Need some friendly advice

joshvette001 · 09-20-2008, 11:03 AM

Hey guys I have been looking around tigerdirect and other sites for quite some time. I purchased a Dell XPS M1530 about 4 months ago and was pretty unsatisfied gaming wise etc its a good laptop for normal work **** but for gaming and being able to leave on all the time it kinda sucks lol. Anyway im sure you guys see posts like this all the time asking for help, I just want advice from people that know more than I do.

Anyway onto what I need

1. Budget: 1000-1500 probably

2. Brands: What ever will last and work the best.

3. Multitasking: Yes I will be doing many things... Gaming, Business, Accounting, DVD Burning, etc....

4. Gaming: Yes, Newest games I want it to be able to play what ever
is out their without a issue.

5. Calculations: Yes, I am a computer programmer and also work with accounting.

6. Overclocking: Yes once I learn more about it, Looking for a versatile CPU

7. Storage: Videos, Source code, business files, games, etc.... 300-400gig? Maybe more

8. Legacy Support: Would be nice to have PS2 ports and other ports but not necessary.

9. Operating System: XP, Vista, and linux if possible. if not than XP, Vista.

10. Case: Nice case for good venting and cooling.

12. Recycled: I have alot of different things I have CD/DVD burner/reader, NIC, Sound Card, etc... I use to have a liquid cooled computer but was outdated and pump went out on it.

14. Stores: Newegg/Tigerdirect

15. Location: USA

Well basically I want a computer that can do it all and that I can leave on. I want it so that in a year im not sitting at the computer i build going wow I feel stupid now that their is **** that blows me out of the water.

shotgn · 09-20-2008, 02:44 PM

the bad thing is we cant keep up with technology, today you buy the latest, greatest and tomorrow someone else will out do you. but a good build alot of these people will recommend should last you a good 2 to 3 years, my opinion anyway

**wrench97** · 09-20-2008, 03:32 PM

Do you have a Monitor?
Look over this list the PSU gives you room to use any single top of the line Nvidia or ATI cards.

Link Cost Rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115036 E8500 $189.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131299 P5Q Pro $139.99 -$20.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145194 DDR2 800 $107.00 -$35.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130376 9800GTX+ $199.00 -$20.00
http://www.provantage.com/corsair-cm...x~7CSMC05E.htm Tx750 $97.87 -$20.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116485 Vista HP $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021 Case $104.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148335 640g HD $89.99

$1,028.82 -$75.00

Total $953.82

joshvette001 · 09-20-2008, 09:27 PM

Thanks wrench and yes I do have a monitor sorry... Anyway anyoone else have any other recommendations I would like to be able to play crysis on a higher mode than normal lol

shotgn · 09-20-2008, 10:40 PM

what wrench recommended is a very good build, you can play high settings on virtually any game out there right now

joshvette001 · 09-21-2008, 04:57 AM

Okay so from what ive read going quad core right now is a waste and actually worst than just getting a dual core with a wolfdale core correct?
Also will the stock intel cooler be good enough for this? I personally hate stock coolers and never trust them

**wrench97** · 09-21-2008, 06:32 AM

The E8400/8500 is faster for gaming then a Q6600 if you move up to the Q9650(Wolfdale) or above the the gaming performance will improve slightly and the cost greatly.

The stock coolers work fine for stock clock/voltages as long as your case as good air flow, if your going to OC then move up to a aftermarket Zalman 9700 or similar quality heat sink/fan

joshvette001 · 09-22-2008, 03:35 PM

Hey guys only other question I had as I was going to order http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131299 P5Q Pro $139.99 -$20.00 i noticed alot of horrible reviews and also this board is supposedly not even on Asus's website...? Anyone have any input or a different board that will work with my configuration?

**wrench97** · 09-22-2008, 04:04 PM

Gigabyte> GA EP45 DS3R

I have used a few of the P5Q Pro's with no issues it depends on the Bios version on the board and the CPU you install (later Bios supports later CPU's).
http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1...69&modelmenu=1

joshvette001 · 09-22-2008, 09:59 PM

Alrighty all of the hardware is ordered and on its way :) Thanks for your input Wrench and some of the others (sorry im really tired or id go and look at names). Anyway I had some more quick questions, What OS would you guys recommend and how would you set it up for the best performance. I have vista 32 bit ultimate and xp sp2 prof and a couple others. I am wondering if this was your rig how would you go about setting it up? I normally use XP but on my new XPS M1530 it came with vista and it seems to be slower than hell for the specs it has.... I dont know if its because the hardware is configured shitty or its just vista slows everything down.

**tosh9i** · 09-22-2008, 11:20 PM

I'd use Windows XP. LIke you said, Vista takes up more resources. Plus, there's still a lot of software out there that's not compatible with Vista.

As a "tweak", you should also disable the virtual ram. Nowadays, it basically obsolete for computers that have more than 2gb of ram.

