BigBox Store vs Online - How to choose a PC

[cascaderailroad]

Buying at a BigBox store surely results in spending $300 too much, over that of online PC vendors ... and what you actually get for $1200 is a low end spec laptop worth $650, that expresses it's CPU speed using turboboost, and has low end PC internal hardware. The problem is what make/model should you buy ?

You could choose a 16GB HD laptop, and the specs might be horrible for Trainz.

I heard the HP DV7 was rated Poor, and it costs $1200

How do you choose ?

I guess the power supply wattage has to be greater than 300watts, and the CPU speed has to be fast, like 3.4GHZ (raw not including TurboBoost) ?
And that the amount of cores matters greatly ... duo core, quad core ... and the CPU manufaturer, AMD, Intel ?
And a video card should be like a 650 model, or better ?

Buying online is like a buying a pig in a poke, online ... sight unseen ... you might just get a big fatty pig ... and results in a PC that actually has lower PC specs than a $650 laptop.

My budget is @ $1000 to $1500 for a Windows PC

 

[Racn]

Personally I use my local computer store, they have designed pre-builts or you just buy the parts and they assemble what you want. Memory Express is the companies name, google it, not sure how international they are.
I have relied on their expertise to build my computer for the software I run. This XP machine was originally built to run FSX and it does that very well too.

 

[johnwhelan]

Desktop I assume, I'm also going to assume USA. In that case I'd start with Newegg.com

Towshardware.com can be useful. Look at the CPU reviews, http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-3.html at $200 the Intel i5 has a reasonable performance, which takes you into an Intel motherboard. http://www.newegg.com/Product/BOM.a...239583&cm_sp=Promo2125620-_-Buttons-_-Xbox360 gives you a basic Intel system that you can configure. I'd suggest brand name 8 gigs of memory, GENERIC 1TB HDD + 240GB SSD Internal Hard Drive, AMD Radeon R9 270 2GB Video Card with 500 Watts Power Supply, but that's well within your budget and you may want to up the video card in which case check the video cards http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-4.html.

Price performance you want to be in the top seven bands on the GPU but the higher you go the worse the price performance will be. Normally you won't see much difference unless there is a difference of three bands.

CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD 1500VA 900W UPS will save software hassles on brown outs. APC UPSes may not work with high efficiency power supplies.

Cheerio John
[h=3][/h]

 

[steamboateng]

It's a carrot and stick world out there as far as computers are concerned. As John rightly points out above, the more you chase performance, the more your going to pay per frame per second. Whichever route you take in purchasing, keep quality in mind............build for the future with the highest quality parts you can afford now. Keep upgrades in mind. I think a 5 year timeline for the average user is reasonable...............but you have to invest in it right from the start. Everybody in my neighborhood has a newer fancier, more gadget car than I..............but mine still works after 10 years, providing the Chief Mate and I with miles and miles of................travel!

 

[Stagefright]

1. DO NOT buy a gaming computer from a big-box retailer. I worked at Staples for seven years and know whereof I speak. I agree what's been said by others above: Do research at both Newegg and Toms Hardware. Create a 'shopping list' or wishlist of components and post here for review and suggestions. If you're comfortable in building it yourself, take the plunge! If that intimidates you, then find a locally-owned computer store (not a chain) and talk with the owner about your needs. He or she may build it for you, or make recommendations. Good luck!

Darrel