So my currently computer is over 6 years old and I was going to upgrade it but it looks to be cheaper to just buy a new desktop computer. First let me say I'M NOT BUYING A MAC... Harry has a Mac and it's great but with my Avid system I need a PC. So I'm looking to buy a new one.. Here is the front runner so far..
http://www.amazon.com/HP-Pavilion-Elite-HPE-440f-Desktop/dp/B003ZX87KE (http://www.amazon.com/HP-Pavilion-Elite-HPE-440f-Desktop/dp/B003ZX87KE)
Suggestions would be appreciated...
HP is a decent machine Kenny. This machine has a little faster processor and a few other things too are bumped up. The Intel i7 chip is VERY fast.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pavilion+Elite+Desktop+/+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B+i7+Processor+/+8GB+Memory+/+1TB+Hard+Drive/9919073.p?id=1218195230378&skuId=9919073 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pavilion+Elite+Desktop+/+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B+i7+Processor+/+8GB+Memory+/+1TB+Hard+Drive/9919073.p?id=1218195230378&skuId=9919073)
HP at this point is the only brand I will suggest for PC anymore, except to build it yourself or have someone else build it. I have very little faith in the rest of the companies, Dell is ok, but a risk. The rest are too high-end or not-so-great.
What I will suggest to not get: Gateway, e-Machines. STAY AWAY! >:(
So tl;dr: Rico's. ;)
King
Dell or HP is fine for a desktop/laptop. We use both at work and both have their postives and negatives.
Well I have a Dell now and it's going on six plus years with very few issues... so I wouldn't mind getting another Dell.. I know I want at least a i5 intel processor, 8 Gigs for Ram and at least 1TB of drive space. It's just a matter of finding the right fit for me.
Dell, HP, Asus are all pretty good. Of course, I build my own but I still read a lot of system reviews and magazines. Since you don't buy a new machine too often Kenny, I'd buy as fast a machine as you can afford.
I know nothing about ASUS. If you are concerned with customer service and tech support calls I would say Dell is the best for desktops and HP has a slight edge in the server world.
I bought an HP Z600 a few months ago and really like it.
Very fast and can easily upgrade to dual Quad-Core processors.
I run CS4 Master suite and 3DS Max on it - no problem.
(It maxes out at 48 GB of ram.)
http://www.zones.com/site/product/index.html?id=003255968 (http://www.zones.com/site/product/index.html?id=003255968)
If you want more expandability - go with the Z800. ;)
http://www.zones.com/site/product/index.html?id=003255978 (http://www.zones.com/site/product/index.html?id=003255978)
My previous PC was a Sony Vaio and it was great! I would have bought another one in a sec if I had had enough money to spend at the time I replaced it. Now I have a Dell and it has been a fine unit with no problems. The only thing I wish is that I could have gotten a step up so my LG Blu-Ray burner would play in it. It will burn and play DVDs just fine but not Blu-Ray. I don't really need it to but it would be nice to have a backup in case something happened to my Blu-Ray player. Personally I would not buy an HP but only because the last time I bought them they only lasted me a short time. They kept overheating on me because I was placing too many demands on the processor doing video conversion work. That's when I got my Sony and I never had any problems with it until the very end and that was five years of heavy usage.
Kevin
You do have to keep in mind that computers are really a sum of the parts used in them. So when comparing models, look at the parts such as CPU, video card, RAM, etc. For the most part, the actual brand label on the machine doesn't matter that much. It's what is used inside that counts.
P.S. Kevin - shoot me an email or PM with the software on your machine you are trying to use for your Blu-Ray player. I got mine to work, but you have to know a few "tricks" to do it.
Rico's right, a 700 dollar Sony Vaio won't compare to a top end Dell or HP. On the other hand a top end Vaio is a nice machine.
