I am by no means a computer expert. So I was wondering if anyone could tell me if this is a good computer for $1400. I don't do anything special online besides play games. Just need a good home computer that I wont have to replace next Christmas.
Custom Presario 8000T PC
- 3.0 GHz (HT) Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4
- Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Home Edition
- 1GB DDR / PC3200 (2 DIMM)
- 160 GB 7200 rpm Ultra DMA Hard Drive
- 16X DVD-ROM Drive
- FREE UPGRADE to 4X DVD RW/ R
- 3.5 in. 1.44MB Floppy Drive
- 128MB DDR NVIDIA GeForceFX(TM) 5600 with TV-out
- Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card with Front Audio ports
- JBL Platinum Speakers w/ Digital Audio Port
- Presario Keyboard & Optical Scroll Mouse
- Microsoft(R) Works/Money 2003/Encarta

thanks

Rigin

Are the Presario's still notebooks? You'll need a big monitor, which will seriously jack up the price.

It is a desktop. It comes with a 17 inch flat screen monitor as opposed to a flat panel monitor. I was told to go with a flat screen cause its better for gaming.

Someone lied to you. Unless you're getting a really expensive flatscreen - and you can bet that you aren't.

Sounds about right. If you're gonna go mail order you might as well compare with IBM and, dare I say, Dell. As long as you stick with the Business Grade machines you should be fine. Do Not buy an entry level pc from any vendor. There is a reason why they are less expensive. . . .trust me.

It is indeed a desktop:

<a href="http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/prodserv.html" target="_new">Click on link in page</a>

Not sure what you mean by someone lied to me?


this is the monitor: compaq fs7550 17" flat display

First off, get a 2.8Ghz processor. About 150 bucks' difference between that and a 3.0, and I somehow doubt the improvement is even notable.

If you insist on getting the package down there, it looks overpriced by at least 300 bucks. You might also want to make sure that it has a spare slot for a modem or network card.

If you plan on playing LOMAC/HL2/STALKER on decent settings when they come out, go for an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro. The $380ish dollar price tag is the only real downside. If you just play EQ, get something cheaper than that Geforce.

Good luck!

The person who told you to go with a flat screen because they're better for gaming. They're not - but there are now flat screens that are just about as good as CRT's for gaming. They're just expensive, and you're most likely not going to get one of the good ones in any kind of vendor package.

I think there is some confusion on the Flat Screen/Flat Panel discussion.

A Flat Screen is still a CRT. Just that the CRT is flat.

A Flat Panel is LCD.

CRT > LCD when it comes to gaming but the gap is narrowing with each subsequent LCD panel innovation.

Good point on the processor. Depending on the FSB speed the 2.8 would actually outperform the 3.06. 2.8 is on 200MHz and 3.06 is on a 166MHz. Something to consider anyway.

I have had 3 Compaq's at work, 2 hard drive failures and 1 processor burned out.

Building your own is the only way to go. If something breaks, unplug it, buy a new one. With pre-built it gets more complicated.

You're right about the flat screen he mentioned, sorry.

Save yourself alot of money and built it yourself.

Tyner

I have not met anyone who, having made the mistake of buying Compaq, did not end up with headaches trying to get all the glitches and failures fixed.

I don't have a lot of experience with the higher end Intels, I've been using AMD mostly. But I would go with the 3.0 over a 2.8, even with a $150 cost increase. Like I said, I havn't tried it myself, but if the HT technology preforms the way it should, it will be more noticable a difference that that 200 MHZ makes it seem.

Also, I would suggest a better video card. I have a FX5600 256mb and though its nice, it could be so much better. If you can afford it, up the card. If your'e rich, go with the 5900 >=).

Can build a much better one yourself for the same price, or the same system for much less.. and I suggest AMD over intel, all the comps I have build have used AMD cpu's and Asus MB's, had virtually no problems with them.

This is my most recent system:

AMD Athlon XP 2700+
Asus A7N8X Deluxe MB (Onboard dolby 5.1 sound and onboard NIC.. both work GREAT)
GeForce FX 5600 256mb ddr vid card
1gb pc3200 DDR ram
80 GB Western Digital 7200rpm HD
A random 52x CD
A random 3.5" floppy drive
21" Flat Screen CRT monitor

Total Cost: $1,079 (Just checked my recipts for the exact cost)

All in all, it's definately cheaper to make yourself, and if something goes wrong it's usually easy to fix also.

21" Flat Screen CRT monitor

Total Cost: $1,079 (Just checked my recipts for the exact cost)

damn, how much was your monitor? cuz that must of been cheaazep

and also sometimes you can find great deals on comps, i bought a comp that paid for itself in the dvd-r, graphics card, lcd 18.1. just make sure you look inside the case before you buy anything or find out whats inside it (who needs 10 extra pci lots if your not going to use it?). intergrated shit is the devil and if you know how to fix a self made comp you will know how to fix a dell/compaq/etc. no diffrence really.

intergrated shit is the devil

This used to be the case, and I was very skeptical of using my onboard sound especially, but with the MB I use I've had no problems at all, and the quality is great.
The onboard 3com NIC works just as well as any other NIC hehe

Seriously. If you gotta go with a big name manufacturer go with Dell. Compaq has a habit of building absolute shit mobos as well as putting a bunch of crap on the install disk. Nice things like edutainment software. Compaq also likes to put apps on your computer that they claim will boost your internet speed which is a load of crap. I'm in the process of building a computer from bare bones. Its a lot cheaper that way and you can get exactly what you want.

I agree with Vladius, Compaq has a reputation of building computers that are very glitchy and cant be upgraded. I would build my own computer, but when I need a new one I usually need it within a couple days so dont really have time to build one myself or I would :(

All the people who I work with suggest building it yourself though.

I would suggest Dell as well because the warranty is generally speaking very good, on sight service for 3 years for about 30 dollars I think it was for mine?

Try to avoid integrated video cards if you can, integrated sound is fine because chances are the sound for any given game isnt going to require a super powered card. Video on the other hand, Id never go with integrated video due to the fact that games gettin put on the shelves now have such a high requirement for video ram.

My latest Dell system (this is factory fixed by the way, if you havent looked there you should because its a new computer that just had something break and they replaced it with a brand new part)

60 GB hard drive
gforce 4 with 64 MB of video ram
32x CD drive with DVD capabilities (crappy DVD capabilities, but still there)
564 MB of ram (planning on upgrading this soon)
integrated sound card (approx. equivelant of a sound blaster)
not sure on floppy drive specs but that is there too
3 years on sight service waranty

Total came to around 600ish USD with shipping and handling included.

This used to be the case, and I was very skeptical of using my onboard sound especially, but with the MB I use I've had no problems at all, and the quality is great.

im not saying they dont work im just saying they suck because your stuck with it.