| vux984 said: Vista & DX10 are a package along with the good and the bad. You don't get to pick and choose which parts you get so consumers look at it as a whole. Current adoption rates show that this package is not appealing. I don't know that anything more needs to be said... I think the biggest issue with Vista is that its not really something one upgrades too. Its too new for mass business adoption - they NEVER upgrade in the first year or two. Hell, some of them are still clinging to windows 2000. But new computers being sold to consumers, including gamers, are predominantly loaded with Vista. And that's all I really expect. As for the PC you built spec'd. Well...first my 1k to 2k was targeting -gamers- not people trying to scrimp together a PC that can run games. And simultaneously, not idiots who buy the bleeding edge. But people who choose parts because they are the best value, not necessarily the cheapest. In your system for example: 1) $77 for 4GB RAM is what kensington value ram? Its alright, but for a bit more you can get something overclocks well. And overclocking is how get fantastic value out of an inexpensive system. 2) the mobo... no complaints 3) cpu...no complaints. I'm partial to the intel chipset and C2D/C2Q, which I think are the better chips. Lower power consumption, lower heat - means quieter operation, etc. So my spec would run 50-100 more here. 4) video card - no complaints 5) p/s probably overkill, even if your planning SLI, but no complaints. Its nice that you didn't run with one of those $20 p-o-s units. props for that. 4) ick. I grant that $35 dollar case runs just as fast as a $70 one... but I like a little quality and style. I don't go in for those $250 cases, but I appreciate a good aluminum build that's solid with no burrs, and better access to the drive cage etc. But whatever, I'll leave it alone. 5) 320GB? I wouldn't spec less than 500GB given that its only 10 dollars more. 6) soundblaster audigy se? On a scrimper system I'd just run onboard sound; while if someone is willing to pay extra for sound, I'd probably spec something a littler higher end, with digital connectors, and the newest chipset. (Not the 'xtreme gamers fatal1ty elite platinum plus' but something lower down in the same family.) 7) LiteOn budget drive - ick. Noisy cheap drives. Functional, but for $12 more you can move into something much better made. 8) no operating system? Linux is great and all, but this is a gamer's PC right? I think you'll need to budget at least another hundred or so, say $130 (that'll get you into XP Pro or Vista Home Premium). 9) $30 mouse, $10 keyboard? wow. yeah, you can pay that much, but they suck. Ok, yeah, sure, if your scrimping they'll service. But a half decent keyboard is $30+, and a good gaming mouse $50+. Those high precision laser mice from Razer or even Logitech are worth it. The buttons click better, the scroll wheel moves better, there's just no comparison. 10) I'm not sure I agree with your theory about not buying a new monitor for 15 years. Are you using a 15 year old monitor? I upgraded from 15" CRT to a 17" CRT to a 19" CRT to a 19" LCD to a 22" LCD in the last 10 years. And a 22" at 249? I'd have a tough time choosing a 20" at that price that I'd consider to be good quality. 11) Speakers - yeah I agree one good set will last a while. 12) aftermarket heat sink/fan. boost your ability to overclock and bring the noise down at the same time. Your PC spec is what I'd call decidedly adequate. Its not bad, and you've covered the most important areas to get excellent framerate, but you've cut all the extras, and sacrificed on quality on the peripherals, and while that won't affect framerare or image quality it will impact the enjoyment of your system. For just a few hundred more you can get a PC that's virtually silent, with premium peripherals, in a well built attractive case, with the potential to overclock. If I had $1000 ($880+ Windows) to spend I'd buy what you spec'd. If I had $1400 to spend, I'd buy what I spec'd. |
1) If people were planning to OC their system they wouldn't be having me build it for them =P
5a) There have been several articles written since SLI became popular that show you need a solid PSU for SLI. So-called dirty power can become a serious issue otherwise. I prefer to go a bit over rather than under when dealing with the part of the PC that touches every other part, no sense in spending money on the rest of the PC and not providing it clean power.
4b ) A case is a case is a case, I go with simple unless otherwise requested by a customer.
5b) Hard drives are just that kind of a beast, a little bit more money can get you a lot more space all the way until you are spending entirely too much. 320GB seagate drives are quick, reliable, and provide lots of space for the majority of users...and there aren't any seagate drives of 500GB that aren't at least $25 more expensive. I'm sure you would go to a different brand but the 5 yr warranty, excellent customer service, and an extremely reliable product have always kept me convinced that seagate is the best brand to buy from...not that the others suck..just that they are my perference...which of course would be secondary to any consumer preference...but if they had preferences they likely wouldn't need me.
6) To 99% of people there is no difference between this card and a $90 card, if sound is more important for the person the build was for I would prioritize it higher, but really there isn't much difference to anyone without freakish hearing and even then you have to listen for it.
7) I use this drive, it is quiet, fast, and reliable. It is also one of the best drives on the market. So I think you are way off base on this one.
8) In a lot of situations it is uneeded as they already have an XP license. Sorry but I don't buy the BS that you owe MS an extra wad of cash for every machine you upgrade to. As long as you are only using your license on one machine there is no issue. In the situations that it is needed it is simple enough to add to the cart.
9) See you are applying your personal preferences here. Most people see a $30 mouse and think it is fairly expensive. This is why I budget this generically, because it depends on the person. And honestly the best pixel perfect mouse I ever got was a $25 mouse from razer...the damn thing would work in midair on smoke it was so precise. More $$$ doesn't always mean better performance. As for a keyboard...I completely disagree generico keyboards are sufficient for the vasty majority of users.
10) I actually upgraded my monitor to 22" earlier this year. The old monitor is still in use and is a nice 17" monitor that is still chugging along at aprox age 11, putting it within my 10-15 year range.
As for the specifics of the monitor you completely glossed over the important part of it being 2ms and having a solid contrast ratio. As for the price and brand, I don't recommend parts for people that I don't have reason to trust. I use a similar monitor to the one I linked from the same manufacturer and have personally helped order a total of about 33 of them in the last year alone. They are a good manufacturer and stand by their products, part of having someone build a PC for you is that you have their experience to benefit from and I know that Sceptre is one of the best bargains in monitors. And its price exists because of brand name only mentality...which works for me.
12) Again, people don't have somebody else build them a PC to overclock.
Now exactly what do you mean by "you've cut all the extras, and sacrificed on quality on the peripherals"?
The peripheral's and their quality is based purely on speculation on your part. I doubt you have ever purchased a Sceptre so how can you claim to know its quality other than your assumptions? As for the mouse and keyboard these are relatively minor issues to adjust for anyone who has preference, but most people don't so long as they get a good responsive mouse. And truly there is little difference between keyboards today. You can actually get a very nice keyboard for $10...actually my favorite keyboard I have ever had is the one I am typing on right now and it was $8.
What extras would you have added that I didn't, exactly?
 |
| To Each Man, Responsibility |
