Build or Buy?

[Davej]

Want to get a low-end gamer for around $1000-1200. Would perhaps buy
the HP d4650 (e6400) but Hp takes two weeks to ship. Any good
suggestions? Used to build my pc's but now I am incompetent plus it
always seemed somewhat more expensive. Thanks.

 

[beenthere]

Want to get a low-end gamer for around $1000-1200. Would perhaps buy
the HP d4650 (e6400) but Hp takes two weeks to ship. Any good
suggestions? Used to build my pc's but now I am incompetent plus it
always seemed somewhat more expensive. Thanks.

It`s the easy option D.
In fact it`s almost hassle-free.
There`s plenty of choice out there.
You know your budget.
Hunt the `net locally, and see what takes your fancy.
Don`t forget the warranty.
Larger Companies nearly always take longer to deliver.

 

[Mike T.]

Want to get a low-end gamer for around $1000-1200. Would perhaps buy
the HP d4650 (e6400) but Hp takes two weeks to ship. Any good
suggestions? Used to build my pc's but now I am incompetent plus it
always seemed somewhat more expensive. Thanks.

Look into a barebones system from www.mwave.com or tigerdirect or any other
good vendor

Best of both worlds, get nothing but high-quality, name-brand,
non-proprietary parts, and still skip most of the hassle of building your
own. -Dave

 

[BigJim]

research the video card you want because that along with ram memory is
really what makes a gamming system. Of course it goes without saying a good
amd or intel cpu is needed also.
MOST but not all systems off the shelf skimp on the video and memory.

 

[Davej]

research the video card you want because that along with ram memory is
really what makes a gamming system. Of course it goes without saying a good
amd or intel cpu is needed also.
MOST but not all systems off the shelf skimp on the video and memory.

How would you fellows evaluate this thing?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300066148046

 

[1932]

How would you fellows evaluate this thing?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300066148046

With E-bay the customer ratings are important, and they
seem pretty good.
Add the floppy drive !.

 

[Paul]

How would you fellows evaluate this thing?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300066148046

After going through the advert, it doesn't have a monitor. I was going
to advise buying a system without a monitor, so you can shop locally and
find something you can stand to look at.

*******
CPU : INTEL CORE 2 DUO E6600 2.4GHz DUAL CORE 1066MHZ FSB
(Nice processor - worth about $300+)
Motherboard : GIGABYTE GA-945P-S3 MAINBOARD 1066MHz FSB SUPPORT
( http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustratingReview.asp?item=N82E16813128015 reviews )
( http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/13-128-015-04.JPG picture )
There are Rev.1.0 and Rev.2.0. I assume this is Rev 2.
http://america.giga-byte.com/FileList/Manual/motherboard_manual_ga-945p-ds3_2.0_e.pdf
That probably is not the worst motherboard they could have used.

Memory : 2GB DDR-2 667FSB (PC5400) Memory
(No brand stated! You don't want "generic" "unmarked" memory.)
(The pictured memory is likely not what is used in the machine.)
(2x1GB sticks would look different than the ones pictures.)

Video Card : 256 MB nVIDIA Ge-Force 7300GS DVI/TV-OUT PCI EXPRESS VIDEO CARD
( Video card is low end. 64 bit video memory to GPU interface. Turbocache ? )
( http://www.techpowerup.com/gpudb/ card characteristics )
Seventh from the bottom here:
( http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.html )
Could be this XFX card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150128

Hard Drive : 250GB 7200RPM SATA II Hard Drive
OPTICAL DRIVE : 18X DUAL LAYER DVD-RW DRIVE / ADD A 1.44MB FLOPPY DRIVE FOR $11
( At least optical will be easy to replace, if it is a dog.)
Network Card : 10/100 Fast Ethernet Network Controller
( Possibly via the RTL8111B chip on the motherboard. )
Modem : V.92 56K PCI Data/Fax Modem (Optional PLEASE VISIT MY E-BAY STORE)
Sound Card : CMI 9739A 6 CHANNEL CODEC
( It is the motherboard sound solution. )
Case : ATX Case w/ Power Supply and Front USB Port
( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811212035 )
( It is a Coolmax case for $20.)
( The power supply listed is "450W", but no details. )
( If you upgrade the video in the future, the power supply may need to be upgraded too. )

Ports : Six USB 2.0 ports,1 serial, 1 parallel, 1 microphone jack
Keyboard/Mouse : 3-Button Scroll Mouse and Enhanced Keyboard
Speakers : 300WATT 2-Piece Multimedia Speakers
( Uh, yeah. )
Software :
This System does not include an Operating System, and most computers on eBay don't.
That's why we are offering a great deal on Windows XP HOME, and Windows XP PRO.
Condition : All system components are brand new. System is completely assembled and tested.
Warranty : 3-Year Limited Warranty w/LifeTime Free Technical Support
( Where lifetime, is the lifetime of their pet hamster. I don't see a
( phone number listed. Probably a toll call, and a wait on hold. )
*******

Nice, but not "$889 USD without OS" nice. I guess I'm just too picky for a
deal like this. If you got this offer in your town, from a local computer
store, at least you'd have small claims court to fall back on.
The problem with buying a package, is any one component can sour
the deal. And shipping via UPS - on an assembled system ? How
many pieces will it arrive in...

