comparing 2 desktops which is better?

[aussiefloyd_fan]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?sk...d=1218008593628

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?sk...d=1218038552019

everyday use.. future proofing. and casual gaming. and HTPC capabilities

i see one only a core 2 duo but is it worth saving a hundred bucks for losing 2 cores?

Edited January 9, 2009 by AUSSIE_FLOYD_FAN

[dreamz Veteran]

moved here

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

build your own, and you can save even more.

Best Buy will make you pay so much more...

[RAID 0]

Mind's advice is best... we can help you if you'd like.

Between the two, I would go with the first. Not only does it have a quad core, it has a 3450 GPU. It's not the best GPU by any means, but it's BY FAR better than almost all integrated graphics solutions.

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

Thanks yet again, RAID.

I agree with RAID on the first one. Dedicated video is better than integrated any day.

[NienorGT]

Well, Dell are enough cheap now, sometime you can get very good deals. FOR THE CASUAL USER that's it.

Future-proof? Are you talking about upgrades? No... Dell's are less future-proof than a custom built though.

Anyway, Socket 775 will disapear in one year. Right now Core i7 took the upstream with it's new socket, next will be the mainstream Core i5 (name?) that will also have a different socket.

And as for comparaison, $650 vs $750

C2D 2.5 vs C2Q 2.33

GMA x3100 vs Radeon HD3450

To be honest, there is no difficult choice here :p.

The x3100 can't even decode a blue-ray.

Casual gaming? Better be just solitaire on that x3100...

[the big dill]

I agree with almost everyone else - build your own, save a load of cash! :D

Best buy will overprice the overprice, no offence to anyone who likes best buy... but i never shop there...

What i would do is look at tigerdirect! They have cheap bare bone kits if you dont know what to get, i shop at ncix for computer parts.

oh and btw if you dont know much about computer hardware, tigerdirect will build it for you for a charge (not sure how much)

Also i try to avoid dell... or other pre-built desktops, because they never tell you everything... only the good stuff :p

I agree with almost everyone else - build your own, save a load of cash! :D

Best buy will overprice the overprice, no offence to anyone who likes best buy... but i never shop there...

What i would do is look at tigerdirect! They have cheap bare bone kits if you dont know what to get, i shop at ncix for computer parts.

oh and btw if you dont know much about computer hardware, tigerdirect will build it for you for a charge (not sure how much)

Also i try to avoid dell... or other pre-built desktops, because they never tell you everything... only the good stuff :p

[+Warwagon MVC]

Plus those cases are ugly :laugh:

[StealMySoda]

If you are going to buy one of those. Get the first one. As everyone has said it's much better.

[Spartan Erik]

Here's a tip: NEVER buy from retailers like Best Buy.

They're the middleman, how do you expect them to make money? Buy direct from Dell.

If you want to save money and get a good machine, go to www.dealcatcher.com. It is a site that lists all the deals from major vendors (not only computers, but clothing and more). Look at the various computer vendors, find a machine that has been slashed in price and offers free shipping, and customize your build on the vendors website.

For $669 on Dell.com, I got a 20" Widescreen LCD, a Vostro 200 Tower model with an 8600GT, 80 GB HDD, 2 GB RAM, and a 2.33 GHz C2D w/ 4 MB L2 (and I've read plenty of Newegg reviews that this thing OCs to 3 with no trouble). This was two years ago. If I were to sell all these components, I would still turn a profit.

Obviously since then I have upgraded to an 8800GT and a more powerful Corsair power supply for future upgrading

[aussiefloyd_fan]

what about the 599 mac mini? for everyday computing i already have a vista / windows 7 capable machine.

soi mighttas well get me a mini

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

so why did you need another one? :blink:

[NienorGT]

Wait for the new MacMini, Apple will surly send invites soon for a keynote for MacMini and iMacs. The rumors are almost proven by data showing new models in new MacBook's Leopard's DVD.

The current MacMini are SO much outdated than the cheapest PC you link here could even outperform it...

[RPDL]

Anyway, Socket 775 will disapear in one year.

Although they won't make more 775 CPUs, it won't quite disappear, Intel has decided to extend its life cycle up to 2011. (http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20081117PD205.html)

For someone who considered buying a 599 Mac Mini, I don't think a Socket 775 CPU would be underperformant.

[aussiefloyd_fan]

/\ well only because i already have about 6 windows based machines and thought a mac might be fun?.......!

[Thirtythree]

/\ well only because i already have about 6 windows based machines and thought a mac might be fun?.......!

Sell most of them, get dual/triple monitor and run a bunch of VMs.

[Srugie Veteran]

The x3100 can't even decode a blue-ray.

Casual gaming? Better be just solitaire on that x3100...

I used to use a x1300. It's by no means great but it did the job at very low settings until I got my 8800 GT.

[aussiefloyd_fan]

well they are windows xp machines that are 600mhz >

I cant see myself... without much money spending a grand or 2 on a system that will be outdated in less than a year...

and i dont game. except for san andreas....... and freecell