Time for a new computer! Any suggestions?

[:1]I need a new computer! Pretty badly. I have been using a laptop (Dell Latitude D620) for the past 4 years through college and it's starting to show its age. For example, sometimes it will take 10-15 minutes just to open up an internet browser. I have no viruses, and it was completely re-imaged almost exactly a year ago. But now that I've graduated I won't be needing to lug my computer to class with me, so I think it's time for a nice desktop that I can use for games, most importantly D3!

I know a lot depends on budget, and for this I am still undecided. If I can get a great computer capable of running next gen games for around $1000 I would be happy. But at this point, I wouldn't be completely apposed to spending like $2500, just because I want it to be of high quality and last me a long time.

So I've been searching the web for the past few weeks and looked at all sorts of stuff. I naturally started looking at Dell (because I am familiar with them) and Alienware. I opened up my mind a bit and found some interesting things I had never heard of before. CyberPower PC, iBuyPower, and Falcon Northwest are all websites that have been intriguing.

The Falcon Northwest Fragbox and Talon are at the top of my list right now. I want to be able to keep it on my desk, so I don't particularly want a giant tower. One of my friends recently bought an Asus Essentio from Best Buy for around $850, and I was pretty impressed with that.

So I've got a few questions for you guys:

Does anyone have experience with any of these companies?

What kind of systems are you guys using?

How well do they run games?

If you were ready to upgrade what would you look into buying?

I'm welcoming all advice and suggestions!|||I build mine as that's the way to get want you want.

I would start picking features here and then look at warranties, shipping and brand factors.|||I've never built one before and wouldn't know what I was doing. I feel like I would probably screw it up somehow if I built one from scratch. I would like to learn (someday) but I'm still pretty wary about going the ground up route.|||I find that at any point in time, you can build a top-of-the-line system for around $1500, which I usually do every two years or so.

I pulled up the NewEgg wishlist I have going for my next machine:

MB: EVGA Socket 1155 w/ SATA 6Gb/s & USB 3.0 - $190

GPU: Radeon HD 6950 - $270

CPU: Intel i7-2600k @ 3.4 Ghz - $315

RAM: AData 8GB DDR3-1600 - $70

PSU: OCZ 550W Power Supply - $70

SSD: Crucial M4 256 GB Solid State - $390

HDD: Western Digital Black 1 TB 7200 RPM -$85

DVD: Lite-On DVD Burner - $20

Thats about $1400 right there. Toss in a case (I have one already ) and perhaps a better heatsink for your CPU and you're right there at the $1500 mark.

EDIT:

Even if you don't want to build your own, you can use that parts list as a price comparison against the pre-built ones. I consider a quality solid state drive and a beefy GPU to be the two most critical parts of the computers I build for myself. Any Intel quad core in the last generation (i5/i7) will be plenty to handle anything you throw at it, but if you opt for an expensive solid state, make sure the motherboard supports SATA 6 Gb/s to get the most out of it. Some of the newer solid states are pushing past the old 3 Gb/s SATA limits already.|||Saro,

Thanks that's pretty helpful. Like I said, I have been poking around on some custom "build your own" sites, and they have variants of all those listed components. My builds have been coming in a bit higher than $1500.

I'm not entirely sure I trust the CyberPowerPC and iBUYPOWER sites though, I've read some pretty horrific reviews. Which is why I'm leaning towards a Falcon Northwest.

My configurations usually include things like this:

Intel i7 2600K CPU

8GB RAM

~120 GB SSD

Single 500GB-1TB HDD or 2 500GB in RAID 0?

NVIDIA GTX 570 GPU

Liquid Cooling System for CPU

Peripherals:

20"-24" Monitor

Logitech G110 Keyboard

Razer Death Adder

So I donno, it depends where you look, Falcon Northwest is just about as expensive as Alienware. CyberPowerPC and iBUYPOWER are a lot cheaper but seem kinda sketchy. Dell Studio XPS is a possible candidate. I just found some HP Pavillions on the Best Buy website that look like they could be an OK solution.|||The brand names builder pick a limit on stuff and don't offer the best options in the builders a lot.

Do you have preferences GUI and CPU wise?

Do you have a monitor printers & accessories etc. or are you looking package?

Any interest in footprint size ? Energy used, or noise level factors?

Storage Space needed?

Touchscreen?

