Help me pick a new computer......

[Scootertrash]

I need a new 'puter. My current machine was bought in 2001 or 2002. I know jack schmidt about computers, the specs make my head spin like Linda Blair in "The Exorcist".

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab83/Sarkozette/The%20Exorcist/exorcist_7.gif (http://media.photobucket.com/user/Sarkozette/media/The%20Exorcist/exorcist_7.gif.html)

This computer will be an all around 'puter, home/business/gaming. I'm not a hardcore gamer, my gaming has been COD (the world war II versions) and a couple of other world war II type games.

I could probably handle a bare bones kit, but then I would have to assemble it and my time is very limited right now, but I'm willing to look at such an option. naturally I'm looking for the best bang for my buck. I'll probably use Tiger Direct for this purchase.

Thanks for the help everyone!!

ETA: Budget is 500-700ish. It looks like I should be able to get a decent set up for that?

[Lord Letto 20]

if you were to build a Computer and order parts online:
PCPartPicker part list (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/yrbKGX) / Price breakdown by merchant (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/yrbKGX/by_merchant/)

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646g3258) ($63.78 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr2) ($26.99 @ NCIX US)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver Ceramique 2 Tri-Linear 25g Thermal Paste (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/arctic-silver-thermal-paste-cmq225g) ($6.24 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-z97anniversary) ($80.79 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f314900cl9d8gbxl) ($56.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd10ezex) ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 280 3GB TurboDuo Video Card (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/powercolor-video-card-axr92803gbd5t2dheoc) ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-case-200r) ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Rosewill Hive 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-power-supply-hive750) ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSC0B DVD/CD Writer (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/lg-optical-drive-gh24nsc0b) ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-885370635690) ($90.26 @ OutletPC)
Total: $644.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-28 11:29 EST-0500

If you were to pick up a prebuilt from Tiger Direct: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=9095516&CatId=114
or from Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227595
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883266525
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227545R

[Stingray]

Are you tired of the blue screen of death?

Get a Mac and never look back.

[Lord Letto 20]

Are you tired of the blue screen of death?

Get a Mac and never look back.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2119/4508637631_5fc07c2e4b_z.jpg

[atc007]

I know far less than you about computers I am sure. I started in 99 with a emachines desktop,then it was all laptops after that. Compaq and hp. Till a Macbook pro 4? years ago. It is No faster,but reliable as an old Honda stored in a garage. Machined from one piece of metal and go from there. It has taken a fall that would have busted a plastic hp into a million pieces. I have never gamed a second,So I can't help you there. there are at least a few guys on here that do computers for a living. Be interesting to see their input. I hate em all,but they sure are a big part of life nowadays :(

[shortline10]

HP if your on a budget , Sams sells them cheap , Mac is the best .... if you have the funds !

[Billy Golightly]

If you want a solid reliable system and want it to just work for you - build your own. If you can rebuild a trike motor you can build a pc.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

[El Camexican]

If you want a solid reliable system and want it to just work for you - build your own. If you can rebuild a trike motor you can build a pc.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

Easy for you, you've got your Dad helping!;)

All I can add to this is don't get a Dell 17 5000 series laptop. I am typing this from my old busted up Acer Aspire that I love.

[Scootertrash]

Thanks guys! ;)

I had actually looked at this one before I started this thread, but it appears to not be a valid deal any more.:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...5516&CatId=114

Never tried a Mac, so for now I'll stick with what I know ;)

[Stingray]

Lord,
4 years Mac laptop and now 3 years Macbook Pro never seen that screen. Probably the MS software on the emulator? :lol: joking you.

[atc007]

If you want a solid reliable system and want it to just work for you - build your own. If you can rebuild a trike motor you can build a pc.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

No lie Scooter. My bud built his own,and runs on DIAL UP,,,,YES,,, Dial up!!! Clocks all turned back whatever the heck that means..... WAY faster than my junk,,,,,and he also day trades stcoks.... If you have any clue how fast you have to get buy and sell orders in and out... It isn't slow lol... SOmeday i will tackle it just to say I did. I have to get El's tickets bought 1st to fly him in to help me :) :)

[Lord Letto 20]

if you want to save money, I'd say build your own, you would save money and likely would have better quality parts plus you would have the accomplishment of building it yourself, as billy said in here:

