±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: cgsimpson
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6645

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 559
Total: 559
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Community Forums
02: Community Forums
03: Photo Gallery
04: Photo Gallery
05: Community Forums
06: Community Forums
07: Community Forums
08: Community Forums
09: Community Forums
10: Community Forums
11: Community Forums
12: Community Forums
13: Community Forums
14: Community Forums
15: Photo Gallery
16: Photo Gallery
17: Community Forums
18: Community Forums
19: Community Forums
20: Community Forums
21: Statistics
22: Community Forums
23: Photo Gallery
24: Community Forums
25: Community Forums
26: Home
27: Photo Gallery
28: Community Forums
29: Community Forums
30: Community Forums
31: Statistics
32: Community Forums
33: Downloads
34: Community Forums
35: Community Forums
36: Photo Gallery
37: Community Forums
38: Downloads
39: Photo Gallery
40: Community Forums
41: Your Account
42: Community Forums
43: Community Forums
44: Community Forums
45: Community Forums
46: Photo Gallery
47: Community Forums
48: Community Forums
49: Community Forums
50: Downloads
51: Community Forums
52: Photo Gallery
53: News
54: Community Forums
55: Downloads
56: Community Forums
57: Community Forums
58: Downloads
59: Community Forums
60: Community Forums
61: Community Forums
62: Photo Gallery
63: Community Forums
64: Your Account
65: Community Forums
66: Photo Gallery
67: Community Forums
68: Photo Gallery
69: Photo Gallery
70: Community Forums
71: Community Forums
72: Community Forums
73: Community Forums
74: Downloads
75: Community Forums
76: Photo Gallery
77: Community Forums
78: Your Account
79: Photo Gallery
80: Community Forums
81: Community Forums
82: Community Forums
83: Community Forums
84: Community Forums
85: Community Forums
86: Home
87: Community Forums
88: Community Forums
89: Community Forums
90: Community Forums
91: Community Forums
92: Community Forums
93: Home
94: Community Forums
95: Photo Gallery
96: Community Forums
97: Home
98: Photo Gallery
99: Community Forums
100: Community Forums
101: Community Forums
102: Community Forums
103: Community Forums
104: Photo Gallery
105: Photo Gallery
106: Community Forums
107: Community Forums
108: Community Forums
109: Community Forums
110: Community Forums
111: Community Forums
112: Community Forums
113: Community Forums
114: Home
115: Community Forums
116: Community Forums
117: Community Forums
118: Home
119: Home
120: Community Forums
121: Home
122: Community Forums
123: Home
124: Photo Gallery
125: Community Forums
126: Community Forums
127: Community Forums
128: Community Forums
129: Community Forums
130: Community Forums
131: Photo Gallery
132: Community Forums
133: Downloads
134: Community Forums
135: Home
136: Photo Gallery
137: Community Forums
138: Member Screenshots
139: Community Forums
140: Community Forums
141: Statistics
142: Community Forums
143: Community Forums
144: Photo Gallery
145: Statistics
146: Community Forums
147: Community Forums
148: Photo Gallery
149: Community Forums
150: Downloads
151: Community Forums
152: Community Forums
153: Community Forums
154: Community Forums
155: Community Forums
156: Photo Gallery
157: Photo Gallery
158: Community Forums
159: Home
160: Community Forums
161: Photo Gallery
162: News
163: Community Forums
164: Home
165: Community Forums
166: Photo Gallery
167: Community Forums
168: Community Forums
169: Community Forums
170: Home
171: Member Screenshots
172: Community Forums
173: Community Forums
174: Statistics
175: Community Forums
176: Photo Gallery
177: Home
178: Community Forums
179: Home
180: Community Forums
181: Community Forums
