Need Desktop advice

[mxer657]

So I'm fed up with my current desktop.

Current setup:
HP Pavilion a6757c PC
Here are the specs: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01643541&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&product=3895691


I'd like to know if this is a good deal:

Gateway DX4831-07
Gateway specs: http://reviews.cnet.com/desktops/gateway-dx4831-07-desktop/4507-3118_7-34150784.html?tag=subnav
1 TB Hd
8 GB DDR3 RAM
Intel Core i5 processor 750
ATI Radeon HD 5750 video card, 1024 mb
DVD-Super Multi Drive

Includes: Tower, 22' Monitor, Keyboard, Speakers, $60 Netgear Wireless-N Dual Band internet adapter, $40 gaming multi profile mouse, all cords for everything.


If there is a better recommendation, I'm all ears. I'm willing to buy new, put it together, or somehow use pieces of what I already have.

 

[mxer657]

by the way, I'm eyeing this as well: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/build-gaming-pc-overclock,3159.html

 

[Knufire]

What's your budget, and what do you need? OEMs get parts for cheap, they can get Windows and monitors and such but end up screwing you over by underspecing machines. You won't be happy trying to game on a 5750.

Tom's Hardware's system is a much better bet, however I don't completely agree with their changes. They typically build to maximize performance with the budget, but as a result they end up getting REALLY cheap motherboards and REALLY cheap cases...I'd rather lose a bit of performance for quality components.

 

[mxer657]

What's your budget, and what do you need? OEMs get parts for cheap, they can get Windows and monitors and such but end up screwing you over by underspecing machines. You won't be happy trying to game on a 5750.

Tom's Hardware's system is a much better bet, however I don't completely agree with their changes. They typically build to maximize performance with the budget, but as a result they end up getting REALLY cheap motherboards and REALLY cheap cases...I'd rather lose a bit of performance for quality components.

I'd like to stay under $700 unless there is a HUGE benefit to go higher. The barebones kits look pretty good but I HATE the cases they use 9 times out of 10.


I just want the computer to be really fast having a 30ish firefox/chrome tabs up and be able to open up basic programs like Word and Photoshop. I tried playing LoL on the 5750 and

I'll run some custom built bots on the pc as well.

 

[Knufire]

Is LoL the only game you play often? Because it doesn't take much power at all to play LoL, for $700 you might be able to max out the game.

General web browsing and stuff, $700 is plenty.

Do you need a monitor/keyboard/mouse as well? Is that included in the $700?

 

[mxer657]

Is LoL the only game you play often? Because it doesn't take much power at all to play LoL, for $700 you might be able to max out the game.

General web browsing and stuff, $700 is plenty.

Don't even play it often. But yea it's the only game I've played lately. It would be sweet to be able to play a game like MW3 or Mass Effect 3 but that isn't completely necessary.


I should mention: I am completely okay buying used from someone reputable on here if it fits what I'm looking for.

 

[Knufire]

I should mention: I am completely okay buying used from someone reputable on here if it fits what I'm looking for.

This forum actually has one of the safest and most reputable classified sections in performance computing. However, part of it being very secure and reliable is having requirements to get access. You need at least 100 quality posts, which would give you three stars under your name. You also need a .edu, .mil, or an ISP's (e.g. @comcast.net) email address linked with your account. You are NOT allowed to buy or sell on these forums outside of the Classifieds section.

Do you need a monitor/keyboard/mouse included in the OS? Don't know if you saw it in my previous post, my internet's being a tad laggy.

 

[mxer657]

This forum actually has one of the safest and most reputable classified sections in performance computing. However, part of it being very secure and reliable is having requirements to get access. You need at least 100 quality posts, which would give you three stars under your name. You also need a .edu, .mil, or an ISP's (e.g. @comcast.net) email address linked with your account. You are NOT allowed to buy or sell on these forums outside of the Classifieds section.

Do you need a monitor/keyboard/mouse included in the OS? Don't know if you saw it in my previous post, my internet's being a tad laggy.

Damn that is a good amount of posting! Is there anyway to expedite that? I'm in college so I have a .edu email address but it isn't hooked up right now.


I don't need any accessories at the moment. $700 budget is for the desktop

 

[Knufire]

Damn that is a good amount of posting! Is there anyway to expedite that? I'm in college so I have a .edu email address but it isn't hooked up right now.


I don't need any accessories at the moment. $700 budget is for the desktop

Not really, otherwise it would defy the purpose . The moderators don't like someone having access to the Classifieds unless they're a trusted member of the community. I haven't seen a single scam or false sale the entire time I've been an active member.

As a college student, you shouldn't have to pay $100 for Windows, do you know how cheap you can get it for through the university? I can include that figure in my recommendation then .

Any plans to overclock the machine?

Looked at your current computer, ripping out the DVD Drive, Hard Drive, Memory Card Reader, and Wireless Adapter would be worth your time.

 

[Automata]

Damn that is a good amount of posting! Is there anyway to expedite that? I'm in college so I have a .edu email address but it isn't hooked up right now.

As Knufire correctly stated, there is not a way around the restrictions. Make sure to not spam your way to 100 posts, as that is a sure-fire way to never get access. If you have an edu email address, I'd suggest setting that in your profile now so you don't forget! As long as you keep posting like you have been, you will be there in no time.

