New Computer

[*SanguineOrchid]

So you're looking for something like this?

[*Lost and not Found]

Well, when building a computer from a "scratch" it is really nothing overly difficult. It is just connecting things to where they can be connected. And there is nothing easier than installing a operating system to a blank computer.

1st step: put the disc inside the machine, then simply click: Next->Next->Next->Next->Next->Next->Next->Next->Next->Next->Next->Next->Next->Next->Next->Next->Next->Next->Next->Next->Next->Next->"Insert the serial code"->Next->Next-> "And you're done".


But, I would look at the thing in Sanguine's link and find out what all those components cost seperately. A handy-way of finding out what is the amount of air you pay for.

For example:
This one here costs some 5000€: http://www.verkkokauppa.com/popups/prod ... p?id=48473

While if you would build the same thing yourself, it would cost 3300€: http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=5859824.png

[*Ravel's Heart]

So you're looking for something like this?

Yep. Something very like.

Though I am trying to decide between the ATI Radeon HD 5870, The GTX 295, or SLI with two lesser cards.

That's not a bad price for that computer, though.

But, I would look at the thing in Sanguine's link and find out what all those components cost seperately. A handy-way of finding out what is the amount of air you pay for.

Mhmm. Though, if I save myself 6 hours of frustration and another six hours of software installation, well, that is worth several hundered dollars to me. Especially when ordering parts by mail and then realizing that I need this adapter or whatnot. And it especially saves me the irritation of putting it all together, turning it on...and finding that nothing happens. The troubleshooting in that situation would probably drive me crazy. Sometimes it's fun, but in that case, it wouldn't be.

So...I am leaning towards a pre-built, I think. Especially since I do not currently have a working desktop.

[*Lost and not Found]

Thus we've lead to the issue of where to buy it.

Are you going to walk into the Ye' Olde Computer Shoppe or are you going to order the whole thing online?

[*Ravel's Heart]

Probably will buy online.

The only brick and mortar computer store near me is Best Buy, and their prices are generally inflated about 20% over the internet. When you factor in the savings on sales tax, even with shipping, it is pretty substantially cheaper.

Anyway, hoping to make a decision tonight, if I get a little time to comparison shop.

[*Ceremorph]

Avoid Best Buy like the plague. Unless you want to know more than your salespeople do... might as well be buying at Wal-Mart, just with a better music section.

A place I've sort of fallen in love with is Micro Center (r.i.p., old CompUSA, you are missed), which has a huge build-your-own section and does price-match with NewEgg and Tiger. Dunno if they have 'em where you are, though, they just opened here a few months back.

http://microcenter.com/at_the_stores/index.html

[*Ravel's Heart]

So, here is what I decided on:

Intel Core i7 960 (3.2GHz, 8MB Cache)
RAM: 9GB Triple Channel 1333Mhz DDR3
2x 500GB SATA-II, 7,200 RPM HDD
Dual ATI Radeon HD 5770, 1GB GDDR5

And a lot of overtime... :lol:

[*cryptc]

If you go RAID with those drives, go RAID1 not RAID0