The Computer Thread

fujee · Post by **fujee** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 11:31 pm

HP Desktop
Intel Core i5 CPU 650 @3.20GHz
6GB RAM
Windows 7 64 Bit operating system

very pleased with it, for what i do it runs like a dream

gonna get a nice graphics card and some more RAM soon.

LightI3ulb · Post by **LightI3ulb** » Tue Nov 16, 2010 3:22 am

Just picked up this little guy:

about a month ago. So far I'm incredibly happy with it.

11.6"
Core2Duo SU7300 1.3 (OC's in BIOS to 1.73)
4 GB DDR3 RAM
320 GB HDD
nvidia GT 335M/intel onboard graphics

You can switch the nvidia graphics card on or off to save a TON of power (Like 2 hours to 7.5 hours of battery life)
HDMI out is awesome

And it lights up :roll:

This particular one retails for around $900, I got it for $600.

lurkingrecords · Post by **lurkingrecords** » Sat Nov 20, 2010 1:14 am

2009 17" Unibody Macbook Pro (OSX Snow leopard)
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.8gHz
500gb HD
4gb RAM
Dual Video Cards/ FW800/ Expresscard/34 slot

dual boot w Windows 7 (for FL 9)

Macs are the way to go (for me), expensive as hell, but worth it in the end!

zeitgeist · Post by **zeitgeist** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 8:43 pm

*BUMP*

Hey guys, I would've posted this earlier had I had a chance. Seemed the best thread for my question. I'm looking for some help, then I'll stop spamming. I can google the hell out of any product looking for reviews, but I don't really trust anything written online anymore...

My girlfriend is looking to pickup a new laptop today for this whole cyber-monday thing. She doesn't know a thing about computers, and I've been out of the game for like 10 years at least. She doesn't want to spend a dime over $600. We're trying to stay away from HP since mine burned up last year, and Sony, since her old one sucked. I've been looking on Amazon and others for a couple hours and the best thing I could come up with was:

-ASUS A52F-XA1, $540, 4GB DDR3, 320GB, 15.6", 64-bit windows7: http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=5Nc75yuvge9VKtyi

I've heard good things about ASUS, although I realize it's one of their lowest-models. I know enough to know that those specs will be plenty for her everyday photoshop work, music listening, and online stuff, but she also has a few hours on mini DV tapes from a friends wedding that she'll want to edit down on this (most likely Windows Movie Maker-style, nothing like avid). She's no gamer at all. I've also noticed that most processors seem to be no faster than 3 or so GHz. Is that new? Is anything faster just overkill or something, ie--is ram more important?

So this is an o.k. deal, right? Any better suggestions? Is $500-600 a price range she could expect to pay for a similar laptop any day of the year? Like I said, the most intense thing she'd ever do is this WMM-project. I did a similar project on my 10 year old 512KB-ram compaq w/ only a 256mb vid card relatively fine, so I'm thinking I'm ok here? I just want to hear it from someone with more knowledge. THANKS A TON!

turquoise70 · Post by **turquoise70** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 9:39 pm

From what you've said, I think you're getting a good deal. My brother was just looking at laptops last week, although the ones he was looking at were all HP or Sony (he's had a Sony Viao for a few years and I've had an HP for about a year). The ones he was looking at had comparable specs to this one - 4 Gigs of DDR3 ram (which in my opinion is more than decent), 320 GB HDD, 64-bit windows 7 and all that. Most of those were going for $700-$900. As for the processor speed, I believe the 2-3 Ghz range is standard for most laptops now as well, just like the 4Gb DDR3 ram.

zeitgeist · Post by **zeitgeist** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 10:56 pm

thanks for the info cole! so, to really show my ignorance--which would you say is more important for her needs? the processor speed or the RAM? i believe the specific model i had there is like 1.8Ghz (which is slower than the 10 year old desktop i'm typing this message on, is that important?)

turquoise70 · Post by **turquoise70** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 11:26 pm

Anyone can feel free to correct me if I'm wrong here, I'm no expert myself.

But I would say that the processor being from 1.8-2.5 Ghz is just fine - I believe my HP laptop has a similar processor speed to it, and similar RAM (actually I think my HP has less RAM), and it runs Adobe CS4 no problem.

LightI3ulb · Post by **LightI3ulb** » Tue Nov 30, 2010 12:15 am

The situation is somewhat complicated. Back before the turn of the century, the listed speeds on processors could be considered a reasonable gauge of its competitive performance. What makes it complicated was the horizontal expansion of processing power

Think of it like this, the old processors were like 3-lane interstates, and the processor speed was the speed limit. The higher the speed limit gets, the more easily errors occur. Processors after that, instead of increasing the speed limit, instead increase the number of lanes, technically speaking increasing the "bandwidth" of the processor, or how many cars the road can handle at maximum speed.

Better yet now, the newest processors not only have an 10-lane interstate at a moderate speed, they're now stacked on top of one another, increasing the bandwidth exponentially.