182: Home
183: Community Forums
184: Photo Gallery
185: CPGlang
186: Community Forums
187: Downloads
188: Community Forums
189: Community Forums
190: CPGlang
191: Community Forums
192: Photo Gallery
193: Community Forums
194: Home
195: Home
196: Community Forums
197: Community Forums
198: CPGlang
199: Home
200: Community Forums
201: Community Forums
202: Community Forums
203: Community Forums
204: Community Forums
205: Downloads
206: Community Forums
207: Downloads
208: Community Forums
209: Community Forums
210: Home
211: Home
212: Community Forums
213: Your Account
214: Photo Gallery
215: Community Forums
216: Your Account
217: Community Forums
218: Community Forums
219: Community Forums
220: Community Forums
221: Community Forums
222: Community Forums
223: Member Screenshots
224: Photo Gallery
225: Community Forums
226: Community Forums
227: Community Forums
228: Community Forums
229: Community Forums
230: Photo Gallery
231: Home
232: Community Forums
233: Home
234: Downloads
235: Community Forums
236: Home
237: Community Forums
238: Home
239: Photo Gallery
240: Community Forums
241: Home
242: Community Forums
243: Photo Gallery
244: Photo Gallery
245: Community Forums
246: Community Forums
247: Photo Gallery
248: Community Forums
249: Community Forums
250: Community Forums
251: Downloads
252: Community Forums
253: Community Forums
254: Community Forums
255: Community Forums
256: Home
257: Community Forums
258: Photo Gallery
259: Community Forums
260: Community Forums
261: Community Forums
262: Community Forums
263: Community Forums
264: Home
265: Photo Gallery
266: Community Forums
267: Community Forums
268: Community Forums
269: Community Forums
270: Community Forums
271: Community Forums
272: Community Forums
273: Photo Gallery
274: Photo Gallery
275: Community Forums
276: Community Forums
277: Community Forums
278: Community Forums
279: Community Forums
280: Community Forums
281: Community Forums
282: Home
283: Community Forums
284: Downloads
285: Community Forums
286: Community Forums
287: Community Forums
288: Home
289: Community Forums
290: Photo Gallery
291: Photo Gallery
292: Photo Gallery
293: Photo Gallery
294: Community Forums
295: Home
296: Photo Gallery
297: Community Forums
298: Photo Gallery
299: Member Screenshots
300: Community Forums
301: News
302: Community Forums
303: Community Forums
304: Community Forums
305: Community Forums
306: Community Forums
307: Community Forums
308: Photo Gallery
309: Photo Gallery
310: Photo Gallery
311: Community Forums
312: Photo Gallery
313: Community Forums
314: Community Forums
315: Community Forums
316: Community Forums
317: Community Forums
318: Community Forums
319: Community Forums
320: Community Forums
321: Community Forums
322: Community Forums
323: Photo Gallery
324: Community Forums
325: Photo Gallery
326: Community Forums
327: Photo Gallery
328: Your Account
329: Photo Gallery
330: Photo Gallery
331: Community Forums
332: CPGlang
333: Home
334: Community Forums
335: Community Forums
336: Photo Gallery
337: Photo Gallery
338: Downloads
339: Statistics
340: Your Account
341: Community Forums
342: Photo Gallery
343: Community Forums
344: Community Forums
345: Community Forums
346: Community Forums
347: Home
348: Community Forums
349: Community Forums
350: Community Forums
351: Community Forums
352: Community Forums
353: Home
354: Community Forums
355: Community Forums
356: Home
357: Photo Gallery
358: Photo Gallery
359: Community Forums
360: Community Forums
361: Home
362: Statistics
363: Community Forums
364: Community Forums
365: Community Forums
366: Community Forums
367: Community Forums
368: Home
369: Community Forums
370: Community Forums
371: Community Forums
372: Statistics
373: Community Forums
374: Community Forums
375: Community Forums
376: Community Forums
377: Community Forums
378: Community Forums
379: Community Forums
380: Community Forums
381: Community Forums
382: Community Forums
383: Community Forums
384: Community Forums
385: Community Forums
386: Home
387: Member Screenshots
388: Community Forums
389: Downloads
390: Community Forums
391: CPGlang
392: Community Forums
393: Photo Gallery
394: Photo Gallery
395: Photo Gallery
396: Community Forums
397: Home
398: Community Forums
399: Home
400: Photo Gallery
401: Member Screenshots
402: Community Forums
403: Photo Gallery
404: Community Forums
405: Community Forums
406: Community Forums
407: Community Forums
408: Community Forums
409: Member Screenshots
410: Community Forums
411: Community Forums
412: Photo Gallery
413: Community Forums
414: Community Forums
415: Community Forums
416: Community Forums
417: Community Forums
418: Photo Gallery
419: Community Forums
420: Community Forums
421: Community Forums
422: Home
423: Community Forums
424: Community Forums
425: Community Forums
426: Community Forums
427: Community Forums
428: Community Forums
429: Home
430: Community Forums
431: Photo Gallery
432: Community Forums
433: Community Forums
434: Community Forums
435: Photo Gallery
436: Community Forums
437: Community Forums
438: Community Forums
439: Community Forums
440: Community Forums
441: Community Forums
442: Home
443: CPGlang
444: Downloads
445: Community Forums
446: CPGlang
447: Photo Gallery
448: Photo Gallery
449: Community Forums
450: Photo Gallery
451: Community Forums
452: Community Forums
453: Community Forums
454: Community Forums
455: Community Forums
456: Community Forums
457: Downloads
458: Community Forums
459: Community Forums
460: Home
461: Community Forums
462: Community Forums
463: Community Forums
464: Photo Gallery
465: Community Forums
466: Community Forums
467: Photo Gallery
468: Community Forums
469: Community Forums
470: Community Forums
471: Community Forums
472: Community Forums
473: Photo Gallery
474: Community Forums
475: Community Forums
476: Downloads
477: Community Forums
478: Community Forums
479: Home
480: Community Forums
481: Community Forums
482: Community Forums
483: Photo Gallery
484: CPGlang
485: Community Forums
486: Community Forums
487: Photo Gallery
488: Community Forums
489: Community Forums
490: Community Forums
491: Community Forums
492: Community Forums
493: Photo Gallery
494: Community Forums
495: Community Forums
496: Community Forums
497: Home
498: Photo Gallery
499: Community Forums
500: CPGlang
501: Community Forums
502: Community Forums
503: Community Forums
504: CPGlang
505: Community Forums
506: Community Forums
507: Community Forums
508: Community Forums
509: Your Account
510: Community Forums
511: Community Forums
512: Community Forums
513: Community Forums
514: Community Forums
515: Community Forums
516: CPGlang
517: Community Forums
518: Community Forums
519: Community Forums
520: Community Forums
521: Community Forums
522: Community Forums
523: Home
524: Downloads
525: Photo Gallery
526: Community Forums
527: Community Forums
528: Community Forums
529: Photo Gallery
530: Community Forums
531: Photo Gallery
532: Community Forums
533: Community Forums
534: Home
535: Community Forums
536: Community Forums
537: Community Forums
538: Community Forums
539: Community Forums
540: Community Forums
541: Community Forums
542: Community Forums
543: Community Forums
544: Community Forums
545: Community Forums
546: Photo Gallery
547: Community Forums
548: Downloads
549: Home
550: CPGlang
551: Community Forums
552: CPGlang
553: Community Forums
554: Community Forums
555: Photo Gallery
556: Community Forums
557: Community Forums
558: Photo Gallery
559: Community Forums