Since you are going to school, talk to your advisor. You might be able to get it for free or for around $20. If they give out MSDN subscriptions, you can get a lot of software at no cost.

 

[mxer657]

Not really, otherwise it would defy the purpose . The moderators don't like someone having access to the Classifieds unless they're a trusted member of the community. I haven't seen a single scam or false sale the entire time I've been an active member.

As a college student, you shouldn't have to pay $100 for Windows, do you know how cheap you can get it for through the university? I can include that figure in my recommendation then .

Any plans to overclock the machine?

Looked at your current computer, ripping out the DVD Drive, Hard Drive, Memory Card Reader, and Wireless Adapter would be worth your time.

I completely agree. If it would benefit, I have a friend who is really good with OC'ing stuff. I'm aware it's like $35-40 for windows at the univ.


I'd be fine showing my real identity, the company I work for, etc.. Not trying to scam anybody. I've got the same username on CarAudio.com and one on ebay both with great feedback. I've also got a verified paypal account and spend probably 1-1.5k online every month.

 

[mxer657]

As Knufire correctly stated, there is not a way around the restrictions. Make sure to not spam your way to 100 posts, as that is a sure-fire way to never get access. If you have an edu email address, I'd suggest setting that in your profile now so you don't forget! As long as you keep posting like you have been, you will be there in no time.

Since you are going to school, talk to your advisor. You might be able to get it for free or for around $20. If they give out MSDN subscriptions, you can get a lot of software at no cost.

already have the MSDN subscription Only requirement is taking a C.S. class

 

[trekky]

do you live near a microcenter? if so you can get a nice i5 2500k and a Z68 mobo for cheap (i5 $180 and mobo $60-$150) i got my friend a i5 and a Asrock extreme3 gen3 for $260ish (mobo was $80 on sale) and 8gb 1600mhz of ddr3 for $35, 750w Psu $80, and case n stuff and he payed $650 for everything other then GPU and OS (he even got a SSD) so if you cut to a 600w and stuff you should beable to get maybe even a 6870 in your buget


(i will put a list together later)

 

[mxer657]

do you live near a microcenter? if so you can get a nice i5 2500k and a Z68 mobo for cheap (i5 $180 and mobo $60-$150) i got my friend a i5 and a Asrock extreme3 gen3 for $260ish (mobo was $80 on sale) and 8gb 1600mhz of ddr3 for $35, 750w Psu $80, and case n stuff and he payed $650 for everything other then GPU and OS (he even got a SSD) so if you cut to a 600w and stuff you should beable to get maybe even a 6870 in your buget


(i will put a list together later)

I don't live near a microcenter but I cam 110% okay with ordering online. It won't be my first time

 

[trekky]

oh and the $180 i5 2500k at microcenter is in store only
CPU: i5 2500k -$220
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
Mobo: ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 - $122
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271
Ram: G.SKILL Value Series 8GB - $38
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231424
Video card: XFX Radeon HD 6850 1GB - $125 ($20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150515
PSU: OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W - $43 ($20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017
HDD/SSD: Your 1tb HDD
CD drive: your CD drive
OS: Windows 7 64 bit -$100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986
Case: that leaves $52 for your case
Total cost: $648 (After mail in rebate) and before case (and shipping not included)

also if you have extra cash left over upgrade your 6850 to a 6870

 

[mxer657]

oh and the $180 i5 2500k at microcenter is in store only
CPU: i5 2500k -$220
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
Mobo: ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 - $122
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271
Ram: G.SKILL Value Series 8GB - $38
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231424
Video card: XFX Radeon HD 6850 1GB - $125 ($20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150515
PSU: OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W - $43 ($20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017
HDD/SSD: Your 1tb HDD
CD drive: your CD drive
OS: Windows 7 64 bit -$100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986
Case: that leaves $52 for your case
Total cost: $648 (After mail in rebate) and before case (and shipping not included)

also if you have extra cash left over upgrade your 6850 to a 6870

I like this build a lot. Excuse my ignorance, but is there any way to have it support 3 monitors? The extra 2 screens would ONLY be used for basic tasks like excel files, music, and youtube videos.

I've got a HP W2408h (24" 1920x1200) screen and would like to grab 2 monitors (I'm thinking: 20" 1600x900).

I'd be willing to dedicate more money to that.


My total is sitting at $442.97 without the graphics card (what I'd guess controls the # monitors)

 

[trekky]

this video card can use up to Monitors 3. but using 3 Monitors will lower FPS on games (not sure by how much)
but a way to fix this is to get a better GPU IE 6870 or 6950 (2gb version)

 

[Automata]

this video card can use up to Monitors 3. but using 3 Monitors will lower FPS on games (not sure by how much)
but a way to fix this is to get a better GPU IE 6870 or 6950 (2gb version)

If he was not using the extra screens for gaming, there is a very minimal (not noticeable) hit to performance of games. When I disable my second monitor, my FPS does not change in any game.

 

[trekky]

ok i did not know because i still only have 1 (planning on buying 3 later this year)

 

[mxer657]

You guys are awesome.

I think I'm going to go with the 6870. I read it's recommended for screen resolutions 1920x1200+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150561

If I'm wrong, correct me please!

Also as far as case goes, can I choose between a mid and a full tower?