Suggestions for desktop computer?

[Melakon]

My main machine crapped out in February with a hard drive crash, and I'm now on an older (c. 2006) HP running Windows XP and only 2 gig ram.

I'm going to have to start saving up for a new machine, and will likely wind up buying through Office Max, as they have a store close by and I usually buy computer related supplies there.

I've used HP, Asus, and Acer in the past, but have no idea what's considered a good brand these days.

Based on what the crapped out machine had, I'm going to want at least 4 gig ram and 600 gig on a hard drive. Money is a scarce commodity for me though, so it will probably have to be something around $500.

I primarily use computers for internet and 3d modeling/animation software. I do not want a laptop.

Any recommendations?

 

[BillJ]

Picked this one up for my oldest son (16) a few weeks ago and it works very, very well for a bargain machine.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-pavilion-desktop-8gb-memory-2tb-hard-drive/1682356.p?id=1219060353967

 

[Melakon]

Thanks, BillJ, I'll add that to the list of candidates. The machine I'm back on now is an old HP Pavilion.

 

[Timby]

It's almost impossible to find an OEM machine without Windows 8 from a website (and impossible if buying from a brick-and-mortar store), so I would strongly recommend a machine with more than 4GB of RAM. 6GB is the absolute minimum I would go with, and more if at all possible.

 

[Trekker4747]

If you want one for 3D/animation software you're certainly going to want one with a lot of horsepower. Which you should still be able to get fairly cheap.

4 GIG of RAM strikes me as low for your needs and even for computers in general. I'd probably go to 8. I'd also go for a terrabyte hard-drive. Hard-drives and memory tend to be "fairly" cheap so neither of those should really impact your pricing aims too much.

"Problem" is that.... Well.... Windows 8 kind-of sucks. But it's likely what you'll have to go with so be prepared to go with a new OS/interface.

I'd also probably go with a 4th Generation Intel i7 processor. Again, for your needs you'll want a lot of horsepower.

Such a machine, without a monitor, will probably run close to $800. A little over your desired price-point.

 

[Stephen!]

4 GIG of RAM strikes me as low for your needs and even for computers in general.

Aren't most people still running 32-bit operating systems though

 

[Melakon]

I'm not looking forward to Windows 8. My dead machine was running Windows 7 which didn't give me much trouble and had 4 gig ram, though it was already 4 years old.

It will be several months before I can afford to get anything though, hopefully I can get something before summer's over.

 

[Stephen!]

I'm not looking forward to Windows 8. My dead machine was running Windows 7 which didn't give me much trouble and had 4 gig ram, though it was already 4 years old.

Why not just replace the hard disk? Or were you planning to upgrade eventually anyway?

 

[Amaris]

My main machine crapped out in February with a hard drive crash, and I'm now on an older (c. 2006) HP running Windows XP and only 2 gig ram.

I'm going to have to start saving up for a new machine, and will likely wind up buying through Office Max, as they have a store close by and I usually buy computer related supplies there.

I've used HP, Asus, and Acer in the past, but have no idea what's considered a good brand these days.

Based on what the crapped out machine had, I'm going to want at least 4 gig ram and 600 gig on a hard drive. Money is a scarce commodity for me though, so it will probably have to be something around $500.

I primarily use computers for internet and 3d modeling/animation software. I do not want a laptop.

Any recommendations?

If your monitor is still good, there's this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883258094

It's an Avatar FX6161OC, which has an nVidia 610 graphics card, 8GB RAM, and a 1TB hard drive. It's a mid-range gaming PC, which should help you because you deal with 3D modeling. It also has Windows 7 pre-installed. It's a good deal for $499.

 

[Melakon]

J., thanks, that's another for the list of candidates.

Stephen!, since I'd have to save up money for either a new drive, seeing if the data on the old drive can be recovered, or buying a new machine, I figure I'll aim for a new machine first.

