30 replies to this topic

[DJ Hurley]

I'm sick of my slow ass computer. It takes forever to do anything, and holds nothing. I can't even put games on it!
So I have $200 saved right now, and plan on getting more. But right now I'm looking for a good hard drive. 160gbs is the best price for a lot of gigs right now. I also want to have some money left over to buy a graphics card and video card. Mainy whatever is important for playing games.
So over at Staples they have a 160gig hard drive for $114 or with some dealio I get it for $80. Except I don't know how the deal works out.
Is that a good buy? If anyone knows if I can get anything better in that price range $100-$150-ish, then please tell me.
Now about a graphics card/Video card, whats good out there? Remember, I still need to keep the price low. I can probably spend around $100, if not maybe work for a little more. Whats good out there? I'll just buy one of the cards and next time I'll buy the other.
Thanks a lot for whoever can help me.

Edited by DJ Hurley, 16 September 2004 - 06:36 PM.

[cxwq]

If there is any chance you're going to be upgrading your motherboard or whole computer within the next couple years, I'd go with a Serial ATA drive. They usually include a converter to plug it in to an old-school ATA/UATA interface.

For UATA, the WD Caviar 8Mb drives have consistently gotten good reviews and I've bought a ton (~30) of them over the last couple years. Newegg has the 160Gb version for $97.50 with a $5 mail-in rebate form bringing it down to $92.50. I'm a little scared that the Staples page doesn't list the brand or model number of the drive they have on sale.

For SATA, I'd go with another WD drive, the 1600JD which is $99 at Newegg. This would be a better long term investment if you get a new mobo any time soon because it's the newer interface technology.

[LiKnSmAkScOmIn]

Through a Fry's Electronics I picked up a 120 GB harddrive for $40.There was about $40 in rebates however.

[SofaKing]

Check out SalesCircular for your local deals, but sometimes the deals listed for other states are better-even when you add in shipping.

[Gamefreak]

Get it quick! Ends today!

[cxwq]

Get it quick! Ends today!

Damn, that's a good price.

I'd still get a SATA drive myself, but $60 for that drive is very nice.

[NinjZ]

For graphic cards, ATI radion 9000 and above are VERY worth their price. If you buy the 9600, you get Halflife2 FREE when it comes out.

[DJ Hurley]

Get it quick! Ends today!

Yeah I saw that today in the paper. And I was just gonna post about it. But since you say it ended yesterday, then oh well. But its still $90. Thats not bad. So tomorrow I'll go buy it if it seems good.
Now I still have a lot left over, so I can buy a graphics card/video card! But whats more important? This is for computer games. Nothing special, just Counter-Strike and UT. Maybe Vice City.
Thanks for the help so far!
Fry's is 5 minutes away from me so I can always check up on them everyday.

Edit: Thanks Ninjz, I thought that deal was over. I've been wanting to do that HL2 dealio, so maybe I'll buy that graphics card. But depending on how much money I have left. I'll spend about +$100 for a graph/vid card.
Edit again: Gah spelling mistakes! I feel ashamed.

Edited by DJ Hurley, 18 September 2004 - 12:44 AM.

[cxwq]

so I can buy a graphics card/video card! But whats more important? This is for computer games. Nothing special, just Counter-Strike and UT. Maybe Vice City.

Graphics card and video card are the same thing. Assuming you don't want to do analog video capture - from an old video camera into your computer - you just need a decent gaming-oriented card.

I'll agree with the Radeon 9600 suggestion, you can find various flavors of them running between about $60 and $150 depending on the amount of RAM and the speed of the chipset. Pick one that fits your price point and you won't be disappointed with the value.

I just picked a video card for my new work computer today and will be getting the Sapphire 9800Pro Ultimate for $220, but that's kind of excessive unless you want to play the latest FPS games.

[NinjZ]

I beleave the 9000 is around that price.

[Crankymonky]

I (decently) recently got a 9600SE. It worked and everything, not too bad, got a free HL2 (when I find my voucher). I believe the 9600XT performs better, from what I have heard. I hear the gap in the 9600 series was seginificant. Ya, I hope that makes sense. I'm tired.

