$2,388

[nockergeek]

That's how much a new computer from Dell that's nearly equivalent to what tim_almasy put together will cost me.

PROCESSOR: Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6850 (4MB L2 Cache,3.0GHz,1333 FSB)
OPERATING SYSTEM: Vista® Home Premium
MEMORY: 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz - 4 DIMMs
HARD DRIVE: 320GB - Seagate 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache
ADDITIONAL HARD DRIVE: 320GB - Seagate 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache
OPTICAL DRIVE: Dual Drives: 48x Combo + 16x DVD+/-RW w/ dbl layer write capable
VIDEO CARD: 512MB Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT
SOUND CARD: Sound Blaster® X-Fi™ XtremeGamer (D) Sound Card

No monitor (I already have 2 flatscreens), no special keyboard or mouse (again, already have those), but new Klipsch speakers (as my old ones have no headphone jack).


It's odd to think of not building my own computer (although my last computer before the current one started out as a Gateway, but before long the only Gateway bit left was the case and one optical drive), but I have credit with Dell and I could afford that without maxing out the account. I totally don't need it right now, and I doubt that I can justify buying it right now, but it's one of those things that I would really like. Alternately, I could take my time and save up the funds to build a computer from scratch, which might take a while to afford something decent.

Wishes and horses and all that.

Comments

[evildennis.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean. I've been thinking about a new computer for about a year now. And I really don't want to build one, this time I want to be lazy and have a company put it together for me. (which is a little more expensive, but I'm lazy atm.)

I'm still using my old big purple alienware case. One of the fans makes loud whirring noises now (for the past few months) and I'm starting to run out of space on my 40G HDD.

But I've been scared away because of Vista and not knowing that all my old programs will run in that OS. Then again I probably should at least check on my fans and maybe replace them so they stop whirrring really loudly. But when I put my hand back there it's still moving air fine. So... don't know.

[nockergeek.livejournal.com]

If you're getting a brand new computer, Vista's not bad (and unless you're building your own PC, it's hard to find XP even offered anymore).

As far as the fan, it might be getting off-balance/working on throwing a bearing. I'd go ahead and replace it, as fans are cheap. With Z's computer, I had to throttle one of her fans down slightly because it was making odd noises at higher speeds.

[the-z.livejournal.com]

use the laptop :P

[nockergeek.livejournal.com]

The laptop can do many things, and is a wonderful little computer, but for the reasons I'd be upgrading my PC (namely, kickass gaming performance) it's just not there. For gaming, it performs slightly better than my current PC.

[the-z.livejournal.com]

You just got a 360. That still has quite a bit of gaming performance in it.

[nockergeek.livejournal.com]

And that's why I said, "I don't need it and don't know if I can justify it right now."

It's a want, not a need.

[the-z.livejournal.com]

You know me, when I see you want something. I'm so tempted to urge you to buy it if it'll make you happy XD

I think I'm as much justifying this for myself so I don't tell you to go out and do it.

[nockergeek.livejournal.com]

Would it make me happy? I'm sure it would bring a little burst of joy to have brand new stuff. Brand new stuff always gets that reaction. But I'm already happy with life. The lack of Der Überkomputer doesn't make me unhappy.

So don't worry, you don't have to tell me to do it to make me happy. :)

[animarelic.livejournal.com]

Dang dude, what is it that you want to play?

This is why I stick to console gaming. I know for sure any game I buy is going to work in my console without any massive upgrades x_x.

[the-z.livejournal.com]

I really resent that computer games seem to compulsively be ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY UPGRADE NOW AWESOMENESS!

Or Sims. u_u

[nockergeek.livejournal.com]

Truly, an expression of, "Don't hate the player, hate the game," neh?

[the-z.livejournal.com]

no diigity

[nockergeek.livejournal.com]

Is that urban enough for you?

[nockergeek.livejournal.com]

Well, here's the reasoning behind a massive upgrade.

I want to replace my video card; my little Radeon 9600 Pro just can't keep up anymore (it's 4 1/2 years old, which is elderly for a video card). However, any decent video card being released these days isn't AGP, it's PCI-Express. Well, I don't have a mobo that has a PCI-Express slot, so I'd have to get a new motherboard... which means a new processor and new memory. I'm also going to need a new power supply to provide enough juice for all of this new hardware, which then means a new case. At that point, I might as well just go the full nine and buy a brand new system and get more HD space and a DVD burner as well.

If I get something, I want to get something that I won't have to replace for another 4-5 years, like I did this time. :)

[laudre.livejournal.com]

Why two burner drives? I mean, I know they're not all that much pricier than readers anymore, even dual-layer burners, but the head on a unit that can both read and write is much heavier, which burns out the motor sooner.

Personally, I'd rather keep just one optical drive and have more room in the case for airflow, unless I'm going to be doing a lot of disc-reading, in which case I'd pop in a read-only drive as a second optical (and make it the optical boot drive), not a second burner.