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Thread ID: 54423	2005-02-12 01:10:00	Seeking advice re buy a new PC	Misty (368)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
324147	2005-02-15 22:05:00	AMD Athlon XP3200 Processor 64bit 512MB DDR RAM PC 3200 80GB 7200RPM Harddisk Drive 1 . 44MB 3 . 5” Floppy Disk DVD RW Geforce FX5700LE AGP8X 256MB, DVI, TV-Out Integrated Sound 56k INTERNAL v . 92 Modem 17” SVGA Colour CRT Keyboard, Scroll Mouse (both wireless) & Pad, Speakers Anti-Virus Software (Trial) - useless – will stick with AVG !! 24 months Return-to-Base from invoiced date M/S Windows Home Edition for a price of $1730 (GST included) it sounded like it will do 180P graphics - does that make sense ??) Depending to what level you want to do photo / video editing, I would be inclined to up the RAM to 1GB, the hard drive to 120GB SATA w/8MB cache, and preferably a video card with some input as well as output or a similar video input device alongside a standard card (Radeon 9550 seems to be a good price/performance balance) . 180P graphics sounds to me like "one AGP graphics" in asian accent . If you're only doing very basic work at this stage and are prepared to do some upgrading as you progress, this looks like a good base . Not too sure on the pricing though with a CRT and XP Home .	inphinity (7274)
324148	2005-02-19 04:06:00	On the North Shore, I recommend Orange Computers or Playtech -offically called TMC Computers . TMC is a long time reputable retailer and wholesaler . They have started trading as Playtech . I have had a look at these two places as suggested by Techie . Playtech do seem to cater a lot for serious game players and have very high tech and lavish surroundings, whereas Orange are smaller and more basic . Playtech put together their own PC's whereas Orange do not . Johnson at Playtech spoke "19 to the dozen" but eventually I got a word in edgeways and when he slowed down a bit he was helpful and friendly . ;) These are the two closest offerings it seems - From Playtech Computers Intel Pentium 4 3 . 0GHZ FSB800 Prescott MSI 661FM-L (FSB800, LAN,AGPx8) 512MB GeIL Value DDR400 (Timing 2-5-6) Seagate 80GB PATA 7200RPM HDD Onboard VGA (Alternative Radeon 9250L 128MB for $92 extra) Shuttle 16 x Dual Layer DVDRW Silverstone 360W Power Supply Silverstone SST-TJ01 ATX Black Case Microsoft Standard Keyboard Microsoft 3-Button Optical Mouse BenQ FP737S-D 17” TFT LCD Monitor 16ms) Onboard Sound Shock 200W Speakers Windows XP Home (inc Service Pack 2) Total Cost (inc GST) is $ 1605 From Orange Computers AMD Athlon64 3000+ CPU Asus KBS-MX Motherboard 512MB DDR 400 RAM 64MG AGP Graphics Microsoft Standard Keyboard Microsoft 3-Button Optical Mouse AOC 17” LCD Monitor Hitachi 80GB 7200RPM Hard Drive Samsung Double Layer 16x DVD Writer Windows XP Home (inc Service Pack 2) Total Cost (inc GST) is $ 1460 Any comments on these systems ? Would either, or both, suit what I am after ? I did ask Orange for the brand names this time so my reporting a bit better . :thumbs: Misty Have not thought about Apple yet ! :@@:	Misty (368)
324149	2005-02-19 06:55:00	Good to hear feedback Misty . Orange do build themselves . . . or have they changed since a month or two ago!?! :o I have a feeling you may have talked to the wrong person at PlayTech . As much as Johnson is the Sales Manager, he doesn't act like one to me . My impression of him is crap . All he did when I was there was smile -or tried to, when his boss introduced him to me, whilst drinking coke, whilst talking on the phone, whilst having his legs up almost on the desk! If you like, I could recommend Paul -I think he is the director if I'm not wrong . He knows his stuff, . . . too polite, and he has all the authority to bring prices down -always ask for some discount any where you go . At Orange, I recommend Jeffrey, again the owner . [Funny enough, I always happen to get the owners talking to me -maybe it's cuz I always go in when they've either just opened or are closing for the day] Both shops I have bought from in the past month or two . As for the system, both are fairly good ones . I am not so sure on the Shuttle brand of the DVD-RW in the system PlayTech have . If you are considering the Playtech option, I recommend you consider whether to go LGA775 chipset or not . This would allow future upgrade possibilities with PCI-E graphic cards . The case that Playtech use tends to be really good ones -the one they've used in the above costs $200~ itself! I think it's aluminium . Either way, if you have a cheaper case, it will make a huge difference . The Geil Ram that Playtech use is also good . However, the motherboard they've used could do with a change . They will tend to use MSI because they are somewhat an "authorised MSI dealer" . Other than that, it's a good system . Moving onto Orange Computer, the ram they use is Legend -which most would consider as just usual generic . I haven't seen how Playtech builds their PC, but mine, built by Orange is neat -cables are nicely tied, etc . The LCD is definitely not as good as the BenQ . I recommend, if you're going to buy an AOC, then you'd be better off getting a CMV, as I'm sure many here would recommend . Other than that, it is rather hard to comment on the good-old AMD vs . Intel war as the above PC sets seem . Again, both of them could do a massive price drop if you asked for it . Give them one chance, and ask for their very rock bottom price -and do tell them you have to go elsewhere to compare before you buy . They should both treat you well -as long as Johnson is not the one helping you out . Good luck,	techie (7177)