My eyes are so bad, I'm not good at trying to work inside the case anymore, and if I bought only a new drive, I don't have an operating system to install on it.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

It's almost impossible to find an OEM machine without Windows 8 from a website (and impossible if buying from a brick-and-mortar store), so I would strongly recommend a machine with more than 4GB of RAM. 6GB is the absolute minimum I would go with, and more if at all possible.

4 GIG of RAM strikes me as low for your needs and even for computers in general.

Aren't most people still running 32-bit operating systems though

Only a 64bit OS is capable of recognizing & utilizing over 4GB of RAM. I've been on 64bit WinXP & Win7 for several years and running 8GB of RAM.

The next machine I build from scratch will probably have 16GB, since the motherboards & BIOS are now capable of recognizing that range (or higher).

Melakon, how comfortable would you be building your own machine? I did that, and while I spent a ton of cash, it was far superior to anything in the same price range that was pre-built.

I was able to pick & choose what brand parts I wanted. You could still do it on a budget, maybe reuse your current case and other components that are still good.

Then you can buy a full license of Win7 and set it up exactly how you want.

 

[Melakon]

Melakon, how comfortable would you be building your own machine? I did that, and while I spent a ton of cash, it was far superior to anything in the same price range that was pre-built.

I was able to pick & choose what brand parts I wanted. You could still do it on a budget, maybe reuse your current case and other components that are still good.

Then you can buy a full license of Win7 and set it up exactly how you want.

I'm too blind these days to do anything like that myself. If I drop one of those little screws in a case, I will not find it. About 15 years ago I had a friend who built machines for me a few times, but he moved away.

So I tend to prefer buying from brick and mortar stores, because I can then examine the product in person instead of looking at a photo. It costs more that way, but I'm paying for the convenience and having a salesperson present to answer questions.

 

[JarodRussell]

I'm not looking forward to Windows 8. My dead machine was running Windows 7 which didn't give me much trouble and had 4 gig ram, though it was already 4 years old.

It will be several months before I can afford to get anything though, hopefully I can get something before summer's over.

I wish people would just stop demonizing Windows 8. I run 7 on one, and 8 on another computer. The metro interface is quickly gotten rid of, and then it's like a Windows 7 Service Pack.

There's absolutely no fucking reason at all to complain about getting Windows 8 when buying a new computer.

 

[Melakon]

^ Well, if this is directed at me, all I know is what I've read from others about Windows 8, and some articles about it. I've never used it. I wasn't aware I was demonizing it, I just need a goddamn new machine.

 

[JarodRussell]

^ Well, if this is directed at me, all I know is what I've read from others about Windows 8, and some articles about it. I've never used it. I wasn't aware I was demonizing it, I just need a goddamn new machine.

No, I was speaking in general direction. It really is just like Windows 7 with a few neat features added (while that would be a bad selling argument, it's an argument that it's not the devil). That metro interface is stupid, but you can get rid of it so that it never shows up in 99% of the things you do.

 

[Melakon]

That screen was one of my concerns, because it's in all the publicity, but it just makes me think of HAL9000 and I wasn't looking forward to something like that. I liked Win7 over XP.

I'm dreading what's going to happen when Microsoft stops supporting XP next month, I may get knocked off line permanently until I can get a replacement.

 

[Amaris]

Well, you can still use Windows XP, you just won't get any security updates or patches, and tech support won't help you. Those gaps can be filled, for a while.

 

[JarodRussell]

That screen was one of my concerns, because it's in all the publicity

After booting, you get to the desktop with ONE single click. And in Windows 8.1 you can set it to go straight to desktop from the start.

 

[Melakon]

Twenty-five years ago, I wouldn't be all worried about something like this. Back then I had the money where I could buy something within a week. Now it takes me months to do even something as simple as getting a new monitor.

 

[JarodRussell]

Well, you can still use Windows XP, you just won't get any security updates or patches, and tech support won't help you. Those gaps can be filled, for a while.

I'd say as long sites like TrekBBS pose a security risk with uncontrolled advertisement, one seriously shouldn't stay with Windows XP.