Of course, you are asking in "pc-homebuilt", so we are bound to
answer like this

Paul

 

[BigJim]

I like everything but the video card, it is a cheap model. Spend a few bucks
more for a better card. check it out on www.pricewatch.com

 

[Davej]

After going through the advert, it doesn't have a monitor. I was going
to advise buying a system without a monitor, so you can shop locally and
find something you can stand to look at.

*******
CPU : INTEL CORE 2 DUO E6600 2.4GHz DUAL CORE 1066MHZ FSB
(Nice processor - worth about $300+)
Motherboard : GIGABYTE GA-945P-S3 MAINBOARD 1066MHz FSB SUPPORT
( http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustratingReview.asp?item=N82E16813128015 reviews )
( http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/13-128-015-04.JPG picture )
There are Rev.1.0 and Rev.2.0. I assume this is Rev 2.
http://america.giga-byte.com/FileList/Manual/motherboard_manual_ga-945p-ds3_2.0_e.pdf
That probably is not the worst motherboard they could have used.

Memory : 2GB DDR-2 667FSB (PC5400) Memory
(No brand stated! You don't want "generic" "unmarked" memory.)
(The pictured memory is likely not what is used in the machine.)
(2x1GB sticks would look different than the ones pictures.)

Video Card : 256 MB nVIDIA Ge-Force 7300GS DVI/TV-OUT PCI EXPRESS VIDEO CARD
( Video card is low end. 64 bit video memory to GPU interface. Turbocache ? )
( http://www.techpowerup.com/gpudb/ card characteristics )
Seventh from the bottom here:
( http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.html )
Could be this XFX card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150128

Hard Drive : 250GB 7200RPM SATA II Hard Drive
OPTICAL DRIVE : 18X DUAL LAYER DVD-RW DRIVE / ADD A 1.44MB FLOPPY DRIVE FOR $11
( At least optical will be easy to replace, if it is a dog.)
Network Card : 10/100 Fast Ethernet Network Controller
( Possibly via the RTL8111B chip on the motherboard. )
Modem : V.92 56K PCI Data/Fax Modem (Optional PLEASE VISIT MY E-BAY STORE)
Sound Card : CMI 9739A 6 CHANNEL CODEC
( It is the motherboard sound solution. )
Case : ATX Case w/ Power Supply and Front USB Port
( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811212035 )
( It is a Coolmax case for $20.)
( The power supply listed is "450W", but no details. )
( If you upgrade the video in the future, the power supply may need to be upgraded too. )

Ports : Six USB 2.0 ports,1 serial, 1 parallel, 1 microphone jack
Keyboard/Mouse : 3-Button Scroll Mouse and Enhanced Keyboard
Speakers : 300WATT 2-Piece Multimedia Speakers
( Uh, yeah. )
Software :
This System does not include an Operating System, and most computers on eBay don't.
That's why we are offering a great deal on Windows XP HOME, and Windows XP PRO.
Condition : All system components are brand new. System is completely assembled and tested.
Warranty : 3-Year Limited Warranty w/LifeTime Free Technical Support
( Where lifetime, is the lifetime of their pet hamster. I don't see a
( phone number listed. Probably a toll call, and a wait on hold. )
*******

Nice, but not "$889 USD without OS" nice. I guess I'm just too picky for a
deal like this. If you got this offer in your town, from a local computer
store, at least you'd have small claims court to fall back on.
The problem with buying a package, is any one component can sour
the deal. And shipping via UPS - on an assembled system ? How
many pieces will it arrive in...

Of course, you are asking in "pc-homebuilt", so we are bound to
answer like this

Paul

Thanks for the analysis Paul, and you raise some good points. The
memory is nameless and it isn't 800MHz, and the video card looks pretty
sad at the bottom of the list.

 

[OSbandito]

Want to get a low-end gamer for around $1000-1200. Would perhaps buy
the HP d4650 (e6400) but Hp takes two weeks to ship. Any good
suggestions? Used to build my pc's but now I am incompetent plus it
always seemed somewhat more expensive. Thanks.

D--you might want to check with Russell Sullivan, the "RussellS" who has
been a reliable poster in this group. I looked over his website (check
at the bot. of his posts if you wish) and they seem to run a first-rate
custom-build shop. I don't know Russell personally, just from helpful
posts he's made. In any case, have fun with the project and, as always,
report back here on your satisfaction with any new machine (if you have
the specs).

