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~1500 bucks for a new PC

What are you planning on doing with a computer this expensive?
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Spending money. I don't really need a new computer, but I believe I'm about to land in some money soon. So, since I am a bit tired of trying to stay modern with this ten-year old beast, a new PC is the one true toy I'm allowing myself, after paying bills bills bills. And by the way, I'll probably spend more like seven or eight hundred (see above).
 
Want the option to build your own Desktop PC? Now you can with the Walmart.com., iBuyPower and technology!

Bundle Total: $509.00 with selected options

iBUYPOWER NZXT Source 210 USB 3.0 Gaming Chassis, ...
AMD FX-4100 Processor with Motherboard
iBUYPOWER 4GB DDR3 Memory
500GB 7200RPM Hard Disk Drive
NVIDIA GeForce GT 610 1GB GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 Gr...
24X DVD+/-RW DL Optical Drive
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, 64-Bit Edition
HKC 19" LED Monitor (N1812-13W White)
Logitech Corded Mouse M100

Keyboard and mouse were the only priced options I chose. Not way more than I need, just a bit better and a lot newer than what I've got. I'll probably order it tonight unless you scream.

...actually it appears to come with a keyboard and mouse:

ibuy.jpg
 
New question... rather than buying a new PC that I want but don't need, and being that my current one is adequate in memory, hard drive, dvd drives and USB ports, couldn't I just get a new motherboard to speed things up?

And if so, what parameters do I have to mind when shopping around? I know nada about motherboards, in case you hadn't noticed.

And lastly, would doing this freak out my Win7 registration?

...to answer myself in part, I'd need a Motherboard Combo to have a new CPU to speed things up.
 
Since you have an old name-brand computer rather than a generic unit, likely it has a nonstandard motherboard configuration and a standard motherboard such as ATX or Mini ATX will not fit in your box. Another good reason to build units from generic, standardized parts.

Even if a new motherboard/CPU would fit, by the time you upgrade everything you need to, you will have changed everything but the box. Since a decent new, standardized box costs about $30, there's no point in keeping your old box.
 
I give up and, unless I'm convinced otherwise, will likely go to Walmart tonight and get:

Acer Black AXC-603G-UW12 Desktop PC Bundle with Intel Celeron J1900 Processor, 4GB Memory, 19.5" Monitor, 1TB Hard Drive and Windows 8.1

Acer AXC-603G-UW12 Desktop PC Bundle:
Acer Black AXC-603G-UW12 Windows 8.1 Desktop Key Features and Benefits:
Intel Celeron J1900 processor
2.00GHz (with a max turbo speed of 2.42GHz), 2MB Cache
4GB DDR3 SDRAM system memory (expandable to 8GB)
Gives you the power to handle most power-hungry applications and tons of multimedia work
1TB SATA hard drive
Store 666,000 photos, 285,000 songs or 526 hours of HD video and more on the Acer desktop PC with Intel Celeron J1900 Processor and 4GB memory
16x SuperMulti DVD drive
Watch movies and read and write CDs and DVDs in multiple formats
10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet
Connect to a broadband modem with wired Ethernet
19.5" widescreen display
Integrated Intel HD Graphics
1 memory card reader
1 x USB 3.0 port, 4 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x headphone jack, 1 x microphone jack, 1 x RJ-45 Ethernet port, 3 x audio ports, 1 x VGA port, 1 x HDMI port
1 x mini PCI Express slot, 1 x 5.25" bay, 1 x 3.5" bay
The Acer desktop PC with Intel Celeron J1900 Processor and 4GB memory is 11.3 lbs, 14.55" x 10.49" x 3.94"

Not interested in W8.1, but the little thing is just $348 at the store and once I get it to behave, it'll probably be decent and act newer. Certainly cheaper than everything else I've pondered.
 
If you ever plan to process pics, be sure the display is not a regular TN-panel. And of course, if you watch movies, the view angle is also important - not only for processing pics... i would use money to get a good display (at least the usual ips panel).
 
An Intel Celeron is a pretty weak CPU these days. Probably very limited upgradability, if any. It no doubt has Win8.1 Home, not 8.1 Pro, a negative.

There's reasons why the unit is only $348.
 
An Intel Celeron is a pretty weak CPU these days.
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I did remember that from its early days.

It no doubt has Win8.1 Home, not 8.1 Pro, a negative.
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I thought I saw 'pro,' at the store, but don't see it on the page. If it's the same difference between W7 home and pro, I'm not really concerned.

There's reasons why the unit is only $348.
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I may come to eat those words, but I know firsthand that Wally World is nice about returns.
 
