Q. I would like to get computer parts for Christmas so I can have a High-End Computer that's will run say Skyrim and Fraps with zero lag. If you can list the part, and what I'm looking for in the part, that will help. Thanks.
A. INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO BUILD
1
Check the system requirements of the games you intend to play. You will need to purchase the parts for the games with the highest system requirements.
2
Find a good retailer for purchasing the parts of your gaming computer. Read plenty of reviews not only for the store you wish to purchase your hardware from, but also for the hardware itself.
3
Purchase the CPU separately from the motherboard. If you think you might upgrade the CPU in the future, the motherboard should be able to take a faster CPU than the one you've chosen. Your motherboard should have multiple PCI upgrade slots, as well as a PCI express or AGP slot. Also make sure that it has as many USB ports as you will need for various devices such as an Internet access point, a mouse and a joystick.
4
Follow your motherboard manufacturer's instructions for purchasing RAM rigorously. For example, if the motherboard manufacturer says you need 240-pin DDR3 SDRAM DIMMs, of 1 Gigabyte each, with a speed of 1333, 1066 or 800 MHz you must purchase RAM which fits these specifications exactly. Purchasing the wrong RAM will result in your computer failing to operate. You will need at least 1 to 2 Gigabytes of memory to play most graphics-intensive games effectively.
5
Purchase the largest and fastest hard drive you can afford. In most cases, you will want a SATA drive. Avoid SCSI drives, which don't offer much additional performance for their high price tag.
6
Purchase a PCI Express video card if your motherboard supports the specification. Otherwise, get an AGP card. You'll want to at least get the graphics card which supports most demanding game. The most common choices are nVidia GeForce and ATI Radeon. Look for GPU speed, graphics memory and which version of Pixel Shader the card supports.
7
Get an audio card which meets your needs. If you play 3D games, you may need a sound card which processes 3D sound. You may also need a special sound card to support other devices, such as MIDI devices, special headphones, special speakers or input devices.
8
Select a case which will house all of your internal devices. Make sure your case and motherboard have the same form factor. Pay special attention to whether or not any of your internal devices have front-facing panels, as you will need to purchase a case which can hold these. You will need a power supply of at least 300 watts to power your unit. You may also need a CPU cooling fan if you have a particularly fast processor.
9
Choose a CD-ROM and/or DVD-ROM drive for your computer. There are many combo drives which will fit the bill. Whatever you do, make sure you get a rewritable drive with plenty of speed. Then you can ensure your games will play properly, and that you will be able to burn any necessary files to disk.
10
Select your monitor. Whether you go with LCD or CRT, you will thank yourself for getting a large flat screen monitor. For more advanced gaming, you can get speaker systems with four or more speakers which will greatly enhance your game play. Also, you will need a mouse and keyboard for your computer. You may also need a joystick or headphones, a DSL or cable modem, a router, or a wireless access point if you're planning to play games on the Internet. You will also need an operating system to run your computer.
11
Assemble your gaming computer, using extreme caution. Start with installing the CPU, heat sink, cooling fan and RAM on the motherboard. Then install the power supply in the case. Install the motherboard and connect it to the power supply. Install any front-facing devices. Install any cards in the upgrade sockets. Next install the hard drive, CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drives. Connect peripheral devices only after all internal parts have been fully installed. Power on your gaming computer and troubleshoot as necessary.
MICROCENTER.COM OFFERS GOOD PRICE STUFF.
Power supply:
http://www.corsair.com/psufinder/results…
------------------------------
For graphics:
Nvidia 285GTX, 2 GB, tri SLI configuration
------------------------------
Processor:
Core i7 Extreme 965, 3.2 GHz
------------------------------
RAM:
Corsair Dominator 2000 MHz, 8GB
------------------------------
HDD:
4 x 250 GB, OCZ Vertex, OCZSSD2-1VTX250G
set in RAID 0 or 5 configuration
2nd set of drives:
4x 2TB Western Digital, SATA II, 7200 rpm drives
------------------------------
CPU Air Cooling:
OCZ Vendetta 2 or Themalright Ultra 120
------------------------------
Motherboard:
EVGA X58, Classified or ASUS Rampage II Extreme
Hope you read all this.
What computer should a teenage girl get?
Q. What desktop computer would be suitable for a teenage girl? Please give links. It can be Mac or PC.
Thanks!