 

[VanShania]

You can build or buy a low end gamer, but all you will get is frustration. I
have an ATI All-in-Wonder 9800Pro 128 mb card and a Sapphire X1600Pro 512mb
card. They both benchmark pretty well equal. When I'm playing Civ4 or Need
for speed, the graphic settings have to be cranked all the way down, and/or
set screen resolution to 800X600 just to get smooth graphics. I would say
build your own and spend $1500. Make sure you get either a ATI X1900 series
card or a Nvidia 7900(XFX getting good reviews) series card, a gig(minimum)
of dual channel ram(PC2-6400 800mhz of course), and minimum 2.4ghz cpu.
Its interesting, the Sapphire card has 512mb vram, but its so underpowered
it will never use it.

--
Love and Teach, Not Yell and Beat
Stop Violence and Child Abuse.
No such thing as Bad Kids. Only Bad Parents.
The most horrible feeling in the world is knowing that No One is There to
Protect You.

A64 3500+, Gigabyte GA-K8NSC-939,AIW 9800 Pro 128mb
MSI 550 Pro, X-Fi, Pioneer 110D, 111D
Antec 550 watt,Thermaltake Lanfire,2 Gb OCZ Platinum 2-3-2-5
2XSATA 320gb Raid Edition, PATA 120Gb
XP MCE2005, 19in Viewsonic,BenchMark 2001 SE- 19074
Games I'm Playing- NFS: Most Wanted, Civ 4

 

[Ed Medlin]

D--you might want to check with Russell Sullivan, the "RussellS" who has
been a reliable poster in this group. I looked over his website (check
at the bot. of his posts if you wish) and they seem to run a first-rate
custom-build shop. I don't know Russell personally, just from helpful
posts he's made. In any case, have fun with the project and, as always,
report back here on your satisfaction with any new machine (if you have
the specs).

I have heard no bad things about Russell........If I were not a builder
myself, I would not hesitate to have him build a system. If you decide to go
it on your own, not a lot has changed except that the MB and CPU are not as
expensive as they were 4-5yrs ago, but higher-end video cards and memory can
be the most expensive items in the box. I would not go with HP if I went
with a major brand. Their service is not great and their use of proprietory
parts is a PIA as far as I am concerned. With Dell, at least you can specify
a lot of what goes into the box and their service/support is a bit better.
Gateway is not much better than HP.

Ed

 

[Davej]

You can build or buy a low end gamer, but all you will get is frustration. I
have an ATI All-in-Wonder 9800Pro 128 mb card and a Sapphire X1600Pro 512mb
card. They both benchmark pretty well equal. When I'm playing Civ4 or Need
for speed, the graphic settings have to be cranked all the way down, and/or
set screen resolution to 800X600 just to get smooth graphics. I would say
build your own and spend $1500. Make sure you get either a ATI X1900 series
card or a Nvidia 7900(XFX getting good reviews) series card, a gig(minimum)
of dual channel ram(PC2-6400 800mhz of course), and minimum 2.4ghz cpu.
Its interesting, the Sapphire card has 512mb vram, but its so underpowered
it will never use it.

This brings up a question I have wanted to ask. What about LCD
monitors? Do they handle multiple resolutions well? With a game I know
you often have to adjust the screen resolution to match the
performance/frame-rate your system can support.

 

[RussellS]

I have heard no bad things about Russell........If I were not a builder
myself, I would not hesitate to have him build a system. If you decide to
go it on your own, not a lot has changed except that the MB and CPU are
not as expensive as they were 4-5yrs ago, but higher-end video cards and
memory can be the most expensive items in the box. I would not go with HP
if I went with a major brand. Their service is not great and their use of
proprietory parts is a PIA as far as I am concerned. With Dell, at least
you can specify a lot of what goes into the box and their service/support
is a bit better. Gateway is not much better than HP.

Ed

-----------------------------------------
Thanks for the mention. Dave, if you would like some help in configuring
the best-fit system for your intended use and budget, please feel free to
e-mail or call me at any time (contact info on my site.) We frequently
build systems using alternate components not listed in the default
configurations listed online, if desired. Likewise, I'm happy to help you
decide on the best fit for you if you decide to build your own, or go with
another vendor; just let me know.

 

[RussellS]

This brings up a question I have wanted to ask. What about LCD
monitors? Do they handle multiple resolutions well? With a game I know
you often have to adjust the screen resolution to match the
performance/frame-rate your system can support.

--------------------
It depends upon the particular graphics card, monitor and game that you'll
be using. Best to have graphics with 256MB+ memory, DVI and decent
performance in the mid-range price sphere. Also good to get an LCD with
decent contrast ratio and black-to-black timings (5-8ms). LCDs work best in
their native aspect ratio, but are improving greatly in their gaming
performance.