Need help picking computer parts or a new computer? Click here.

for anyone looking for a new rig:

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2343585

HP Home has HP HPE410t Desktop PC for $600 after applying coupon code DTK791488 at checkout. Shipping is free. Thanks iconian

Intel Core i5-760 Quad Core 2.8GHz
6GB DDR3
1TB 7200rpm HDD
ATI Radeon HD 4850
HDMI port
16x DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti Drive w/ LightScribe
TV Tuner, ATSC-NTSC with PVR, Remote
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

I overpay for any technology. All companies charge extra to send anything new to NZ, usually we get the leftover stock from Australia.
I didn't say I didn't want anything new, who doesn't? It's just that I was rather afraid that I couldn't get the parts.

Thanks for you help Fiel.

for anyone looking for a new rig:

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2343585

Wow, wtp @ that comp. Do want.

Anyway, I'm doing a bit looking at laptops in preparations for Black Friday, and I have a certain few questions:

Budget is $500 at most taking into account Black Friday.
1/ Video Card is a must have, correct? How can I tell whether or not a certain model is shared memory (to avoid)?

2/ From different providers, what numbers can I expect to see with said budget? (NVIDIA should be about GS7300+? What would the deal be for ATI? 4000+? Does it also apply for chipset?) -- this is for Black Friday's effectiveness

3/ Would 2GB DDR3 be better than 3GB DDR2? I understand that DDR3 has twice the data transfer rate as DDR2, and that I can't add-on more RAM to a laptop, but is there anything else I should look out for?

4/ Why does this $700 one list its CPU speed as 1.20GHz while the whole list of these ones averages at around 2.20GHz, but for cheaper? Am I missing something here?

5/ Similar to #3, is Quad-core 1.5GHz better than Duo-Core 2.0GHz+? It could probably multitask better, but doesn't reach as high a speed on simple singular tasks as the duo? (from my (mis)understanding).

6/ Should there be a preference for the HDD bus interface? Keep in mind the possibility for an external drive later on.

Anyway, good night for now, chins.

1. At $500, a video card is not a must have. You probably can't afford a video card in a laptop. If you're lucky you might get some low-end graphics chip, but that's about all you can hope for. The great majority at that price will just have integrated graphics. When you see integrated graphics, though, the size of the shared RAM is unimportant. You'll know if a model has a graphics chip because it will be listed explicitly as ATi or nVidia. If it says "up to XXXX GB!", that means shared RAM. No make or model always means shared RAM.

2. Numbers on what? Hundreds of games, hundreds of graphics chips.

3. It's highly unlikely you'd feel a difference in speed for either. Go with the higher GB model.

4. With budget laptops, there are two factors more important than performance - battery life and portability. With a lower clocked CPU, that also decreases the voltage required for the CPU and thereby increases battery life. The 2.2 GHz models (at least the top 5 I saw) would perform better, no doubt, but they'd also suck batteries dry. Also, CPUs that suck more power are less portable because they need bigger heatsinks and bigger power supplies to support the power draw.

5. For what a person will be doing on a laptop on this budget, a faster dual core would be better than a slower quad core. You won't be doing high number crunching in parallel threads, will you?

6. SATA is fine. See if you can get eSATA for the laptop, because eSATA is far faster than USB/Firewire.

I would advise against getting any laptop between now and CES 2011. That's when Fusion will debut and it will really slam down on prices of laptop models that exist now and until January. FINALLY the laptop sector gets decent price/performance for GPU tech. Screw Intel for filling the laptop market with its sludge integrated graphics performance all these years.

I would advise against getting any laptop between now and CES 2011. That's when Fusion will debut and it will really slam down on prices of laptop models that exist now and until January. FINALLY the laptop sector gets decent price/performance for GPU tech. Screw Intel for filling the laptop market with its sludge integrated graphics performance all these years.

!-When was this-!

