SydLexia.com - The Forums :: View topic

Title: The Self-Titler Joined: Aug 14 2010 Posts: 598

I could use some guidance.
-I would like a system that I can buy online and have shipped to me ready to go.
-I want something with a decent graphics card installed, able to play current games reasonably well.
-I don't want to spend more than $1500.

Anyone have the information I need? I doubt Dell.com will be my best bet here.

Completely off topic- I am also buying a handgun, just to haul around and do some target shooting. I know what I want, but what does the Esteemed Assembly think I should get?

Hooray for tax money!

Posted: Feb 07 2011 09:35 pm

http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-aurora/fs

Dell isn't always terrible. As for a handgun, I'd recommend a http://www.impactguns.com/store/706397872212.html smooth operator like that.

Posted: Feb 07 2011 09:44 pm

Newegg.com is usually where I turn for PC purchases. Set the price filter and look for the graphic card you need.

Posted: Feb 07 2011 09:56 pm

I second Newegg because Dell kept fucking me over when I tried to buy a laptop from them a few years back. I ordered one color and they told me it was out of stock but if I switched to another color they could build it right away so I did. A month later I still didn't have a laptop because they had completely run out of every color for that laptop. I'll never order from them again no matter how good the deal is.

On the handgun side, I want to purchase a Glock 21 when I get some money. Basically this http://www.impactguns.com/store/PI2150203.html is what I want.

Posted: Feb 07 2011 10:04 pm

When it comes to handguns I recommend this classic.

Or if you really want to wow the guys down at the range, get a gyrojet pistol!

Title: The Self-Titler Joined: Aug 14 2010 Posts: 598

PROCESSOR
Intel® Core™ i7 930 Quad Core Processor (2.8GHz, 8MB Cache)
MEMORY
6GB Triple Channel 1333Mhz DDR3
VIDEO CARD
Dual 1GB GDDR5 ATI Radeon™ HD 5670 CrossfireX™ Enabled
HARD DRIVE
1TB - SATA-II, 3Gb/s, 7,200RPM, 32MB Cache HDD

Yes? Right at $1400 without a monitor or any extras, but I think it is acceptable. And about the guns.... why all the .45's? Nobody have a 9mm anymore? I like being able to pop off 15 rounds. I am probably going to get a Beretta 92F, It is the most accurate, stable, and reliable handgun I have ever seen. Tell me if you have ever seen one jam up, except for operator error.

Posted: Feb 07 2011 10:29 pm

When you say haul around, are you looking for a dedicated carry weapon, or is the primary use going to be recreational? My carry pistol is a 9mm Makarov with slightly modified sights, and it shoots quite well.

Title: The Self-Titler Joined: Aug 14 2010 Posts: 598

I would say mostly recreational, but maybe I would like to have it on me or at least in the car sometimes. The M9 is just too damn big to conceal without a shoulder holster. Actually, what else would I need to get with the firearm itself? I know a holster, an extra mag or 2, but what else? Should I just get a trigger lock device or a small gun safe? I've never personally owned a weapon before, much less in a house with kids.

Posted: Feb 07 2011 10:35 pm

Sarge wrote:

I would say mostly recreational, but maybe I would like to have it on me or at least in the car sometimes. The M9 is just too damn big to conceal without a shoulder holster. Actually, what else would I need to get with the firearm itself? I know a holster, an extra mag or 2, but what else? Should I just get a trigger lock device or a small gun safe? I've never personally owned a weapon before, much less in a house with kids.

If you got kids a trigger lock and gun safe would definatly be a good idea, and keep the ammo stored seperatly but you probably already knew that Razz

Posted: Feb 07 2011 10:48 pm

Definitely a gun safe if you're not going to rely on it for home defense. You will also need lubrication/cleaning supplies.

And not to cast aspersions on your manhood, but if you feel that an M9 is or something close is too bulky to conceal comfortably (and a lot of people do, myself included at times) my mom carries a .32 auto. It's compact but still has reliable enough stopping power. It's not the most fun thing to shoot recreationally, however.