Kenny, I honestly think that you could build your own computer in a few hours. It's no where as hard as people think. If you played with legos in the past you can pretty much build a computer provided you buy all of the necessary parts. Then it's a lot of insert tab a into slot a
Chris, is pretty much correct. But it does take a little finesse. If you are someone who is handy and good with their hands the assembly isn't too hard. Actually the real trick these days is getting all those components working right, the right drivers, bios settings, etc. And really a pre-built machine isn't a bad way to go at all. Some nice systems out there and at good prices.
If you don't fancy doing it yourself you might want to look at getting one custom built. The problem with store bought systems is a lot of the time they come with a lot of bloatware which you just don't need and the OS usually has some branding.
In fact the first thing I did when I bought my netbook was format the hard drive. :)
A good program to remove "bloatware" and junk you don't need or want on a new PC, is called PC Decrapifier.
Here: http://bit.ly/aJ4WS (http://bit.ly/aJ4WS)
Quote from: Rico on October 15, 2010, 10:02:12 AM
A good program to remove "bloatware" and junk you don't need or want on a new PC, is called PC Decrapifier.
Here: http://bit.ly/aJ4WS (http://bit.ly/aJ4WS)
Those are useful but I've always much preferred to start from scratch with a fresh install, the ultimate Decrapifier! :)
I've been -thinking- about buying a laptop between now and the summer. Mostly for games :) I'm totally lost tho nowadays - gonna have to figure out these new hardware stats, different processors etc. I was bummed cuz my last computer was not able to play that elder scrolls oblivion game due to video card problems.
Quote from: Dangelus on October 15, 2010, 10:06:44 AM
Quote from: Rico on October 15, 2010, 10:02:12 AM
A good program to remove "bloatware" and junk you don't need or want on a new PC, is called PC Decrapifier.
Here: http://bit.ly/aJ4WS (http://bit.ly/aJ4WS)
Those are useful but I've always much preferred to start from scratch with a fresh install, the ultimate Decrapifier! :)
Yes, that's great if you have a Windows install disc. Most pre-built systems do not come with that. They come with a "restore" disc. Which puts them in the exact state they are when you buy them, extra software and all.
So I'm heading out today to Fry's to get my new computer.. thank you for your suggestions.. still not sure what I'm going to get but I'll let you know when I get it.
Quote from: Rico on October 16, 2010, 05:41:43 AM
Quote from: Dangelus on October 15, 2010, 10:06:44 AM
Quote from: Rico on October 15, 2010, 10:02:12 AM
A good program to remove "bloatware" and junk you don't need or want on a new PC, is called PC Decrapifier.
Here: http://bit.ly/aJ4WS (http://bit.ly/aJ4WS)
Those are useful but I've always much preferred to start from scratch with a fresh install, the ultimate Decrapifier! :)
Yes, that's great if you have a Windows install disc. Most pre-built systems do not come with that. They come with a "restore" disc. Which puts them in the exact state they are when you buy them, extra software and all.
Very true, I've always bought my Windows licences separately since I've always built my own desktops. Last year I became a Technet subscriber which gave me access to extra licenses which is very economical for users with multiple boxes.
I would still recommend a custom build for those nor confident enough to DIY as they use a clean OEM installation.
Quote from: Dangelus on October 16, 2010, 01:41:07 PM
Quote from: Rico on October 16, 2010, 05:41:43 AM
Quote from: Dangelus on October 15, 2010, 10:06:44 AM
Quote from: Rico on October 15, 2010, 10:02:12 AM
A good program to remove "bloatware" and junk you don't need or want on a new PC, is called PC Decrapifier.
Here: http://bit.ly/aJ4WS (http://bit.ly/aJ4WS)
Those are useful but I've always much preferred to start from scratch with a fresh install, the ultimate Decrapifier! :)
Yes, that's great if you have a Windows install disc. Most pre-built systems do not come with that. They come with a "restore" disc. Which puts them in the exact state they are when you buy them, extra software and all.
Very true, I've always bought my Windows licences separately since I've always built my own desktops. Last year I became a Technet subscriber which gave me access to extra licenses which is very economical for users with multiple boxes.
I would still recommend a custom build for those nor confident enough to DIY as they use a clean OEM installation.
