Buying a desktop

[nightwolf]

Yes I'll be fine when it comes to monitors .

 

If I can't get a pc with 64bit vista and have to opt for 32 what do I do to get 64? Will I be able to change it with out extra cost?

[MoogleViper]

Yes I'll be fine when it comes to monitors .

 

If I can't get a pc with 64bit vista and have to opt for 32 what do I do to get 64? Will I be able to change it with out extra cost?

 

I'm not really sure but I think you will need to buy a new OS.

[Pookiablo]

Moogle's comp is an excellent system for the price, and if you change the card for the radeon one like.....someone (sorry!) said, then it'd probs be better but it's not gonna make a humongous difference.

[DCK]

Yes I'll be fine when it comes to monitors .

Monitors? Nice

If I can't get a pc with 64bit vista and have to opt for 32 what do I do to get 64? Will I be able to change it with out extra cost?

I doubt you'll find a store that'll sell you a 4 GB machine without giving you an option to buy Vista 64.

[nightwolf]

Monitors? Nice

I doubt you'll find a store that'll sell you a 4 GB machine without giving you an option to buy Vista 64.

 

At the moment I only plan on one monitor, but want two by next year. haha.

 

Hmm its finding a 4gb machine first thats at least semi decent.

[McPhee]

Ah ta! I won't be buying it til the parents get back off holiday, on the 8th ish I think.

 

The computer I'm looking at has two pci slots, but I'll be asking when I go in anyway (although they usually know fuck all I've found, but it'll be interesting)

 

PCI-e slots are the ones for graphics cards, PCI is for TV Tuners, Soundcards and the like. More complicated still, you need a computer with a PCI-e x16 slot to fit a decent graphics card. The x1 and x4 sizes are there to phase out PCI slots.

 

But yeah, most salesmen in Currys et all will look at you blankly if you ask them about that. They'll then guess the answer, sell you the wrong product and deny any knowledge of having told you BS when you come back demanding a refund. Great people, eh?

[DCK]

I will indeed need a powerful computer, but for the first year I think I can cope with the pc's I'm currently looking at with abit of an upgrade and worry when I get into the second year.

Just read this now... In that case you can save a lot of money by buying a dual core CPU, only one bench of 2 GB memory and an older graphics card. A simple Core 2 Duo and a second hand GeForce 8800GTX (lots will be selling these now, check eBay) should do more than fine for a year, and save you about 200 quid.

 

Next year Core 2 Quads will be a lot cheaper because of Intel's new processor, and there'll be all kinds of fancy new graphics cards. Get those, and then just add in a second bench of 4 GB memory, and you should be ready for the heavier stuff.

[nightwolf]

*sighs* I give up, sod the damn computer..haha

 

All I want is a damn desktop with 3/4gb of ram that can let me play games and run photoshop well..so much to think abooot *headache*

 

I can't buy a computer with 2gb because it'll more than likely be 32bit which means I then have to piss about getting 64bit and then getting 4gb ram DCK, surely? I'm not a good hardware person, so I'm trying to limit what I need to upgrade if possible.

 

McPhee, bah humbug. Unfortunetly I know they know pretty nothing and my parents know that to (thank the heavens), but they don't seem to bother listing anything like that, unless of course I once again go back to pcspecialists but I can't buy from them because they are online *shakes head*, I'm trying to find any computer that lists pci-e slots and pci slots together as well as graphics. hmm.

 

edit: Ok so these don't actually have pci-e slots from what I can tell but give me an idea (the first is abit too expensive, but never mind)

 

http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/store/cur_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1214998560.1219767816@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdgadeemkejdehcflgceggdhhmdgmk.0&page=Product&fm=1&sm=2&tm=2&sku=135065&category_oid=#productInformationSection

 

Then the one raining showed me:

 

http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/store/cur_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1214998560.1219767816@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdgadeemkejdehcflgceggdhhmdgmk.0&page=Product&fm=1&sm=2&tm=0&sku=391750&category_oid=-34984#productInformationSection

 

http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/490059/HP-FL233AA-A6544/tab/specification

 

...and dreaded pc world..Which have the rainings pc for 600, 30quid less, not bad.

 

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0656920945.1219768306@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdcadeemjfmjfdcflgceggdhhmdgmj.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=035569&category_oid=-34076

 

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0656920945.1219768306@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdcadeemjfmjfdcflgceggdhhmdgmj.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=135065&category_oid=

 

Thats a rough guide of what I've been looking at..

[Sanchez]

Perhaps a solution would be to give us a list of where you could buy from and then we can find the best option?

[nightwolf]

*points above* ^_^ one step ahead of you. Also this:

 

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5080458/c_1/1|category_root|Office%2C+PCs+and+phones|10198997/c_2/2|cat_10198997|Computers+and+laptops|10199166/c_3/3|cat_10199166|PCs|10199177.htm

 

Might be an idea, then buy a monitor seperate, I'm not sure how the parents would like it, but..

[Pookiablo]

You know that Packard Bell iXtreme 9600 one from PC World looks pretty decent for the price. GS graphic cards usually come with power saving options if I'm not correct? Usually better for not overheating your comp etc, plus 768mb GPU is pretty sweet although I've no idea what the clock speed of it is!

