Good time to buy a computer?

[Fizz]

I should have said high end components. I like to OC and boost my PC to its limits.

Yeah if you want to OC, tweak and customize large OEMs aren't for you.

Small OEM's can be, though. I won't do a custom liquid cooling solution for people as it's too much effort. If I were to charge enough to be worth it for me you'd never buy a machine.

No objection to High end boards with overclocking capabilities, unlocked processors, manufactured complete liquid cooling solutions (Ex. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835203006 ), etc. If I think your plan is to OC though I'll expressly disclaim warranty coverage. Personally, I don't like to mess with client or personal machines. Enough of my day is spent just getting things to work to have time to mess around with settings.

I built a 20,000 dollar SQL server last month and my home PC is still rocking an E8400.

I also won't overclock your box for you unless it's an auto config like XMP (again, that whole ROI thing). I will however spec a platform that you could OC. Though, most people doing this are building their own.

[Aspec5vz]

Can I ask what components you guys are running in your custom computers? You guys got me looking into building one now haha. I'd mainly use this computer for photo/video editing but would like to be able to game on it if I wanted to. Graphically I'd like to be able to play Skyrim and BF at 60fps on at least medium settings.

[Fizz]

Here's what I'd do:

Antec Sonata with 500 watt PSU
Intel DH77EB
Intel Core i5-3330
Crucial DDR3 1333Mhz 4GB x2 (8GB total)
[ASUS/Zotac/Pny/etc.] GTX 650
Crucial M4 128GB SSD
[Any brand] SATA DVD RW Drive
Western Digital 5000AAKX
Windows 7/8

That'll handle just about anything you'll throw at it. It'll work as long as you assemble it correctly and doesn't need any messing around other than setting BIOS date/time.

I've been doing this too long; I quoted that purely out of memory.

[Aspec5vz]

Thanks! I'll look around at parts and stuff. It's been so long since I've been into computers, I haven't really been keeping up with the times. Gotta re-educate myself haha.

[the86d]

Many of the pre-built machines are still rather proprietary (BTX is a pain), and have limited space internally. Hell many don't even have a place to add two hard drives (some can't even fit one more for a "data drive"), nor a second 5.25" drive.

Rack-mount FTW!

[Deadbolt]

i2500k is a better value. it overclocks and runs stable at superior speeds than the i3330 and its a little cheaper usually

[Eldraque]

Alienware is overpriced junk. Newegg is doing lots of black Friday deals, just build your system for half the price of an AlienFail. unless you're talking about a laptop...

[GMANtt]

Build your own. Newegg.com has some good black Friday and cyber Monday deals.

[Aspec5vz]

Yea I'm looking around on newegg piecing together a computer to get an idea of the total price. I'll probably build it up slowly like I did with my AR haha.

[Fizz]

i2500k is a better value. it overclocks and runs stable at superior speeds than the i3330 and its a little cheaper usually

http://ark.intel.com/products/52210/Intel-Core-i5-2500K-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_70-GHz

http://ark.intel.com/products/65509/Intel-Core-i5-3330-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_20-GHz

It's true the K series processors overclock better (well, at all really), but it doesn't make sense to do that on an H77 chipset board. You're better with the 3330 even though the base frequencies are lower.

Also, not everyone is concerned with overclocking. The 3330 has slightly lower base frequencies, but it's also ~30 dollars cheaper and newer lithography (more energy efficient).

For what the end user is doing I don't anticipate a benefit to the 2500k. Also remember K series procs don't come with HSFs, so you have to buy an aftermarket one.

[Manolito]

Listening to you guys talk computers is like my second day in Latin class. That was in 1964.

Fizz could you make a suggestion for a lap top for sitting on the couch doing spread sheets photo's and talking on calguns. No games needed.

Thanks Bill

[paul0660]

I like to OC and boost my PC to its limits.

I did too. Once got a Duron 600 to 900 for a while. Now, everything is wicked fast stock so I leave it alone and haven't had to clear bios for years.

a lap top for sitting on the couch doing spread sheets photo's and talking on calguns. No games needed.

Keep watching Newegg and Walmart. There will be one for $350 otd within a few weeks.

[bigbearbear]

The best time to buy a computer is always tomorrow.

Buy only when you really need it because prices are generally falling, or you get better hardware for the the same price the later you buy.

[NorCalXJ]

I wouldn't care about a warranty because by the time it craps out, my system is really outdated. Buy your components tomorrow. I also use AMD. AMD use to suck, but now they are putting out good products. They have some cheap 8 core processors out there :O

[Psykoasn]

actually around this time i think it's a really good time to buy a PC, with windows 8 recently being released, they are going to try to get rid of anything with Windows 7 still, and on top of that a possible black Friday sale you might get a little bit more of a discount