Posted: Feb 07 2011 10:59 pm

Sarge wrote:

PROCESSOR
Intel® Core™ i7 930 Quad Core Processor (2.8GHz, 8MB Cache)
MEMORY
6GB Triple Channel 1333Mhz DDR3
VIDEO CARD
Dual 1GB GDDR5 ATI Radeon™ HD 5670 CrossfireX™ Enabled
HARD DRIVE
1TB - SATA-II, 3Gb/s, 7,200RPM, 32MB Cache HDD

Yes? Right at $1400 without a monitor or any extras, but I think it is acceptable. And about the guns.... why all the .45's? Nobody have a 9mm anymore? I like being able to pop off 15 rounds. I am probably going to get a Beretta 92F, It is the most accurate, stable, and reliable handgun I have ever seen. Tell me if you have ever seen one jam up, except for operator error.

Looks like a pretty good computer to me.

Personally I just want a .45 because I don't own one yet, plus a lot of the gun shows around here have some good prices on the Glock 21. I haven't ever owned a 9mm myself but my Grandfather used to run a gun shop and I could never find one that I liked very much.

Title: The Self-Titler Joined: Aug 14 2010 Posts: 598

I first fired the M9 when I was 12 years old, and I have never looked back. Unless you are putting 50k or 75k rounds through it, you will never run into trouble. I have heard of people who try to modify it and screw it up since Beretta tolerances are so exact. The 9mm caliber combined with the weight of the gun makes it very easy to control.

Posted: Feb 08 2011 12:01 am

I'm not really in to guns but if I had one I'd want a revolver, I don't like the idea of spent shell casings flying all willy nilly where ever they please, I'd prefer to take them with me and dispose of them at a later date.

Posted: Feb 08 2011 07:51 am

Sarge wrote:

I would say mostly recreational, but maybe I would like to have it on me or at least in the car sometimes...I've never personally owned a weapon before, much less in a house with kids.

Man, it isn't often that I feel glad I don't live in the states anymore but this topic has evoked that rare feeling of gladness again.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

I wouldn't want to be buying a new desktop right now... bleh...
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4143/the-source-of-intels-cougar-point-sata-bug

But don't worry, all of Dell's desktop shit is so old that you don't have to deal with this sort of thing.

The choice you face is to go with a more modern system and currently risk the stability of it (read the article) or you can go with an older/slower platform and be assured that you are in fact running something that will last longer, even if the parts are based off of 2 year old architecture.

I'm not actually advocating either choice, they both suck. I think if it were up to me, I would wait and see how this pans out for a few weeks. Perhaps it can be fixed with software updates or maybe Intel will release new information about how to fix it... better yet, new systems in a few weeks will most likely be shipped without the flaw.

Title: The Self-Titler Joined: Aug 14 2010 Posts: 598

Pandajuice wrote:

Sarge wrote:

I would say mostly recreational, but maybe I would like to have it on me or at least in the car sometimes...I've never personally owned a weapon before, much less in a house with kids.

Man, it isn't often that I feel glad I don't live in the states anymore but this topic has evoked that rare feeling of gladness again.

That's what I'm here for.

Posted: Feb 08 2011 06:57 pm

GPFontaine wrote:

I wouldn't want to be buying a new desktop right now... bleh...
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4143/the-source-of-intels-cougar-point-sata-bug

But don't worry, all of Dell's desktop shit is so old that you don't have to deal with this sort of thing.

The choice you face is to go with a more modern system and currently risk the stability of it (read the article) or you can go with an older/slower platform and be assured that you are in fact running something that will last longer, even if the parts are based off of 2 year old architecture.

I'm not actually advocating either choice, they both suck. I think if it were up to me, I would wait and see how this pans out for a few weeks. Perhaps it can be fixed with software updates or maybe Intel will release new information about how to fix it... better yet, new systems in a few weeks will most likely be shipped without the flaw.

I would hold out for either "fixed" Sandy Bridge, or wait and see how AMD's "Bulldozer" performs. (1. It will be awesome. -or- 2. It will be good mid-range, and force Intel to cut prices again.)