UPDATE:::

What is your current budget?:
$500-600(I had to spend money for a wreck I had, damn trees get me every time)

What part are you looking for? Why do you need it?:
Not high end Gaming but atleast Crysis on low/Mid on 1920x1080 *Or lower, give reso.*

What parts are in your current computer? Be as specific as possible. Links to Newegg/Tigerdirect are best. If you have a pre-built, include the make and model.
26 in. Sanyo TV w/ 2 HDMI + 1 VGA, Mid-Tower Gaming Case, DVD-R Drive

How do you intend to use this new part or new computer? What's the heaviest load it's likely to encounter?
Fallout 3/NewVegas, SC2, Maple, DFO, STEAM GAMES

If you live anywhere other than the United States, please indicate your country.
USA-Mississippi

At HP:

 Build

Make sure to get a carrying bag if you need one. Sign up for student discounts to knock 3 - 5% off the price too. You can customize it for slightly higher performance on the graphics card or CPU. Since you use AutoCAD/Photoshop, I'd go for the CPU upgrades first.

If your build is going to go above $1000, make sure to use a coupon here:

http://www.techbargains.com/vendor_detai...n-code?r=1

This was a month and a half ago, and I finally ordered my laptop today. I decided to get the dv6z with an AMD Phenom II X4 processor and 1GB graphics RAM instead. Decided to recheck the suggestion right before buying and ended up saving $100. Thanks a bunch!

[IMGspoiler="Order details"]http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/9462/laptop2m.png[/IMGspoiler]

So for my computer, I'm on my last stretch: deciding on the case.
I'm looking for excellent cooling and value. However, I can't decide.
Cases I've been looking at are:
-antec nine hundred two
-antec three hundred (I'll have to add extra fans, so it'll only be a bit cheaper)
-lancool k62
-CM 690 II advanced (rather expensive)

Would someone give me advice on choosing a case? I'll be overclocking my cpu.
I want to save as much money as possible to upgrade my 6850 to a 6870.

My cousins graphics card hit the toilet so he asked me for help. I'm really busy to help him so I need you guys to give him an express answer. Im doing 3 things at once while typing this down. I have to make Thanksgiving dinner so I have to make crap earlier than usual. Please help him with this.
Don't blame me if some of these aren't compatable we're very busy because we're all doing things to feed the family on thanksgiving.

What is your current budget?:
350$

What part are you looking for? Why do you need it?:
Midrange

What parts are in your current computer? Be as specific as possible. Links to Newegg/Tigerdirect are best. If you have a pre-built, include the make and model.
Monitor, Speakers, Mouse, Keyboard, Basically everything except the Graphics card, He didn't give me the PSU so Give me a new one.
mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813128394
cpu :http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6819103886
And he got these because his old ram ate the dust in two days:
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820104098

How do you intend to use this new part or new computer? What's the heaviest load it's likely to encounter?
He wants to play Games From Steam, Low~Mid Quality Crysis

If you live anywhere other than the United States, please indicate your country.
USA-Mississippi

I don't know of any part called "midrange". >_>

What parts are you looking for? I can tell you want a graphics card, but I don't know really if you need a PSU. If you're going to be spending $350 on a graphics card, you will be able to more than max out Crysis.

Fiel you own a midrange GPU... compared to the low end and high end (Cayman/GT580)

I am cautious as to what to recommend. I don't know why your cousin's PC components are falling apart. It could be him that's messing around with it.

Recommending a 6870 or a 5770 would be irresponsible if he fries it within weeks.

A $350 budget would get you an HD 5870, which is enough to run Crysis maxed and then some. But your CPU as it is, unless overclocked, would bottleneck the new GPU.

I have to overclock my 3.2Ghz quad just so that it doesn't bottleneck my 5870, and even then I need to still set my flip queue size to 0.

As for PSU just get anything that's at least 80 Plus bronze

Fiel you own a midrange GPU... =p

Your name is rayhovite. what's your point.

You stated you don't know of any GPU called midrange. Can you explain this reasoning?

Because there are no GPUs explicitly named "midrange". There's a midrange of GPUs, yes.