So, with that said, you really need to get more stats on the processor before you can make a reasonable assessment of its power.

fujee · Post by **fujee** » Tue Nov 30, 2010 3:01 am

Had some issues with my new computer, so i went into PC world and im getting a brand new one no questions asked

zeitgeist · Post by **zeitgeist** » Tue Nov 30, 2010 3:32 am

Sweet guys, thanks again! If you can run CS4 on your rig, surely she can do what she needs to do with this. Thanks LightI3ulb for explaining the current processors. That's really interesting to me. I mean, I was really into computers back maybe 15-10 years ago. My first computer was a 100Mhz gateway that I saved up all summer to buy a freakin' sound card for. I remember when the first GHz machine came out, around the time I lost the ability to keep up with computer technology, and I couldn't believe it was possible/necessary. I even pulled a Bill Gates saying, "Why would anybody ever need that much power?!" It makes much more sense now... Well, we'll see what happens. :lol:

Twoism-ist · Post by **Twoism-ist** » Tue Nov 30, 2010 5:44 am

yeah a lot of people don't really realize there's more to a processor than its clock speed. i work at an electronics store and people always say "wow that Celeron is so cheap and its also faster than that Phenom II!! ill take ten!"

YELLOW · Post by **YELLOW** » Wed Dec 01, 2010 12:49 am

been a windows user for a while but just a couple months ago i bought my first mac, its a 2010 macbook pro, 13" 2.66 ghz intel core 2 duo, 320 gb harddrive and 4gb ram. im really loving it and dont think i would switch back.

my only grief so far is that i used to play a lot of pc games, but i dont want to go out and buy a windows OS disc just to setup bootcamp, gotta find one to borrow i suppose

polar sky · Post by **polar sky** » Wed Dec 01, 2010 2:29 pm

YELLOW wrote:been a windows user for a while but just a couple months ago i bought my first mac, its a 2010 macbook pro, 13" 2.66 ghz intel core 2 duo, 320 gb harddrive and 4gb ram. im really loving it and dont think i would switch back.

my only grief so far is that i used to play a lot of pc games, but i dont want to go out and buy a windows OS disc just to setup bootcamp, gotta find one to borrow i suppose

I switched to mac back in 2005 and I will never buy another PC again. Oh and if you wanna play your PC games get this:

http://www.parallels.com/landingpage/dskd63-5/?source=b_us

747Music · Post by **747Music** » Tue May 24, 2011 8:19 pm

I'm reviving this thread because next week I'm building a new computer.

Specs are:

Case = Cooler Master Storm Scout

CPU = Core i7-2600K 3.8GHz

Mobo = ASUS P8P67 PRO (REV 3.0)

RAM = G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3

GPU = EVGA Nvidia GTX 460 SC

DVD = ASUS DRW SATA 24X DVD Burner

HDD = OCZ Vertex 2 120GB SSD and a 750GB 7200RPM

CPUfan = Cooler Master V8

PSU = OCZ ModXStreme Pro 700W

OS = Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit OEM

It's costing me a not bad price of $1300.

I can't wait to get it and put it together.

Battlefield 3 here I come.

Spenner · Post by **Spenner** » Tue May 24, 2011 8:36 pm

Might as well post my specs too

The condensed version, that is.

Ender · Post by **Ender** » Wed May 25, 2011 12:03 am

This is a computer I built about 2 and a half years ago, and I had a limited budget, although it's been good enough for the things I do and the games I play

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 3.0GHz

PSU: COOLER MASTER eXtreme RP-500-PCAR 500W ATX12V V2.01 Power Supply

mobo: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard

case: COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

card: EVGA 896-P3-1265-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16

ram: Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel

hd1: Western Digital Caviar Blue WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

hd2: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD753LJ 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive -Bare

keyboard: Logitech G11

mouse: Logitech MX518

speakers: Logitech Z-2300

monitor: Dell ST2310 23in. 1920x1080

OS: Windows 7 x64 Home Premium

Seeya_Later · Post by **Seeya_Later** » Wed May 25, 2011 1:29 am

Dell Dimension L500r.
Pentium III.
Windows 98.

Yeah that's what I'm talkin' 'bout.
I'll get a better computer. Either a MacBook or an Alienware laptop.

747Music · Post by **747Music** » Thu May 26, 2011 4:10 pm

I ordered my new PC today. I upgraded a couple items in my list. Instead of the GTX 460 SC, I'm getting the GTX 570. And instead of the 120GB SSD at 3.0Gb/s SATA II, I'm getting a 64GB at 6.0Gb/s SATA III. And I'm getting a 850W PSU instead of the 700W PSU.

I'm so exited! It should come early next week.

polar sky · Post by **polar sky** » Thu May 26, 2011 7:34 pm

By the way, has anyone ever tried to build a Hackintosh? My friend did and it's pretty bad ass! It's the exact same thing as a new Mac except built using PC bought parts and the x86 Architecture. He saved like $500.00.

http://www.hackintosh.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackintosh

AFX.NL · Post by **AFX.NL** » Thu May 26, 2011 8:57 pm

My PC:

AM2 5200+ X2 Dual Core
4 GB of kingston memory
500 GB HDD
640 GB HDD
geforce 9600GT
430 or 450 watt power supply
A nice motherboard and a coolermaster case

And an HP laptop. I will post their specs later