I was just wondering what to look for? Like what are good brands of parts, and such, and stuff that is good but not too expensive. I'm kinda new to buying my own computer so I was just wondering what was good. Info on videocards would be good too.

Give us a budget and the massassi community will pimp out your comp for you ;).

Really, it all depends on how much money you have, and what you'll be doing with said computer.

Yes, listen to massassi, you will. It worked out well enough for me - almost a year later and my computer is still pretty much state-of-the-art.

Just don't be stubborn with video cards... I just *had* to have that X800, and it cost me four months of gaming time (and I ended up with a 6800 GT anyways)

The cost can be anywhere between around 1500 Canadian, maybe a little more.

Scratch that, probably 1200 or something around there.
It also has the have a monitor, and the such.

I'm getting a free computer. 2GB RAM, 200GB Harddrive, 256MB Graphics card.. yeah. For free. I rule you.

2GB of RAM? Why? You'll never use it. And the size of a video card's RAM is nowhere near proportional to its gaming potential. You forget about the processor and such too.

But uh, 1200 you say?

tigerdirect.ca is probably your best bet for online deals...I don't know that many places where you can get what you want in Canada.


http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1178028&sku=TC3J-4006

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=669365&sku=C13-4911

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1205736&sku=J156-1914

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=440431&sku=THD-40M3%20P

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1057004&sku=CP1-A64-3000

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1219243&sku=C460-1108

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1211889&sku=E145-5116

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1176828&sku=TC3J-1012


There you go. Good gaming machine, a bit above what you're wanting to spend but I cut out all the crap I could.

If you were to go with that stuff, you'd just have to change the CPU to the socket 939 model, since that's what the motherboard uses. The link goes to the socket 754 version.

So I don't have to get a new one soon.
And I never put processor speed but I think it's higher that 2.5GHZ

Wait until Q3/Q4, for the good multicore processors to come out.

Edited

I could use that myself. I need a PC, for 1500-2000CA$. Thanks!

Uhh, never use 2GB ram? BS! While 1GB is definately good right now, I forsee the next generation of games needing more than 1GB to perform perfectly.

Not to mention, I seriously need 2GB of RAM myself.

Yeah really.. plus, that means I won't have to upgrade for a while atleast.

I have to actually buy the computer in a store, I don't have the ability to get it online. So, anything I should avoid?
Also, what are some good video cards, Ill want to do quite a bit of gaming, I'm moving and I'll have cable instead of dialup:D

Don't let them pressure you into buying something you don't want. Make sure you know what you want when you go, and leave with it.

And so it begins...

WHY must you get it from a store? Unless there's a gun to your head, as Yoshi and I have said a million times over, go online and get the parts and assemble it yourself. The price goes down usually 200 dollars, the necessity vs all the same benchmark factor also plays a role, and most of all, you get what YOU want, not what is all the same level. Some of us don't value sound cards as much as we do video cards, thus we spend less on a sound card, more on a video card. Dell only sees full level PCs. All top of the line, both sound card and graphics card alike.

JediKirby

Is building a computer from scratch hard? I've never done it before.

When I replaced my hard drive, it was actually pretty simple, i could point out the motherboard, my ram chips, my graphics card right when i opened it. It really shouldn't be too hard. I'm 14 by the way.

Is mounting stuff to the case hard?
Also, I'd have to buy all the software seperately right? Like windows?

The only thing I've done to my comp was install a 1EEE1394 port firewire card.

The hardware should come with screws, and I'm pretty sure cases are universal... so yeah... shouldn't be TOO hard, but don't take my word for it, as I'm not an expert.

You played with Legos as a child correct? Then no, building a computer is not difficult, just use an ESD strap.

Ok, the price amount has changed as well.
It is now between 1500-2000 CAD

It has to include everything though, keyboard, software, os, speakers, monitor.

I'd like quite a big hard drive as well, like this one:
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1107152

In the meantime, I will have to try and convince my parents to let me get the parts online, and build it.

And yes, I was actually quite a lego whiz as a child:p

Actually, if you're a tad short on cash, you may want to hold off on the nVidia 6800GT and just go for the 6800. With some tweaks, you can unlock pipelines to take it from 12 to 16.

The guide is here:
http://firingsquad.com/hardware/geforce_6800_unlocking/

Have fun.

[Edit] You should know that the guide goes mainly for the AGP version of the 6800. Though PCI-E versions of the card with the NV-40 chipset may exist, it is mentioned that they would be extremely rare and almost impossible to find.

Yes, putting together the parts is rather easy. The key is compatibility. If you buy everything compatible, you'll be fine.