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this? :: Archived
Resolve issues with your computer problems here or read about the latest computer parts and information.
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Post new topic    Revive this topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  Hardware

Topic Archived View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 3:41 pm
Post subject: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

Just put this together on the Dell site. Would this be a good setup for the price for now and the future? XP, lots of HD space, 2 Gig mem, decent vid card. Nicer monitor than I have now...
And what the hell is "RAID"? And why would I need a drive controller? An' stuff.....?

This would be my replacement desktop.

I don't see where they spec the number of USB ports...and experience says you can never have enuff of 'em....

Whaddya' think?


_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 4:07 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

I would say - and I'm qualifying this with the knowledge you're not interested in building your own - that these Dells may do the job but having had one, they are not capable of many upgrades since they use some unique parts. Dell makes a good laptop, an excellent one, actually, but I would not go to them as the first choice of a Desktop.

The slower processor in that one is a killer as far as I'm concerned. In the other thread here, for $200 less than this total price, there's a Gateway spec'd out that's a full Gigaherz faster (2.66 Ghz), twice the video ram (512MB), and bigger hard drive (500GB). And that price is a month old or so. Thing is, there's some careful parts-swapping but it's easy.

Oh...on USB ports, don't worry they usually have lots (4 to 6) and you can buy a USB hub for cheapo that plugs into one USB port and gives you 4 more USB ports that sits on your desk.

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 4:15 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

Yo! Just what I was lookin' for...if they'll do with XP, I may just do it...

AND, I may just ask you to spec it out to a budget and post it so I can call 'em and order. No consultant fee, though, unless you work for strawberries.

MAYBE I'll do this before I leave, what could you put together for $2K or just under with ONLY a bigger monitor than I have now (17")? I have a good printer. Not even sure I want a new monitor but they're so cheap now.

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 4:22 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

Uh-oh.......

Well okay I put this together befire coming back here and seeing your request - this is an exmaple based on similar pricing and NEEDS to be tweaked, but take a rough look here:



Note the faster CPU, bigger disk, and better vid card. Oh. sorry the HD don't show, but it's 500GB. My 250GB is gettin' full!!!!

Don't order it tho! I couldn't stand the responsibility!

I DID yank out the service stuff, so it's one year, you swap the parts. And I'm not settled yet on that exact CPU.

You need to know that Intel is on the verge of coming out with their next CPU which will drive current Core 2 Duo processor prices down further......I'd urge ya to wait until ya get back and get the new ;atpop all dialed in. Two new 'puters at a time makes for some busy and harried evenings at home when the new babies are settling down and need to be "burped" for this-thing or that-thing!

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 4:27 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

And I think it would be GREAT if someone here commented on those NVidia 7950GT cards. Don't know much about 'em, and have become an ATI owner (and satisifed).

I do hear that the ATi's are working better with that New-O/S-Which-Shall-Not-Be-Named (or installed on this system). That's about it.

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 4:34 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

Well, think it over....I don't wanna' swap the parts though...I want it delivered ready to rock. I travel too much now and I'm not as patient as I used to be...don't want to fiddle about. It doesn't have to scream, I'll settle for wail. Laughing If it has to be dialed back a notch to do that, I'm OK with that. In some ways, a "too large" monitor is a liabilty too, 22" is max.

Sharpen your pencil, Mr. Stoopy! Laughing

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 5:09 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

Hmmm. Well, in trying again a time or two, it looks like my pencil wasn't too dull - can't seem to do too much better. A few caveats:

- One thing I like about those options is the sound card. I just finished putting that VERY SAME ONE in my son's PC because there's a very EVIL thing going on nowadays and it's called "Intel VIIV technology". You can't get away from it innewer off-the-shelf systems it seems, it's a build-in sound card on the motherboard and comes with it's own drivers. But, get this - the speakers are USB (ewww!!) and also, Microsoft XP Media Center Edition managed to drop the drivers 4 times in as many weeks, resulting in no sound and annoying pop-ups on bootup about "No Windows Mixer Device Available". The solution? Get a real sound card, that uses real speakers with real cables, and real drivers. Disable the on-board audio, and THEN also rename the folder for the Intel Audio Studio software (that strangely CANNOT be Uninstalled or removed!) so that Windows can't even TRY to load it and then give annoying pop-ups. The LAST STRAW was when I had them all working together but Intel Audio Studio complained when we switched his screen to very hi-res with large (120 dpi) fonts - "Intel Audio Studio requires a font size of 96 dpi"....oh for the love of......SCROO'T!

- The CPU is "Non-HT" or, non-Hyperthreading. I chose it because it was fast and cheap.....clock cycles are the Holy Grail in flight simming! But non-HT means it'll stumble somewhat when tasked with running other thnigs in the background. However the HT-capable 2.40 Ghz CPU is another 600 bones or so, so I'm queasy on this choice right now. Ideally I've got my eye on the 2.66 Core 2 Duo CPU's which are HOT STUFF and coming down slowly but surely.

- You're going with XP Pro, right? Or maybe XP Home (which I have, and is fine). Not XP Media Edition.....please. Did Dell give you any price breaks for NOT going with VISTA? I know it's not likely.

- I chopped the extended warranty stuff out since I was focusing on parts. I don't know how much you're married to it so you'll need to add that in. Might put me over budget.

