Should I get a PC???

[Moonbaseone]

I have a Gateway PC that is a year old and the specs are as follows:

P4 1.3
356 RDRAM
Windows ME
40GB
32MB Nvidia Graphics Card
DVD-Rom
CDRW Drive
17" monitor

Only problem I had with it is the powersource had to be replaced.

The thing is my brother wants a PC and I know more about them so he is asking me to help him. But, he doesn't have the amount of money he needs to really get what he wants. So, I was thinking of letting him have mine and I will get a new one. He wants to pay me so I won't charge him too much.

The one that I looked at was by DELL. Here are some of the specs I might get it with:

P4 1.8 or 2.0
256 RDRAM
Windows XP
40GB
64MB DDR NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 200 Graphics Card with DVI
DVD-Rom
CDRW Drive
17" Trinitron monitor

I would go with Gateway again but I like the look of Dell's PC's alot more and they have a better graphics card to choose from, along with better rebates right now.

So, what do you think? Should I go ahead and get a new DELL? Or NO?

"Till All Are ONE"

-Please visit my site PlanetCybertron.com

-And, don't forget to sign the Guestbook!!!

[jnas]

Why not build one yourself and save a lot of money?

John

[Moonbaseone]

Originally posted by jnas
Why not build one yourself and save a lot of money?

John

Well, I don't know anything about building a PC?
I know abit about them but there is still alot I don't know and building a PC myself is something I know nothing about.


"Till All Are ONE"

-Please visit my site PlanetCybertron.com

-And, don't forget to sign the Guestbook!!!

[Mortis]

I would say no to getting a new computer unless you have the extra money and really want a slight performance increase. To the eye, I personally doubt you would notice significant performance increasesbetween the two boxes- only benchmarking would show the advantages. As far as your brother getting a machine- a reasonable computer can be built with good stats between $350-450 and do everything that you want it to- daily use and games.

GoodLuck
Mortis

[Lemon]

Mortis is right on about the cost. Putting together a P.C. is like building with LEGO's. You just snap it all together, put your Win2K/XP CD in and install the OS. If you need recomendations for parts then this is the place to ask...

[ben-the-slacker]

I agree with jnas, Mortis, and Lemon. Buying a computer is simple, but making one yourself is better (at least, I fell that way ) Not only do you save a lot of money by making your own, you also learn something new. I find the articles from PC Mechanic and Motherboards.org very helpful. Of course, there are plenty of other sites online that teach you how to make one. These are just two sites that I have found to be most useful.

Good luck!


BTW, welcome to TechIMO!

[thekingofpain]

Build it---
Itl be the way YOU want it---hang around here and be walked thru all aspects, maybe save some $$$ and have a system you know inside and out with more then just pride of ownership...

The big companys DO have some good deals tho---(Dell/Gateway)

[vass0922]

One thing y'all have to remember is, SUPPORT
Dell has free support that goes with everything that comes along with it. If you do not feel comfortable you can fix any problems that come along, or dont' want to figure out what company to call I'd suggest a prebuilt...
Don't get me wrong, I myself am all over building my own and I learned a hell of a lot when I did build my own. This site will always be here for help of course

So take my advice how you will... if you have some spare timeand this is something you are really interested in, by all means DIY (do it yourself).
Otherwise, go ahead with a prebuilt BUT STAY AWAY FROM COMPAQ (pc's)


LOL

[Sanman]

I am proof that you don't need to know a whole lot about computers to build one. I have never bought a computer, I couldn't come up with all the money at once for my first one so I just got it one piece at a time till I had everything I needed. I built both of mine plus my fiancees mothers. It is a good experience and it gives you a real good feeling.

[psyco]

Personally, I'd build him one and let him pay on time if he were my brother.

From Newegg:
ENLIGHT MEDIUM ATX TOWER CASE MODEL - $46.00

EPOX EP-8K7A AMD761 - $75.00

AMD Duron 1.0 GHZ - $57.00

Thermaltake VOLCANO 5 - $7.00

VISIONTEK Xtasy 5632 GEFORCE2 GTS-V - $48.00

MAXTOR 40GB 7200RPM - $79.00

CRUCIAL MICRON 256MB 32x64 PC 2100 DDR - $86.00

PANASONIC Floppy - $8.00

LITE-ON DVD-ROM 16x - $53.00

LITE-ON 32x12x40 CDRW - $95.00

IDE ATA 66/100, Flat Cable - $4.00

Sub Tot. = $558.00

+ $48.51 Shipping to Oh. = $606.51

Heatsink paste at radio shack $2.00

You can learn the DYI's on the net.

http://www.pcmech.com/byopc/

http://www.buildyourowncomputer.net/learntobuild.html

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.html?i=283&p=1