GregHowley.com

Time for a New PC

January 14, 2008 -

More and more problems with my primary PC at home. I've been complaining and complaining about this machine for years, and now I think it's time to be done with it. Never buy a machine from CyberPower Systems, no matter how PC World rates them.

This weekend, I decided to organize my mp3 collection. So I reinstalled the software for my old 20GB Creative Nomad Jukebox, which has served me very well over the years. While working with that software, my machine froze with the same sound card related bug that I've had since I first got the computer. Not a huge deal, but after I'd restarted the machine, my router refused to issue the machine an IP address. The other machine hardwired into the router was still connecting just fine, as was Linda's laptop which was connected wirelessly in the other room. But despite fiddling with the configuration on my main machine, trying static IP, and double-checking the BIOS to ensure that the onboard networky thing was enabled, I still found myself SOL.

The (temporary) solution came to me as I gazed in exasperation at my cluttered room. I saw the USB wireless dongle that I'd been using when the router was still out in another room. I plugged it in, installed the driver, and voom - I was connected. So that will do for now.

But I am seriously considering a new machine. It's been about three years, and I'm ready for an upgrade. I think the main thing I'll be looking for in a new machine is a good motherboard and processor, since they're the most difficult to upgrade. I can easily add memory and replace a graphics card, but the motherboard and processor are beyond me.

So I peeked into the most recent issue of PC World to see which vendors had the most highly rated machines, and was disappointed to find CyberPower Systems twice in the top five. So I'll be looking at Dell, the old standby. But I'd definitely like to explore alternatives. I wanted to look into the Commodore Gaming PCs, but they don't allow you much configuration. I'll get a flat panel monitor only if I can get a really good deal with a bundle - my two CRTs at home work just fine.

Anyone have any suggestions as to where I should be looking for a new PC?

Comments on Time for a New PC
 
Comment Mon, January 14 - 12:30 PM by Frank
Unless you're planning on building your own PC from the ground up, or you can afford a nice shiny Alienware machine, then a Dell should suit you just fine.

I purchased a Dell about a year and a half ago and aside from upgrading the video card (I ordered it without one so I could choose better hardware) its a been a great machine. However, if you run an AGP video card be prepared to move to PCIExpress as Dell doesn't include AGP slots in it's new machines anymore. Also, their power supplies are short on extra plugs so hopefully you don't plan on installing extra fans or other hardware.

It's been a great gaming machine for me (2.5GB of RAM, 3.40 GHz, ATI x1950 video card) and I just slapped another 160GB SATA drive in it to store more digital camera pics and scans of my comic collection.
 
Comment Mon, January 14 - 1:55 PM by Keith
Don't get a DELL. Getting technical help from them is a nightmare.

had lap top for a few months and when I was i wasn't even out of hartford heading to Canada it shit the bed. tried to get technical suport out of country and was denied, Spent more time on the phone getting the runaround and disconected talking to some foriegn people over seas who's English is worse then mine.

Did I say I spent Hours being transfered and disconnected... I knew what i was doing installing the operating system and trouble shooting and told them what had shit the bed and they made me go through everything....

Did I mention i got disconnected and the runawound from hardware and software departments.

Then they sent a tech out to my house....

He even screwed up... and I had to wait again for them to dismantle the Special casing for the laptop...

Please for the love of GOD... listen to me once in your life time and don't get a DELL.

Greg....You could build your own PC. it might cost more, but you would atleast be happy with it.

 
Comment Mon, January 14 - 2:07 PM by Keith
Monitors...

Greg, video cards now come with Svideo out puts and multi sva connectors on the cards. Right now i have my Pc hooked up to my TV...Its an old Tv, not an LCD monitor TV. the only draw back to the TV beng the monitor it that the Lettering TExt is blurred. I am gona attempt to take my PC to parents house and try it on their LCD TV, and see if there is a diffrence in how blurry the text is... Small text... I have how ever used a word processing progrmas a good 10 feet from my tv to my couch, and have increased the font size and that cominsates for the distortion. But games like never winter which are text base SUCK, but the graphics do look cool.

Remember get a flat panel TV screen at bestbuy for the same price as an LCd MONITOR....

if I seem to be to much into this monitor stuff it is becasue i am looking to replace my 15 year old monitors with something NEW... yes i did say 15 year plus.

But games like Mech warrior and need for speed look great on the 32 inch screen.


PS. GREG.. I am having trouble with a commadore Emulator program, I was wondering if Later on you can help me with understanding how to get it working.

Also i would like your home adress.


 
Comment Mon, January 14 - 3:14 PM by Greg
Keith- email me so I have your email address. I reinstalled XP recently and lost all my old emails.
 
Comment Mon, January 14 - 3:53 PM by Frank
I'd really avoid trying to use a TV as a monitor unless you're going to get a LCD flat panel TV anyway. S-Video out is only useful for watching DVDs from your PC to the TV, trying to do anything actually resembling computing is going to blow chunks on a standard TV. That is unless you actually enjoy doing things at a 640x480 resolution...

And yes, Dell support does suck, but so does the support from pretty much every other big-box manufacturer except for Alienware. But when you pay $5k for PC I guess they can upgrade the support huh?

For the record I've only had to use Dell support twice, one time utterly sucked due to the aforementioned hours worth of transfers. The second time was fine, got a competent rep and issue was resolved.
 
Comment Mon, January 14 - 11:08 PM by pmd
I'm much happier with the PCs I've built for myself. For me, it was like a right of passage into geekdom. If a Jedi should craft his own lightsaber, then a Geek should build his own machine.

As far as parts, the most stable machines I've had were Intel (brand) boards w/ Intel processors. People will tell you not to do this, and they're right when it comes down to bang for buck. I personally had some bad experiences with non-Intel boards, so I feel better when I get Intel/Intel.

I find memory for me is the most complex (and it doesn't have to be). I usually read user reviews on the specific board I'm trying to get and find out what kind of memory issues people have been having. Most of the complaints on my motherboard involved the reseller pushing memory with the wrong timing as a related item on their website. In short... Many manufactures are pretty clear about what brand memory you should buy and what the timing should be. As long as you're not reading lots of user reviews claiming foul, you should be golden.

After this, it gets REAL EASY. How do you want to pimp your PC? Get a decent power supply. *DO* buy a NIC and sound card even if there's one already on the motherboard. For networking, I've been having real good luck with Netgear (as opposed to Linksys which has been nothing but bad luck lately). Audio should be a basic Soundblaster card. There's no need to go with the external audio unless you're really crazy about sound. You just got a video card, so use that until you want to upgrade.

Lastly, Tekzilla did a Build A PC from scratch episode. The segment could have been a little better, but it's worth a watch.

http://revision3.com/tekzilla/loadmobo
 
Comment Wed, January 16 - 4:42 PM by Rusty B
I tend to build my own, but it's easy to get burned buying parts that should be compatible according to spec, but suffer some obscure conflict in practice.

My friend got a good deal on an HP system from Costco a year ago; perhaps if you've got a Costco or Sam's Club membership (or know someone), you could go that route. It's especially nice since you can return it in 90 days no questions asked (at Costco, at least) for a full refund if it doesn't meet your expectations. My friend upgraded the video card and he's been pleased with the purchase.

YMMV, of course, but it seems like a good route to go to me.