First off, sorry I forgot about this thread...

jefboyardee said:
I spoze I could, but pretty sure I'd miss this and forget that. I also know a casino pal that builds them -- he could do it for me or or at least guide me. Might be a great idea and thanks.
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Building your own PC will almost always be cheaper than buying a pre-built one, and if you need help assembling a list I am sure we can help you out.

jack58 said:
I'd stay away from AMD cpu. ;)
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Ehhh, I mean they are good price/performance, which sounds like all he really needs.

jack58 said:
Maybe cheaper... but NOT the best and much slower. ;)
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Not *much* slower, just different. AMD just decides to leave speed to their really expensive processors, which still get out performed by Intel anyways.

Slug said:
Does the OP need a "top-end Intel" processor though? How much would he have to compromise elsewhere in the system to get one within his $1500 budget? It's always better value to build a balanced system rather than one which favours one particular part at the expense of bottlenecks elsewhere.
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Completely agree with this.
 
lunatic59 said:
It's a lot of fun.
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It was a lot of fun to learn that there's no way I'm gonna try that before I realize that I shouldn't have tried that.

Years ago, maybe, but things have changed. I did install additional USB port cards recently, but that's digging deep enough.
 
Okay, so you're not the "insert tab A into slot B" kind of a person. Fair enough. If you want a decent deal, instead of taking the junk du jour at Best Buy, you could check out woot.com (amazon's liquidation arm) for some great buys on refurb (or new, sometimes) desktops. But, you have to subscribe or you'll miss then good ones because they only last a few days and some days (like today, unfortunately) there's no PC's at all.
 
Wouldn't hurt to check out Newegg too. They have a huge selection, decent prices and good customer service. I've bought thousands of dollars of stuff over several years with no problems. 1st place I go for any electronics.
 
I'm a fan of NewEgg.com. Usually go there when I need components

Woot is an awesome site, it's a howl when you get a Woot Off!! :D
 
lunatic59 said:
Okay, so you're not the "insert tab A into slot B" kind of a person.
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Long story. Used to, believe it or not, design audio electonic equipment. But, like I said, something happened, which I won't go into. It took me a long time to accept that, but now I'm content with mere tinkering.
 
I came within a whisker of buying an HP i3 quad, 8GB, 1TB, 22", etc., five hundred bucks. I even had it in a cart and was just about to roll it up front, when it's very own catch line stopped me: It's just what you need!

That stopped me, because I really don't need a new computer, I just want one. And for me to buy one, it has to ring all my bells. This one had Win8.1 64bit. I don't want Win8, and although I like Win7, even it's getting a bit dated.

So I put it back on the shelf and left befuddled. Unless something convinces me otherwise, I'm gonna limp along with my decade-old powerhouse until Win9 comes out... wonder how many others are doing the same.
 
People are differend. Have been using win8/8.1 two years with no problem. I use desktop mode, not tiles mode - never liked tiles. At first I hated it, wanted to go back to win7, but now I really dont see differences between them. It took some time to get used to the new layout.

If you dont need a new laptop, dont buy it! Save your money and when the time is right buy a better one than a budget priced laptop. You sill be much happier with a laptop that works after few months too...
 
My current desktop works fine, as fine as a ten-year old PC can, but just can't even run certain newer things like VirtualBox. And what it does run, it does slowly. I'm a perfect candidate for upgrading my system, but MS has botched things so nothing is worth the money. That PC I was talking about would be fine for me, but who wants to spend five hundred bucks on a worse OS?
 
But what is bad in win8.1? I have read that tiles, everybody who doesnt like the tiles says that win8.1 is crap.. if you dont like tiles, then use the desktop mode. What is the problem? You dont need to use tiles at all, if you dont like the view - you can boot straight to the desktop view.

For example, this is from the amazon site you linked above: " Got 1 star because zero stars was not an option. With no start button (1) and "Program" list(2), windows is now very difficult to use(3.). You have to do everything through tiles(4.). I hate it."

1. There IS start button.
2. This is true. It is now much easier, click search and start typing the name of the program and it gives you a list to select right one. E.g. you want to start Notepad. Click search, start typing no... and select the Notepad... or you can launch all apps which shows you all apps installed on computer at once and select the one you want to launch.
3. No it doesnt. Surely it is differend than win7 or xp, but most of the features are still there at the same place.
4. No you dont.
 
I admit, I have a distorted opinion of 8.1, having never really used it. When 8.0 came out, I bought a new PC, truly hated it and returned it. But from what I hear, 8.1 is more desktop-friendly than 8.0. In fact, I've read that was the whole point of the 8.1 'upgrade,' to try and win back the deskers like me.

So, like I explained, I came darn near buying that 8.1 PC yesterday and might actually buy it tomorrow. But the thought of abandoning something decent but slow for something fast but unfriendly makes for an unmakeable decision.

(By the way, I just pasted those remarks from that Amazon page I linked -- those aren't my opinions.)
 
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