The license itself is on the computers on a nice MIcrosoft sticker. You should just have to buy the disc without a license which is cheap.
Yes but that key us an OEM key that doesn't work with a retail disc. You need a vendor specific install disc. I'm sure there are ways round it but the average Joe consumer wouldn't know how.
Today I went to Fry's and picked up my new computer. I've had my last computer for over six years and it was a great computer it was time to retire it and buy a new one. I did some research the past few days and decided on an HP Pavilion Elite HPE-440f PC.
Details:
* Intel i5 760 processor
* 8GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM memory
* 1 TB of hard drive space
* Wireless LAN
* Blu-ray Player/SuperMulti DVD Burner
* Built in TV Tuner, HP Media Center Remote Control
* ATI Radeon HD 5770 graphics card with 1GB DDR5 dedicated graphics memory, HDMI, dual-link DVI, display port, and VGA capabilities, and support for Blu-ray and Microsoft DirectX 11
* High Definition Audio with up to 7.1 surround sound capabilities
* Front panel 15-in-1 memory card reader:
* 6 USB 2.0 ports (Back); 3 USB 2.0 ports (Front); 1 FireWire (IEEE 1394) port (Back)
* Headphone; Microphone; Audio left/right-in; S-video-in; Composite video-in (Front); Optical Audio Out; LAN; Microphone/Line-in/Line-out; Rear speaker-out; Side speaker out; Center (subwoofer)
* Windows 7
This system is so much better then my old one. I was looking to get a Intel i7 but it was a few hundred more for that one which I was willing to do except it didn't have the built in TV Tuner and I really wanted that.
So far it's great I'm trying to get use to Windows 7 as my last computer had Windows XP. Only downside I can find at the moment is there are discs with this system. The recovery/backup is actually partition on the hard drive. Which kind of makes no sense. What if the hard drive crashes there would be no way to recover the computer's main operating system. Gonna see if I bump this stuff over to an external hard drive just in case. Other than that I'm very happy with it.. of course I've only been on it for a few hours but so far good.
Going to be spending the next several days uploading and downloading some 32 + programs that I use. Along with figuring out all my passwords and bookmarks.
Sounds like a great system Kenny. It should last you a good long time. I would expect HP should make some way for you to back up that restore info to a DVD. Maybe look either online, or in any documentation that came with it. You are right, having your only back up on the one, main hard drive is a bit silly.
Quote from: Rico on October 16, 2010, 08:42:59 PM
Sounds like a great system Kenny. It should last you a good long time. I would expect HP should make some way for you to back up that restore info to a DVD. Maybe look either online, or in any documentation that came with it. You are right, having your only back up on the one, main hard drive is a bit silly.
thanks Rico.. yeah it's like 12 gigs.. I'm going to see if I can move it to an external hard drive.
Nice specs Kenny!
You'll easily adapt to Windows 7 and you'll be amazed how easy it is to get things done on it.
yeah Win 7 reminds me alot of Mac OS
I'm still using XP pro because I didn't want to fool with Vista. Windows 7 sounds pretty good, let me know how you like it.
The HP I bought this summer came with no XP operating system disc either.
I was able to easily make a system restore disc (2 DVDs and a CD) before loading my software.
Better than nothing I guess.
You prefer Avid to Final Cut Pro?
Quote from: AlanP on October 16, 2010, 11:05:41 PM
You prefer Avid to Final Cut Pro?
For sure.. it's what I was taught on. Avid is professional, Final cut is consumer.. though some companies use Final cut as it's alot cheaper then Avid.
I learned on Final Cut Pro, and I can use Adobe Premier pretty easily to edit on the PC. I had to use Avid for an internship one summer and I wanted to jab pencils into my eyes. I still haven't made friends with that program.
Try this for backing up Kenny:
http://www.paragon-software.com/home/db-express/ (http://www.paragon-software.com/home/db-express/)
Should be able to do it to discs or another drive.
thanks Rico I'll check it out