New Computer
Author
Discussion

vixpy1

Original Poster:

42,699 posts

294 months

Wednesday 12th January 2005
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Its time to buy myself a new computer, been out of the game so long I've no idea who's best anymore?

Ta,

Charlie.

Podie

46,649 posts

305 months

Wednesday 12th January 2005
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Self-build works out better IMHO…

Dell are solid, but not necessarily the cheapest...

Alex

9,978 posts

314 months

Wednesday 12th January 2005
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I like Mesh. Not the cheapest, but they use good quality branded components.

vixpy1

Original Poster:

42,699 posts

294 months

Wednesday 12th January 2005
quotequote all
Podie said:
Self-build works out better IMHO…

Dell are solid, but not necessarily the cheapest...



Yeah, I've always self built ..

but its been so long!

ErnestM

11,621 posts

297 months

Wednesday 12th January 2005
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Vixpy...

Nothing's changed. It's still all cables, hardware, set up the BIOS correct and Robert is your close male relative...

ASUS have some great new Intel chipset boards out...

ErnestM

BrianTheYank

7,585 posts

280 months

Wednesday 12th January 2005
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Podie said:
Self-build works out better IMHO…


for real. Build quality may not be at the top of the charts with self built pc's, but has the best bang for the buck.

Tripps

5,814 posts

302 months

Wednesday 12th January 2005
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I gave up self-building a few years back (still have 5 self-built machines in the office) as the effort and time they take to build and install outweighs a company built machine by quite a margin, so all my new boxes are Dell, mainly because I've been reasonably happy with them (until using their new call centre ) - I intend to look into Mesh next time I need a desktop though as I've heard good things about them.

Unless you need every component top-notch for games or other specialist purposes its not worth it in my opinion.

Most of my clients use Dell for the same reason, they aren't the best in the world, but do the job very well and are generally trouble free.

BrianTheYank

7,585 posts

280 months

Wednesday 12th January 2005
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Reell's

I just got my pc taken away and use my parents Dell, and for some reason I just dont like it.

vixpy1

Original Poster:

42,699 posts

294 months

Friday 21st January 2005
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Ordered a spanking new Dell on Tuesday. Getting it tonight!

davidd

6,713 posts

314 months

Friday 21st January 2005
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dell are great , unless you want specific bits in it and your time is of no value to you (or you enjoy buyilding pcs, which I can see some folks do) then it really is a no brainer..

D

_dobbo_

14,619 posts

278 months

Friday 21st January 2005
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Bought myself a Mesh fireblade this week. They removed the TFT screen and DVD rom and some other bits and it got the price down to about 300 quid less.

I'm sure self build I could have saved a few pounds, but since this PC has a place on the PC Pro A list as the best high end PC, and it's cost me under £1200, frankly I can't see the point of self building.

bogie

17,081 posts

302 months

Friday 21st January 2005
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"Unless you need every component top-notch for games or other specialist purposes its not worth it in my opinion. "

ding ! ...have self-built for many years, now saving money is not the reason to self build - you wont..theres no way you can buy the components cheaper than companies that are buying 10000's at a time.

The only time self build is cost effective is for a specific spec for a specific purpose that you cant find elsewhere.

...after about 10 years of having overclocked, self built beasts in server cases, I cam to the conclusion that for an all round PC, to play games/suf the net/burn cds etc then a small form factor jobbie would do me fine - got a Soltek Qbic kit - few bits n bobs from my old PC...and put together a 3Gig/1gig/205gigHDD/ rig for under £500 and then sold the old bits for the same

if you want a top of the range, customisable PC then try www.alienware.co.uk

if you dont need all that, then buy a copy of Computer Shopper and get reading - some cracking deals in there.

Never had any probs with Dell stuff myself - one of the better big brands, with good aftersales.

vixpy1

Original Poster:

42,699 posts

294 months

Friday 21st January 2005
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ooooooh,

The soundcard in this thing is about a million times better sounding than the 10 year old AWE32 in the old thing..

Not sure about this XP thing though!

beano500

20,854 posts

305 months

Saturday 22nd January 2005
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vixpy1 said:
Not sure about this XP thing though!
Takes a bit of getting used to, doesn't it! Just managed to complete installation on my new build today (yesterday actually) - moved on to XP. Now trying to keep desktop clear and make sense of the "Control Panel". I think that means that XP is in control rather than me!

vixpy1

Original Poster:

42,699 posts

294 months

Saturday 22nd January 2005
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Yes, I'm a 2K man, you have to look very hard to get at some of the settings!

omitchell

19,762 posts

265 months

Saturday 22nd January 2005
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click switch to classic view and hey presto you have the old style back