And MOST cases are universal. Your best bet is to get the mobo and the case first, make sure they fit together, and then go from there. Next comes a hardrive, I'd suggest duel, one for the OS and one for files. That's an easy task, as hardrives are universal. Now you want a power supply. Get MORE wattage than you need. I'm currently having power issues and I'm technically budgeted on my power. Now get ram, a soundcard, and a graphics card. All of that should be relativelly strait foreward. Stick with the major companies like kingston etc. By the way: You can never have too many fans. I'm a 3 fan man, but some people like to get by with 2. I live in northern minnesota where 2 is very possible. If you're in a hotter climate, 3 or 4 is my suggestion, but others would argue differently. Monitors and other external devices are pretty easy to shop for. LCD is better for gaming. Wireless optical mice are the wave of the future, you ask me. Wireless keyboards are also handy if you like to move around a lot. Although, some people say wireless isn't good for gaming, I haven't noticed a single bit of downplay in my gaming due to them. Speakers... eh, I prefer a damn good set of headphones, so you can't really ask me anything here. Soundcards... well, people tend to spend way too much on soundcards if you ask me. Then again, sound isn't as important to me as graphics are. It's all dependant on your preferences.

As far as the OS goes, get it off of E-bay for cheap. XP Pro is the only thing I'd personally settle for.

You've got a VERY nice amount of cash at your fingertips. Get what you want more. You don't HAVE to get top of the line if you don't really care about it. That's what's nice about building your own box is that you don't HAVE to have the top of the line everything and pay for it all. You can make comprimises to increase technology with something else.

Good luck, and if you give me any specifications on what you'll be doing with the machine, Gaming, what types of games, video editing, etc, I can help you choose parts. PM me on AIM xone009 and I can walk you through it, even. Although, Yoshi is probably far more experienced than I am. I have a few bias' because of my lack of experience, as well. Some people hate kingston memory, but every stick I've had, which is 3, hasn't ever given me issues.

JediKirby

I agree with Jon'C, wait a little while for the new AMD multicore chips to come out, prices will surely drop after that.

And for computer parts in Canada, [url]www.ncix.com[/url] usually beats TigerDirect.ca's prices.

Two gigs isn't going to be needed for a long, long time. Especially with more and more of the RAM on Videocards being used as opposed to the actual system's RAM chips, they have to fix the issues with the bus limitations before they can push too much RAM into gaming.

ANYWAYS...

2000CA? Well, this changes everything

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1057011&CatId=259 new processor

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=119638&CatId=139
new hard drive

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=335878&CatId=672
windows

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=1390291&sku=L23-6586
mouse (best on the market atm, esp for gaming)

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1293771&CatId=0
nice keyboard

You basically have everything you need now. Just order it and put it together--if nothing else, post on the tech forum if you need help. Keep the digicam ready

Go with a SeaGate hard drive, they friggin rock.

It doesn't really matter what hard drive you go with. If anyone tries to give you horror stories about any one brand (except Hitachi/IBM) remember--the same has been said a million times about other brands.

I just picked Maxtor because it was the first thing that came to mind. WD and Seagate are both fine too.

I ran the idea past my parents, and they dont like the idea of buying the parts online, and building it myself.

Tell them that you refuse to settle. And by refuse to settle, I mean don't accept any offer they make. If they ask why, tell them that it's more performance for the same amount of money, or even less. If they continue to probe, ask one of us to compare similarly priced models and I'm sure we could come up with some specifics, further debunking their argument.

Also tell them all parts have a warranty on them (except I think the case).

how old are you?

If you are 18 go to the bank make your own debit/checking account and free yourself from the units....

otherwise I am guessing your parents are irrational due to there complete illiteracy of modern computers. They are plug and play.. literally, put all the components together pop in a boot disc and thats it. I suggest you know your primary colors as well because the maybe the most time comsuming part (meaning reading directions) is getting the wiring from your case to your mobo. Reason with them and compromise, buy a shell computer like mobo-case-cpu setup and then add on all your own peripherals like gpu-ram etc...

My parents are the ones paying for the computer...

By the way, Froogle EVERYTHING on Yoshi's list. I was able to shave off 50 bucks by going with a different site for a couple things:

http://froogle.google.com/froogle_url?q=http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp%3FEdpNo%3D1390291%26Sku%3DL23-6586%26SRCCODE%3DGOOPROD%26CMP%3DOTC-FROOGLE&fr=AFZ51AxI2z_02cyzFwbojX9GlpsiJKX1Q9XBp_rossEMCvOv7cuPXNUAAAAAAAAAAA

Well of course you can shave off a few bucks, but when you have 2000 to play with, as long as you're well within limits, 50 bucks really isn't much at all.

And be adamant that you need to build it yourself. It'll help in the long run.

A machine with Mac OS X!