I think, subject to good feedback about the non-HT-capable CPU, that system should cook....it wont SCREAM like a $3000 system, but it shouldn't be any slouch at'all! 300HP Mustang GT as opposed to the 400HP GTO with higher price tag. Wink

I'll keep trying to tweak the pencil tho....

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 5:22 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

- JG300-Stoopy
Hmmm. Well, in trying again a time or two, it looks like my pencil wasn't too dull - can't seem to do too much better. A few caveats:

- One thing I like about those options is the sound card. I just finished putting that VERY SAME ONE in my son's PC because there's a very EVIL thing going on nowadays and it's called "Intel VIIV technology". You can't get away from it innewer off-the-shelf systems it seems, it's a build-in sound card on the motherboard and comes with it's own drivers. But, get this - the speakers are USB (ewww!!) and also, Microsoft XP Media Center Edition managed to drop the drivers 4 times in as many weeks, resulting in no sound and annoying pop-ups on bootup about "No Windows Mixer Device Available". The solution? Get a real sound card, that uses real speakers with real cables, and real drivers. Disable the on-board audio, and THEN also rename the folder for the Intel Audio Studio software (that strangely CANNOT be Uninstalled or removed!) so that Windows can't even TRY to load it and then give annoying pop-ups. The LAST STRAW was when I had them all working together but Intel Audio Studio complained when we switched his screen to very hi-res with large (120 dpi) fonts - "Intel Audio Studio requires a font size of 96 dpi"....oh for the love of......SCROO'T!

- The CPU is "Non-HT" or, non-Hyperthreading. I chose it because it was fast and cheap.....clock cycles are the Holy Grail in flight simming! But non-HT means it'll stumble somewhat when tasked with running other thnigs in the background. However the HT-capable 2.40 Ghz CPU is another 600 bones or so, so I'm queasy on this choice right now. Ideally I've got my eye on the 2.66 Core 2 Duo CPU's which are HOT STUFF and coming down slowly but surely.

- You're going with XP Pro, right? Or maybe XP Home (which I have, and is fine). Not XP Media Edition.....please. Did Dell give you any price breaks for NOT going with VISTA? I know it's not likely.

- I chopped the extended warranty stuff out since I was focusing on parts. I don't know how much you're married to it so you'll need to add that in. Might put me over budget.

I think, subject to good feedback about the non-HT-capable CPU, that system should cook....it wont SCREAM like a $3000 system, but it shouldn't be any slouch at'all! 300HP Mustang GT as opposed to the 400HP GTO with higher price tag. Wink

I'll keep trying to tweak the pencil tho....


Laughing I didn't get one word of all that sound / H-T stuff Rolling Eyes Give me something where I don't have to understand or even deal with it. I have decent sound on my two lil' speakers and one subwoofer thingy now on my old system. Don't need anything mo' betta'.

No, I spec'ed XP Pro....have XP Home on my current system. Pro is the only option at Dell I think.

We got the three year warranty with on-site service for wifey notebook..$100...I think I want that...24hours call time, plus parts delivery time...worth it if the cost is comparable with Gateway.

Oh, my boss bought a silver lefover GTO last week for $25K, one of three left, less than my Mooostang cost. So sharpen than pencil! Mr. Green

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:17 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

EXACTLY my point on the sound-card thingy. You don't wanna know about or deal with it - it's gotten ugly and I'm disappointed that such a simple, inexpensive part of any system has now been screwed up for people. Getchya a proper built-in sound card like that one, with the system and properly integrated, and you'll happily plug in the cables and hear stuff the way it's s'posed to work.

Gateway is like 200 bones on the on-site 3-year warranty stuff, probably becuase it's a desktop and not a laptop...kind of comparing apples & oranges there.

The 22" LCD monitor at $160 is optional, but I'll tell ya this came with my son's rig and it is a SWEET monitor! Very nice. Something to think about is how you're gonna transfer all your old stuff from the old machine to the new. You could either get an external USB hard drive with that money and transfer everythign via it (plus, have it all backed up when you're done) or go with the new monitor and keep the old rig set up with the old monitor while you move stuff over via thumb drive or whatever - that's kinda like moving all the water from one bucket to another with a ladle, though.

