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jmarto1 
LSU Fan
Houma, LA
Member since Mar 2008
10055 posts
| Need advice on purchasing/building a new PC (Posted on 1/12/13 at 11:32 am)
First of all, I don't need the high end gaming PC. I'm really looking for something at a decent price that will last me a few years. For example, this is what I have had for 4+ years and it has gotten me by pretty well:
Lenovo IdeaCentre K220
Quick SpecificationsSee all specs
ProcessorIntel Pentium E5200 / 2.5 GHz
Memory4.0 GB / 4.0 GB (max)
Hard Drive640.0 GB - 7200.0 rpm
Operating SystemMicrosoft Windows VistaMicrosoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition
Optical DriveDVD-Writer - Serial ATA
Graphics ProcessorNVIDIA GeForce 9300 GE TurboCache
Graphics ControllerPCI Express x16 - Plug-in card
I mainly surf the internet with my computer but would like to be able to play games on it from time to time without having to worry about it not handling them. I bought this one refurbed and have no problem doing it again since I can more than likely fix any problems.
This post was edited on 1/13 at 9:42 am
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jcole4lsu 
Virginia Fan
The Kwisatz Haderach
Member since Nov 2007
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| re: Need advice on purchasing/building a new PC (Posted on 1/12/13 at 1:51 pm to jmarto1)
Are you comfortable building it?
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jmarto1
LSU Fan
Houma, LA
Member since Mar 2008
10055 posts
| re: Need advice on purchasing/building a new PC (Posted on 1/12/13 at 1:55 pm to jcole4lsu)
Yes but I really don't have the time. Something that I can just order is ideal. I've built before but work keeps me busy.
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jcole4lsu
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| re: Need advice on purchasing/building a new PC (Posted on 1/12/13 at 1:59 pm to jmarto1)
It takes two hours but ok lol
Get any system with an i5 and 8gb ram. An ssd over an hdd for the os drive will provide the most noticeable difference.
Give a budget and whatever game you might be interested in playing. I'm on my phone now but me or someone can link you a decent prebuilt system shortly
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jmarto1
LSU Fan
Houma, LA
Member since Mar 2008
10055 posts
| re: Need advice on purchasing/building a new PC (Posted on 1/12/13 at 2:03 pm to jcole4lsu)
I know it doesn't take long but I'm not looking to order a bunch of different parts. Just want to plug and play.
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jcole4lsu
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| re: Need advice on purchasing/building a new PC (Posted on 1/12/13 at 2:06 pm to jmarto1)
thats fine.
Budget?
What games do you play?
What resolution is your current monitor?
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jmarto1
LSU Fan
Houma, LA
Member since Mar 2008
10055 posts
| re: Need advice on purchasing/building a new PC (Posted on 1/12/13 at 2:27 pm to jcole4lsu)
I'm actually open on the budget but under $500 would be ideal.
I tend to play strategy games like Star Craft, Civilization, etc. I'm more of a console person but when a really good game comes out I want to be able to handle it.
1920X1080
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jcole4lsu
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| re: Need advice on purchasing/building a new PC (Posted on 1/12/13 at 2:46 pm to jmarto1)
$500
prebuilt
able to handle a graphics intensive game once it comes out?
does.not.compute.
seriously, it doesnt. Id have to scour the refurb market. woot has a good deal on a laptop though.
$469 for a i5 17" HP
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DoUrden 
Tennessee Fan
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Member since Oct 2011
5494 posts
| re: Need advice on purchasing/building a new PC (Posted on 1/12/13 at 2:48 pm to jcole4lsu)
quote:
good deal on a laptop though.
The only way I could game on a laptop is with hooking up an external mouse and keyboard.
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RATeamWannabe 
USA Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2009
9406 posts
| re: Need advice on purchasing/building a new PC (Posted on 1/12/13 at 2:53 pm to jmarto1)
I have a deal on a graphics card, new, never been opened. $260 when I bough it, Ill sell it for $50
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stout 
Arizona Fan
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Member since Sep 2006
106415 posts
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| re: Need advice on purchasing/building a new PC (Posted on 1/12/13 at 2:55 pm to RATeamWannabe)
quote:
Ill sell it for $50
No way?
