The Computer Thread

So, I'm looking to get a new laptop, because my current six year old machine is starting to randomly blue screen during video games. Unfortunately, I'm poor. Where can I find cheap machines of decent quality. I am sufficiently familiar that I can drop in new parts myself so RAM and HD aren't that big of a deal for me.

Laptops won't play games for a decent amount, but I can suggest desktops or desktop specs if you're willing to build, which I highly suggest.

"I can suggest desktops or desktop specs if you're willing to build, which I highly suggest."

Me as well. In Scottish vernacular, the stores that sell those bloody laptop pieces of keech have big glass windaes. Sae they can see ye coming. (The stores that sell those laptop pieces of shit have big glass windows. So they can see you coming)

Which is not a good thing.

I disagree with laptops not being decent. I also disagree in having to pay above 2-grand for a laptop. Asus G-series machines run pretty well. Plus, portability (they are a bit heavy, though).

That said, a desktop build will be a lot cheaper.

I never said they weren't decent—I said they aren't decent unless you spend above $1000, and that's only if you're looking to game.

But if you do build, do i3/AS Rock Pro4 ATX/Radeon 6870 or 7850/other standard stuff.

Why just an i3? i5 isn't that much more pricey, and more capable - and if I hadn't been given a mobo that was 1366-chipset only, I would've done a more budget-minded and simpler i5 build.

But hey, free stuff, I only have to buy the processor.

Because gaming doesn't require any more than two cores. i3 works just fine. The difference between the two is minimal, and the price difference is ~$50 or more. It's worth it to get a low end CPU and a high end GPU if you're gaming.

And hell, if you find that you need more power for multitasking or something, you can upgrade later, right? It's all 1155.

I think you mean Socket 1366 only, the chipset defines which chips are what in the motherboard. What are you planning to use for the CPU?

edited 5th Jul '12 8:37:50 PM by Shaggy

i7-960, got it for 300. Should keep me nice and current for the next three years...

I'm kind of not in the mood to build my own machine or I'd be building a desktop. I don't want a modern powerhouse, I just need something decent. And preferably with a large screen.

@Tam (previous page): So you're comparing a machine with a 2880x1800 screen to one with not even 1080p, I bet? I can't on a quick search even find a non-Apple 15" laptop with 1080p let alone bigger. Comparing prices on e.g. Dell, the only thing that's remotely close in terms of specs is something like the Alienware 14", though that has a much lower res screen; specced out to about the same price as the Macbook Pro gives a price about $200 cheaper, which is I think a reasonable price to pay for that new technology high-res screen and the fact that it weighs about half as much. Dell and Apple charge about the same for the SSD bump, it seems; Dell charge $50 less for the memory.

The MBP sorely needs to have the 2GB of graphics memory instead of 1, though; with a screen that's that big, it's pushing it. Probably a space & heat issue, and I imagine the next rev of them will have it.

I suspect Apple kit is worse priced in the UK compared to the US, though.

That is one thing that Apple has right, and that's nice displays.

Any display over 1920x1200p - I prefer that to 1920x1080p but hardly any bugger sells that display type - mainly to suit the assholes in the MPAA - who have mandated an inferior model as the best because they can and most people don't know any better, is, well, to put it mildly, willy waving as far as I am concerned. It is extra expense for the sake of expense. I would rather have the cash spent on memory, both RAM and SSD space than indulge Skull Mountain's Cupertino's branch's^ fetish for ever more extravagant display "quality".

Besides, I would not be able to tell any difference - I am extremely short-sighted and hence wear spectacles that are the thickness of the bottom of the average Coca-Cola bottle and this stuffs up my perception of display quality somewhat.

Other people may be of a different opinion but that is their prerogative as far as I am concerned.

^And yep, I did accuse Apple of being run by Skeletor. Deal.

Posting here to avoid posting a new conversation: have you guys heard of the "DN Schanger" virus?

Supposedly, the FBI is about to pull the plug on a handful of servers, and somehow (because virus) it will disactivate the internet from several people, specifically people infected with the DN Schanger.

And somehow, clicking a link on a gouvernement website would cleanse your computer and prevent you from being disconnected on monday (because the disconnection is on monday).

Now, I normally wouldn't pay any mind to this rumor, but it was mentionned on a fairly big and trustable radio station. In fact, they had an interview about it. With a guy I never heard of.

I'm puzzled by this story. On one hand, it sounds like a classical internet trap (do X, or else your Y will be broken!), on the other hand, there is supposedly a canadian website which exist to "clean" the virus, and again, it was mentionned on a quite important radio.

What do you guys make of this?

Would it be worth a new OTD thread maybe?

I've heard of it, but can't remember any details.

Morven, do you know how much it would cost me to get a PC with the same specs as an iMac?

@Deboss— Budget? Preferred parts? Requirements? Come on, give us details.

edited 6th Jul '12 3:04:37 PM by Shaggy

The Dell XPS One 27" is pretty equivalent to the 27" iMac. They appear to use the same screen, similar processors, same memory options available, same kind of range of hard drive options, and seemingly equivalent GPUs (though the Dell uses nVidia and the Apple, ATI).

The Apple's a bit more expensive, of course. It's $400 more for the top-end iMac than the top-end XPS One, though the iMac has a faster CPU (3.4 vs. 3.2 GHz, though Dell is a bit of a liar; they state the max Turbo Boost speed rather than the real base clock speed, which I had to look up elsewhere).

At north of $2000, neither is cheap, though 27" displays at that resolution are not cheap either; Dell's and Apple's standalone 27" 2560x1440 displays are both essentially a thousand bucks.

edited 7th Jul '12 1:17:42 AM by Morven

All in one PCs are a waste of money. Any display with a higher res than 1920 x 1080 is a waste of money because no one can tell the difference. That's why Apple products are overpriced.

edited 7th Jul '12 1:59:57 AM by Shaggy

Approximately $500 (although, I have no idea if this is reasonable), my current machine runs DDR 2 and I can swap those parts, got a 2.5' HD. Would like a screen in the 17-21 inch range (current is 19') but anything I can run in 1920x1200 or around there is good.

$500 won't get you a video card in a laptop. What are you looking to do with it, gaming, presumably?

IMO, that's the problem stated right there. "I don't value this, so therefore it's a ripoff".

I'm one of those 'no one'. I can tell the difference. And I have sucky eyesight. I can especially tell the difference on a desktop monitor, like the 23" 1920x1200 I have at home and work. Higher resolution means crisper & more accurate font rendering, for one thing, and that's a big one.

Which is why I've always seen Macs being used for high-end publishing stuff - accurate portrayal to how it will look when printed up. We use a Macbook Pro at Church to remote-control our Presonus soundboard, and we can even use an iPad to remote the remote, so I can control the board from pretty much wherever I want, so I can walk around and troubleshoot sound issues on the fly. We also use the Mac for video editing and cleaning up raw sound recordings captured from the Presonus. So from a professional standpoint, I think a Mac is well worth the cost.

But for personal usage, I prefer a PC.

Does anyone have tips for the general process of building your own desktop? Where do you order the parts from and how do you ensure that they are compatible?

Micro Center or Newegg.

A motherboard has two sizes: ATX or Micro ATX (abbreviated as mATX). The case will have to support ATX and/or Micro ATX.

The CPU will have to be supported by the motherboard. Under the listing for the CPU, it will describe its socket. For example, Core i3, i5, and i7 use LGA 1155. AMD FX uses AM 3+. The motherboard will have to support the socket type.

Make sure your power supply and motherboard have enough SATA cables to support your optical and hard drives.

If you are gaming, get a power supply with 600 watts. If you are not, 300 watts or more will work.

What are you looking to do? I can get you a build if you'd like. You just have to follow the instructions in the manuals, and maybe look up a few online guides.

>implying you can't get the same resolution with a PC

Plus, this.

edited 7th Jul '12 8:32:29 PM by Shaggy

Well currently the main thing I use my desktop for is playing Achron. I haven't come up with specific requirements yet, so I'm mostly just looking for general advice for when I do decide to replace my computer.

What are your current specs?