Right now all I have to work with is a blown GPU that needs to be replaced and a PSU ("He didn't give me the PSU so Give me a new one."). But then he's only talking about the graphics card, so I'm confused as to what he really wants. Does he just want a graphics card or does he want a PSU too? He's not being very specific about what he wants, and the parts to recommend for him vary wildly depending on what combination of parts he's requesting due to his budget.

You stated you don't know of any GPU called midrange. Can you explain this reasoning?

He used "midrange" as noun. Simple as that.

Because there are no GPUs explicitly named "midrange". There's a midrange of GPUs, yes.

Right now all I have to work with is a blown GPU that needs to be replaced and a PSU ("He didn't give me the PSU so Give me a new one."). But then he's only talking about the graphics card, so I'm confused as to what he really wants. Does he just want a graphics card or does he want a PSU too? He's not being very specific about what he wants, and the parts to recommend for him vary wildly depending on what combination of parts he's requesting due to his budget.

Sorry, I'm going to re-write it soon. We had a very hetic Thanksgiving so I'm going to fix it soon He's giving me what he ment to tell me on IM now.

------

My cousins graphics card hit the toilet so he asked me for help. I'm really busy to help him so I need you guys to give him an express answer. Im doing 3 things at once while typing this down. I have to make Thanksgiving dinner so I have to make crap earlier than usual. Please help him with this.
Don't blame me if some of these aren't compatable we're very busy because we're all doing things to feed the family on thanksgiving.

But that was then, He now says he will go to a 500$ budget if it requires new computer "Only".

What is your current budget?:
350$ for parts,500$ New computer only.

What part are you looking for? Why do you need it?:
Video Card (Midrange), PSU

What parts are in your current computer? Be as specific as possible. Links to Newegg/Tigerdirect are best. If you have a pre-built, include the make and model.
Monitor, Speakers, Mouse, Keyboard, Basically everything except the Graphics card, He had a 450w PSU for the 4770 that was busted.
mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813128394
cpu :http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6819103886
And he got these because his old ram ate the dust in two days:
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820104098

How do you intend to use this new part or new computer? What's the heaviest load it's likely to encounter?
Crysis, Lowest to Mid settings.

If you live anywhere other than the United States, please indicate your country.
USA-Mississippi

Fiel you own a midrange GPU... compared to the low end and high end (Cayman/GT580)

I am cautious as to what to recommend. I don't know why your cousin's PC components are falling apart. It could be him that's messing around with it.

Recommending a 6870 or a 5770 would be irresponsible if he fries it within weeks.

A $350 budget would get you an HD 5870, which is enough to run Crysis maxed and then some. But your CPU as it is, unless overclocked, would bottleneck the new GPU.

I have to overclock my 3.2Ghz quad just so that it doesn't bottleneck my 5870, and even then I need to still set my flip queue size to 0.

As for PSU just get anything that's at least 80 Plus bronze

He likes to inspect and clean the interior for dust, which isn't often, but often enough (1~3mths). 'which is probably why he fried his graphics card in the first place'. I gave a new 500$ budget for a new computer. By the way, I try to tell him how to OC, yet he keeps forgetting which is why this might be a bad idea to get him a 5870, since I constantly remind him how.

Spending $350 on a 5870 is a poor choice. You can buy a 470 GTX for $220 + S/H - $20 MIR. Then throw in a Seasonic PSU and he's good to go. Under budget and it's a lot more powerful than what he had.

Spending $350 on a 5870 is a poor choice. You can buy a 470 GTX for $220 + S/H - $20 MIR. Then throw in a Seasonic PSU and he's good to go. Under budget and it's a lot more powerful than what he had.

Thanks Paul, you get the rest of my Karma since I don't need it ^o^!

Also would he need to OC for it to not bottleneck, or is it good to go?

nVidia may be cheaper, but I'm thinking that the nVidia users may get shafted Post Big Bang, as I've observed people with ATI Cards NOT crashing at all, and all the people using nVidia video cards are..

I was on JMS for an entire 8 hrs yesterday until my internet decided to crap out on me.