A. PC is better, here is why... ( Dell Inspiron $499- $849) http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/inspndt_530?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs for everyday stuff... Dell XPS for very heavy gaming.. http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/xpsdt_420?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs OR http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/desktop-xps-625?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs )
PC=Variety of specs, options, quality, prices, vendors, support
Mac=One vendor, limited options, still more expensive. Look below for more information..
Contrary to belief, Macs are not better quality. Apple also has been changing suppliers to try to "lower the price" and thus lowering quality. Even with the lower prices, Macs still cost more, they spend a higher percent of budget trying to make it look pretty, and marketing.
Today, Macs use the same hardware as PCs. Why spend extra to get the same CPU chips, graphics cards and OS X isn't as secure as you think.. Look below.
WINDOWS ADVANTAGES:
Aprox 90% of the market is Windows. Most PCs include windows already pre-installed.
1) A number of websites still require Internet Explorer to view and IE for Mac Stinks (it is really ies4osx which is the Windows IE version running really buggy on OS X and illegal if you don't have a legitimate copy of Windows, too many problems with it).
2) More supported peripherals (printers and other things you hook into the computer) on Windows.
3) Many more games
4) Like the Dock on OS X (Mac)? google/yahoo rocketdock, objectdoc.
Install at least Free Versions of Avira AntiVir, Avast, Comodo Firewall on the Vista.
LINUX ADVANTAGES:
1) Install Linux, and then get tons of software for free.Update software easily and automatically. (Checking a checkbox in either two ways to install (Add/Remove or Synaptic Package Manager), search for something you want, check a box and click apply)
2) Like the Mac OS X effects? go yahoo/google COMPIZ FUSION. It can do just about any cool effect a Mac can do and more...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Fbk52Mk1w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3gkX9HDfEE (there is no flickering when you use it like on the video, not sure why the person has the flicker)
3) Like the Mac OS X Doc? google/yahoo Cairo Dock, avant window navigator.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3rf5q_cairo-dock-mac-os-x-leopard-dock-on_tech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0hzi22g2DE
4) It is faster/MORE SECURE. Surf the internet and even run some windows programs with Wnehq/Crossover..
LINUX OS
If you are worried about viruses, spyware, security, Try Linux (it is free), I have included some information about Linux and links so you are not lost if you decide to try it.
Easily turn your system into a Dual booting computer with Linux, fast, safe and secure, easy to use (contrary to belief). You then get the best of both worlds (Windows with all of its supported products, freely go online without the worry)
Installing Linux in general is very simple and much more secure than OS X(Macintosh) and free.
Also, most Linux distributions have a LiveCD which means you can try without installing...
UBUNTU, KUBUNTU, FREESPIRE, PCLINUXOS, etc.. all have live CDS.
All you have to do is..
A) to download .iso file off the internet from the Linux website
B) burn the .iso file to a CD or DVD (Make sure your burning software can burn an ISO or get InfraRecorder http://infrarecorder.org/ )
C) restart the computer with the CD in the drive
D) As computer is restarting, press on F12 Key a bunch of times to get a boot menu
E) Select the option to boot from CD or DVD.
Click on this link and follow instructions up to the point of "Once the system has started up...", (the rest is how to backup windows) for an easy picture guide for steps A-E above http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/
For easy instructions on setting up Dual Boot http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_windows_xp_and_linux_xp_installed_first.htm
ANOTHER QUICK NOTE: People have been able to run OS X on a PC since the PC and Mac use the same hardware. This is not legal and I would not recommend it for security and legal reasons, the purpose is to show that there is nothing special about the MAC.
A)Price...
A similar equipped PC is much cheaper to purchase than Mac. Lets use Dell (but you can compare with another PC Brand if you like)
**(LAPTOP)
Dell Inspiron Laptop $849 dropped to $799
15" Screen
CPU: (upgrade to) 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
Memory: 3GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Hard Drive: 320GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
Optical Drive: Blu-ray Disc Combo (DVD+/-RW + BD-ROM) - WRITES DVDS,CDS, READS Blue-Ray Disks
Macbook $1349 just dropped to $1224
13" Screen (SMALLER)
CPU: 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (SAME)
Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 (SAME)
Memory: (upgrade to) 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (LESS RAM)
Hard Drive (upgrade to) 250GBSerial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm (SMALLER HARD DRIVE)
Optical Drive: (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) - (Writes CDs, DVDs, cannot read Blue-Ray) (WORSE AND 1/2 SPEED)
**(DESKTOP)
PLEASE NOTE: I'm comparing Apple Mac's vs Dells best deal. If you decide that you must have an all-in one. The Dell all-in-one has more ram, wireless keyboard and mouse and equivalent to $400 for free making the Imac still more expensive when you upgrade the Imac to try to match. Personally I don't think the All-in-Ones are a good choice, and consider them overpriced, lack expandability and repairs both more expensive and require the entire computer.
