Fuck this Gateway shit...

[Quiet_Cool]

All right; I think I've had enough of using this piece of shit Gateway that wasn't worth shit when I bought it (nonetheless the amount of money I spent on it). I'm looking to go self-built, but only have vague ideas of where to start.

I know a few people who know a few people who can help me out, but any information that might help is going to be.. well, helpful. So, if anyone can toss me a bone (metaphorically speaking only) and help point me in the right direction, it'd be appreciated.

We're talking every bit of information you can muster. Bits/bytes/ram, the whole deal. What am i looking for for ideal performance? Fastest internet capability? The difference between Pentium II and pentium III ect?

Even if all you can do is send me to a website that tells me a few things, it's something. I need rid of this piece of shit. ANd I don't want to have to be offline forever in between comps.

Thanx to anyone who can offer response.

Q_C

 

[ElizabethWest]

Go with a Dell. I have had very little problem with my laptop. And the expert said Dell or IBM was the best.

Miss you in chat btw...

 

[Dar~]

I had mine custom built through a local guy. It was inexpensive and is a falulous computer. I reccomend it all the way.


PS: Gateway sucks major syphilis dick.

 

[maggot420]

weird harold knows everything so if you can you should ask him.

it really depends on what you want your computer to do.
pentium 2, 3 and 4 are good processors which basically determine how many calculations per second your computer can perform
AMD processors I think are just as good but maybe a little cheaper
celeron processors used to be really twitchy but i think they're better now(cheaper intel processors)

Ram is critical for performance. RAM is like a temporary memory which your software will write to on a temporary basis. not having enough RAM is usually responsible for slower computer performance more often than a lack of processing power.
SDRAM is the cheapest and most common but DDR RAM is the newest thing. I recommend avoiding RAM that comes in pairs.

Hard drive memory is your actual capacity for storage. its pretty cheap and the more you have the more files and software you can store. 40gb is as small as you should probably go and obviously the more the better.

Graphics cards have RAM memory built into them. NVIDIA and ATI are the big guys in graphics cards but unless you are a gamer you shouldnt need to go too crazy.

really good sound cards are probably necessary only if you are doing alot of things like recording music, or playing with wave files. if youre just listening to mp3s an integrated(built-in) sound card should be good enough.

i think thats all i know
i'm not sure if this is a good source of information but i found it and it might be.How Stuff Works

 

[R. Richard]

All right; I think I've had enough of using this piece of shit Gateway that wasn't worth shit when I bought it (nonetheless the amount of money I spent on it). I'm looking to go self-built, but only have vague ideas of where to start.

I know a few people who know a few people who can help me out, but any information that might help is going to be.. well, helpful. So, if anyone can toss me a bone (metaphorically speaking only) and help point me in the right direction, it'd be appreciated.

We're talking every bit of information you can muster. Bits/bytes/ram, the whole deal. What am i looking for for ideal performance? Fastest internet capability? The difference between Pentium II and pentium III ect?

Even if all you can do is send me to a website that tells me a few things, it's something. I need rid of this piece of shit. ANd I don't want to have to be offline forever in between comps.

Thanx to anyone who can offer response.

Q_C

Unlike most items you buy, a recognizable brand name on a PC is a sign of junk.

In order to determine what you want and need in a PC, it is first necessary to find out what you intend to use it for. If the only thing you use a PC for is e-mail, it can be an entirely different animal from a game playing PC.

As has been advised in this thread, find a local PC builder. Talk to people who have bought from him/her and who have at least most of the uses you plan for your PC.

A locally built PC will be built of generic parts. The generic parts work with EVERYTHING. Brand name manufacturers put in special parts that don't work with everything so that they can sell you very high priced replacements.

Oh yes, find out, if possible. where the locals get their parts. I used to deal with a man who not only built the best PCs in the area, he also imported from the far east almost all of the parts used in the local PCs. The stuff didn't get any cheaper by passing through his hands.

My advice on building your own PC is to instead read a book on brain surgery and then set up your own practice based solely on the reading of the one book.

JMNTHO.

 

[Liar]

Don't settle for anything less than 512 MB of RAM memory. Tat's pretty much the only rule of thumb I have when looking at puters.

Other than that... unless yu're savvy enough to build it yourself, don't. Many branded PC's still use standard components (which is really the only reason to go home-built) and are reasonably priced. I don't know how it looks where you live, but over here there are dozens of smaller firms with their own PC label. They customize and build after your specs and you still have a decent warranty on the complete thing.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Buy a Dell. They're on sale for $299. How much better can it get?

 

[carsonshepherd]

i have a gateway... never had a moment's problem with it... but my requirements are simple. if i can write, use the internet and listen to music files i'm a-okay.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Thanx for the responses guys. The thing about buying a Dell is, while I've heard good things about them, I've also heard good things about Gateway.

