Apparently still need help with finding a place to buy a comp

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12-07-2009, 11:21 PM
Shodokan

Apparently still need help with finding a place to buy a comp

Case ( CoolerMaster HAF 922 Mid Tower Gaming Case - Black )Processor ( [== Quad Core ==] AMD Phenom™ II X4 945 Quad-Core CPU )
Motherboard ( Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P -- AMD 770 Chipset w/7.1 Sound, Gb LAN, S-ATA Raid, USB 2.0, PCI-E MB )
Memory ( 8 GB [2 GB X4] DDR3-1600 Memory Module - Corsair or Major Brand )
Video Card ( NVIDIA GeForce GTX 275 – 896MB - Single Card )
Case Lighting ( None )
Power Supply ( 700 Watt -- Power Supply - SLI Ready )
Processor Cooling ( XIGMATEK Dark Knight 120mm CPU Cooling Fan System - H.D.T. (Heat-pipe direct touch) technology )
Video Card Brand ( Major Brand Powered by ATI or NVIDIA )
Primary Hard Drive ( 320 GB HARD DRIVE -- 16M Cache, 7200 RPM, 3.0Gb/s - Single Drive )
Data Hard Drive ( 320 GB HARD DRIVE -- 16M Cache, 7200 RPM, 3.0Gb/s - Single Drive )
2nd Optical Drive ( None )
Optical Drive ( 22X Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive - Black )
External Hard Drives [USB 2.0/eSATA] ( None )
Sound Card ( 3D Premium Surround Sound Onboard )
Speaker System ( iBUYPOWER 2.1 Channel Stereo Super Bass Subwoofer Speaker System )
Network Card ( Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100) )
Floppy Drive ( None )
Monitor ( None )
Keyboard ( iBUYPOWER USB Keyboard - Black )
Mouse ( iBUYPOWER Internet Mouse - Black )
Operating System ( Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium + [Free 60-Day !!!] Microsoft Office 2007(Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access ....) - 64-Bit )
Warranty ( Standard Warranty Service - Standard 3-Year Limited Warranty + Lifetime Technical Support )
Rush Service ( Rush Service Fee (not shipping fee) - [RUSH !!!], Ship Out in 3 Business Days )
Advanced Build Options ( iBUYPOWER Specialized Advanced Packaging System - Protect your investment during transportation! )
Advanced Build Options ( Tuniq TX-2 High Performance Thermal Compound - The best interface between your CPU and the heatsinks )
Advanced Build Options ( Professional wiring for all cables inside the system tower - Achieve exceptional airflow in your chassis )
Video Camera ( None )
Power Protection ( None )
Headset ( None )
Printer ( None )
Meter Display ( None )
Flash Media Reader/Writer ( 12-In-1 Internal Flash Media Card Reader/Writer - Black )
MP3/MP4 Player ( None )
USB Flash Drive ( None )
2nd Monitor ( None )
iBUYPOWER Labs - Noise Reduction ( None )
iBUYPOWER Labs - Internal Expansion ( None )
Netbook / Notebook Bundle ( None )

Shipped is 1250

Not bad for the money... considering i get an OS.

Option to pay in 6 months = my dad in heaven.
12-07-2009, 11:27 PM
yaki

I'm guessing you bought from iBUYPOWER...I hope you weren't expecting competent tech support, or for your computer not to be put together by untrained poo-flinging monkeys from returned parts.

http://consumer.hardocp.com/article....wsaGNvbnN1bWVy
12-07-2009, 11:40 PM
Shodokan

Quote:

Originally Posted by yaki

I'm guessing you bought from iBUYPOWER...I hope you weren't expecting competent tech support, or for your computer not to be put together by untrained poo-flinging monkeys from returned parts.

http://consumer.hardocp.com/article....wsaGNvbnN1bWVy

I still need to press GO. But i got the go ahead from pops...just need to grab his CC info.