Going down to a less-expensive model and building it up to the same specs makes it more expensive and I note the disclaimer about "give us a call about WIndows XP" is missing on those systems. So I have to say I think I got it pretty much right with that first stab - the one change I'm making is specify ONE 500GB hard drive, as opposed to a RAID setup which is two 250MB drives paired together. Helps keep heat and power draw down, against the arguable advantages of a RAID setup.

So......here she blows, WITH 3-year on-site: Yanked the speakers too, since the ones you have now seem to be making perfectly adequate bleeping, blooping and crashing noises. Also, added one more item there at the end, don't know if you've heard of it but it's kinda neat Laughing



Quote is saved under fake email name of "Ascout@CC.net" so you can call it back up - for some reason, an earlier system I'd been playing with is saved there too, just ignore it (it's from the other thread).

Your boss is a smart cookie.....not that I'd ever say anything bad about those weird Aussie cars either, even with that fine LS2 motor and excellent rolling hardware. Hopefully the price isn't gonna be balanced out by family chiropractor visits from trying to get in & out of the back seats...

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:28 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

- JG300-Stoopy
EXACTLY my point on the sound-card thingy. You don't wanna know about or deal with it - it's gotten ugly and I'm disappointed that such a simple, inexpensive part of any system has now been screwed up for people. Getchya a proper built-in sound card like that one, with the system and properly integrated, and you'll happily plug in the cables and hear stuff the way it's s'posed to work.

Gateway is like 200 bones on the on-site 3-year warranty stuff, probably becuase it's a desktop and not a laptop...kind of comparing apples & oranges there.

The 22" LCD monitor at $160 is optional, but I'll tell ya this came with my son's rig and it is a SWEET monitor! Very nice. Something to think about is how you're gonna transfer all your old stuff from the old machine to the new. You could either get an external USB hard drive with that money and transfer everythign via it (plus, have it all backed up when you're done) or go with the new monitor and keep the old rig set up with the old monitor while you move stuff over via thumb drive or whatever - that's kinda like moving all the water from one bucket to another with a ladle, though.

Going down to a less-expensive model and building it up to the same specs makes it more expensive and I note the disclaimer about "give us a call about WIndows XP" is missing on those systems. So I have to say I think I got it pretty much right with that first stab - the one change I'm making is specify ONE 500GB hard drive, as opposed to a RAID setup which is two 250MB drives paired together. Helps keep heat and power draw down, against the arguable advantages of a RAID setup.

So......here she blows, WITH 3-year on-site: Yanked the speakers too, since the ones you have now seem to be making perfectly adequate bleeping, blooping and crashing noises. Also, added one more item there at the end, don't know if you've heard of it but it's kinda neat Laughing



Quote is saved under fake email name of "Ascout@CC.net" so you can call it back up - for some reason, an earlier system I'd been playing with is saved there too, just ignore it (it's from the other thread).

Your boss is a smart cookie.....not that I'd ever say anything bad about those weird Aussie cars either, even with that fine LS2 motor and excellent rolling hardware. Hopefully the price isn't gonna be balanced out by family chiropractor visits from trying to get in & out of the back seats...


Interesting....
Now, does this include XP Pro for sure? And, I already have CFS3...can I not install that on my new system? Why is that in there? Would I need another one?

If I call 'em, can they find this quote if I have trouble?

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:45 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

Yup - the quote can be retrieved using the link at the top-right of their website and entering the fake email I made for ya, or tell 'em it's quote #26734

One thing tho - that quote has a price of $3,439.95 because it has TWO different computers spec'ed out, it includes that other system I was playing with about a month ago. Just tell 'em it s for the Gateway FX530XM computer which is sub-listed at $1,836.98, and all the details are nested underneath it

Apart from cost, it doesn't includes WIndows XP because it sayz you gotta call 'em to "discuss" (I believe they mean, just ask for it instead, like your Dell dudes handled it). Thats for you to specify but I doubt they'll argue, since Dell can't be alone in getting a LOT of requests for same. However, this price DOES include Vista (which was the only option on the choice list), so XP should not cost you one PENNY more.

