Gawsh dae314, you are techy.
Printable View
Gawsh dae314, you are techy.
September Updates:
1. Links updated
2. EoL products remove or replaced
3. Added Section 16 – Further Reading
4. Added Intel Pentium processors to budget CPU recommendations
5. Reevaluated SSD recommendations
6. Fractal Design cases added to Section 9 recommendations
Some of you might think I've already forgotten about this guide. I haven't. In addition to being extremely busy with school this semester, I'm also waiting for AMD's new FX CPUs to come out so I can (possibly) add them to the guide. Rumors say that it's supposed to be released later this month so I'll probably be updating the guide in a few weeks.
Meanwhile, most of the content sections are still very relevant (although prices and parts may have changed) so hopefully waiting patiently will be easier.
October Updates (Bulldozer!):
1. Links updated
2. EoL products remove or replaced
3. Added AMD FX CPUs to CPU recommendations
4. Added AM3+ motherboards to motherboard recommendations
5. Bulldozer information added to Section 2
6. HTPC build cooler height conflict fixed
note: I had some problems uploading the new guide to google docs, and some of the formatting didn't transfer over nicely. I edited it by hand, but if I missed anything please tell me.
There won't be an update for November 2011 since the last update happened late last month, and I'm busy with school this month. Thanksgiving break should give me enough time to make the changes I want to make for the next update, so see you December!
I don't suppose reading this to try and get an idea of what key stats I should be looking for in a prebuilt is a good idea is it?
I don't have the technical skill needed to be responsible for a custom build.
December Updates (Christmas!):
1. Links updated
2. EoL products remove or replaced
3. Added multitasking topic to Section 2 – (may be expanded later)
4. Added Sandy Bridge-E processors to Recommendations in Section 2
5. Added Sandy Bridge-E processor information to Section 2
6. Added LGA2011 motherboards to Recommendations in Section 3
7. Have a great Holiday and New Year everyone :D
@Megadeus
Certain things in the guide will help you a lot when you're looking for a prebuilt computer (e.g. how to see past an idiot pitching you a computer for gaming that has a 8400 in it). Stuff like the power supply and the quality of the memory don't really apply to prebuilt computers since that stuff is chosen for you and you don't get a choice, but the guide will definitely help you make a better (or at least more informed) decision.
I tend to not buy stuff in-store so much as looking around through a store's online catalogue for the ones with features I want, deliberate, and then go in-store to pick it up.
Any advice on what brands would be "good" or "reliable"?
Normal brands like HP and Dell are perfectly fine. Just use your knowledge of parts that you can get from the guide to evaluate the computers you see from the different vendors. Dell makes some amazingly solid cases if you go business level computers :).
He asked for good and reliable brands.
HP most definitely does not fit either criteria.
For desktops, just build your own. It will almost always be cheaper. For laptops, ASUS and Toshiba are the top two.