Also that link doesn't work.
12-07-2009, 11:47 PM
yaki

Works for me. This goes to the first page though, which might work better.

http://consumer.hardocp.com/article....t=MTA4NywxLCw=

Short version: it got 2/10 for being complete screwups and in general doing what I said above.

"we don’t recommend iBUYPOWER and consider them an example of one of the worst integrators we’ve dealt with"
12-07-2009, 11:52 PM
Shodokan

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/iBUYPOWER

I went through about 9 pages... mostly good reviews.
12-07-2009, 11:57 PM
yaki

Suggests one of several things:

1) They've improved from a flaming ball of crap to become a respectable business
2) The data is off
3) They're paying someone to make the data be off

I'm sort of looking around at what other options are available...of the huge list of doom above, which parts do you actually care about? Or any at all, as long as you get the 5 box / 1 PC list of quad core + lots of RAM + relatively robust video card?

Ratings or no ratings, I would have been going "uh, what??" about the time I saw that "or major brand" on the memory. Also "700 Watt -- Power Supply - SLI Ready" is an invitation for them to ship you a steaming pile of crap with wires attached. You really want to know what you're getting in terms of who made your memory and power supply.
12-08-2009, 12:20 AM
Shodokan

Quote:

Originally Posted by yaki

Suggests one of several things:

1) They've improved from a flaming ball of crap to become a respectable business
2) The data is off
3) They're paying someone to make the data be off

I'm sort of looking around at what other options are available...of the huge list of doom above, which parts do you actually care about? Or any at all, as long as you get the 5 box / 1 PC list of quad core + lots of RAM + relatively robust video card?

Ratings or no ratings, I would have been going "uh, what??" about the time I saw that "or major brand" on the memory. Also "700 Watt -- Power Supply - SLI Ready" is an invitation for them to ship you a steaming pile of crap with wires attached. You really want to know what you're getting in terms of who made your memory and power supply.

I need something that can 5box REALLY well, for under 1500

I was going to go with a good dell untill i realized that it was going to be extremely poorly ventilated.
12-08-2009, 12:28 AM
yaki

brief 5-box 1-PC guide

quad core processor (intel preferred but NOT necessary, WoW is old)
mid-market or better video card, older generations fine, double-decker cards can have issues (does not need to handle Crysis at max, but does need to handle several 3d apps simultaneously)
8GB+ RAM with any reputable brand at all standing behind it
SOLID power supply, Corsair is good, others if you research it well (very well, most people don't know good PSUs from bad until it fries their computer, and many of them write reviews)
7200 RPM hard drive with enough space to install WoW (IMO messing with RAID is too much trouble if that's where you were going with 2x320GB, but low-budget SSDs can be helpful for some things)
as many pixels as you have money for with as good of a panel as you have money for
something with keys
something with buttons
something that beeps
something that can read WoW install discs
something to plug a network cable into

Starter questions: can you install anything yourself? Something as simple as connecting a hard drive or installing memory can save you money. 8GB of memory doesn't cost that much these days...but more if you get it preinstalled.
12-08-2009, 12:29 AM
suicidesspyder

I told u mine only cost 1400 dollers and i fget 60 fps in dalaran on all 5 lol.
12-08-2009, 12:37 AM
Shodokan

Quote:

Originally Posted by yaki

brief 5-box 1-PC guide

quad core processor (intel preferred but NOT necessary, WoW is old)
mid-market or better video card, older generations fine, double-decker cards can have issues (does not need to handle Crysis at max, but does need to handle several 3d apps simultaneously)
8GB+ RAM with any reputable brand at all standing behind it
SOLID power supply, Corsair is good, others if you research it well (very well, most people don't know good PSUs from bad until it fries their computer, and many of them write reviews)
7200 RPM hard drive with enough space to install WoW (IMO messing with RAID is too much trouble if that's where you were going with 2x320GB, but low-budget SSDs can be helpful for some things)
as many pixels as you have money for with as good of a panel as you have money for
something with keys
something with buttons
something that beeps
something that can read WoW install discs
something to plug a network cable into