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jcole4lsu
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| re: Need advice on purchasing/building a new PC (Posted on 1/12/13 at 2:56 pm to jcole4lsu)
only 4 "gaming" towers on newegg under $500. this is the closest thing to ok ive found to match your criteria, though the graphics card is very underwhelming. FX6100, 8 GB ram, GT610 for $500
all the options have a less than desirable power supply.
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jcole4lsu
Virginia Fan
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Member since Nov 2007
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| re: Need advice on purchasing/building a new PC (Posted on 1/12/13 at 2:56 pm to RATeamWannabe)
quote:
I have a deal on a graphics card, new, never been opened. $260 when I bough it, Ill sell it for $50
what is it?
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DoUrden
Tennessee Fan
Nightmare
Member since Oct 2011
5494 posts
| re: Need advice on purchasing/building a new PC (Posted on 1/12/13 at 3:00 pm to jcole4lsu)
quote:
what is it?
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stout
Arizona Fan
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| re: Need advice on purchasing/building a new PC (Posted on 1/12/13 at 3:01 pm to jcole4lsu)
EVGA 570
I told him I would drop him $100 for it. It's new in the box.
This post was edited on 1/12 at 3:04 pm
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jcole4lsu
Virginia Fan
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| re: Need advice on purchasing/building a new PC (Posted on 1/12/13 at 3:04 pm to stout)
quote:
EVGA 570
OP could buy the newegg system and the card from RA and put together a decent computer. PSU in the newegg prebuilt systems are too damn underpowered though
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jmarto1
LSU Fan
Houma, LA
Member since Mar 2008
10055 posts
| re: Need advice on purchasing/building a new PC (Posted on 1/12/13 at 3:21 pm to jcole4lsu)
I'll check those out. I don't game like you guys do and mostly do console. I want the life that I have gotten out of this computer. 4+ years is a long time imo.
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jcole4lsu
Virginia Fan
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| re: Need advice on purchasing/building a new PC (Posted on 1/12/13 at 3:30 pm to jmarto1)
If I was buying a sub $500 computer TODAY, I'd buy that HP laptop I linked. I think its the best value of the available options.
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jmarto1
LSU Fan
Houma, LA
Member since Mar 2008
10055 posts
| re: Need advice on purchasing/building a new PC (Posted on 1/12/13 at 5:14 pm to jcole4lsu)
I'm reconsidering building one now...
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jcole4lsu
Virginia Fan
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| re: Need advice on purchasing/building a new PC (Posted on 1/12/13 at 7:41 pm to jmarto1)
quote:
I'm reconsidering building one now...
figured you would
Case: Xigmatek Asgard Pro $50
PSU: Cooler Master 500w $40
Mobo: ASRock Z77 Pro $99
CPU: i3 2100 $120
Ram: 8 GB PNY DDR3 1600 $35
Optical: Asus DVD Burner $20
That puts you right at $365. The CPU has integrated graphics, so if you didnt care about gaming much you could splurge on an SSD and large HDD and skip the Graphics Card altogether, (for now - you can always upgrade to one later) otherwise:
Vid Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD6670 2GB $75
HardDrive: Seagate 500GB HDD$60
Thats $500 exactly before tax, rebates and shipping (and OS but I assume you can get your hands on that without purchasing it), and provides you the chance to upgrade the CPU or Video at any time. The 1155 socket life is ending, but it has some VERY high end processors and they will be around for quite a while. This build wont be great at anything in particular. A business machine would have a lesser video (aka onboard or integrated) and a better processor while a gaming machine would be the exact opposite. What you get here is a solid machine and motherboard that you can upgrade in 2 years rather than waiting 4 or 5 and having to start from scratch.
This post was edited on 1/12 at 7:55 pm
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