324150	2005-02-19 07:14:00	so now the question is AMD or Intel :p i see that the pc from orange computers only has a 64mb graphics card, is that enough for your requirments?	Prescott (11)
324151	2005-02-19 09:23:00	i see that the pc from orange computers only has a 64mb graphics card, is that enough for your requirments? Hi Prescott I do not know, as I have not enough "know-how". What do you think please ? Misty :confused:	Misty (368)
324152	2005-02-19 09:58:00	ASUS, K8S-MX, 754pin Socket AMD Athlon64, SiS 760GX/965L, mATX, On-board VGA 64MB, 8XAGP, 6CH Audio, LAN, 2*PCI, 1*PCI-E 1X, 8*USB2 . 0 . see what I see? Fancy expensive case and crapola motherboard (style over sunstance),anything with only 2 pci slots is junk,beyond even contemplation for a system for any intended use . Plus, It has onboard graphics . . . . . . see what i see? thats the 64mb mentioned in the specs, Uses system ram . Anyhow, Much more i could say on the topic but I shall bite my tounge, Neither system would be my pick,	Metla (12)
324153	2005-02-19 10:18:00	My generic advice (and yes I have an AMD bent) 1. Buy an AMD 3000 or higher CPU, Socket is irrilevent, cycles changes are so fast that even the much ballyhood "future proofing" of the 939 means nothing when a revision of the chip could make all current boards obsolete overnight. 2. Match it up with an Nforce 3 (or Nforce 4 if they are available at a reasonable price). Go for either Asus or Gigabyte, No need to get the super duper board with 50 billion bells and whistles either, The cheapest board in the best range is an excellent place to be purchasing. 3. Ram....If your running the system at the speeds it was designed to run at...then there is no need for anything other then BASIC Generic Ram,Granted i'm not a fan of Legend gear but I have had a good run with Seitec. 4.Video Card, as mentioned earlier, if your going to spend the dosh on a new comp, Might as well get one with a video card, The performance increase is considerable,AGP or PCI-E is a non-issue, There is no way in holy hell even a gamer on the cutting edge is getting any benifit from his PCI_E card (unless they have a SLI setup, In which case i salute them and would love to know how to be that rich). The benifit comes from the extra capabilites of the video card, Not on what socket its plugged into (unless the slot is bottlenecking it, which aint the casewith AGP) etc etc etc	Metla (12)
324154	2005-02-20 04:50:00	"The LCD is definitely not as good as the BenQ. I recommend, if you're going to buy an AOC, then you'd be better off getting a CMV, as I'm sure many here would recommend." I must be one of the few then who wouldn't recommend a cmv or a BenQ (acer) over an aoc.	the highlander (245)
324155	2005-02-20 07:56:00	My generic advice 1 . Buy an AMD 3000 or higher CPU, Socket is irrilevent, 2 . Match it up with an Nforce 3 (or Nforce 4 if they are available at a reasonable price) . Go for either Asus or Gigabyte, No need to get the super duper board with 50 billion bells and whistles either, The cheapest board in the best range is an excellent place to be purchasing . 4 . Video Card, as mentioned earlier, if your going to spend the dosh on a new comp, Might as well get one with a video card, The performance increase is considerable, It is time for me to stop pussyfooting around and to make a decision !! I have emailed Advanced Computers and asked Hi Re: Comet 3 64 bit System I am wondering if it would be possible to change at least part of this system to (1) Motherboard - Asus or Gigabyte -- Nforce 3 (or 4) (2) ATI Radeon 9550 How would that affect the price please ? ********************* Apart from that One thing I am still not sure about is whether there is a difference between a video and a graphics card . It seems not, but if there is then if you buy a video card then do you need to still have a graphics card ? I have done some searches on Google but am still not sure about the difference ! :help: Misty :@@:	Misty (368)
324156	2005-02-20 08:17:00	a video card is a graphics card :) unless you want to watch tv then you need a tv tuner.	Prescott (11)
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