If I go custom, I seriously doubt I'll try and build it myself. My cousin knows a guy (former boyfriend) who built hers and does that type of thing for a hobby. If I decide on that route, I'll either have him do it, or work directly with him for the sake of not fucking anything up.

The site is helpful, maggot. Later I'll take the time to browse the whole thing (if I find said time...).

As for Dell, thanx to my Mom's choice of jobs, I can get a fair discount on one if I use her family discount ID for the website. Might be my best option if building from scratch is as difficult as it sounds.

Thanx again guys. Any more information you feel like tossing out can still be helpful.

Q_C

 

[Quiet_Cool]

i have a gateway... never had a moment's problem with it... but my requirements are simple. if i can write, use the internet and listen to music files i'm a-okay.

Pretty much the same here, Carson, except for the part where yours is working and mine's shit...

Q_C

 

[Liar]

As for Dell, thanx to my Mom's choice of jobs, I can get a fair discount on one if I use her family discount ID for the website. Might be my best option if building from scratch is as difficult as it sounds.

It's not really the difficulty that made me buy instead of build. It's the warranty. If you build it, or let some buddy build it, you have no warranty on the construction. Only on the separate components.

#L

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I'm a coputer blonde, but having dealt with this frankenputer for a long while and listened to my brother complain about working on it, a few things I have picked up.

A 20 gig hard drive sounds huge, but once you put the windows files on it and a few other things, it's full. Get the biggest you can afford comfortably. You may never need the extra space, but if you run out, you'll kick yourself for not getting more when you started.

Ram is the same way, get as much as you can comfortably afford. Each new generation of games, programs, etc. calls for more. It's easier to start with way too much than to have to constantly buy more because technology is passing you by.

USB ports are like KY, they just make things alot easier Adding new gizmos is a lot easier when you have a free USB to run it off of.

Get a high end graphic card with it's own memory on the card. Again, get as much as you can comfortably afford.


Sit down and prioritize the things you use your compy for. Then you can look at each need and decide how much you want to spend to optimize that particular aspect.

If you do a lot with pictures, you'll want a higher end graphics card and pretty high processor speed as well as a lot of ram.

If you watch DVD's on the machine, you'll need a lot of free memory and a graphics accelerator.

Each thing you do, has differnt needs. So it's alot easier if you know what you are going to be doing and buld from the point of view of what each needs to meet your needs.

 

[TheEarl]

QC: I built computers for a lviing in the summer and know a fair bit about what you would need.

What kind of computer are you looking to have? Everything's a tradeoff - performance vs money. Are you looking to store large, very legal video files and music on it? Are you looking to play games? Do you just want a word processor? Are you an impatient git like me who needs the computer to boot in double-quick time?

The basis of any self-built computer is the motherboard. This is going to cost you around £40-100 quid and generally it's worth spending your money on a good one. I recommend MSI motherboards - absolute dogs bollocks and you should be able to find a good one for £60-£80

Next up is the processor. I'm a fan of AMDs, rather than Intel processors myself, but that's a judgement call. Generally speaking, the higher the number of gigahertz your processor does, the faster the computer should run. It's one of the major things to splash out on if you want speed. The bigger the number, the better the processor. When comparing AMD and Intel, be aware that they measure their chip speed slightly differently. A 2.4Ghz Intel will probably run at the same speed as a 1.8Ghz AMD if memory serves correctly.

RAM (also called memory) is the other area where you get the speed from. Larger amount of RAM means your computer will boot faster and it's also essential if you're an avid multi-tasker like myself. I have 1024Mb in my computer, but 512Mb should do the trick if you're not too fussed about speed. RAM is cheap (relatively!) though, so it's not a place to skimp on. Go for best quality and speed and size that you can afford IMHO.

The hard drive will be of importance to you. Most hard drives connect to the motherboard through IDE cables, but the new generation are connected via Serial ATA (or SATA) cables. These are a hell of a lot faster and well worth investigating. Ask any computer expert and they'll have their own favourite make of hard drive - Maxtor, Seagate,Western Digital, Hitachi and they'll all say horrible things about everyone else's favourite. Any of those four names will generally serve you right though.

The rest is just trimmings to those components. I'd recommend popping down to a local computer shop as the small businessmen are the ones who actually know their trade. Their business stays alive because of knowledge and the results they produce, rather than the bulk that they can churn out. Generally speaking, the technicians there will be able to advise you and will have very certain ideas of what kind of components you should have, but going in with a little bit of knowledge is a good thing.

The Earl

 

[TheEarl]

It's not really the difficulty that made me buy instead of build. It's the warranty. If you build it, or let some buddy build it, you have no warranty on the construction. Only on the separate components.

#L

But if you let a local computer shop build it, then you get warranty + someone who knows what they're doing = happy Quiet_Cool.

