Buying a new PC

[foq]

One more thing - is it true that 32bit OS will not be able to use a full 4 GB of RAM? So it would make more sense to only get 2 GB RAM instead?

32-bit only uses 3GB of ram at the most... that would be configured like this:
DIMM1 1GB
DIMM2 512MB

DIMM3 1GB
DIMM4 512MB

64-bit operating systems can use 4GB or more...

And Alienware IS a ripoff. It's so much better to build your own.
You're basically paying Alienware to overclock your stuff FOR you, which you can do yourself. Personally, I would rather build a system Alienware sells for $3000 for $1500 and OC it myself. They use fast components sure, but you can ALWAYS build your own for so much cheaper.

[Baker]

One more thing - is it true that 32bit OS will not be able to use a full 4 GB of RAM? So it would make more sense to only get 2 GB RAM instead?

As far as I know, 4 GB is the limit for 32-bit operating systems.

The reason is that 2 to the 32nd power:

2^32 = 4,294,967,296 (or 4 GB)

As a result 32-bit operating systems can't handle integers greater than a little over 4 billion. Try to create a 5GB file on your hard drive and you'd discover you can't do it

[foq]

Baker, 32bit only accepts 3GB, either by 3 1GB DIMMs or 2 1GB DIMMS and 2 512MB dimms, that's the limit. You need 64bit for 4GB and over. Not that you can even use 3GB ram today anyway, unless you use programs like autocad or you do alot of video editing/encoding, that type of sutff.

[Monster]

so what would happen if i put in 4 1GB memory sticks? I doubt that the limit is 3 on 32-bit.

[Canadian*Sniper]

so what would happen if i put in 4 1GB memory sticks?

I'd tell you that you just wasted money you could have spent on strippers

[Monster]

lol, yeah. I don't even notice any speed difference when I put in more memory. 4GB is excessive. 2GB is all you really need

[Solecord]

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E6700 (2x 2.66GHz/4MB L2 Cache/1066FSB)

OR

Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q6600 (4x 2.4GHz/8MB L2 Cache/1066FSB)

Is the quad core worth an extra $250?

[Canadian*Sniper]

There's little reason why you'd need a quad core. I have Dual Core and my computer runs Enemy Territory Quake Wars just fine.

[Monster]

Yeah, alot of games don't support quad-core anyways iirc.

[foq]

Wait for July 22... Intel will do price cuts. The quad core will be $266. Although, I would just get a core 2 E4400.

Monster, if you had 4 1GB sticks and a 32 bit operating system, it will only recgonize 3. Yes, the limit is 3GB. I go to a tech site who's webmaster even appears in PC magazines because of the software he makes, and people there are very knowledgeable. I know a lot about these things.

[Fuzznut]

Anyone have any recommendations on where to buy a new PC? I'm not looking to build myself (not as familiar with PC hardware as I should be)...

I've looked at Dell, Alienware, and iBUYPOWER. So far, iBUYPOWER offers equivalent systems and better for half the price of Alienware.

So where do you recommend buying a PC from?

Dont' go to a BestBuy or anything. Go to a Budget computer or computer Renaissance. The systems they will make for you will be cheaper and more expandable. My mother went to Best Buy in 97 and got a system she could of gotten better at a actual computer shop for a grand cheaper.

SHOP AROUND FOR SURE DO NOT TAKE IT UP THE ASS FROM THE FIRST STORE YOU RUN INTO.

[Grim]

I know your first post indicated that you didn't want to build a pc but you want to get something premade. If that's what you want to do then by all means do it. Here' at work I have a Dell. It's great for what we do here. Would I own one at home... not a chance. Nothing personal, I've been building these things since the 8088xt's were out. That was a top notch machine with a 10m hd.

Phenom is pretty much right on the money and a few others touched on some key items as well.

I have an opinion as well.

1) 2GB is all you need.

2) Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E6700 (2x 2.66GHz/4MB L2 Cache/1066FSB) would be enough to carry you for the next 2-5 years depending your style.

I bought the Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 1.86GHZ @ 1066FSB. I'm pleased with it and I have room to drop a faster CPU in the future. It easily out performs my other P4 2.667GHZ machine. This CPU is capable of overclocking around the 2.66GHZ area w/additional cooling. I don't overclock crap but it's nice to know if I ever wanted to.

3) The difference between an NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTX 768 MB and a 2X NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTS 320 MB is mostly $$$.

On the 320MB version the only thing I can tell you is that upcoming games that require massive amounts of texture memory can be an issue for this card. Gaming past say... 1920x1200 blows chunks. Most people are still using 1280x1024 monitors so that may or may not be an issue depending on what you want to do with it. It's really a great card for the price. Solid performer.

The GTX is the mac daddy and no slouch. It's in a class all it's own. I personally bought the 8800GTS 640MB. I have a 20" wide screen and I didn't want any issues. Playing WoW at 1600 X 1200 I can still maintain an average, 150fps with everything turned up except the terrain. I can hit 200fps stairing at a blank wall. Whoah, sounds like fun there. I mean don't get me wrong, at the very worst with lots of people in the middle of the major cities I'd get 50 - 100 fps... something like that. It's hardly noticable when the graphics are so fluent.

I have the terrain turned all the way down because I really don't care if I see blades of grass growing. Frankly, the tree leaves get in my way, but that's another story for another day.

BFG Tech and EVGA are the only two that "I" know of that offers a lifetime warranty. Lifetime warranties are a good thing. I did buy the Superclocked version of EVGA's 8800GTS. Factory overclocked... good stuff.

4) Power supplies... do not go cheap with this. You may be sorry in the long run. Go to http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_psu.html and that should be the "certified" manufacturers of power supplies that you can choose from and feel safe that you have enough power to do the job.

5) The Asus P5N32-E SLI nForce� 680i SLI Chipset w/7.1 Sound, Gb LAN, S-ATA Raid, USB 2.0, IEEE-1394 Dual PCI-E MB [+ $138] is what I bought and love. It's a stipped version of the Asus Striker. Great board.

6) Sound? I'm not picky. The one onboard suited me just fine. As long as I can hear everything in 360 degrees, I'm good to go.

[Solecord]

I have a 22" widescreen monitor.

After reading comments here and other places as well I think I'm leaning towards the NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTX 768 MB.

Pricing out a computer from iBUYPOWER with all of the above options that have been discussed, it comes out to around $2200-$2300. I think I might try purchasing from iBUYPOWER unless anyone else has suggestions on a better place for that kind of price range. (and from what I've read on iBUYPOWER's site and on other forums, they don't use cheap hardware. Everything is good quality)

[Grim]

Take your time and make sure that everything you get is what you want.

Make no hasty decisions. I researched for three weeks before I made a purchase.

Also, I bought Windows XP Pro w/SP2 for $132.90 from Mwave.com and a raptor from WD.

[Monster]

The raptors are nice drives. I have 2 of them, a 74GB and 160GB. probably some of the fastest you can get. They spin at 10,000 RPM and are SATA drives, so you dont have to bother with huge annoying IDE chains. I would go with the 8800GTX over any other card, from what I've heard so far. Good luck sole, and when you get it, enjoy it