Need some opinions on a brand of computer...

[Xenia I can't breathe 0]

Been looking for a new computer lately, read my brother's computer shopper mag.

There was a brand in there that sold computer very cheap. Website is <a href="http://www.ibuypower.com

The" target="_blank">http://www.ibuypower.com

The</a> prices seem really good, and everything you want is pretty much available.

Does anybody own a computer from this site, or does anyone have links to reviews?

Thanks a lot, much appreciated for any help.

[Mister Frag 0]

If you are experienced with computer and have done some work on them yourself (added RAM, a larger harddrive, added a card), you can build a system that performs as well or better than any store-bought system for less money.

If you haven't done that, or would rather not bother, I'd say go with one of the big guys, like HP, Dell, or Gateway. They can offer a level of support that no-name vendors cannot.

When buying an entire system, cheapest definitely isn't always best.

[RedRogue 0]

http://www.alienware.com/index_yesflash.asp

(Edited by RedRogue at 6:44 am on Dec. 9, 2001)

[Mister Frag 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from RedRogue on 1:42 pm on Dec. 9, 2001

http://www.alienware.com/index_yesflash.asp

(Edited by RedRogue at 6:44 am on Dec. 9, 2001)

<span id='postcolor'>

Not cheap, but definitely top-of-the-line. If you can afford one, it would make a great next gaming rig.

[DarthBeavis 0]

Think about getting a laptop with Geforce2 go card or Radeon card. A laptop today is as good as a desktop for the most part (the video is not as good but the new cards I mentioned allow you to play 3d accelerated games quite well). If possible, make sure you have either USB version 2 or Firewire built in. It will make a world of difference in a laptop down the road (external devices such as hard drives, cameras, cd/dvd burners, etc). USB version 1 is around 1.5 meg/sec. Firewire is around 400 meg/sec. USB 2.0 is around 480 meg/sec.

[Mister Frag 0]

The only problem with laptops is that you generally can't upgrade the CPU or video, since they are integrated into the motherboard.

That means that you can't get a GeForce4/Radeon 10000/Kyro III or whatever when they come out. Next year, it may not be such a big deal, since today's technology will still suffice for almost any game, but two years from now, it WILL be obsolete.

And unless you invest in an external CRT monitor, you'll have to play on a less-responsive LCD with poorer contrast.

[Xenia I can't breathe 0]

I have done a few upgrades and such on my PC, added RAM, a vid card.

Its an HP...and it sucks

dell doesnt offer AMD processors

Compaq sucks

Gateway has horrible reliability (so ive heard)

Alienware is probably the best of the best, but indeed the most expensive.

Sony, good comp, doesnt offer AMD anymore (>:-(..)

Building my own, would rather not bother, wouldnt want to take the chances.

So hmm.............

[Dpillay 0]

get one assmembled to ur specifications -- u don't really have to go in for the brands!!

man alienware sure has some great systems on offer --- but certainly steep!

[theavonlady 2]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from Mister Frag on 8:52 am on Dec. 9, 2001

The only problem with laptops is that you generally can't upgrade the CPU or video, since they are integrated into the motherboard.

That means that you can't get a GeForce4/Radeon 10000/Kyro III or whatever when they come out. Next year, it may not be such a big deal, since today's technology will still suffice for almost any game, but two years from now, it WILL be obsolete.

And unless you invest in an external CRT monitor, you'll have to play on a less-responsive LCD with poorer contrast.

<span id='postcolor'>

The only point I somewhat disagree with is the last point. I have been working only on notebooks with active matrix screens for the last 5 years.

While contrast is not as great, the total lack of glare and flicker makes using a notebook extremly easy on the eyes. This is great for work and play.

For those thinking of buying a notebook, get one of the more popular makes that are well built and supported. I use an IBM T20 Thinkpad PIII 700. I've only used Thinkpads and I have been super happy.

[RedRogue 0]

I use to work on Laptops, repairing and breaking them down/building them out of parts. The only major disadvantage I can say laptops have now days is Heat. Sure the proccessor is just as fast as desktops and the video is up to par, but all the other stuff Memory/System Bus/ North and South Bridges/ Hard Drives/ Removable Drives, are slower than their desktop counter parts.

Speed = Heat, in a laptop heat is a major design issue because now you have everything in a desktop crammed into a very tiny case and are lucky if you get to include one small fan, as you can't use a very large fan to help cool because people won't want a laptop that sounds like a blow dryer.

