Thinking of a New Computer

[bpetit]

If I was thinking of getting a new desktop custom built what companies make a mid range gaming/everyday use computer?

[mrennie]

If I was thinking of getting a new desktop custom built what companies make a mid range gaming/everyday use computer?

I always go with Alienware (now part of Dell) - you can customise the rig using the menus on their website and see what the total configuration will cost, until you get to the price you're willing to pay.

[buzz456]

Build your own.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBund ... bo.1681376

[mrennie]

Build your own.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBund ... bo.1681376

That's what my son want us to do this summer - scares me a bit!

[fraserm]

Build your own.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBund ... bo.1681376

That's what my son want us to do this summer - scares me a bit!

Not scary at all, if you're willing to take an adventure! All the components are keyed to only go in one place. It's really plug-n-play. And it's a great feeling of accomplishment when you press the ON button the first time. In fact, my two younger kids built their own, and I built one myself. Specs in my signature.
Do a little research and above all HAVE FUN!
(And keep us informed, of course... )
Best,
Marc

[mrennie]

Build your own.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBund ... bo.1681376

That's what my son want us to do this summer - scares me a bit!

Not scary at all, if you're willing to take an adventure! All the components are keyed to only go in one place. It's really plug-n-play. And it's a great feeling of accomplishment when you press the ON button the first time. In fact, my two younger kids built their own, and I built one myself. Specs in my signature.
Do a little research and above all HAVE FUN!
(And keep us informed, of course... )
Best,
Marc

Yes, I ought to have a go. The thing that scares me the most is the liquid cooling - I'm afraid of splitting a pipe and getting water all over the components

I have been able to do simple things, like replacing fans, and extracting the graphics cards from the chassis to give them a good clean out with compressed air, but when I watched the Dell technician taking my laptop apart to replace the graphics card, mobo and keyboard, it looked hellishly complicated.

[fraserm]

I have been able to do simple things, like replacing fans, and extracting the graphics cards from the chassis to give them a good clean out with compressed air, but when I watched the Dell technician taking my laptop apart to replace the graphics card, mobo and keyboard, it looked hellishly complicated.

That's only because laptops are one-off designs made to fit a very specific set of components. I also have a Dell laptop and it's amazing how compact they are and how much stuff can fit in them. Desktops are a completely different animal. Everything is modular (as you've seen) and one can be assembled from scratch in 2 - 3 hours. Then you turn it on and have to install the Operating System and apps. That can take another several hours, but once it's built you have a machine that you can be very proud to have built your very self. Then you can upgrade it at any time, whether it's a new hard drive, graphics card, more memory, or anything you'd like to change. I think it's a ton of fun.
As far as liquid cooling goes, I haven't done that myself, there are a couple options and I haven't decided which way I want to go, but that's a possible future upgrade.
Feel free to PM me with any questions you may have. And remember, there are no stupid questions except the one you don't ask.
If you want to see a truly high-end, ridiculously-spec'ed machine check out this link:
http://www.pcgamer.com/2013/11/18/introducing-the-large-pixel-collider-a-computer-of-uncomfortable-power/
Best,
M.

[mrennie]

I have been able to do simple things, like replacing fans, and extracting the graphics cards from the chassis to give them a good clean out with compressed air, but when I watched the Dell technician taking my laptop apart to replace the graphics card, mobo and keyboard, it looked hellishly complicated.

That's only because laptops are one-off designs made to fit a very specific set of components. I also have a Dell laptop and it's amazing how compact they are and how much stuff can fit in them. Desktops are a completely different animal. Everything is modular (as you've seen) and one can be assembled from scratch in 2 - 3 hours. Then you turn it on and have to install the Operating System and apps. That can take another several hours, but once it's built you have a machine that you can be very proud to have built your very self. Then you can upgrade it at any time, whether it's a new hard drive, graphics card, more memory, or anything you'd like to change. I think it's a ton of fun.
As far as liquid cooling goes, I haven't done that myself, there are a couple options and I haven't decided which way I want to go, but that's a possible future upgrade.
Feel free to PM me with any questions you may have. And remember, there are no stupid questions except the one you don't ask.
If you want to see a truly high-end, ridiculously-spec'ed machine check out this link:
http://www.pcgamer.com/2013/11/18/introducing-the-large-pixel-collider-a-computer-of-uncomfortable-power/
Best,
M.

Thanks Marc, I'll likely take you up on that offer

Cheers,

Mike

[buzz456]

I can't remember off hand what I have here but the instructions for the liquid cooling were very good and simple and it is sooo quiet and the cpu runs soo cool it is just amazing. I highly recommend you check it out.

[mrennie]

I can't remember off hand what I have here but the instructions for the liquid cooling were very good and simple and it is sooo quiet and the cpu runs soo cool it is just amazing. I highly recommend you check it out.

My desktop (also an Alienware) is liquid-cooled. When taking out the graphics cards, I'm very careful to avoid nudging the water pipes at all. It does run very quietly, except when the fans start to get worn out and begin screeching. I nearly fried the motherboard a few weeks ago because the fan that goes in front of the liquid-cooling radiator had been screeching for a while and then stopped making that noise - because it had got completely jammed and stopped turning!! Fortunately, i noticed in time and simply squeezed the housing to make it snap back into place. Now the rear fan is making a noise, so I'll have that one out at the weekend. That's something I like about desktops as opposed to laptops - it's easier to get inside them and take things out.

[bpetit]

Build your own.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBund ... bo.1681376

I wish Buzz :P, my some of my friends have a computer built from here: http://ironsidecomputers.com/

They highly recommend them though I don't know

This will probably be after the laptop goes boom.

[arizonachris]

There are "iBuy Power" and "Cyber Power" just to name two that pre-build. New Egg's combo bundle deals are DIY kits, basically; and the parts and pieces have to be checked to be sure they match. At times in the past, bundles were sold with boards and CPU's that didn't fit. Which gave customers a fit.

Liquid cooling can be totally custom; CPU and video card(s), or just a self-contained CPU cooling loop.

[buzz456]

Here is a great site for comparing options and costs for Barebones computers.

http://www.portatech.com/products/categ ... MgodmBsAwA

My liquid is just on the cpu by the way.

[Ericmopar]

There are "iBuy Power" and "Cyber Power" just to name two that pre-build. New Egg's combo bundle deals are DIY kits, basically; and the parts and pieces have to be checked to be sure they match. At times in the past, bundles were sold with boards and CPU's that didn't fit. Which gave customers a fit.

Liquid cooling can be totally custom; CPU and video card(s), or just a self-contained CPU cooling loop.

Yeah. The more I have learned about computers, the less I trust those build kits. They frequently have parts that nobody wants, and/or undersized power supply etc.
They aren't even that good a deal. You can often find deals on much better parts, ordered separately.

Admittedly it's rare, but sometimes those kits cost more than the parts purchased separately.

[buzz456]

Since that site I mentioned shows all the prices it's certainly easy enough to compare individual components. The biggest problem on our first couple of them was buying stuff that wouldn't fit .