In the market for a new computer

`RaphX · Registered User Joined: 24 Mar 2002 Posts: 1556

I left my old computer back in Scotland, so I wish to get a new one for myself to use here. However, because I'm new to this crazy country

I don't know many decent vendors/sellers/etc to try out, and the only one I really know of so far is Canada Computers.

Also, I haven't been following the market lately, so I'm not really up with what the best system/value is. I'd be looking for something around 3.2GHz or XP3200, Radeon 9600 or 9800, and perhaps one of those new 10,000rpm HDD setups, as well as a nice 19in monitor to at least match my old LG Flatron 915. Important would also be getting components quieter than the regular package dealy. Talking about a maximum of about C$2500.

The problem is, I don't know enough to be able to go to the right places for a package nor to build one myself. But at the same time, I've been seen enough to be corrupted by wanting to have it be quiet/good value/speedy/decent build/generally perfect.

So, can anyone maybe give pointers to a Scot lost in the giant land of Canadia? Thanks!

John Doe · Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 10:44 pm Post subject:

PM RaphX and we will talk.....Mebbe in IRC, and this time pricing can all be in Canadian Dollars

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Replica · Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 12:04 am Post subject:

it might end up beign a few different orders... but

http://osnews.pricegrabber.com/home_comp.php/

will pop out the lowest priced items and link you to the site they are offered on.

at least as far as i know
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Potato-VS- · Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 9:23 am Post subject:

Vendors really depend on what you want to go for, theres dell, futureshop, bestbuy and a couple of online places that JD knows! But, if you want to check out computers for pricing, etc I would suggest going to (if you want a "cookie-cutter" PC):

1. dell's website (www.dell.ca) all the prices are in CND which is nice (plus the different models are actually fairly customisable),
2. go to your local FutureShop - you've gotta have one around you SOMEWHERE - they'd have stuff such as HP, compaq, etc there, logically,
3. go to a local BestBuy and see what they have there.

You could also always build your own computer or have someone such as JD do it for you - or his BC website thing.

`RaphX · Registered User Joined: 24 Mar 2002 Posts: 1556

That'd be great, JD - just missed you tonight on irc, but hopefully we'll coincide at the weekend

I went into the store of http://www.kingstoncomputerplanet.com/ and got an initial quote, something to at least work from. This place is apparently a bunch of ex-Canada Computers people who didn't like how it was run, so set up their own store.

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 1MB L2 Cache Retail $409.00
2*512MB PC3200 184pin DDR400 SDRAM $258.00
Asus K8V Basic VIA K8T800 Dual SATA $159.00
Antec Sonata Quiet Midtower w/380W PSU Black $144.00 (the store guy chose this because I mentioned I'd like it to be quiet)
Sapphire Radeon X800 Pro 256MB GDDR3 VIVO Retail $609.00
WesternDigital 120GB S-ATA 7200RPM 8MB Cache $142.00
Logitech X-220 2.1 Speaker Set 32W RMS $60.00
Liteon SOHW-812S 8x DVD+/-R OEM Black $109.00
Panasonic 1.44MB Floppy Drive Black $16.00
Samsung 955DF 0.24 1600*1200 Flat Black $299.00
Microsoft Multimedia KB + Optical Mouse COMBO OEM $39.00

Subtotal: $2,244.00
GST: $157.08
PST: $179.52
Total: $2,580.60

I know it's not perfect, and perhaps a little pricey, but I was happy to get a foundation to start with. Of course, I'm not actually planning on getting such an expensive graphics card, and I don't know if it may/may not be good to have 2 HDDs (the guy in the store said that, for my needs, going for 10,000rpm isn't worth the extra cost), or if things like the DVD writer is of good build/volume (as well as being the only one - I'll probably add a CDRW too), and a few other things.

Potato-VS- · Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 5:34 pm Post subject:

It looks like a very solid machine ralph! Man, I wish I was allowed to spend $2500 on a comp some times

... Why AMD? I heard their new chips were bad a couple of weeks ago - though Im not too sure on that point. Its a nice comp outside the proce though

gj! (X800 *drule*)

Clay Pigeon · Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 1:37 am Post subject:

`RaphX · Registered User Joined: 24 Mar 2002 Posts: 1556

Here we go - I'll probably be ordering this tonight.

Every item got increased by 10% (to what you see now), but there will be no tax - that amounts to about 4.5% ($115) off the regular price + tax (some kinda deal for graduate students, which my wife is):

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 1MB L2 Cache Retail - $449.90
Corsair VS1GBKIT400 2*512MB DDR400 CL2.5 - $301.40
Asus K8V Basic VIA K8T800 Dual SATA - $174.90

Antec Sonata Quiet Midtower w/380W PSU Black - $158.40
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB DDR - $372.90
WesternDigital 160GB S-ATA 7200RPM 8MB Cache - $185.90
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 OEM - $108.90
Logitech X-220 2.1 Speaker Set 32W RMS - $66.00

Asus 52x32x52 CDRW QuietTrack OEM Black - $49.50
LG 4082B 8x DVD+/-R SuperDrive OEM Black - $141.90
Mitsumi Internal USB 2.0 Floppy/7-In-1 Reader Blk - $44.00

Samsung 955DF 0.24 1600x1200 Flat Black - $328.90
Logitech Elite Keyboard Black Retail - $42.90
Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer 3.0 OEM - $42.90
Vantec Stealth 120mm SF12025L Case Fan 3/4 Pin - $29.00
Zalman CNPS7000ACU Ultra-Quiet Copper Cooler - $49.00

Total $2,554.20

About US$1900

PondScum007 · Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 11:34 am Post subject:

get 2 SATA HDs in RAID 0 :>
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Blown · Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 11:36 am Post subject: