New Computer

[whatudeserve69]

Ok people, I am in dire need of a new computer obviously. My first instinct is to by from Dell, but I WANT ONE NOW! Any suggestions out there on the latest and greatest?

[hang_em_high]

well dell is a very good brand if you are willing to wait two weeks on a comp.......you can go to walmart and get hp's for about the same as a dell, and with hp's any comp part will work on fixing it, i don't reconmend gateway because if they break it takes gateway parts to fix them, and it is heck getting in touch with those people, and it takes them forever to fix the dang thing

[0ldman]

Dell support has been a joke for at least the last year and a half, I don't recommend Dell to anyone not getting business support.

Gateways use standard parts also, unless you get one of their oddball form factors, which every OEM has at least one.

An HP with an Athlon XP, Sempron or Athlon 64 or FX would be a decent system. Avoid HP's with Celeron's, really cheap systems.

I build and sell PC's, PM me if you want.

[Jeff]

	Quote:
	i don't reconmend gateway because if they break it takes gateway parts to fix them

Not really...

Most computers will take any standard ATX case part. Matter of fact, one of the most REPLACED parts in a computer, the power supply, is often harder to find for HP's due to the funky sizing. Not that I recommend a Gateway by any means.

My experience with working with and on computers for quite a while leads to this:

For a ready built PC

Gateway - terrible
HP/Compaq - Bettter than Gateway...but still not great at all
E-Machine - hehehe....don't go there
Dell - Good machine, ok support, not perfect but above the rest

All computer tech support agencies suck now. They basically have some office in India, where they have some poor sap trying to match your problem with a solution in the database.

If you really want to get a great PC for a good price, there's only one option, BUILD YOUR OWN!

[silver]

Thats right you do. In a few months after I get over this hump with my son I may be calling you. I use mine about 16 hrs a day and it has a lot of mileage on it. I am just about ready for a new one.

[whatudeserve69]

I just know how to use the things! I don't know a thing about what it would take to build one The one I have now is a Dell, and has been great, but it is time for retirement anyway. Old, slow, and now supremely jacked up. Wouldn't suggest Compaq, huh? Sam's has a decent one.

[0ldman]

	Quote:	Jeff
	Not really... Most computers will take any standard ATX case part. Matter of fact, one of the most REPLACED parts in a computer, the power supply, is often harder to find for HP's due to the funky sizing. Not that I recommend a Gateway by any means. My experience with working with and on computers for quite a while leads to this: For a ready built PC Gateway - terrible HP/Compaq - Bettter than Gateway...but still not great at all E-Machine - hehehe....don't go there Dell - Good machine, ok support, not perfect but above the rest All computer tech support agencies suck now. They basically have some office in India, where they have some poor sap trying to match your problem with a solution in the database. If you really want to get a great PC for a good price, there's only one option, BUILD YOUR OWN!

HP/Compaq generally use a variation on the Micro ATX form factor for the Power supplies, kind of a pain, but an easy workaround once you find it.
The recent HP's (at least the AMD models) have been using Asus motherboards and vid cards, Sparkle and Enlight PSU's and Crucial RAM. Can't get much better than that.

Gateway... I work on more 4-5 year old Gateways than any other. Most HP's have gone the way of the dodo in 4 years... I can't speak for Gateway's current quality.

E-Machine... early quality was low, later models were at least as good as Dell... but that isn't saying too much... Gateway now owns E-Machine.

Dell uses proprietary power supplies and non standard ATX motherboards in some of their sytems, the only way to know for sure is to sit there and check the wiring vs a standard PC.

[dave]

Built my own, but had a Dell before this one (now the kids puter).

Dell's have special "Dell" parts in them that a pain to replace. I had bought a standard heatsink/fan for my CPU ijn the Dell and really had to rig/force it to get it on there.

The best advice I can give is this: If you can't afford top end parts now, at least buy one (or build) that will allow for upgrades later on. This way you can spend around 300-400 and basically have a new computer by replacing a few key parts.

[Rand]

Jeff is right tech support pretty much suck now. I had a Dell it was ok then I built my own and it works fine. Actually I have built several and they all work good. If I were you I would try to find wome one to build one for me. That way in the future if something goes out it is easily replaced by another part.

[whatudeserve69]

My neighbors just got a new dell a few months ago and every time they have called tech support, the got NO help. One actually told them it wasn't Dell's problem. Anyway, if I go dell I can finance for a year with no interest (Company benefit). But the wait time is about 2 weeks. How long would it take to build one? Some of the things ya'll are talking about are just way over my head and make me want to cry