 

Now Nightwolf if only you'd marry me, then I'd be able to get you discount on the Argos computer as I work there! (Well will be starting there again next week after my little excursion abraod for the past 12 months....).

 

If it helps, I do make a pretty mean sausage and bean casserole!

[nightwolf]

haha! If you move to sheffield we have a deal!

 

I have noticed a few are ok, some have better bits than others, it would be ideal if I could combine several of them and have one super human computer, maybe I can con the parents into thinking an alienware computer would be ideal. /lolz

 

I'm quite surprised pc world had any computers I would accept, but its worth looking into to say the least. I was also quite surprised at argos, they tell you so much more than the three other companies do!

[Pookiablo]

Hmm I dunno....Sheffield's kinda far....not that you're not worth it or anything....wouldn't you rather just move south, we have things like TV and civilisation down here. Well, I'm sure I sounded like such the suitor just then!

 

Argos one looks good although not too sure about the graphics.

 

If you convince your parents to get you an Alienware system then you could pretty much do anything, like conquer Russia, so good luck! I remember I had enough trouble just convincing my Pop to let me buy my laptop with my own money....lol.

[nightwolf]

haha, I think moogleviper would understand my fustration if he visited me and saw my laptop.

 

Originally it wasn't too bad, although when I say wasn't too bad it would turn on and such but it still couldn't handle say loading black and white 2 without lag. So anything better than this (which now takes 20 minutes just to turn on) is a bonus for me.

 

I may look into the PC world one and see about the argos/curry one raining linked me, so thats down to about three unless some kind soul introduces me to another on those sites I've missed.

 

Ta for all the help guys, it really is appreciated!

[DCK]

I can't buy a computer with 2gb because it'll more than likely be 32bit which means I then have to piss about getting 64bit and then getting 4gb ram DCK, surely? I'm not a good hardware person, so I'm trying to limit what I need to upgrade if possible.

Yeah well, you asked for upgrade tips but then don't feel much like upgrading I'm trying my best to help but I don't really get what you want exactly or what your options are.

 

That Fujitsu PC is pretty good. You should go for that.

[nightwolf]

Yeah well, you asked for upgrade tips but then don't feel much like upgrading I'm trying my best to help but I don't really get what you want exactly or what your options are.

 

That Fujitsu PC is pretty good. You should go for that.

 

Oh no I wasn't trying to be snotty about it! It was actually a question I was curious about, wanting your advice.

 

As it stands my options are

 

No more than reallt £650 if I can help it

4gb if possible

Decent graphics card

From somewhere like comet/currys/argos/pc world.

 

[DCK]

No problem, I understand this is all a bit frustrating being so limited

 

That Fujitsu PC is pretty good. Just ask Argos if they want to put in the 4 GB (as it says it can have on the website) and install Vista 64 with that. Shouldn't make it much more than the 600 quid they're asking now.

[Guest Jordan]

Oh no I wasn't trying to be snotty about it! It was actually a question I was curious about, wanting your advice.

 

As it stands my options are

 

No more than reallt £650 if I can help it

4gb if possible

Decent graphics card

From somewhere like comet/currys/argos/pc world.

 

 

What you're asking is completely unrealistic. I've never seen a PC only (no monitor) machine from a store with that much RAM and a graphics card that doesn't seriously suck ass and back.

 

Nightwolf, i totally understand your parents for being pensive... but holy shit everyone on the internet isn't out to steal your money and defraud you as long as you're not an utter twat with your details.

[MoogleViper]

haha, I think moogleviper would understand my fustration if he visited me and saw my laptop.

 

Are you asking me on a date?

[nightwolf]

What you're asking is completely unrealistic. I've never seen a PC only (no monitor) machine from a store with that much RAM and a graphics card that doesn't seriously suck ass and back.

 

Nightwolf, i totally understand your parents for being pensive... but holy shit everyone on the internet isn't out to steal your money and defraud you as long as you're not an utter twat with your details.

 

If it's not possible then help me find something that is? From what I've been looking at I've got near that and besides the above is a guide, rather than set in stone. I would love to be able to have a decent graphics card but know where I'm buying from it isn't possible, but I would like as decent as I can get with the money I'm being given .

 

haha moogleviper, no

[Noodleman]

Do you actualy need a PC for anything other then essay writing though? When I was at uni i cant think of a single person that actualy did any programming or anything not during lab sessions on campus.

[nightwolf]

Do you actualy need a PC for anything other then essay writing though? When I was at uni i cant think of a single person that actualy did any programming or anything not during lab sessions on campus.

 

All I was told was have a good computer, something that can run programs I may need for gaming/animation/photography, no need to buy macs because there are suites.

 

[Noodleman]

Yeah the uni probably say that, they also tell you to buy loads of text books which is also a waste of time. Anything you'll need you can find on t'internet for free. I bought an absolutley massive Java book in my first week of uni on the lectureres suggestion and I just ended up using it to prop my door open for 3 years. I really wouldnt worry about it too much.

[nightwolf]

Yes I've been warned about the book thing, I'm trying not to, if anyone could look at the list I posted and just say like two that might be ok? that's fine then I can stop using the thread! ^_^

 

and then jordan can calm down :P

[MoogleViper]

32 bit Vista can take 3.2GB of RAM so those 3GB machines may have 32 bit on them.