I kind Of like this in the package deal touchscreen $1000 price range but it's not a gaming computer.|||My experience with Dell has been pretty good overall. Just make sure to read the comments and reviews on their various products. A couple machines I got from them were less than ideal, but the rest worked great. Good support as well, though that might be because I was going through a business account.

The system I'm using now is one I built myself maybe three or four years ago. Still works fine, though its starting to show a few symptoms of aging technology. I've kept the video card up to date. As such I've been able to run most games on highest settings with no problems. Ordered most of the parts from NewEgg.

One thing about video cards. Pay attention to comments about how well they handle heat. I've burned out more than one video card due to overheating. The case you get and the cooling system you use in it can have a major impact on this as well.

EDIT: Also, if you can squeeze it in, a second monitor is very nice option to have. Ever since I landed a job that had me working on a computer with dual monitors, I'm not sure I can go back to just one. I'm tempted to get a third. |||I've got a printer that will last me a couple more years, and I found my old Microsoft IntelliMouse (surprisingly still being sold for $40) but I will need a monitor and keyboard. I also have my old Harman/Kardon 2 channel desktop speakers.

As for preferences for CPU and GPU, I'm not too picky as long as it's fast. i7 or Phenom II would be ok with me, and a good NVIDIA or Radeon would work. I just don't want my system to limit my games too much.

Mostly, I'm a console gamer. But that is partly due to me not having a computer able to handle good games. I think once I get a better computer, I will get more into PC gaming. Admittedly, D3 will take up the majority of my PC gaming though, and maybe a little online steam stuff with friends like TF2, L4D2 etc.

I'll probably get Battlefield 3 on Xbox just because I have more friends available to play with that way. So I don't "NEED" it to like run Crysis 2 on max or anything. But I'd like to have this new PC for several years (3-4) so I want it to have enough power to take any new games that come out that I might find myself playing.

EDIT:

Glurin:

I'm the only one in my department at my office without dual monitors damn my new intern status! But I think 1 good sized (about 20") at home will be fine.

BobCox:

Footprint size: don't care.

Energy used: not a big deal but I don't want to be running like 1000+ watts.

Space: the smaller the better, I want it on top of my desk, so less than 20" high.

Noise: quiet is always better but with the sound turned up it's not a huge deal as long as it's not obnoxious.|||I also need to get a new comp since my comp takes about 5 mins to open the browser. I'm thinking of a getting a cheap $300 hp laptop since I'd probably get another comp in 3 yrs or so.



Building a comp from scratch is the best way to go........for people who have comp knowledge. Building a comp without enough knowledge(like me) is asking for trouble.|||I've just looked at Falcon Northwest's Website and tried to build a custom PC. The prices are just ridiculous. I know it might save you the trouble of building the computer yourself, but I'm not sure it's worth that much money for it. I'd say you would probably have better deals with Dell.

Here is a list of parts I would choose (recommend), if you would be willing to spend about 1600$ CAN. I've used NCIX.com (CAN) as a reference for the prices. This rig would allow you to play any games currently on the market at maximum settings.



350.00 Intel Core i7 2600K Quad Core Unlocked Hyperthreading Processor LGA1155 3.4GHZ

180.00 MSI P67A-GD65 (B3) P67 ATX LGA1155 DDR3 2PCI-E16 3PCI-E 2PCI SLI CrossFireX SATA3 USB

_55.00 G.SKILL F3-12800CL9D-8GBSR2 Sniper SE 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9-24 1.25V Memory Kit

130.00 Corsair Professional HX650W 650W ATX 12V 52A 24PIN ATX Modular Power Supply Active PFC

_90.00 Coolermaster Storm Enforcer Mid Tower ATX Case Black 4X5.25EXT 6X3.5INT Front Audio USB

_25.00 Samsung DVDRW 22X SATA Black OEM

110.00 Corsair Cooling Hydro Series H80 High Performance CPU Cooler System LGA775 1366 1156 1155

360.00 MSI N570GTX Twin Frozr II OC GeForce GTX 570 Fermi 732MHZ 1280MB 3.8GHZ GDDR5 PCI-E 2

_90.00 Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB SATA3 6GB/S 7200RPM 64MB Cache Hard Drive OEM

180.00 Mushkin Chronos 120GB 2.5IN SATA3 Sandforce SF-2281 SSD Solid State Disk Flash Drive



This might help those who wants to build their own PC. As for you, you can compare the parts with those included in the pre-assembled systems you are planning to buy, to see if it makes sense.