Title: The Self-Titler Joined: Aug 14 2010 Posts: 598

VIDEO CARD
Dual 1GB GDDR5 ATI Radeon™ HD 5670 CrossfireX™ Enabled
HARD DRIVE
1TB - SATA-II, 3Gb/s, 7,200RPM, 32MB Cache HDD

I don't plan to add anything to the system... will the default 525W power supply be enough? I don't think they would send me a system that wouldn't work... would they? They offer an 875W option for another $150, but I really don't want it.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Sarge wrote:

VIDEO CARD
Dual 1GB GDDR5 ATI Radeon™ HD 5670 CrossfireX™ Enabled
HARD DRIVE
1TB - SATA-II, 3Gb/s, 7,200RPM, 32MB Cache HDD

I don't plan to add anything to the system... will the default 525W power supply be enough? I don't think they would send me a system that wouldn't work... would they? They offer an 875W option for another $150, but I really don't want it.

With Dell, you don't even need to consider alternative power options unless you plan to upgrade in the future. If you do plan to add a second video card, you would want the bigger power supply. However, most likely you wouldn't add a second 5670. You would buy a single better card. Honestly, I still stand by my recommendation. The system you are buying is overpriced due to the recent release of new technology.

Posted: Feb 09 2011 11:41 am

I'm not happy with a sidearm unless it's going to blow a hole the size of a dinner plate in someone. That's why I switched to a .357.

Posted: Feb 09 2011 02:22 pm

aeonic wrote:

I'm not happy with a sidearm unless it's going to blow a hole the size of a dinner plate in someone. That's why I switched to a .357.

Screw that, if you're gonna do something do it big, haul around a civil war cannon!

Title: The Self-Titler Joined: Aug 14 2010 Posts: 598

Wear a vest of dynamite, light abd throw it for self defense.

GPF, is there something else I should get with similar specs that is significantly cheaper? Or will this new technology drive the price of my system down within the next 30 days? Also, It already has dual 5670s.

Posted: Feb 09 2011 05:24 pm

Why dual 5670s, I must ask?

Title: The Self-Titler Joined: Aug 14 2010 Posts: 598

It's the default. I really don't want to spend ANOTHER 150-300 on an upgrade when this will let me handle current games, which it seems to... right?

Edit: Looks like they offer Radeon HD 6870 for another 100, or a 1GB GeForce GTX 460 for 100. Is is absolutely worth the upgrade?

Posted: Feb 09 2011 06:51 pm

Well the issues are:

2x 5670s are less than 1x 6850 in terms of performance.

Not all games support Crossfire, and therefore in some cases the two cards will perform worse than a single 5670.

a 5670 costs around $80 - $100 (Depending on brand) so 2 = $160 - $200

a 6850 cost $180 - $200. Same price for far better performance. Also, gives you room to upgrade to a 2nd in the future.

If you don't want to buy a system in pieces. I would suggest ibuypower.com over Dell. Much better value.

I mean, I just threw this together in 5 minutes on their site: (5870 video card, 2TBs of hard drives, and an i7 950 instead of an i7 930.)

Case 1 x Raidmax Altas Gaming Case-Black
Processor 1 x Intel® Core™ i7 950 Processor (4x 3.06GHz/8MB L3 Cache)
Motherboard 1 x [SLI] Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R w/ 4x PCI-E 2.0 x16
Memory 1 x 6 GB [2 GB X3] DDR3-1333-** FREE Upgrade to DDR3-1600 ** Corsair
Video Card 1 x AMD Radeon HD 6870 - 1GB-Single Card
Power Supply 1 x 800 Watt -- Standard
Processor Cooling 1 x Liquid CPU Cooling System [SOCKET-1366]-[Free Upgrade] Standard 120mm Fan
Video Card Brand 1 x === High Performance === XFX Brand Video Card
Primary Hard Drive 1 x 1 TB HARD DRIVE -- 16M Cache, 7200 RPM, 3.0Gb/s-Single Drive
Data Hard Drive 1 x 1 TB HARD DRIVE -- 16M Cache, 7200 RPM, 3.0Gb/s-Single Drive
Optical Drive 1 x 24X Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive-Black
Keyboard 1 x iBUYPOWER USB Keyboard-Black
Mouse 1 x iBUYPOWER Internet Mouse
Operating System 1 x Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium + Office Starter 2010 (Includes basic versions of Word and Excel)-64-Bit
Warranty 1 x Standard Warranty Service-Standard 3-Year Limited Warranty + Lifetime

Subtotal $1,363.00