd ever say anything bad about those weird Aussie cars either, even with that fine LS2 motor and excellent rolling hardware. Hopefully the price isn't gonna be balanced out by family chiropractor visits from trying to get in & out of the back seats...

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:28 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

- JG300-Stoopy
EXACTLY my point on the sound-card thingy. You don't wanna know about or deal with it - it's gotten ugly and I'm disappointed that such a simple, inexpensive part of any system has now been screwed up for people. Getchya a proper built-in sound card like that one, with the system and properly integrated, and you'll happily plug in the cables and hear stuff the way it's s'posed to work.

Gateway is like 200 bones on the on-site 3-year warranty stuff, probably becuase it's a desktop and not a laptop...kind of comparing apples & oranges there.

The 22" LCD monitor at $160 is optional, but I'll tell ya this came with my son's rig and it is a SWEET monitor! Very nice. Something to think about is how you're gonna transfer all your old stuff from the old machine to the new. You could either get an external USB hard drive with that money and transfer everythign via it (plus, have it all backed up when you're done) or go with the new monitor and keep the old rig set up with the old monitor while you move stuff over via thumb drive or whatever - that's kinda like moving all the water from one bucket to another with a ladle, though.

Going down to a less-expensive model and building it up to the same specs makes it more expensive and I note the disclaimer about "give us a call about WIndows XP" is missing on those systems. So I have to say I think I got it pretty much right with that first stab - the one change I'm making is specify ONE 500GB hard drive, as opposed to a RAID setup which is two 250MB drives paired together. Helps keep heat and power draw down, against the arguable advantages of a RAID setup.

So......here she blows, WITH 3-year on-site: Yanked the speakers too, since the ones you have now seem to be making perfectly adequate bleeping, blooping and crashing noises. Also, added one more item there at the end, don't know if you've heard of it but it's kinda neat Laughing



Quote is saved under fake email name of "[email protected]" so you can call it back up - for some reason, an earlier system I'd been playing with is saved there too, just ignore it (it's from the other thread).

Your boss is a smart cookie.....not that I'd ever say anything bad about those weird Aussie cars either, even with that fine LS2 motor and excellent rolling hardware. Hopefully the price isn't gonna be balanced out by family chiropractor visits from trying to get in & out of the back seats...


Interesting....
Now, does this include XP Pro for sure? And, I already have CFS3...can I not install that on my new system? Why is that in there? Would I need another one?

If I call 'em, can they find this quote if I have trouble?

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:45 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

Yup - the quote can be retrieved using the link at the top-right of their website and entering the fake email I made for ya, or tell 'em it's quote #26734

One thing tho - that quote has a price of $3,439.95 because it has TWO different computers spec'ed out, it includes that other system I was playing with about a month ago. Just tell 'em it s for the Gateway FX530XM computer which is sub-listed at $1,836.98, and all the details are nested underneath it

Apart from cost, it doesn't includes WIndows XP because it sayz you gotta call 'em to "discuss" (I believe they mean, just ask for it instead, like your Dell dudes handled it). Thats for you to specify but I doubt they'll argue, since Dell can't be alone in getting a LOT of requests for same. However, this price DOES include Vista (which was the only option on the choice list), so XP should not cost you one PENNY more.

So I'd specify they KNOW it and repeat it three times while spinning around in their cubicle chairs before processing that order!!!!!! Actually the quote isn't so much for them, in that respect, it's for you to reference. Let 'em know the quote # only after it's clearly understood it needs to be modified for the Vista/XP thing, or otherwise used as the basis for a new order specifying XP right up front.

I was kiddin' about CFS3. A'course you can install yours.....if the disks haven't petrified by now. J/K!!!!! Laughing Had to have some fun with ya while I was there, everything else is legit.


_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Shades
Forum Tree-Rat

Offline Offline
Joined: Mar 07, 2005
Posts: 6475
Location: 3rd Branch up, 'Ye Olde Oak', Green Wood.
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:19 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

THIS may help you with the graphic card bit.
That 7950 is quite a high spec gaming card.

_________________
Skwerl's place.

Com-Central's cutest, fluffiest, twitchiest, tail.
CPU > Intel i9-9900k (o/c 4.9GHz); COOLING > BeQuiet! Dark Rock Pro 4;
MOBO > ASUS PRIME Z390-A; RAM > 2x32GB Corsair LPX 2666MHz;
GPU > Gigabyte GEFORCE GTX650Ti PCI-e 3.0 2Gb GDDR5;
AUDIO > Creative X-Fi Xtreme Music (plus - Universal Audio UAD2 Quad Custom accelerator);
HDD > 3x1TB+ M.2. SSDs; LCD > DELL - S2419HGF (1920x1080);
PSU > 650W be quiet Straight Power 11 - 80+ Gold;
CASE > BeQuiet! SILENT BASE 601; OS > Windows 11 Home Advanced (64-bit).
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website ICQ Number
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:26 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

Thanks Shades! Had heard good thigns about it but no personal input....for about $200 it's got as much RAM as my ATI 1650 PRO card but is even faster....and cost about the same as I paid.

Oh hey Ascout.....be sure that, although you do need MS Office Home and Student 2007, do NOT buy it from either Dell or Gateway with a computer....because you don't usually REALLY get the install media - they pre-install it for ya and that's that.....so installing it PER the license agreement on another system can be, of course, impossible.

Get that when you make your side-trip to Best Buy or CompUSA for that Linksys Wireless router,,,,and FSX Deluxe...

It's one other thing I'm not crazy about how things have transpired these days......used to be, you got software bundled with the system, you got the install media too.

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:32 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

- Shades
THIS may help you with the graphic card bit.
That 7950 is quite a high spec gaming card.


Well, that's because this is Stoopy's idea of a tidy little Mustang engine:

Stoopy's "small" V8 idea

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:37 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

- JG300-Stoopy
Thanks Shades! Had heard good thigns about it but no personal input....for about $200 it's got as much RAM as my ATI 1650 PRO card but is even faster....and cost about the same as I paid.

Oh hey Ascout.....be sure that, although you do need MS Office Home and Student 2007, do NOT buy it from either Dell or Gateway with a computer....because you don't usually REALLY get the install media - they pre-install it for ya and that's that.....so installing it PER the license agreement on another system can be, of course, impossible.

Get that when you make your side-trip to Best Buy or CompUSA for that Linksys Wireless router,,,,and FSX Deluxe...

It's one other thing I'm not crazy about how things have transpired these days......used to be, you got software bundled with the system, you got the install media too.


No problemo, already planned on that for both the Office software AND the wireless router...in fact, the Dell guy was even pretty much down with that plan without actually sayin' as much...
I'm a "Continuing Medical Education Program Coordinator" so I qualify as a "teacher", among my many hats, and have the certificate to back it up, so I can breeze in to buy on that basis and install on all our systems since the wifey is a biochemist. I'm not sure who's the student here, come to think of it, her credentials are better than mine. Rolling Eyes

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Revive this topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  Hardware
Page 1 of 2
All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Go to page 1, 2  Next

Archive Revive
Username:
This is an archived topic - your reply will not be appended here.
Instead, a new topic will be generated in the active forum.
The new topic will provide a reference link to this archived topic.