The Earl

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Wow. Some of you definitely have your shit together. The only problem I had there, Earl, was trying to guesstimate how those figures would translate into dollars. But I see what you and colleen are saying about where the money is well-spent. My basic goals are nothing overly trying for the comp. Basically, I use the word Porcessor, i work out of Windows, I download the aforementioned very, very, undeniably legal audio/ videio files and have a fqair amount stored on the comp I use now, which might be part of what's making the performance so much worse. I can't say I play a lot of games on it, save for basic Yahoo! Games type stuff. But I'd take the possibility into consideration with the advancements they're making in MMORPGs. I've heard a few good things about WoW, etc, and would like to try some fo them. So I'd say gaming, yes, but mostly just basic use and downloading, unless eBay has some specific demands I'm unaware of (and if it does, I'm unaware of it; I've only been there once so far to check out the cane/ghost deal).

Dunno if that info helps much.

Thanx a third (fourth? Eighth?) time.

Q_C

 

[Liar]

But if you let a local computer shop build it, then you get warranty + someone who knows what they're doing = happy Quiet_Cool.

The Earl

Yep, that would be my recommendation too. Someone who is local, that you can turn to if things starts to act strange. But also someone who gives a reciept on the job. Bought my studio PC in a glocal shop (small business with local store, but who also sells their own brand of computers on the net). Perfectly happy with it.


QC, for any more advise on what to prioritize it would be good to know what you want to use it for and what budget you have.


#L

 

[TheEarl]

Wow. Some of you definitely have your shit together. The only problem I had there, Earl, was trying to guesstimate how those figures would translate into dollars. But I see what you and colleen are saying about where the money is well-spent. My basic goals are nothing overly trying for the comp. Basically, I use the word Porcessor, i work out of Windows, I download the aforementioned very, very, undeniably legal audio/ videio files and have a fqair amount stored on the comp I use now, which might be part of what's making the performance so much worse. I can't say I play a lot of games on it, save for basic Yahoo! Games type stuff. But I'd take the possibility into consideration with the advancements they're making in MMORPGs. I've heard a few good things about WoW, etc, and would like to try some fo them. So I'd say gaming, yes, but mostly just basic use and downloading, unless eBay has some specific demands I'm unaware of (and if it does, I'm unaware of it; I've only been there once so far to check out the cane/ghost deal).

Dunno if that info helps much.

Thanx a third (fourth? Eighth?) time.

Q_C

Right: on those specs, you need to get:

MSI Motherboard - the more you spend, the better you get.
AMD processor (my personal preference) running at about 3Ghz: faster = more expensive, slower = less expensive.
1024Mb (size) RAM with 400Mhz FSB (speed). Can cut it to 512Mb if you're on a budget, but I wouldn't go lower. You'd be better to save on the processor.
120Gb Hard drive. Again more size =m ore money, but 120Gb is a nice useful size wihtout being too dear.

In England, that's -
Motherboard: £60
Processor: £40
RAM: £60
HDD: £60
Which adds up to £220 overall or roughly $380-$400. That's a direct translation from English prices and I don't know how much computer equipment costs in the USA, but that's a rough guide to the most important and techy bits of your computer. The rest is just trimmings which you can faff with to your heart's content.

The Earl

Edit to say: That's a fairly nippy system there. It'll do everything, although if you want to play games, it'll be worthwhile spending money on a graphics card as well (Roughly £40 - $70). It's very similar in specs to mine and, as I said, I am an impatient bugger when it comes to computers, so you could scale back to save money if you really wanted. However, that's what I recommend.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Right: on those specs, you need to get:

MSI Motherboard - the more you spend, the better you get.
AMD processor (my personal preference) running at about 3Ghz: faster = more expensive, slower = less expensive.
1024Mb (size) RAM with 400Mhz FSB (speed). Can cut it to 512Mb if you're on a budget, but I wouldn't go lower. You'd be better to save on the processor.
120Gb Hard drive. Again more size =m ore money, but 120Gb is a nice useful size wihtout being too dear.

In England, that's -
Motherboard: £60
Processor: £40
RAM: £60
HDD: £60
Which adds up to £220 overall or roughly $380-$400. That's a direct translation from English prices and I don't know how much computer equipment costs in the USA, but that's a rough guide to the most important and techy bits of your computer. The rest is just trimmings which you can faff with to your heart's content.

The Earl

Edit to say: That's a fairly nippy system there. It'll do everything, although if you want to play games, it'll be worthwhile spending money on a graphics card as well (Roughly £40 - $70). It's very similar in specs to mine and, as I said, I am an impatient bugger when it comes to computers, so you could scale back to save money if you really wanted. However, that's what I recommend.