If you want a solid reliable system and want it to just work for you - build your own. If you can rebuild a trike motor you can build a pc.
a example of how you could save money:
CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme Gaming PC for $670: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=9095516&CatId=114
Intel I5-4460 3.2GHz Quad Core
8GB DDR3 RAM
1TB HDD
DVD-RW
1GB Nvidia GTX 750
Windows 8.1 64 Bit
350W Power Supply
Gaming Keyboard and Mouse

Now if I were to take those specs and put it in a Builder/Parts Finder Site like PCPartPicker.com (http://pcpartpicker.com/) :
PCPartPicker part list (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/bTWrWZ) / Price breakdown by merchant (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/bTWrWZ/by_merchant/)

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54460) ($169.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-motherboard-h81mp33) ($27.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f312800cl9d8gbrl) ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd10ezex) ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 1GB ACX Video Card (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-video-card-01gp42757kr) ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill REDBONE ATX Mid Tower Case (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-case-redbone) ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Stallion 450W ATX Power Supply (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-power-supply-rd4502db) ($42.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSC0B DVD/CD Writer (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/lg-optical-drive-gh24nsc0b) ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (32/64-bit) (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700578) ($94.99 @ B&H)
Keyboard: Rosewill RK-8100 Wired Gaming Keyboard (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-keyboard-rk8100) ($19.17 @ Amazon)
Mouse: Rosewill Helix RM-20 Wired Optical Mouse (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-mouse-rm20) ($9.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $568.05
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-29 14:31 EST-0500

Base Price of $632, that's $38 Less than The Prebuilt, with the $15 Promo Code for the CPU and $20 Combo Discount on the Case and Power Supply that's $67-73 worth of Savings, add Mail in Rebates on top of that and it would add another $35 of savings with a $20 MIR on the Video Card and a $15 MIR on the Case, Total Price after Discounts (Promo, Combo and Mail in Rebates) and Shipping shows total price to be $568.05, $101.95 Less than the PreBuilt, that extra money could go towards something else like trikes or be put back into the computer for upgrades or extended warranties.

[Scootertrash]

So is building this mostly a plug and play type of thing? I can solder if needed. It's probably easier then I'm thinking?

[Billy Golightly]

:lol: no, no soldering. Everything is push and play, and 99% of the thing can only go one way. The only somewhat hairy part is sticking the CPU in the motherboard without bending any pins (it goes one of 4 ways, and each CPU has about 1,000 little tiny assed brass pins in it) and then clamping down the heat sink without feeling like your going to break the chintzy assed plastic electrical boards in half. Other than that, it really is plug in play. Deciphering the chi-com instruction booklets and diagrams is a little bit entertaining sometimes, but it really is easy. Once you've built one you can go from a totally stripped pile of parts and a case to a full built booting machine in probably 20 minutes, if even that.

Newegg and Tiger direct both are great to order from. I've bought from Newegg for like 10 years and never had nothing but excellent results with them.

Here is a video I haven't watched, but probably explains the whole thing for you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIF43-0mDk4

[Lord Letto 20]

:lol: no, no soldering. Everything is push and play, and 99% of the thing can only go one way. The only somewhat hairy part is sticking the CPU in the motherboard without bending any pins (it goes one of 4 ways, and each CPU has about 1,000 little tiny assed brass pins in it) and then clamping down the heat sink without feeling like your going to break the chintzy assed plastic electrical boards in half. Other than that, it really is plug in play. Deciphering the chi-com instruction booklets and diagrams is a little bit entertaining sometimes, but it really is easy. Once you've built one you can go from a totally stripped pile of parts and a case to a full built booting machine in probably 20 minutes, if even that.

Newegg and Tiger direct both are great to order from. I've bought from Newegg for like 10 years and never had nothing but excellent results with them.

Here is a video I haven't watched, but probably explains the whole thing for you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIF43-0mDk4

That's a newer Video than what they had before that I watched, here's the ones I know of that I watched:
How To Build a Computer - Part 1 - Choosing Your Components: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPIXAtNGGCw
How To Build a Computer - Part 2 - The Build: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_56kyib-Ls
How To Build a Computer - Part 3 - Installing Windows & Finishing Touches: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxaVBsXEiok

[Jason125m]

I would definitely build one, when i built mine I completely over thought the process, and was nervous. But for the most part it is plug and play, especially if you stick with the stock cpu cooler with thermal paste already applied. You will save a ton of coin building one, the prices of pre built units are insane.