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Buying a Desktop Computer

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baseball4's avatar

baseball4

Senior Member

279 posts
Nov 3, 2011 9:52 AM
Anyone a computer junkie? I'm looking into buying a desktop before I start school up in the beginning of 2012. I am looking for something that is pretty basic, just something that I can use to write papers and do research.

I'm assuming it'd be a good idea to wait until the holiday sales all kick in to go shopping, but I'm just trying to get an idea of what I should be looking for.

Thanks.
Nov 3, 2011 9:52am
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Nov 3, 2011 9:53 AM
Don't buy a MAC.
Nov 3, 2011 9:53am
se-alum's avatar

se-alum

The Biggest Boss

13,948 posts
Nov 3, 2011 9:54 AM
If you don't mind me asking, why a desktop as opposed to a laptop?
Nov 3, 2011 9:54am
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Nov 3, 2011 9:54 AM
Build. It. Yourself.

If you are a sissy and afraid to do that/too lazy to learn how (it's really easy) then find a local person to build one for you. You'll likely save cash over a comparable system from a big box retailer and you'll be able to customize the hardware to exactly what you want/need.
Nov 3, 2011 9:54am
FatHobbit's avatar

FatHobbit

Senior Member

8,651 posts
Nov 3, 2011 9:54 AM
Get an ipad2
Nov 3, 2011 9:54am
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

Senior Member

10,760 posts
Nov 3, 2011 9:56 AM
I Wear Pants;956027 wrote:Build. It. Yourself.

If you are a sissy and afraid to do that/too lazy to learn how (it's really easy) then find a local person to build one for you. You'll likely save cash over a comparable system from a big box retailer and you'll be able to customize the hardware to exactly what you want/need.
+1
Nov 3, 2011 9:56am
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Nov 3, 2011 9:56 AM
se-alum;956025 wrote:If you don't mind me asking, why a desktop as opposed to a laptop?
Cheaper.

Book it.
Nov 3, 2011 9:56am
baseball4's avatar

baseball4

Senior Member

279 posts
Nov 3, 2011 9:59 AM
se-alum;956025 wrote:If you don't mind me asking, why a desktop as opposed to a laptop?
I have a laptop, but it's a mini. It's definitely not convenient for writing papers. It's nice to have on campus because I can pull it out anywhere (pun intended).
Nov 3, 2011 9:59am
baseball4's avatar

baseball4

Senior Member

279 posts
Nov 3, 2011 10:01 AM
I Wear Pants;956027 wrote:Build. It. Yourself.

If you are a sissy and afraid to do that/too lazy to learn how (it's really easy) then find a local person to build one for you. You'll likely save cash over a comparable system from a big box retailer and you'll be able to customize the hardware to exactly what you want/need.
I'm a sissy because I don't build my own computers? Do you hear yourself when you talk???

I understand the benefits from doing so, but I'm not the kind of guy that can just sit down and "make" a computer.
Nov 3, 2011 10:01am
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Nov 3, 2011 10:06 AM
baseball4;956045 wrote:I'm a sissy because I don't build my own computers? Do you hear yourself when you talk???

I understand the benefits from doing so, but I'm not the kind of guy that can just sit down and "make" a computer.
Pretty sure he doesn't mean sissy in the normal sense.

What's your budget?
Nov 3, 2011 10:06am
Automatik's avatar

Automatik

Senior Member

14,632 posts
Nov 3, 2011 10:06 AM
Cnet reviews are usually pretty good to go by.
http://reviews.cnet.com/desktop-computers/?tag=hdr;brandnav

But yea....when talking deskstops you can definitely get more bang for the buck building your own. Its not too difficult and pretty fun actually.
Nov 3, 2011 10:06am
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Nov 3, 2011 10:07 AM
baseball4;956045 wrote:I'm a sissy because I don't build my own computers? Do you hear yourself when you talk???

I understand the benefits from doing so, but I'm not the kind of guy that can just sit down and "make" a computer.
Understand the joke broheim. And I'm deaf. Thanks for reminding me of that dick.

But I was serious about my advice. Either research a little bit and buy the parts from Newegg and put it together or find someone to do the same for you. You'll save money, likely have better components, and if you did it right have a better idea of what's in your machine so when something goes wrong you can more easily fix it/identify the problem.
Nov 3, 2011 10:07am
baseball4's avatar

baseball4

Senior Member

279 posts
Nov 3, 2011 10:22 AM
I Wear Pants;956053 wrote:Understand the joke broheim. And I'm deaf. Thanks for reminding me of that dick.

