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General discussion

need help still on picking right pc

Jun 20, 2005 4:28PM PDT

Hey everyone,

I still haven't decided on a pc. I'm looking for a desktop that combines a good look without being a piece of junk. I like alienware but the reviews on cnet are so weird sometimes that I just can't seem to get a good view. Does anyone own a alienware or hypersonic? Are there any other brands that combine a sleek design with functionability? No Dell, Gateway,or Velocity (I don't see sleek there). I'm not that interested in Sony's. I would like to have a pc other than Dell for once in my life. I don't want to build my own but I do want the pc to be upgradeable as far as adding memory, hard drive space, video and sound card and I don't want to have to buy these things from the original retailer. Thanks for any help. I'm looking to spend 3500.

Discussion is locked

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(NT) (NT) monarch, cyberpower, falcon nw, abs, etc
Jun 20, 2005 4:47PM PDT
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(NT) (NT) I agree
Jun 21, 2005 11:14PM PDT
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(NT) (NT) how bout u build ur own?
Jun 20, 2005 4:47PM PDT
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you want something sleeeeeeeek?
Jun 21, 2005 1:19AM PDT

definately look at monarch. check out the monarch hornet pro. its a sff box, but you can swap out the mobo in the future so its literally future proof when you think of upgrading. you have the option to put LED lights on the feet and lights on the inside. choice come in amd & intel. PCIe etc.

or, shuttle, those are probably theeeeeeeeeeee sleekest that you can go, put their upgradeabitly is not so high. 1 PCIe 16x slot, one PCI, or 1 PCIe 16x and 1 PCIe 1x (aftermentioned are the higher end that support dual slot gpus, but sacraficing your only PCIe 1x slot)

konny

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spend 3500.
Jun 21, 2005 4:18AM PDT

For this amount you can have TWO very fast and sleeeeek PCs if you build them yourself. John

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Do not listen to them!!
Jun 21, 2005 3:45PM PDT

Do not build your own computer. It takes a long time and you have to buy alot of things. If i was you i would get Hp cause their computers is at a low cost and uses the AMD technology. And if anything goes wrong and then hp could do a remote access and fixes the problem.Which is free. But i have one question how is you online and you dont have no computer?

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It takes a long time and you have to buy alot of things.
Jun 22, 2005 2:04AM PDT

The first time builder would take 3~4 hours. There are step by step instrucions.
A lot of things:
Case
PSU
MB
Processor/with HS
Memory
video card
mouse
keyboard
DVD burner
Windows XP OEM
And if you want a flopy drive, this brings the total to 11 items.
HP will NOT GIVE you a copy of the XP CD. And the recover partion they have is a pain. If the HD crashes the recover parition is gone also.
I do like the fact that they use AMD. And as a low cost
alternitive to DELL they should be considered. John

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P.S.
Jun 22, 2005 3:30AM PDT

Since is a slow day at the station and I was getting bored, I went on the HP site and configured a PC
AMD64 3000+
521mb ram
DVD burner
Nvidia 6800 with 256mb video card
XPhome
160gbhd
Cost $1209.99 with a $150 rebate or $1059.99 final cost.
Then I went to newegg and duplacted this PC with standard parts.
AND64 3000+ socket 939
1gb of ram, OK this is double.
DVD Burner
Same video card chipset and memory
160gb HD
XPhome OEM
Case and keybord/mouse
Cost $821.20
Newegg has some good deals on bundles so check them out. John

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info. update
Jun 22, 2005 7:39AM PDT

So, I've found a couple of hardware features I would like.
Audigy 2zs sound card
Nvidia 256 gt 6800 tvout (I will take a step down from this but I prefer this card)
I don't really need a keyboard and mouse because I will probably find ones that I like. I saw a logitech that had a stand for it at bestbuy and there's a mouse called the razorback that looks pretty cool. Has to be optical mouse.
I've eliminated Voodoo from the OEM's. I like gaming pcs because I would think applications etc. would run faster on them but I can't imagine going into a professional environment with a little alien head on my laptop. It kind of looks childish. I don't want a business pc but I still want something that is sleek in its design. The monitor has to be either 17 or 19 inches. I have heard that sharp is a good monitor brand. Any others? I definitely want an expandable mother board.
I have no idea what brand of hard drive or memory is top quality but I do know I want at least 1gig ram. I want at least 160 (somewhere in that range) hard drive space. I looked at windows xp home and professional and I don't really care which one I get. I hope this additional information helps.

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update
Jun 22, 2005 7:41AM PDT

another reason I would not pick a dell is because of how loud the system is. I would prefer a quite fan or liquid cooling system. I also want the fastest dvd/cd burning drive with an additional dvd-rom drive. Thanks.

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PC I put together at Alienware
Jun 22, 2005 8:29AM PDT

[1] Area-51

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(NT) (NT) Watchout for Alienware
Jun 22, 2005 11:36AM PDT
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what?
Jun 22, 2005 1:05PM PDT

why?

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ibuypower
Jun 24, 2005 10:20PM PDT

Try ibuypower.com They have some pretty good prices for their computers.

I wouldn't go with Falcon Northwest because they are insanely expensive, even with good money.

If you prefer a name brand, try Alienware or Gateway.(although Gateway doesn't use Athlon 64)

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second ibuypower
Jun 25, 2005 12:40AM PDT

excellent hardware, easy custom configuration and support

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(NT) (NT) hows bout cyberpower?
Jun 25, 2005 2:55AM PDT