**wrench97** · 09-23-2008, 01:34 AM

I use XP still, and I agree the wife's M1530 just feels sluggish preforms fine in programs but takes a while open or do simple things with all the uac stuff,

09-20-2008, 11:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
joshvette001 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 8 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate 32bit/XP/Linux	Need some friendly advice Hey guys I have been looking around tigerdirect and other sites for quite some time. I purchased a Dell XPS M1530 about 4 months ago and was pretty unsatisfied gaming wise etc its a good laptop for normal work ** but for gaming and being able to leave on all the time it kinda sucks lol. Anyway im sure you guys see posts like this all the time asking for help, I just want advice from people that know more than I do. Anyway onto what I need 1. Budget: 1000-1500 probably 2. Brands: What ever will last and work the best. 3. Multitasking: Yes I will be doing many things... Gaming, Business, Accounting, DVD Burning, etc.... 4. Gaming: Yes, Newest games I want it to be able to play what ever is out their without a issue. 5. Calculations: Yes, I am a computer programmer and also work with accounting. 6. Overclocking: Yes once I learn more about it, Looking for a versatile CPU 7. Storage: Videos, Source code, business files, games, etc.... 300-400gig? Maybe more 8. Legacy Support: Would be nice to have PS2 ports and other ports but not necessary. 9. Operating System: XP, Vista, and linux if possible. if not than XP, Vista. 10. Case: Nice case for good venting and cooling. 12. Recycled: I have alot of different things I have CD/DVD burner/reader, NIC, Sound Card, etc... I use to have a liquid cooled computer but was outdated and pump went out on it. 14. Stores: Newegg/Tigerdirect 15. Location: USA Well basically I want a computer that can do it all and that I can leave on. I want it so that in a year im not sitting at the computer i build going wow I feel stupid now that their is ** that blows me out of the water.

09-20-2008, 02:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
shotgn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 196 OS: xp My System	Re: Need some friendly advice the bad thing is we cant keep up with technology, today you buy the latest, greatest and tomorrow someone else will out do you. but a good build alot of these people will recommend should last you a good 2 to 3 years, my opinion anyway __________________ Do or do not, there is no try -yoda-

09-20-2008, 03:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,428 OS: Win7	Re: Need some friendly advice Do you have a Monitor? Look over this list the PSU gives you room to use any single top of the line Nvidia or ATI cards. Link Cost Rebate http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115036 E8500 $189.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131299 P5Q Pro $139.99 -$20.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145194 DDR2 800 $107.00 -$35.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130376 9800GTX+ $199.00 -$20.00 http://www.provantage.com/corsair-cm...x~7CSMC05E.htm Tx750 $97.87 -$20.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116485 Vista HP $99.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021 Case $104.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148335 640g HD $89.99 $1,028.82 -$75.00 Total $953.82 __________________ Power Supply and Selection Last edited by wrench97; 09-20-2008 at 03:35 PM. Reason: Add HD

09-20-2008, 09:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
joshvette001 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 8 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate 32bit/XP/Linux	Re: Need some friendly advice Thanks wrench and yes I do have a monitor sorry... Anyway anyoone else have any other recommendations I would like to be able to play crysis on a higher mode than normal lol

09-20-2008, 10:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
shotgn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 196 OS: xp My System	Re: Need some friendly advice what wrench recommended is a very good build, you can play high settings on virtually any game out there right now __________________ Do or do not, there is no try -yoda-

09-21-2008, 04:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
joshvette001 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 8 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate 32bit/XP/Linux	Re: Need some friendly advice Okay so from what ive read going quad core right now is a waste and actually worst than just getting a dual core with a wolfdale core correct? Also will the stock intel cooler be good enough for this? I personally hate stock coolers and never trust them

09-21-2008, 06:32 AM	#7 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,428 OS: Win7	Re: Need some friendly advice The E8400/8500 is faster for gaming then a Q6600 if you move up to the Q9650(Wolfdale) or above the the gaming performance will improve slightly and the cost greatly. The stock coolers work fine for stock clock/voltages as long as your case as good air flow, if your going to OC then move up to a aftermarket Zalman 9700 or similar quality heat sink/fan __________________ Power Supply and Selection

09-22-2008, 03:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
joshvette001 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 8 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate 32bit/XP/Linux	Re: Need some friendly advice Hey guys only other question I had as I was going to order http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131299 P5Q Pro $139.99 -$20.00 i noticed alot of horrible reviews and also this board is supposedly not even on Asus's website...? Anyone have any input or a different board that will work with my configuration?

09-22-2008, 04:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,428 OS: Win7	Re: Need some friendly advice Gigabyte> GA EP45 DS3R I have used a few of the P5Q Pro's with no issues it depends on the Bios version on the board and the CPU you install (later Bios supports later CPU's). http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1...69&modelmenu=1 __________________ Power Supply and Selection

09-22-2008, 09:59 PM	#10 (permalink)
joshvette001 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 8 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate 32bit/XP/Linux	Re: Need some friendly advice Alrighty all of the hardware is ordered and on its way :) Thanks for your input Wrench and some of the others (sorry im really tired or id go and look at names). Anyway I had some more quick questions, What OS would you guys recommend and how would you set it up for the best performance. I have vista 32 bit ultimate and xp sp2 prof and a couple others. I am wondering if this was your rig how would you go about setting it up? I normally use XP but on my new XPS M1530 it came with vista and it seems to be slower than hell for the specs it has.... I dont know if its because the hardware is configured shitty or its just vista slows everything down.

09-22-2008, 11:20 PM	#11 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,811 OS: Windows XP	Re: Need some friendly advice I'd use Windows XP. LIke you said, Vista takes up more resources. Plus, there's still a lot of software out there that's not compatible with Vista. As a "tweak", you should also disable the virtual ram. Nowadays, it basically obsolete for computers that have more than 2gb of ram. __________________ Tosh

09-23-2008, 01:34 AM	#12 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,428 OS: Win7	Re: Need some friendly advice I use XP still, and I agree the wife's M1530 just feels sluggish preforms fine in programs but takes a while open or do simple things with all the uac stuff, __________________ Power Supply and Selection