A new PC

[Guest Wolfeymole]

I'm looking to get a new box shortly and was considering the XPS range from Dell, but they have shuffled them around and now I've gone off them.

 

I was considering this setup from HP.

 

The only thing that concerns me is the Media Center thing.

 

What's the considered opinion?

 

Scroll up to see the pic.

[Seth]

I don't think you can go wrong with any HP...like a Honda.

 

Media Center is just XP Pro with some media stuff:)

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Even though it says Vista on the tin Seth? :confused:

[Seth]

lol

 

Might be hard to get a new PC with XP on it.

 

Media Center is just the OS with with media bells and whistles.

 

Where does it say media center anyway?

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Touche

 

I've seen that it has somewhere mate and I was assuming it had anyway with the rather large remote control parked up in the picture and the addition of a TV tuner.

[Seth]

I'd go with Vista for the technical/repair experience. As someone who is also helping others with computer problems, you may want to as well.

 

...until Window's Seven comes out within two years;)

[Guest Wolfeymole]

On the going with Vista, kicking and screaming as I might be, it has to be case.

When I fixed the daughters Vista box I was on it for about 4 hours and I reckon it's something I could get used to quite easily.

[shrimply]

I wish I could afford a PC like that,lol. I think I'll need to get a desktop for uni, but it'll probably be a dell ( 40% off and all that) and no where near as high spec as that.

 

I think I'm one of the only people who like vista, I mean at first I really didn't like it but now I know how it works I have found myself liking it and more. Probably because it looks cool. It also helps that I don't use the laptop for gaming or anything and the fact it hasn't broken down yet. In comparison to XP on 256mb of ram though Vista seems relatively fast with 1Gb. Which means compared with what i was used to I found it much quicker for getting things done.

[Seth]

In comparison to XP on 256mb of ram though Vista seems relatively fast with 1Gb.

 

A relevant speed comparison between XP and Vista can only be had by using two identical computers with clean installs of the operating systems.

[shrimply]

Sorry Seth, me being not technical enough, yet again. All i was saying really though was that when i got my laptop with vista, it was faster and still is than what i was used to. Which was one of the main worries to me.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Just like me Shrimpley when I did the daughters box and I'd never had any dealings with Vista before then.

 

Well we shall see how it pans out.

Can you imagine running XP on that spec listed above?

I mean just what hardware can be used or not to install XP on that box?

[jpph]

dont get that pc, its not good value at all. everything is good apart from the gpu which is rubbish! seriously thats terrible value.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Oh!

 

I'd be keen to know why jpph.

 

I'm not heavily into gaming so the gpu is not really that important and if your talking from a DIY point of view, forget it as I don't have the time.

 

Please elaborate.

[Dalo Harkin]

I would NEVER buy a pre built PC - do it yourself its like a jigsaw puzzle lol

you save a load of cash and get a better spec :D

[AdvancedSetup]

I would NEVER buy a pre built PC - do it yourself its like a jigsaw puzzle lol

you save a load of cash and get a better spec :D

 

Well saving a ton of cash used to be very true but not as much these days as it used to be. But it is a great learning experience if you have the time and patience.

[Dalo Harkin]

Saving a load of cash is still true - just buy OEM stuff :)

There is no point in buying a retail CPU if you are going to put an uprated cooler on it ;)

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Ok throw me some options that will work together without any fuss.

I intend to get another 500GB drive (internal only) rather than a 1TB also.

 

I hate external hard drives.

[Seth]

If you want reliability without the fuss, then go for hardware that has already been tested to work together. I.E. A decent OEM system.

 

I'm not saying you won't encounter hardware problems with it, but it is much less susceptible to such than gathering components and assembling a pc.

 

Dalo,

 

Are you still ripping your hair out with that home built computer?:D

[Guest Wolfeymole]

To paraphrase a line from Full Metal Jacket, Vista is a huge **** sandwich and we are all gonna have to take a bite, no matter what in the long term.

 

To be honest I would just rather go with the one box aspect rather than throw components together and run XP because the support will ending before long, will certain hardware work when I install Vista? etc.

[Dalo Harkin]

Dalo,

 

Are you still ripping your hair out with that home built computer?:D

 

 

Lol , yes :D

This one even has me stumped - Wolfey - just buy components that are mainstream so ASUS for MOBO (unlike me :() OCZ ram (like me :D) and a core 2 duo or quad.

throw it together and away you go - ASUS OCZ and INTEL work really well together being the 3 main leaders in their fields -

I agree on the external HDD's waste of time ;)

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Yeah I seen that mobo of yours Dave, looks like it lives on Dilithium Crystals. :D

[Dalo Harkin]

Well if I dont get it sorted soon it will be living on my floor until I sell it lol

Never even not buying ASUS again - I must have used and made hundreds of them and not one gone wrong.

what was I thinking in ABIT - oh and just to let everyone know ABIT are STOPPING making motherboards :eek: - so dont even go there!!

I read on ABIT forum, they have not said when.

Maybe thats why I haven't had a reply from them :D

[Guest Wolfeymole]

All in all it's (a bit) of a mess Dave. :D

[Dalo Harkin]

Yeah thanks for that Wolfey (kick me while I am down lol)

It just seems weird to me that they have brought a new BIOS out that is not compatible with the BEST in the market. Cost to performance ratio this chip can run 4 cores at 4Ghz each thats a 16Ghz :eek: chip for less than £150.