Starter questions: can you install anything yourself? Something as simple as connecting a hard drive or installing memory can save you money. 8GB of memory doesn't cost that much these days...but more if you get it preinstalled.

i've installed graphics cards, nic cards, sound cards, RAM, and hd before

Quote:

Originally Posted by suicidesspyder

I told u mine only cost 1400 dollers and i fget 60 fps in dalaran on all 5 lol.

i have 100$ less to go with, it has to be equal value to a comparably priced laptop.
12-08-2009, 12:51 AM
yaki

Hell. For that, you're about a CPU and some motherboard screws away from building your own. How big a concern is whole-system tech support (i.e. "my computer's not working, YOU fix it")? If it needs to be OEM...you will still almost always save substantial money buying your memory separately, installing it yourself, and sticking whatever minimum amount it came with on a shelf somewhere if you plan to put above the minimum memory sold into the system. Often the case for many other components as well, although the amount of extra crap you have to accept in the name of having a "complete" system can build up to the point that this breaks down. Newegg = at cost, from OEM = another layer of someone adding a % for profit margins, for anything you can't (or don't want to) handle yourself.

AVAdirect.com seems like it can hit around the same pricing. Probably others can as well. The build looks fine for this, I'm just concerned that iBuyPower has a really bad reputation in the circles I'm used to learning about this stuff from.
12-08-2009, 01:07 AM
Shodokan

Quote:

Originally Posted by yaki

Hell. For that, you're about a CPU and some motherboard screws away from building your own. How big a concern is whole-system tech support (i.e. "my computer's not working, YOU fix it")? If it needs to be OEM...you will still almost always save substantial money buying your memory separately, installing it yourself, and sticking whatever minimum amount it came with on a shelf somewhere if you plan to put above the minimum memory sold into the system. Often the case for many other components as well, although the amount of extra crap you have to accept in the name of having a "complete" system can build up to the point that this breaks down. Newegg = at cost, from OEM = another layer of someone adding a % for profit margins, for anything you can't (or don't want to) handle yourself.

AVAdirect.com seems like it can hit around the same pricing. Probably others can as well. The build looks fine for this, I'm just concerned that iBuyPower has a really bad reputation in the circles I'm used to learning about this stuff from.

AVAdirect is much more expensive for an exact replica system. About 400$ more.
12-08-2009, 01:23 AM
yaki

I tweaked it a little bit to make it more robust and to keep the cost down where the difference was not very relevant for the application. I think it came out to about $10 more. I can post it tomorrow if necessary.

Also the *exact* system is $200 cheaper if you put it together yourself from Newegg parts neglecting the case and peripherals, with zero shopping around or substitution. Count it closer to $100 after you get those, but potentially less if you jiggle the parts list. Wait, I lie - I substituted good memory and a solid PSU for the "unknown origin" parts iBuyPower wanted to sell you. So for $100 saved and the cost of some time on the weekend putting it together, you get a more reliable system. If I missed anything significant let me know, but this should be everything minus the bits I mentioned (case + keyboard + mouse + throwaway-grade speakers).

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Pu...umber=16549728

Actually for that $100-200, you could get some pretty nice speakers to go with it. Not that WoW has that wonderful of a soundtrack, but there's always foobar2k in the background or movies on the other monitor.
12-08-2009, 01:29 AM
Shodokan

Quote:

Originally Posted by yaki

I tweaked it a little bit to make it more robust and to keep the cost down where the difference was not very relevant for the application. I think it came out to about $10 more. I can post it tomorrow if necessary.

Also the *exact* system is $200 cheaper if you put it together yourself from Newegg parts neglecting the case and peripherals, with zero shopping around or substitution. Count it closer to $100 after you get those, but potentially less if you jiggle the parts list. Wait, I lie - I substituted good memory and a solid PSU for the "unknown origin" parts iBuyPower wanted to sell you. So for $100 saved and the cost of some time on the weekend putting it together, you get a more reliable system. If I missed anything significant let me know, but this should be everything minus the bits I mentioned (case + keyboard + mouse + throwaway-grade speakers).