So I'd specify they KNOW it and repeat it three times while spinning around in their cubicle chairs before processing that order!!!!!! Actually the quote isn't so much for them, in that respect, it's for you to reference. Let 'em know the quote # only after it's clearly understood it needs to be modified for the Vista/XP thing, or otherwise used as the basis for a new order specifying XP right up front.

I was kiddin' about CFS3. A'course you can install yours.....if the disks haven't petrified by now. J/K!!!!! Laughing Had to have some fun with ya while I was there, everything else is legit.


_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Shades
Forum Tree-Rat

Offline Offline
Joined: Mar 07, 2005
Posts: 6473
Location: 3rd Branch up, 'Ye Olde Oak', Green Wood.
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:19 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

THIS may help you with the graphic card bit.
That 7950 is quite a high spec gaming card.

_________________
Skwerl's place.

Com-Central's cutest, fluffiest, twitchiest, tail.
CPU > Intel i9-9900k (o/c 4.9GHz); COOLING > BeQuiet! Dark Rock Pro 4;
MOBO > ASUS PRIME Z390-A; RAM > 2x32GB Corsair LPX 2666MHz;
GPU > Gigabyte GEFORCE GTX650Ti PCI-e 3.0 2Gb GDDR5;
AUDIO > Creative X-Fi Xtreme Music (plus - Universal Audio UAD2 Quad Custom accelerator);
HDD > 3x1TB+ M.2. SSDs; LCD > DELL - S2419HGF (1920x1080);
PSU > 650W be quiet Straight Power 11 - 80+ Gold;
CASE > BeQuiet! SILENT BASE 601; OS > Windows 11 Home Advanced (64-bit).
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website ICQ Number
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:26 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

Thanks Shades! Had heard good thigns about it but no personal input....for about $200 it's got as much RAM as my ATI 1650 PRO card but is even faster....and cost about the same as I paid.

Oh hey Ascout.....be sure that, although you do need MS Office Home and Student 2007, do NOT buy it from either Dell or Gateway with a computer....because you don't usually REALLY get the install media - they pre-install it for ya and that's that.....so installing it PER the license agreement on another system can be, of course, impossible.

Get that when you make your side-trip to Best Buy or CompUSA for that Linksys Wireless router,,,,and FSX Deluxe...

It's one other thing I'm not crazy about how things have transpired these days......used to be, you got software bundled with the system, you got the install media too.

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:32 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

- Shades
THIS may help you with the graphic card bit.
That 7950 is quite a high spec gaming card.


Well, that's because this is Stoopy's idea of a tidy little Mustang engine:

Stoopy's "small" V8 idea

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:37 pm
Post subject: Re: So, while I'm shopping, what sayeth the forum to this?

- JG300-Stoopy
Thanks Shades! Had heard good thigns about it but no personal input....for about $200 it's got as much RAM as my ATI 1650 PRO card but is even faster....and cost about the same as I paid.

Oh hey Ascout.....be sure that, although you do need MS Office Home and Student 2007, do NOT buy it from either Dell or Gateway with a computer....because you don't usually REALLY get the install media - they pre-install it for ya and that's that.....so installing it PER the license agreement on another system can be, of course, impossible.

Get that when you make your side-trip to Best Buy or CompUSA for that Linksys Wireless router,,,,and FSX Deluxe...

It's one other thing I'm not crazy about how things have transpired these days......used to be, you got software bundled with the system, you got the install media too.


No problemo, already planned on that for both the Office software AND the wireless router...in fact, the Dell guy was even pretty much down with that plan without actually sayin' as much...
I'm a "Continuing Medical Education Program Coordinator" so I qualify as a "teacher", among my many hats, and have the certificate to back it up, so I can breeze in to buy on that basis and install on all our systems since the wifey is a biochemist. I'm not sure who's the student here, come to think of it, her credentials are better than mine. Rolling Eyes

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Revive this topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  Hardware
Page 1 of 2
All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Go to page 1, 2  Next

Archive Revive
Username:
This is an archived topic - your reply will not be appended here.
Instead, a new topic will be generated in the active forum.
The new topic will provide a reference link to this archived topic.