A computer question

[weirdworks]

I need help, there I said it. I'm looking to get a new computer, and I'm lost. I saw the show on a good gaming PC and It got me thinking maybe I’m using a bazooka when all I need is a flyswatter; anyway I thought maybe you could help. Basically the computer I need for graphic programs, some 3d modeling and yes I game but from what I know the first two usually take care of the third. My budget is about $2500 (but less would be better). At the moment I’ve been looking at a dell XPS 730 with a Q9550; but as I said that maybe overkill and it’s a Gaming PC (is that just a title?). Please HELP! Thanks so much.

[fishtoprecords]

Buy a nice Mac desktop. Use it for graphics and all that stuff. Get a copy of VMware for an occasional game.

I can't see how your needs would justify paying over two grand for a system.

[tehboris]

Buy a nice Mac desktop. Use it for graphics and all that stuff. Get a copy of VMware for an occasional game.

I can't see how your needs would justify paying over two grand for a system.

There is a difference between spending two grand and buying mac? :D

[mttskates]

There is a difference between spending two grand and buying mac? :D

HAHAHAHAHA...lmao!!!!

[burkhartmj]

The first 2 don't always take care of the third. Depending on how professional your 3d modeling and graphics stuff are, they would be better served by a quadro FX card or ATI equivalent because those are made specifically for graphics workstations. But neither of those can handle games very well because their architecture is so different from standard graphics cards.

My vote is build your own. Despite the prevailing consensus that DIY doesn't save money anymore, from personal experience it still does [not 100% sure why everyone started thinking otherwise] which means you can either save money or get more power out of the same stack than you could from Dell.

if you don't know how, there are plenty of people on these forums that can help.

[slonkak]

Despite the prevailing consensus that DIY doesn't save money anymore, from personal experience it still does [not 100% sure why everyone started thinking otherwise] which means you can either save money or get more power out of the same stack than you could from Dell.

I compare this to insurance. Would I ever go on without having health insurance, or vision, or dental? No, never. I might not use any of that for the next 10 years, but when the day comes that I get in an accident (hopefully it doesn't) and have to use that insurance, I'll be glad I paid for it for the past 10 years.

Same goes with computers. I buy brand names (Dell) because I can get the 4 year complete care run-it-over-with-a-car warranty. Maybe nothing will break and I won't have to use it. But when the day comes that stuff breaks, my checkbook thanks me for shelling out a little extra cash in the beginning to make sure I don't have to shell out any cash down the road.

Things always break. You might be lucky, you might not be. But I'd rather be prepared for it.

[murphy1d]

I have to agree with the "insurance" theory only because, no offense, but I feel like you may not be the type who opens up their PC or Mac and starts swapping out components.

Many people buy Macs because all the internal parts have been tested and retested for compatibility and longevity. Same thing goes with many large PC manufacturers. In those cases, the parts have been tested and warrantied.

Me, I have a Frankenstein monster of a PC that I love because nobody has the same mix of parts as me. And it works fine because I can tweak all the parts to work.

So, if you want a fast car but can't fix the engine, don't go buy a street racer.

[slonkak]

I feel like you may not be the type who opens up their PC or Mac and starts swapping out components.

Incorrect. I used to build my own machines ever since I was old enough to spend my own money on them. And for the past 7 or so years pc repair was part of my job. But because of that, I now know that it's not worth my time or money to constantly troubleshoot and buy individual parts when Dell will do that for me. When you fix computers for a living, the last thing you want to do when you get home is fix your own. You want it to just work.

[comhcinc]

I need help, there I said it. I'm looking to get a new computer, and I'm lost. I saw the show on a good gaming PC and It got me thinking maybe I’m using a bazooka when all I need is a flyswatter; anyway I thought maybe you could help. Basically the computer I need for graphic programs, some 3d modeling and yes I game but from what I know the first two usually take care of the third. My budget is about $2500 (but less would be better). At the moment I’ve been looking at a dell XPS 730 with a Q9550; but as I said that maybe overkill and it’s a Gaming PC (is that just a title?). Please HELP! Thanks so much.
instead of that, i would to one of the big pc makers (like dell, hp, gateway) buy a nice powerful computer then just upgrade the video card to what you need.

many time with those "gaming pcs" you are paying for eye candy that you don't need.

[burkhartmj]

The "insurance" idea is nice, but doesn't really apply to me. Even when buying a namebrand computer I never get the extra warranty, and I've had a similar experience as Patrick in that if it works, it works, if it doesn't, it doesn't. Other than hard drives, I've only had a motherboard die on me, and thats because I was a moron and let some thermal paste get on the circuits, frying it.

As we all know, laptops are a completely different issue, but as far as desktops, I always build my own and just keep track of the RMA period for the various compnents.

[quantumfreak]

Suggesting someone to build their own doesn't make sense. If a person was into building their own machine, they wouldn't have posted the question. It sounds like they want a machine that works out of the box, relatively trouble-free, so they can do what they want to do, which is 3d modeling, graphics and gaming in this case.

[murphy1d]

Incorrect. I used to build my own machines ever since I was old enough to spend my own money on them. And for the past 7 or so years pc repair was part of my job. But because of that, I now know that it's not worth my time or money to constantly troubleshoot and buy individual parts when Dell will do that for me. When you fix computers for a living, the last thing you want to do when you get home is fix your own. You want it to just work.

Sorry, I was speaking to the OP and should have been more specific. I figured you-sloankak were more experienced based upon your info. The OP's question led me to believe they might want to keep the lid closed on the ole engine.

[slonkak]

Sorry, I was speaking to the OP and should have been more specific.

No problem. :cool:

[computoman]

It is a good thing you acquired the super duper extended warranty for your dell. I recommend extended warranties for all computers that have oem specific parts such as dell. I agree that you can't really save money build a machine on your own except that if you get good parts the extended warranty is not really needed in most but not all cases. Also if you did not get all your equipment from the same vendor, when you have a problem each vendor will blame the issue on the other parts and kind of leave you screwed, For 90 percent of what most people do, a $2000 computer is not really needed. Personally, I only get used stuff dirt cheap or free now so warranties are not that big a deal.If it breaks I just chunk it in a pile to pull the good parts from it and then get a replacement.

[burkhartmj]

Meh I've had much more issues with my laptop and hassles with dell customer service than I ever did with my DIY desktop or newegg. I can understand the OP not building his own computer because of lack of experience, but I directly saved money over Dell with standard components that I actually wanted, instead of dell customized crap I can't get drivers for if I go with any OS but the preinstalled one [see in the XP on M1530 thread, it took way too much effort to get it on there successfully].

[cacogen]

Buy a nice Mac desktop. Use it for graphics and all that stuff. Get a copy of VMware for an occasional game.

I can't see how your needs would justify paying over two grand for a system.

Uh, gaming in a VM?

[fishtoprecords]

Uh, gaming in a VM?

OK, dual boot that part.

But its not clear how hard core the OP is in his gaming requirements. And modern Macs can game the lesser ones. No Crysis, of course.