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Pu...umber=16549728

Actually for that $100-200, you could get some pretty nice speakers to go with it. Not that WoW has that wonderful of a soundtrack, but there's always foobar2k in the background or movies on the other monitor.

Including case it will be around 1150.

I already have dolby digital surround for my computer with a 1.5 food subwoofer.

But i'm not sure i trust myself installing a cooling system and a CPU.
12-08-2009, 01:31 AM
yaki

Installing the CPU is child's play if you follow the instructions. Earth yourself, drop it in, flip the clip. Installing the heatsink can be more interesting.

I wonder if there are relevant barebones systems...
12-08-2009, 02:06 AM
Shodokan

Quote:

Originally Posted by yaki

Installing the CPU is child's play if you follow the instructions. Earth yourself, drop it in, flip the clip. Installing the heatsink can be more interesting.

I wonder if there are relevant barebones systems...

No idea... i havn't tried looking.
12-08-2009, 02:27 AM
yaki

I know some places will premount the CPU on request, or at least some would a few years back the last time I needed to know. I don't remember where, so I'm asking elsewhere.
12-08-2009, 02:33 AM
Shodokan

Quote:

Originally Posted by yaki

I know some places will premount the CPU on request, or at least some would a few years back the last time I needed to know. I don't remember where, so I'm asking elsewhere.

Thanks :)
12-08-2009, 02:38 AM
yaki

http://www.mwave.com/

They'll do it if you buy both CPU and mobo from them. Depending on what you buy they may or may not charge - the guy that told me about it said $9.99, but the random combo I checked had free assembly/testing available.

Pricing looks good there in general...I'd still check a given item against Newegg & ZipZoomFly (at least) to verify this and to keep an eye out for specials that might make it worth splitting the order.
12-08-2009, 02:49 AM
Shodokan

Quote:

Originally Posted by yaki

http://www.mwave.com/

They'll do it if you buy both CPU and mobo from them. Depending on what you buy they may or may not charge - the guy that told me about it said $9.99, but the random combo I checked had free assembly/testing available.

Pricing looks good there in general...I'd still check a given item against Newegg & ZipZoomFly (at least) to verify this and to keep an eye out for specials that might make it worth splitting the order.

Mmk.
12-09-2009, 02:44 PM
Bovidae

Quote:

Originally Posted by yaki

3) They're paying someone to make the data be off

My aunt is a mole, she has highly active memberships and forum accounts on almost every retail/discount/tech/review site on the net. What looks like non-partial personal experience from an active forum member might actually be a paid endorsement.

My $0.02 L2buildityourself. It will be a valuable skill you can teach yourself.
12-09-2009, 06:42 PM
Sajuuk

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bovidae

My $0.02 L2buildityourself. It will be a valuable skill you can teach yourself.

Seriously, save some money, learn something. It is not hard to drop in a CPU, then put in a bit of thermal interface material. If you want to use the stock heatsink, you just put it on since it has some thermal paste on there already.
12-09-2009, 08:09 PM
Shodokan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajuuk

Seriously, save some money, learn something. It is not hard to drop in a CPU, then put in a bit of thermal interface material. If you want to use the stock heatsink, you just put it on since it has some thermal paste on there already.

I'd need a payment plan and my dad wants to do it over 12 months (something not offered by newegg)

So i'm apparently getting a nice Alienware.

i7 920 2.8gz (i believe)
12 gb ddr3 ram 1600
some stupid high quality graphics card from radeon (on their chart was higher than GTX 275)
640 gb RAID hdds (2x 320)
Internal water cooling system

Overall i'm very happy because i know this beast will not have any problems running what i want and should last me like 4 years. Dad will be paying about 110 a month or so for it.

Yes i know dells are "meh" but for the financing he needs to get me a new computer at the moment...it's necessary. Also comes with WoW pre-installed and updated :) So all i need to do is x-fer it to the other drive. I'll be getting it the day after x-mas.