[Mister Frag 0]

A good LCD has a contrast ratio of about 400:1, while a CRT generally has about 1200:1. What that boils down to is that unless the ambient lighting conditions are good, it will be much harder to see stuff on the LCD when compared to the CRT.

I'm not saying that LCDs are bad, only that CRTs have an advantage here, one that becomes pretty significant when you try to detect enemy soldiers hiding in bushes 200 meters away. Luckily, one can always hook up a CRT to the laptop if one finds that to be a problem.

[DarthBeavis 0]

I use a laptop (Dell Latitude) at work. When it is the docking station it uses a CRT. Otherwise I use the laptops screen.

[Xenia I can't breathe 0]

bump

[muzzmuzz 1]

Building a computer your self is always the cheapest option, this is because you buy exactly what you want don't have to put up with people like Tiny Computers and various other companies messing about with your PC.

I had a Tiny and found out one day that all the part were glue gunned in.

I decided to build the PC I have now myself and I must say its a beauty.

The spec is:

AMD AThlon 1.4ghz

786mb RAM - SDRAM - Changing board soon so I can use DDR RAM as its faster than SDRAM!

Geforce III

25gb Hard Drive - Soon to be 40gb!

17" Monitor

Lexmark Z58 Printer

Hewlett Packard 1600dpi Scanner

56K External Diamond Supra Modem - Soon to be ADSL!

8X Philips CDRW

72X CDROM/DVDROM

Abit KT-133A Motherboard - Soon to be ASUS Board so I can use DDR!

I recommend if you build a PC your self look on Ebay.co.uk for the parts or try and find a Computer fair.

A good spec for Flashpoint would be:

AMD Duron 1ghz

512mb RAM - DDR RAM

20gb

Geforce II Ultra

52X CDROM

Cable or ADSL connection for Netplay!

Though of course being it your self you could build the ultimate beast of a PC if your budget allows you too.

[RN Malboeuf 12]

yea Build your own, and go local, this way they offer better tech suport, I can't tell you how much our costumers love that we just drive over to the house, not all stores do this, but I don't mind.

The only problem with this is lack of knowlage, if you don't know remember a few hey things

Don't buy a P4 waste of money

Stick with newer GeF or Radeons with 32 or 63 MB DDR Ram

DDR is Faster then SDR

OEM SB Live Card is cheap, we sell for $50 CND don't go and get the full boxed versions for $250-$250

get atlest a 1 ghz

Duron or Celerons are cheaper and will work just fine

Compare the Price of the these chips to the better chips Athlon, Pentium

300 watt Power Suply

make sure the Mother Board (MB) has more then 4 PCI slots

17" cost on average $30 CND more then 15" so get the 17"

40 gig HD are not much more then 20 gig HD $25 CND more

If your a Game Freak make sure the HD is 7200 RPMs and not 5400 RPM, but other with both are fine

to save money stick with a Front Side Bus (FSB) of 133 mhz

If you have the money Go with a FSB of 266 as this allows your MB to talk to all your stuff faster, you wont see a difference in Windows, but in heavy games like OFP you will

Wireless Mouse/Keyboard are KEWL

JoySticks with Metal Inards are better

Hope that helps

(Edited by RN Malboeuf at 4:27 pm on Dec. 11, 2001)

[Mister Frag 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from RN Malboeuf on 2:01 am on Dec. 12, 2001

<Snip>

Stick with newer GeF or Radeons with 32 or 63 MB DDR Ram

<Snip><span id='postcolor'>

Heck, I'd spend the extra money and get a 64MB video card -- that extra 1MB is well worth it! :biggrin:

[muzzmuzz 1]

lol Mister Frag!

[muzzmuzz 1]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from RN Malboeuf on 8:01 pm on Dec. 11, 2001

Duron or Celerons are cheaper and will work just fine <span id='postcolor'>

The performance of the Intel Celeron is a lot less than the actaul P3, P4, Athlon and Thunderbird. For a game such as Flash Point a P4 or Athlon/TBird would be the best CPU to buy.

The Celeron is generally not a strong CPU for gaming. They are mainly a budget CPU and are best suited to Office or Home use.

I'd go with any of the AMD CPU's if I had a choice. Though you are right the Celeron is cheaper

[RN Malboeuf 12]

if they had the money yes

And they are not that much differententm Plenty of guys will tell you they have Celery or Durainium in thier computers and that they work just fine for OFP