I'd say that's a pretty detailed response. lol

Thanx Earl. I'll have to take this info to the local shop and see what those prices translate into less directly to see exactly what I want to do. Any particualr brand on these components to look for (or avoid)?

Q_C

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Something else you don't get with custom built is tech support.

Dell's is--in my opinion--superb. Don't sell it short. 5-10 minutes on the phone with 'Bob' from India and I had my wireless network up and running and trading files.

If I had to figure that crap out myself, I'd spend all my time reading manuals and tearing my hair.

 

[Liar]

Right: on those specs, you need to get:

MSI Motherboard - the more you spend, the better you get.
AMD processor (my personal preference) running at about 3Ghz: faster = more expensive, slower = less expensive.
1024Mb (size) RAM with 400Mhz FSB (speed). Can cut it to 512Mb if you're on a budget, but I wouldn't go lower. You'd be better to save on the processor.
120Gb Hard drive. Again more size =m ore money, but 120Gb is a nice useful size wihtout being too dear.

In England, that's -
Motherboard: £60
Processor: £40
RAM: £60
HDD: £60
Which adds up to £220 overall or roughly $380-$400. That's a direct translation from English prices and I don't know how much computer equipment costs in the USA, but that's a rough guide to the most important and techy bits of your computer. The rest is just trimmings which you can faff with to your heart's content.

The Earl

Edit to say: That's a fairly nippy system there. It'll do everything, although if you want to play games, it'll be worthwhile spending money on a graphics card as well (Roughly £40 - $70). It's very similar in specs to mine and, as I said, I am an impatient bugger when it comes to computers, so you could scale back to save money if you really wanted. However, that's what I recommend.

Solid advise there.


For usability, make sure that your new box o horrors have the following:

* Many USB 2.0 ports. Almost all external stuff like printers, cameras and pdas (and even keyboard and mouse) connect via USB these days. You think you have enough until the day you find out you were wrong.

* At least one Firewire port. For those gadgets that doesn't run USB.

* A memory card reader that accepts all the common formats. More important than a floppy in the years to come.

* A DVD-RW drive. If nothing else, for convenient backup of important stuff.

* Some stationary computers comes with small UPS units built in. That is very good when you trip over the powe cord just before saving that muy important document.

* Bulilt in wireless network. You may not need it today, but I'd be suprised if you didn't find it useful soon enough.

* Are you picky about sound quality? If you are sensitive like me, the built in thing on the motherboard will most likely sound crappy. Get a separate PCI soundcard. The good enough ones are cheap.

* Like Earl said, a graphic card is probably called for if you want the opportunity to play fairly new games.


#L

 

[cantdog]

When I self-built, I took three months to learn about the hardware. I hit the bookstore for computer magazines and read them. It gave me a solid handle on what the issues were, and a wish list. Then I was ready to order the bits.

During that time, I also discovered that a girl who knew my daughter was a hardware maven. She was extremely helpful and gave me a sound card and speakers for nothing, because sh'ed upgraded.

Take the time and know what you need, is my advice.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

A piece of advice you will not hear anywhere else: the only important thing is the monitor. Spare no expenses, but buy the best monitor you can find. You can upgrade all the other crap, but if your monitor is crap, it's going to remain crap until you get a new one.

 

[TheEarl]

Something else you don't get with custom built is tech support.

Dell's is--in my opinion--superb. Don't sell it short. 5-10 minutes on the phone with 'Bob' from India and I had my wireless network up and running and trading files.

If I had to figure that crap out myself, I'd spend all my time reading manuals and tearing my hair.

Disagree completely. I worked in a local shop making custom built and we'd always answer the phone, fix problems, do any technical support.

I'd say that's a pretty detailed response. lol

Thanx Earl. I'll have to take this info to the local shop and see what those prices translate into less directly to see exactly what I want to do. Any particualr brand on these components to look for (or avoid)?

Q_C

My personal opinions on brands:
Motherboard - Use MSI, avoid Asus and Asrock. Bad, bad boards.
Processor - AMD, but Intel's still pretty good.
RAM - No opinion, your shop will have one that they order in bulk and it'll be good.
HDD - I prefer Western Digitals, but that's a definite matter of opinion. Pick any one from WD, Hitachi, Maxtor or Seagate and you'll be okay.

Definitely agreed with Lauren on the monitor. You get what you pay for and, if you're gonna be staring into it for hours, it's worth paying.

The Earl

 

[Quiet_Cool]

The monitor still works. i at least have that going for me. And it's fairly decent to look at, save for when my eyes start acting up.

Thanx guys.

Very helpful.

Q_C

 

[Lauren Hynde]

The monitor still works. i at least have that going for me. And it's fairly decent to look at, save for when my eyes start acting up.

Thanx guys.

Very helpful.

Q_C

"Still works" and "fairly decent" doesn't sound very promising when it comes to a monitor. But it's your call.