PS: Apple knows that they must make Macintosh look different than PC so all Macs except the Mac Pro will not have a tower option. Apple's low end lacks expandability but it makes the Mac "look different", if Mac had a tower for low-end, more people would realize the similarities between the two.
Dell: (Right Now) Specs Below costs $809
CPU: 2.4 GHZ Dell Inspiron QUAD (4 Processor) CORE
SCREEN: 20inch Screen
MEMORY: 3GB Ram
HARD DRIVE: 500 GB hard Drive
OPTICAL DRIVE: 16x DVD/CD Read/Writer
GRAPHICS: (upgrade to ) ATI Radeon HD 2400 PRO 128MB
The Best Deal Mac is not the Mac Mini since it has no monitor, keyboard, mouse, very skimpy on options and setup... IMac is better price than the Mac Mini.
IMac ($1400)
CPU: 2.4 GHZ DUAL (2 Processor) CORE (SLOWER CPU)
SCREEN: 20inch Screen
MEMORY: (upgrade to) 2GB Ram (LESS RAM)
HARD DRIVE: (upgrade to ) 500 GB hard Drive
OPTICAL DRIVE: 8x DVD Reader/Writer (1/2 speed)
GRAPHICS: ATI Radeon HD 2400 PRO 128MB
**END OF DESKTOP
B) SECURITY:
Mac OS X was hacked in 2006 under 30 minutes, and hacked within 2 minutes in a contest in 2008. Linux and Vista were not able to be hacked until another day when restrictions were lowered.
All macs are standardized with Cameras, if your system gets hacked, the hacker would more likely be able to turn on your camera.
Please Note: All OS's have vulnerabilities.
C) VIRUSES
The argument that OS X has less viruses is true, but that is against XP, BUT Mac OS X has viruses (which is significantly on the rise), a friend of mine has a virused Mac. As more users use Macs, more viruses will come out for it. Especially when users think "they are safe".
Viruses on Mac are rising significantly.
Google/Yahoo Mac Viruses
D) WINDOWS LICENSE is discounted with PCs
You do not pay the full price, for instance Dell -> you pay $50 or less for Vista Home Premium If you buy a Mac and want Vista, you pay full price.
E) EXPANDABILITY & REPAIR...
Repairs are more expensive than PCs since the IMac, Mac Mini are compact units, and Apple charges a premium for their services. Some repairs can be done by another repair service but the compact design of the computer causes problems.
With an IMac, if the problem is with the monitor, the whole computer would have to be brought in.
IMac and Mac mini lack expansion.
F) PROBLEMS
Sample of problems: Overheating Macbooks, OS X- not responding to keyboard, some units with 16bit screens, etc. Apple statistics are misleading since Mac users with problem machines are more likely to go out and buy a new computer than PC users. Apple is lowering prices which means you can expect lower quality than in the past. Apple had switched the manufacturers producing parts. OS X also has problems slowing down.
http://www.tuaw.com/2008/08/01/apples-quality-dwindling-my-macbook-pro-sob-story/
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Finds-Irony-in-Mac-OS-X-Getting-Hacked-Before-Vista-SP1-82135.shtml
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10020263-17.html
http://infosecurity.us/?p=4005
http://blogs.chron.com/techblog/archives/2008/07/malware_authors_take_aim_at_growing_number_of_1.html
http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/poll_have_you_noticed_an_increase_in_malware_viruses_etc_on_your_mac/
http://www.ubuntu.com/
http://www.kubuntu.org/
http://www.freespire.org/
http://www.pclinuxos.com/
http://distrowatch.com/
http://polishlinux.org/
http://www.desktoplinux.com/
http://xwinman.org/gnome.php
http://xwinman.org/kde.php
http://www.linuxalt.com/
http://screencasts.ubuntu.com/
http://www.linuxfoundation.org/en/OpenPrinting/
http://www.avast.com/
http://www.free-av.com/
http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToUbuntu/FromMacOSX
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToUbuntu/FromWindows
Google/Yahoo OS X on PC
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