Guest NoCalMike Report post Posted June 10, 2003 Ok the specs on my puter are: 850mhz 128ram cd-rw & dvd-rom drive. 40gig hard drive What I am looking to get or upgrade to: 2.0ghz(or more)speed dvd-rw(I assume it will also burn cds, if not add a cd-rw) 512ram and 60+gigs of ram. Would it be more cost efficient to do this in an upgrade fashion or just buy a new computer. Also what name-brand computers are the best & worst for future upgrading? Oh and I already know that building a computer from scratch is the best, but I am not going to do it(damn me). My mom's friend works for the federal government and his building uses Dell computers so he gets to buy them(no matter how top of the line or scrappy) at wholesale prices. Which means that is also an option if I want a better machine than I currently have(compaq). Someone told me that Dell computers were crap though......Help! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest TheGame2705 Report post Posted June 10, 2003 Hewlett Packard I've noticed is horrible when it comes to upgrading your computer in the future. I'd say upgrade. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MarvinisaLunatic Report post Posted June 10, 2003 Upgrading would probably cost you in the neighborhood of $800-1000, and that would really only cover the costs of upgrading the hard drive (which I would get at least 100 GB, you should at least double you have when you upgrade), the 512 mb of RAM (which you could get cheap since places like Staples are always running sales on Memory, but it involves rebates..), the DVD Burner (which will run close to $300) and depending on the processor you choose could mean the low end or the high end of that initial estimate (or higher). My advice: Buy a new computer. Dell currently has exactly the specs you originally wanted in a computer for $1,400, although there are a couple of limited time offers to make it that way. Dell Dimension 8300 Customized Model INCLUDES: Intel Pentium 4 processor at 2.60GHz with 800MHz FSB 256MB Dual Channel DDR SDRAM at 400MHz 120 GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive 64MB DDR NVIDIA GeForce4 MX Graphics Card with TV-Out Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 Harman Kardon® HK-395 Speakers with Subwoofer FREE 2nd Bay DVD Burner! (4x DVD+RW/+R Drive w/CD-RW) Ends Tuesday! FREE 512MB Memory Upgrade - Online Only! Ends Tuesday! Price : $1,397 So, it would end up being a bit pricer to get a new one, but I think it would probably be wiser to go that way as to avoid the hassle of buying all the stuff to upgrade and spending a decent amount of time installing all the hardware and getting it to work right. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest TheGame2705 Report post Posted June 10, 2003 Ohhh hmmm forgot about the DVD-RW. I'd say you buy a new one then because it'll be alot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Razor Roman Report post Posted June 10, 2003 Wait a few weeks. I work for a college IT department, and a few companies are going to have links through our IT website to buy computers for the best discount possible, and you don't need to be an employee, student, whatever. When the links come online, I'll post them here! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DrTom Report post Posted June 10, 2003 For the record, Dell certainly does not make lousy computers. We have quite a few of them here at work, and they're all superb machines. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest NoCalMike Report post Posted June 10, 2003 ok thanks for the help folks. I am gonna wait for Razor to put those links up so I can check out some prices, and then I will get a hold of my mom's friend and compare the prices he can get the computers for. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rendclaw 0 Report post Posted June 11, 2003 Dell and Gateway are pretty much hit and miss..almost a 50/50 shot in getting a system that is wonderful and will last for years, or a piece of crap that will keep crashing and breaking down, no matter what they send to you to fix the problem. My ex-fiancee bought me an 850 mhz machine... so far all I have done is upgrade the video card, add a burner, put in another hard drive and add in 256 more megs of memory and it still performs like a champ... she bought the system froma local store, which always gives you plenty of room and ability to upgrade. I would suggest going that route rather than buying systems from companies like dell and gateway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MrRant Report post Posted June 11, 2003 Dell desktops are good.... laptops... BAD Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest razazteca Report post Posted June 11, 2003 I had a local store custom build my computer, well let me say that the guy was an amature, and over charged me. I could of done a better job myself. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Razor Roman Report post Posted June 11, 2003 Add another to the Dell camp here. We've standardized on Dell's now, and we buy about 500+ per year (both desktops and laptops) and when you buy that many (usually of the same model, right off the line in a row) there's bound to be a few defects, but out of all the computers I take care of (about 100 multimedia workstations, used 8-12 hours a day, 5 days a week, 10 months a year but incompetent college professors) we only had one computer that the onboard NIC died on. Dell shipped us a whole new computer, and we were able to send back the old one ina prepaid box. Another time, they sent us a 1.8 GHZ machine when we were supposed to get a 2.4 ghz machine. They discontinued the 1.8 in the interim, and told us we could just keep the 1.8 in addition to the 2.4. Dell wants your business! And hopefully those links will come on soon. We're apparently getting links for Mac, Dell, and HP. We also might get Gateway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MarvinisaLunatic Report post Posted June 11, 2003 NES Computer up for auction on EBay I read the webpage a while back about how the guy built it. Its going to be on the Screensavers tonight. Other than the obvious fact that the specs are no where as high as what you want, the coolness factor is 1,000,000,000,000,000 X that of any computer you will buy. If I had the money, I'd buy it in a heatbeat. But sadly, Im broke. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest it-lenny Report post Posted June 12, 2003 Upgrading would probably cost you in the neighborhood of $800-1000, and that would really only cover the costs of upgrading the hard drive Holy shit dude.. youve been getting ripped off I do agree, I have always heard good stories from HP and Dell owners I have heard horror stories from Sony buyers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DrTom Report post Posted June 12, 2003 We have about 50 Dells here, and we've had most of them for just short of a year. In that time, I've had to replace one hard drive and one DVD/CD-RW drive. Any other problems with them have been related to the OS, or have been memory upgrades for the graphics team. The problem with buying a PC from the local shop is the chance that your local guy is a hack. If he's got some certifications and comes recommended by people whose opinions you value, OK. As for room in the case to upgrade, any mid-tower case from Dell and Gateway has plenty of room inside it. Dell's clamshell cases are quite spacious inside, as are the silver-and-black Gateways. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest NoCalMike Report post Posted June 25, 2003 I talked to my mother day and she said her friend that works for the government can save me approx $1000 on whatever computer(and accessories) I buy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Razor Roman Report post Posted June 27, 2003 I got those links for computer purchases... go to TCNJ IT Homepage and then click Dell Computer Personal Purchases or HP/Compaq Personal Purchases they are under the "Help Desk" heading of the page. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
