Need help choosing a computer

Ashok_2

Thanks all for your continued support through this!

I sent my laptop the buyer today, and I still have to raise about £220 for the LCD and a nice keyboard too..

I'm currently using my 5/6 year old Dell monitor, and wow the resolution really shocked me.. It feels really weird using it..

The builder has said system should arrive next Thursday/Friday, but it's not much use without a keyboard/LCD!

Cerro

GoofyGAT wrote: »

Don't be silly Cerro - what's there to resent? Unless you were one of those people who gave advice in the other forums & resent being called a geek? I apologise if I've offended you in this way .

[...]In hindsight, I should've embellished my post with a few appropriate smileys to avoid any misunderstanding or cause possible offence. G

Erm, I was joking - there isn't anything to resent

I do usually check Tom's hardware forums too, both to give help and for advice - for those niggling problems that I cannot solve.

I didn't know that bit about unsigned drivers in 64-bit vista! First I had heard of it - I knew of the old driver issues, but since he is getting a new system, didn't believe that would be an issue. I think there is a way around the 16-bit applications problem though but it is unlikely Ashok would be using them anyway. I would just buy 64-bit vista now to save me having to buy two copies, then again, wait two years and the next major windows release will appear (I believe that will be 64bit only).

Ashok keyboard/mouse is pretty straight forward. Get a keyboard you are comfortable with - MS keyboards tend to be good for ergonomic design. If you want wireless I would recommend a logitech keyboard and mouse. Mice come in two kinds, the ones that fill the palm of your hand and the ones you hold with just your fingers. MS and logitech do the former, Razor do the latter - those are the 3 major brands. If you're not bothered though, just get something by trust - cheap and nasty but they work.

GoofyGAT

Cerro wrote: »

Erm, I was joking - there isn't anything to resent

Thank goodness for that . G

Ashok_2

Cerro wrote: »

Erm, I was joking - there isn't anything to resent

I do usually check Tom's hardware forums too, both to give help and for advice - for those niggling problems that I cannot solve.

I didn't know that bit about unsigned drivers in 64-bit vista! First I had heard of it - I knew of the old driver issues, but since he is getting a new system, didn't believe that would be an issue. I think there is a way around the 16-bit applications problem though but it is unlikely Ashok would be using them anyway. I would just buy 64-bit vista now to save me having to buy two copies, then again, wait two years and the next major windows release will appear (I believe that will be 64bit only).

Ashok keyboard/mouse is pretty straight forward. Get a keyboard you are comfortable with - MS keyboards tend to be good for ergonomic design. If you want wireless I would recommend a logitech keyboard and mouse. Mice come in two kinds, the ones that fill the palm of your hand and the ones you hold with just your fingers. MS and logitech do the former, Razor do the latter - those are the 3 major brands. If you're not bothered though, just get something by trust - cheap and nasty but they work.

Yeah, mouse is sorted I have the MX Revolution.. Just deciding on a keyboard. Looking for something cordless, stylish and comfortable.

I was going to go fo rthe DiNovo, but probably way too expensive. £50 is top budget I think.

Cerro

Ashok wrote: »

I was going to go fo rthe DiNovo, but probably way too expensive. £50 is top budget I think.

If you're going for that kind of look keyboard - look at Cherry's range, they have a similar look and feel. Though most are corded, but they do have some wireless versions - including a solar powered one for £100. Mind you, despite the cost it does save on batteries but I can't see me going for one anytime soon!

Ashok_2

Cerro wrote: »

If you're going for that kind of look keyboard - look at Cherry's range, they have a similar look and feel. Though most are corded, but they do have some wireless versions - including a solar powered one for £100. Mind you, despite the cost it does save on batteries but I can't see me going for one anytime soon!

Will take a look..

Argh, just a bit p***ed off about the DVD drive I ordered for computer.. The Asus one is apparantly "flimsy" and I regret ordering it now, Samsung also do a SATA lightscribe, should have gone with them..

Cerro

LiteON would have been better than both

Ashok_2

Cerro wrote: »

LiteON would have been better than both

LiteOn don't do a SATA Lightscribe drive.. I'm just sticking with the Asus..

The guys saying I'll receive computet Tuesday instead of Thursday now, as someone else had ordered the same Asus drive as me but had to wait for other parts too arive.. The asus drive was the only thing ordered from Scan, which are slower than eBuyer and in fact cost me £8 for delivery!

Now I've gotta some how get £200 by end of weekend to order a monitor!

Ashok_2

Okay so got the computer yesterday.. Few thoughts:

• The case is HUGE!!! I thought it would be smaller/same size to my old Dell (from 5 years ag), but its HUGE.
• DVDs don't look any better than my £500 Dell laptop, it could be because right now I'm using a 15" Dell screen from about 5 years ago, but not sure.
• Performance/speed etc.. it hasn't improved much from my £500 Dell laptop

What do you all think? I think I may have wasted some money on this, seeing right now I haven't noticed much difference from my Dell, and desite all the cooling etc.. it's still normal noise, there is an Asus panel (called AI Suite) with settings for changing the fan around, and I can change it to silent/optimal/performance currently set on optimal... But not sure if it will effect performance if I change it?

Thanks all.

GoofyGAT

Thanks for letting us know.

Did you check that all components are as they're meant to be? This is the first thing I would check.

It is a big case. I'm surprised that you weren't aware - the dimensions are mentioned on the retailer sites & all(?) independent reviews make a point of this.

I'm also surprised it's making the 'usual noise', because the case is supposed to be quieter than most. Generally: extra cooling = more fans = more noise. (If you hear my PC's 'noise', yours will probably be a whisper in comparison!)

Speed-wise, it's not going to be any different from most other reasonably specced PCs/laptops in everyday Windows/Office/similar tasks. Try demanding tasks to really test the PC's capability* - then see how it compares. I reckon it'll easily outperform your £500 laptop in these, & make it look like a snail. E.g. depending on the laptop's GPU, some games probably won't even run, or give very low, unplayable frame rates.

One way of making it appear 'quicker' in Windows is changing the Display settings. I don't know what they are in Vista, but in XP it's System Properties > Advanced > Properties - so you know what I'm referring to. I'm sure Cerro will know a few more.

I don't think you've wasted your money on this - you can't be so quick to judge based on switching it on & trying a few basic things (correct me if wrong). They're all quality, high-end components. And, as I said before, you'll only see the real difference when you use it for what it's truly capable of. G

*The PC was built for a purpose. Or, was it? That's why (in most situations) it's so important to build one around what one's going to use it for, rather than just going for the best spec one can afford/splash out on. ringo_24601's comment may have been the sagest (& possibly the sanest) post in this thread . But time & your usage will tell in the end I suppose . I personally felt my Dell+upgrades suggestion here for £804 would've been ideal & saved you £400-500 over the present system.

P.S. A few CPU & GPU tests/benchmarks to give you some idea of what's available to test/compare your PC:
http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_2007.html (also see under 'More Charts')
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.html