Buying A Preconfigured System...Thoughts

[Razorbacx]

Well, I'm getting ready to bite the bullet and buy...sigh...a preconfigured system. The wife has refused to allow me to build a new box, since I got a whopping 18 months of unreliable service from my last build. So, I have found a package deal that does seem pretty inticing and would like your opinions, please.

HP - Pavilion Media Center 9500 TV Desktop , Model# m8330f
AMD Phenom 9500
8500GT
3GB PC2-5300
TV Tuner/Capture Card w/Remote Control
640 GB HD
DVD RW Optical w/Lightscribe

LG - 22" Widescreen Flat-Panel LCD Monitor, Model: L226WTQ-BF
HP Photosmart All-In-One Printer (model#?)

Package price at Best Buy is $1120.00 plus or minus a few dollars. I'm not sure how reliable HP computers are, but I could not find any negative reviews on this particular model. It meets all my requirements for home movie editing and such, although I would have preferred an 8800GT in place of the 8500GT. Your thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks,

Razorbacx

[Alathald]

Ouch. That sucks. At $1120 you could have a great computer but if you have to buy prebuilt, just remember these guys work on commission so go in there without the wife and haggle him down to below $900-1000, if not farther. They WANT to sell you something cause they have a stake in it so use that against them.

Here's a fun read I found a few weeks back: http://www.esquire.com/features/money/ESQ0205NEGO_114_1
And a small website with some good tips on haggling: http://www.howtohaggle.com/

Sorry to hear about your misfortune

[Apoptosis]

that sucks you can't build one... what about Intel processor based systems?

I'd almost suggest going Intel with integrated graphics then adding a GeForce 8800 GT, so you can actually game on that 22" monitor that comes with the system. You'll be able to save some money with the integrated graphics system and then pop in the GeForce 8800 GT once you get it home.

[Methious]

Stinks you can't build one, I see a lot of HP models in the course of a year, most have a Asus board in them, slightly modified and locked bios. Generally well behaved but rip out the bloatware after you make the backup disks. I wouldn't do any thing until I made the backup restore disks right out of the gate. Since their usually Asus boards it makes a guy wonder if ordering a bios from ASUS for the board would restore it's full bios functionality. Might be worth checking into.

[snowking03]

Do you have something against dell because while their tech support is bottom of the barrel you can get some amazing deals on them with coupons and such.

I'd scour slick deals and fatwallet and keep an eye open for coupons.

[mr_noname111]

A friend of mine has an older HP media center pc (x2 4400, etc).

He hasnt had a single problem with it, so I say go for it.

[ibleet]

So what exactly happened to your first build that your wife is so against you building another?

Building your own is so much better and so much cheaper...I can't even imagine buying a pre-built system unless its a laptop.

[Razorbacx]

So what exactly happened to your first build that your wife is so against you building another?

Building your own is so much better and so much cheaper...I can't even imagine buying a pre-built system unless its a laptop.

To answer your question regarding what happened to my first build, well my HD died, then my video card, motherboard died (murdered by my video card), got a replacement motherboard and video card from the mfg'er, video card died again, got my replacement and then my just repaired motherboard started freaking out and now it won't even post. HD and replacement video card have been tested and are fine. RAM is fine. Motherboard is the problem and currently skt 939 is too expensive to try to resurrect, so I'm trying to look forward. Anyone interested in some pc parts? HA! Wife has had enough and so have I. My old P4 Dell that I gave my mother, which I've borrowed back in the interim, is still working fine. I can build an airplane, but I can't build a computer, so I'm going the preconfigured way.

Questions for you all....

1) I want to take my home movies and put them to DVD. Also, looking to add some special effects and music to try to make them more fun to watch. Does it matter whether or not I go AMD or Intel?

2) As far as graphics go, should I settle for nothing less than the 8800GT or could I go the route of an ATI card, such as the 2600 series or the 3800 series? I do want the ability to do some gaming, but I simply do not have the time to devote to anything serious. Just casual gaming.

3) Is Windows Vista worth a try?

4) How much ram will I need to do video editing, music and gaming? I want to make it enjoyable, not a problem.

5) Desktop or Laptop? SFF or Full? I recently found another deal at Best Buy for a Gateway FX laptop that came with a lower end Core 2 Duo proc and the GO 8800GTS video card. Price was $1249.00. Worth it or not?

6) I've found several online e-tailers offering up what appears to be really nice systems, but I have no idea who is trust worthy. Any recommendations?

Thanks,

Razorbacx

[doghucat]

I would go witjh C2D a 6750 or a 6850 or go quad but if you like the AMD they are a fast cpu also I have the C2D6750 and nothing slows it down but I also have a AMD 5000+ Black Edition OC'ed to 3.0 gig and it is fast also but not quite as fast as the C2D clocked at only 2.6 the L-2 has something to do with the speed. I personally would stay away from prebuild but to each there own.

[stopthekilling77]

maybe ibuypower.com would be a good option for you. they customize builds like alienware does but they're more affordable

[ParoxysM]

Build one or else, lol.

[vbironchef]

First I would talk to your wife about buying the parts that you really want. Then if she doesn't let you build it, then tell her you will have a local comp store build it. If she says yes, then build it at a friends house.

[DMB2000uk]

First I would talk to your wife about buying the parts that you really want. Then if she doesn't let you build it, then tell her you will have a local comp store build it. If she says yes, then build it at a friends house.

That sir is epic craftyness.

Dan

[bigblockmatt]

maybe ibuypower.com would be a good option for you. they customize builds like alienware does but they're more affordable

great suggestion. my buddy/roommate got one from them back several years ago and still runs great on it!!

[stopthekilling77]

just be sure to check their warranty policy and so on and so forth

buyer beware! but yeah ibuypower.com
customization
reliability
if you know what youre doing and what you want you might even get a really sweet deal!

[ibleet]

Sorry to hear about your bad luck building computers. I have built two and have not had an incident yet. I am now building 2 more...1 for a friend, and 1 for my son.

Sorry I can't give you advice on pre-built...but the simple matter is that I don't believe in buying pre-built anymore...spoiled by LR.

Best of luck!

[DemonicDerek]

Tell your wife that buying a pre-configured system while easier to troubleshoot really isn't a good solution because of all the crap that comes preloaded onto the computer that it basically takes out a good chunk of performance right from the start (and once it is in there it never leaves!).

[Razorbacx]

First I would talk to your wife about buying the parts that you really want. Then if she doesn't let you build it, then tell her you will have a local comp store build it. If she says yes, then build it at a friends house.

Never thought about that! The problem with doing something like that is that I'm so dang transparent that my wife would find out and anyway, I don't have any friends...

I'll look at ibuypower.com and see what they offer. I really don't want to go the route of Dell or HP and I want complete control over my build.

Thanks for all the responses, even those that might cause a divorce...

Razorbacx

[ibleet]

I feel your pain, but I cannot possibly imagine not building my own rigs.

[Dreamcrusher]

Best Buy, Circuit City and so on...are for the non tech types to buy they're PCs. I can't believe that a person that visits a forum such as this would even consider such an action.
There are better gaming rig sales out there. ibuypower would be a better choice. You're going to get a better quality rig and great tech support. You also have to keep they're upgrading capability in mind.
PCgamer mag has a few companies' ads in there as well.