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Having looked at where prices are now for desktops, and what you pay for what you get (compared to my 2007 system), I may be looking for a kick-azz system (and they all kick azz by comparison to mine).

If it's still compatible with my excellent 22" flat screen monitor and HP 7350 printer and old Epson scanner, so much the better.

I'm not married to Gateway, but have found their warranty and service to be pretty good through two systems since 2003. Other suggestions welcome.

us.gateway.com/gw/en/U.../dx-series

...or maybe among these options (the $1,000 or less versions)

www.pcmag.com/article2...552,00.asp

Hi Ascout.
I cannot begin to tell you how much better a system will be if you make it yourself.

If you can wire a plug, you can order (and assemble) compatible components.
If you buy one from the likes of Dell and/or Gateway, they will sell it to you based on the powerful CPU and Graphics card.
They won't mention the slow Motherboard and RAM.
They also won't tell you about all the crap they're obliged to install, that you didn't want (or ask for) that will slow your system down.

I (we) can help you if you want to try.
These days the cost savings aren't as great but the performance improvements are still huge.
I've made my own (and friends /family) since 1998, five now.
This one's done me for the last five years.

I used to contribute to THIS forum advising others on doing this, back in the day.
Sign up, take a look.
Then go HERE and take a look through the proposed sample systems they've already put together.

In THIS area you can ask the regulars for their advice and assistance (I'm way out of date these days.
Tell them you want to build your own PC for gaming.
Let them know what budget you have in mind and what type of things you want to use the machine for.
Gaming will be the biggest demand on the system so that's your priority.

The only tricky bit is making sure the components are compatible and assembling the CPU and its' fan.
Make sure you understand those and you're away.
The rest is flippin' simple and you'll be amazed you didn't try it before.

Edit:
One more thing.
As you're building a system for yourself, you are a system builder.
System builders can buy OEM software and hardware which is much cheaper than the full deal (there are other... cheaper... avenues to acquire "less-expensive" software from as well....!)

I agree 100% with Shades.....oopps did I just do that..lol. It really is as simple as plug and play these days. Just use your old system as a sort of guide if you get lost or ask on here and you will receive all kinds of help. Good luck.

Thanks for the suggestions, Guys. But I'm really looking for a "turnkey" solution...one that includes generous warranty coverage such as I've had...and used...in the past. If it has two or eight cylinders, I'm all about fiddling, but I strive to avoid frustration in getting to a solution and computers are not my bag. No satisfaction in fiddling my way to a workable system.

How did I miss this post?

Yep, agree - Shades' advice and intent is well-meant but I appreciate how you want to have someone else to put the thing together and provide service and support if needed.

Although the prices are good I didn't see anything that struck me as a real winner but that was only in a few minutes of looking around. The cheapest Gateway DX system had an ATI Radeon video card that should be GREAT but a slow processor that would be a compromise not in your favor. The second link had some sketchy systems I'd never heard of.

Would be great if you could customize it on the Gateway site like back in the old days. The PC market is dying out due to all the competition of mobile devices etc etc. Seems to make pickings a little slim. Let me poke around a bit...

Wow, how the market has changed.

How's this strike you? I see Asus becoming more and more mainstream, and they have a long rep as a motherboard manufacturer...

www.newegg.com/Product...llFullInfo

Not a bad system. The only weak point I could spot would be the 300 watt power supply. The new processors could pull as much as 100 watts of that which does not leave much for the other devices. Asus is a great name and I have a Asus tablet that runs smoothly as well as 3 puters in the past that I built with Asus MB and they are still going today. Last one was built in 2009.

My current (2010) is an ASUS desktop. My Daughter suggested a Toshiba Laptop similar to hers, with a good photo system. I'm still trying to figure the best way to store photos (without using hundreds of "cards") and the movable hard drive has been suggested to me.
Sadly, I used to program ancient computers for my old Defense job (some 20 years ago) and I've long ago lost touch with the emerging technology. So any ideas are more than welcomed! Thanks, Rick

- Rick_Eshleman

My current (2010) is an ASUS desktop. My Daughter suggested a Toshiba Laptop similar to hers, with a good photo system. I'm still trying to figure the best way to store photos (without using hundreds of "cards") and the movable hard drive has been suggested to me.
Sadly, I used to program ancient computers for my old Defense job (some 20 years ago) and I've long ago lost touch with the emerging technology. So any ideas are more than welcomed! Thanks, Rick

External hard drives are cheapo now, and huge. Whatever you do about a computer, spring for an external HD and do backups regularly, which is easy (automatic, even, if you want). We with huge image libraries know how hard those are to replace.

I have a 2Tb HD on my channel selector just for saved movies. A 500Gig HD will be WELL under a hundred dollars for peace of mind.