Crank'

[GunnedDown]

I could've sworn that deal was over.

Hurley, what kind of card do you have now?

You can get a nifty old TI4200 128MB for about sixty bucks :-) Runs HL 1 and mods like a dream. If you're gonna wanna play the new stuff (you will), grab AT LEAST a quality GeForce FX card.

I'm working on a top of the line system right now :-)

[andrew01]

I am saving up to buy a ATI Radeon x800. Those things look really nice. Have any of you ever used one, or own one?

[cxwq]

I am saving up to buy a ATI Radeon x800. Those things look really nice. Have any of you ever used one, or own one?

It's just the PCIExpress version of the 9800 - same chipset, different bus. I'll have a 9800 next week and will be able to comment on that.

[DJ Hurley]

Turns out the best thing to do was to buy a new computer. So with some help I got a new computer.
It's an HP a600n and I bought an nVidia Ultra/880 TV-DVI, GeForce FX 5700, so says the package (it's a FX PowerPack wooo!). The guy there said if I wanted to play UT2K4 (which I bought for $20 that same day), then I'd need to upgrade my graphics card. Unfortunatly I didn't ask for the one that had HL2 for free, because the guy just picked one out for me.
At least I have an up-to-date computer and its got a bigger hard drive and everything. Now I can play games once again!

[BoltMasterZero]

Two awsome sites if you need to look for computer parts.Anandtech
Pricewatch

[Bad Karma]

My brother and I normally buy our computer parts from Newegg.com

[Ash]

Just to put in my two cents...

In terms of video cards, give some consideration to the new Geforce 6800 series... so far it seems as if it is rocking most other video cards.

[Techno-Dann]

Oh yeah. Gforce 6800s are good.

Also, for computer parts, try Puget Systems, a Seattle-area computer company. They build good stuff for a fairly low price.

[DJ Hurley]

Just a couple more things to say.
Well, I regret buying a graphics card with HL2 in it. But oh well, I'm sure I can wait for it to get cheap. In a year... or 2...
But I've been having really bad touble with my mouse. It skips and freezes while playing games and just while browsing on the internet. And when it freezes, it clicks on something on its own or moves the oage back! It's annoying.
So I need a good mouse. Hopefully under $30, but I'm really shooting for $20. something good for gaming too. Optical of course.
I also plan on buying this. It's pimpin.
And a bottle of that 'Sky Rocket' Caffeine Syrup for my energy drink bar im making. It's gonna be kickass.
Anywho, the new computer I got is running fine. Runs fast and I'm loving it. I can play games once again! And not feel held back anymore! Yay!

Hopefully this is the last of my questions... until its time for a moniter. Haha...

Edited by DJ Hurley, 14 October 2004 - 10:17 PM.

[cxwq]

Get a MS optical like this one for $25 at newegg.

I've seen them as low as $18 but all the cheaper ones there right now require a hardware purchase with it.

I cannot stress enough how much MS kills the competition on mice. You will love it.

[Gamefreak]

MS "Night Vison" Wireless mouse, $20
MS "Groovy" Wireless mouse, 15

Buy.com has both for $17.

Edited by Gamefreak, 15 October 2004 - 09:13 AM.

[cxwq]

I'd be a little concerned about getting a wireless mouse if your main application is gaming. There is a consistent small delay associated with the wireless technology. I've switched exclusively to the MS wireless mice but I don't do much gaming.

[Gamefreak]

Fair enough. MS basic optical mouse $10 w/ free shipping

[andrew01]

I am saving up to buy a ATI Radeon x800. Those things look really nice. Have any of you ever used one, or own one?

It's just the PCIExpress version of the 9800 - same chipset, different bus. I'll have a 9800 next week and will be able to comment on that.

CX,
Have you gotten your 9800 yet? I have decieded that I am not going to get the x800. The prices are coming down on the 9800 XTs, so I am looking to get one of those. Also, I am not very familiar with nVidia cards. I know some basics about them, but not much detail. Are there any nVidia cards that preform the same as the 9800 XT but cost less? Thank you for your input.