But I was serious about my advice. Either research a little bit and buy the parts from Newegg and put it together or find someone to do the same for you. You'll save money, likely have better components, and if you did it right have a better idea of what's in your machine so when something goes wrong you can more easily fix it/identify the problem.
Well then my apologies. I didn't mean to offend you.

@justincredible

I don't really have a budget. Not trying to sound like a snob, but I'm sure that with the sales all coming up for the holidays and buying something basic -- none of it would be out of my price range.
Nov 3, 2011 10:22am
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Nov 3, 2011 10:24 AM
baseball4;956079 wrote:Well then my apologies. I didn't mean to offend you.

@justincredible

I don't really have a budget. Not trying to sound like a snob, but I'm sure that with the sales all coming up for the holidays and buying something basic -- none of it would be out of my price range.
Protip: This is the internet and as such I'm not really deaf but that seemed like the proper response. Otherwise my "What are you listening to?" thread would be kind of silly.
Nov 3, 2011 10:24am
baseball4's avatar

baseball4

Senior Member

279 posts
Nov 3, 2011 10:30 AM
I Wear Pants;956082 wrote:Protip: This is the internet and as such I'm not really deaf but that seemed like the proper response. Otherwise my "What are you listening to?" thread would be kind of silly.
Touche.
Nov 3, 2011 10:30am
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Nov 3, 2011 10:32 AM
baseball4;956096 wrote:Touche.
Pretty sure it starts with a "D".
Nov 3, 2011 10:32am
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Nov 3, 2011 10:33 AM
justincredible;956102 wrote:I like the "D"
FIFY
Nov 3, 2011 10:33am
j_crazy's avatar

j_crazy

7 gram rocks. how i roll.

8,372 posts
Nov 3, 2011 10:44 AM
Build it in newegg. Cheapest option.
Nov 3, 2011 10:44am
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Nov 3, 2011 10:59 AM
How much did you guys spend to build your last machine? I built one a little over a year ago and spent ~$500. I think.
Nov 3, 2011 10:59am
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Nov 3, 2011 11:05 AM
justincredible;956151 wrote:How much did you guys spend to build your last machine? I built one a little over a year ago and spent ~$500. I think.
2005, $700 and it's still the machine I use and doesn't have any slowdowns or "old computer" symptoms for the things I use (Web, Media, Office, Adobe Suite, games (ones like Oblivion, Half-Life 2, etc not brand new games anymore).

You can certainly build a system that is more than adequate for web browsing, and Office use for under $500.
Nov 3, 2011 11:05am
wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

Tomfoolery & shenanigans

17,977 posts
Nov 3, 2011 11:05 AM
justincredible;956151 wrote:How much did you guys spend to build your last machine? I built one a little over a year ago and spent ~$500. I think.

Not sure.

How this helps.
Nov 3, 2011 11:05am
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Nov 3, 2011 11:07 AM
wes_mantooth;956159 wrote:Not sure.

How this helps.
I dunno, how does it?
Nov 3, 2011 11:07am
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Nov 3, 2011 11:08 AM
I Wear Pants;956158 wrote:2005, $700 and it's still the machine I use and doesn't have any slowdowns or "old computer" symptoms for the things I use (Web, Media, Office, Adobe Suite, games (ones like Oblivion, Half-Life 2, etc not brand new games anymore).

You can certainly build a system that is more than adequate for web browsing, and Office use for under $500.
Mine is pretty beastly. I bought a dual core AMD processor that I was able to unlock into a quad core. No video card, though. Because PC gaming is for dorks.
Nov 3, 2011 11:08am
j_crazy's avatar

j_crazy

7 gram rocks. how i roll.

8,372 posts
Nov 3, 2011 11:10 AM
i built mine for 1400, but it was a high powered machine. built to burn blu-rays and game on. at the time a similar alienware machine was about 3200 bucks.
Nov 3, 2011 11:10am
wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

Tomfoolery & shenanigans

17,977 posts
Nov 3, 2011 11:10 AM
justincredible;956162 wrote:I dunno, how does it?

Lol...fucking swype
Nov 3, 2011 11:10am