Thanks for the tip JG-300! I plan on starting to shop Saturday, maybe even buy. Rick

OK, let's get serious. I need a new system. Something in the $500-1,000 range that will work with my excellent 7 year old Gateway Hi-def monitor without a lot of fishing for drivers, etc.

I need at least 1TB of HD and I figure at least Win 8, since those bastids tend to drop support for older versions whenever they damn well feel like it (so no Win 7). I tend to get 5-7 years out of a system and want that here.

I think I'll buy from Newegg, since I don't want to build a system.

And BTW, I'd like alternatives to those buttheads that run Adobe and now Firefox, since they seem inherently incompatible now and Firefox won't address it and Adobe has been a PITA for over ten years and two systems.

Post me some good buys at Newegg! Please!!!

Understanding that you have thought this out and have your reasons, I feel compelled to give you some advice to the contrary of some details above particularly re: Windows 8.

The support timeline for Windows 7 currently shows extended support ending in 2020 (this can be extended as was the case in Windows XP, in actuality Microsoft supported it for far longer than orginally forecast). Windows 8 extended support currently shows end of life in 2023. Again, these dates can be moved out by Microsoft when they issue service pack updates (the support lifecycle starts anew, for the most part).

I mention this because I recently purchased a laptop for the wife and neither her nor I get along with or understand the user interface, which essentially seems tailored for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets more than anything else. And you constantly have to log in to the thing, it's highly interactive with the 'net, and nether her nor I enjoy using it. It sits unused for the most part now.

If you intend to run flight simulator on it I think it's really worth verifying if those will run under Windows 8 (I haven't heard if they will or won't). And essentially, my impression is, friends shouldn't let friends buy Windows 8. Windows 7 on the other hand, very nice, tight, and runs FS2004 and FSX just fine. Plus has a good, familiar look and feel.

My two cents. I can help identify some good systems at NewEgg but really encourage reconsideration of Win7.

P.S. I'm doing Google Chrome these days over Firefox and very happy, nice addons for it too.

- JG300-Stoopy

Understanding that you have thought this out and have your reasons, I feel compelled to give you some advice to the contrary of some details above particularly re: Windows 8.

The support timeline for Windows 7 currently shows extended support ending in 2020 (this can be extended as was the case in Windows XP, in actuality Microsoft supported it for far longer than orginally forecast). Windows 8 extended support currently shows end of life in 2023. Again, these dates can be moved out by Microsoft when they issue service pack updates (the support lifecycle starts anew, for the most part).

I mention this because I recently purchased a laptop for the wife and neither her nor I get along with or understand the user interface, which essentially seems tailored for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets more than anything else. And you constantly have to log in to the thing, it's highly interactive with the 'net, and nether her nor I enjoy using it. It sits unused for the most part now.

If you intend to run flight simulator on it I think it's really worth verifying if those will run under Windows 8 (I haven't heard if they will or won't). And essentially, my impression is, friends shouldn't let friends buy Windows 8. Windows 7 on the other hand, very nice, tight, and runs FS2004 and FSX just fine. Plus has a good, familiar look and feel.

My two cents. I can help identify some good systems at NewEgg but really encourage reconsideration of Win7.

P.S. I'm doing Google Chrome these days over Firefox and very happy, nice addons for it too.

Rgr, I did some research after I posted that and agree, Seven is the way for this piggie to go. I don't do a lot of the app stuff and devices that 8 is oriented for, and don't foresee a change in that habit.

So, I'm filtering for systems that run and come with 7. Now, I need the box...and I need it soon. I'm having to use my laptop for internet functions now, but I can retrieve anything from my desktop...and all the important stuff is backed up to here and an external HD. I see also compatibility issues for peripherals with 8 and I really, REALLY want to keep my monitor...as it's a good 'un. So start shopping! (and I'll up my budget to $1500 or more if my "criteria" are generally met. Fun spending other people's money, ain't it!

M$'s record for new Windows is predictable, rather than great.
Every other version is not user friendly.
Usually because of some 'advance' they've tried and had to update in the next version.
I haven't tried 8 because I'm happy with 7.
But I've seen some users reporting issues.
I'd wait and see what 9's like if you're that keen to upgrade.

Yep, it seems that recent Windows releases are "odd" and "even". WinXP (good), Vista (sucks) Windows 7 (good) Windows 8 (sucks)....

Anyhoo... man, not a lot of players in the desktop PC world anymore. Some names I know nothing about, Dell is still around but they also still scare the crap out of me by having proprietary mobo and case designs, one of their systems looked "OK" with some tweaks, then I read a review that said you could NOT put in a better vid card to replace the weak intel graphics it came with.

So here is one that seems to tick the boxes and rise to the top of the heap so far...good specs without looking like a "gamer rig" with colored LED farkles and chintz....again I know nothing about the manufacturer....

www.newegg.com/Product...6883258098