Looking for a new PC

[creativemind]

Hi all!

I am looking for a new PC. Right now, I using HP Pavillion DV6700 laptop and it is quite slow for graphics.

I am thinking of getting a PC which I believe it will be A LOT faster than a laptop. Below are some PC I am looking at:

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Dell Inspiron 560 Desktop

Operating System:

* Microsoft® Windows® 7 Home Premium

Processor & Memory:

* Intel® Pentium Dual-Core Processor E5400 at 2.7GHz
* 2MB Cache
* 4GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1066MHz (2 x 2GB)

Drives:

* 500GB 7200RPM SATA II Hard Drive
* 16x DVD+/-RW Drive

Graphics & Video:

* Dell 20" ST2010 Monitor
* Integrated GMA X4500 Graphics

Communications:

* Integrated NIC Card

Audio:

* Dell AX210 USB Stereo Speakers

Keyboard & Mouse:

* Dell USB Keyboard
* Dell USB Mouse

Expandability:

* 3.5" Bays: 2 bays
* 5.25" Bays: 2 bays
* Memory DIMM slots: 4 available

Front Ports:

* 2 x USB 2.0
* Headphone Connector
* Microphone Connector

Rear Ports:

* VGA Connector
* HDMI Connector
* 4 x USB 2.0
* RJ45 10/100 Network Port
* Microphone Connector
* Line-out Connector
* Line-in Connector

Slots:

* 2 PCI slots
* 1 PCIe x 1 slot
* 1 PCIe x 16

Productivity Software:

* Microsoft® Works 9.0

Additional Software:

* McAfee SecurityCenter 30 day trial
* Adobe® Acrobat® Reader

Additional Information:

* CPU Dimensions & Weight:
H: 14.8"
W: 6.93"
D: 17.44"
* Weight: Starting at 17.4 lbs.
* 300 Watt Power Supply

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HP Pavilion p6310t


Processor & Memory:

* Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core Processor E5400 (2.7GHz)
* 2MB L2 cache
* 800MHz Front Side Bus
* 4GB DDR3-1066MHz SDRAM memory (2 Dimms)

Drives:

* 320GB (7,200RPM) SATA 3Gb/s hard drive
* LightScribe 16x max DVD±R/RW SuperMulti drive

Graphics & Video:

* HP 2009m Wide LCD Monitor with Integrated Speakers
* Integrated Graphics

Communications:

* Integrated 10/100 Ethernet LAN

Audio:

* Integrated 5.1 channel capable sound w/ front audio ports

Keyboard & Mouse:

* HP Multimedia Keyboard
* HP Optical Mouse

Expandability (Total Slots):

* Total memory slots: 2 DIMMS
* 1x PCIe x16
* 2x PCIe x1
* 1x PCI

Ports:

* 15-in-1 Card Reader
* Front headphone and mic ports
* 6 x USB 2.0 ports (2 Front, 4 Back)

Operating System:

* Microsoft® Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)

Additional Software:

* Microsoft® Works 9.0

Additional Information:

* CPU Dimensions: 16.85" L x 6.97" W x 15.32" H
* Power Supply: 250W

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HP Pavilion s5310t Desktop

Processor & Memory:

*

Pentium Dual-Core Processor E5400 2.7GHz
*

2MB L2 cache
* 800MHz Front Side Bus
* 4GB DDR3-800MHz SDRAM memory (2 DIMMS)

Drives:

* 320GB (7,200RPM) SATA 3Gb/s hard drive
* LightScribe 16x max DVD±R/RW SuperMulti drive

Graphics & Video:

* HP 2009m 20" diagonal widescreen flat panel monitor with integrated speakers
* Integrated graphics

Communications:

* Integrated 10/100 LAN Port

Audio:

* Integrated 5.1 channel capable sound w/ front audio ports

Keyboard & Mouse:

* HP Multimedia Keyboard
* HP Optical Mouse

Expandability (Total Slots):

* HP Pocket Media Drive Bay
* Total memory slots: 2 DIMM
* 1 x PCIe x16
* 1 x PCIe

Ports:

* 1x Front panel 6-in-1 memory card reader
* 1x Front headphone port
* 6 x USB 2.0 ports (2 Front, 4 Back)

Operating System:

* Microsoft® Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)

Additional Software:

* Microsoft Works 9.0

Additional Information:

* CPU Dimensions: 15.91" D x 4.43" W x 12.24" H
* Power Supply: 220W


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ZT Element 2119Na

Processor & Memory:

* AMD Athlon™ II X2 Processor 245 (2.90GHz)
* AMD 760G + SB710
* 6GB DDR3 SDRAM memory (16GB Max)

Drives:

* 1.5TB SATA Hard Drive
* DVD±RW optical drive
* Front panel 19-in-1 multimedia card reader

Graphics & Video:

* Integrated ATI Radeon 3000 Graphics

Communications:

* 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN

Audio:

* 8-channel capable audio CODEC

Keyboard & Mouse:

* USB Desktop Keyboard
* ZT Optical Mouse

Expandability (total bays):

* 2 x 5.25" external (1 occupied)
* 2 x 3.5" external (1 occupied)
* 4 x 3.5" internal (1 occupied)
* 1 x PCIe x16
* 1 x PCIe x1
* 2 x PCI

Ports and Slots:

* 1x HDMI port
* 1x VGA port (15-pin)
* 1x DVI port
* 1x eSATA port
* 8x USB 2.0 ports (2 Front, 4 Rear)
* 1x PS/2 port
* 6x Audio ports
* 1x RJ-45 (LAN)

Operating System & Software:

* Microsoft® Windows 7 Premium - 64 bit
* Symantec Norton Internet Security 2010 (90-day trial)

Additional Information:

* CPU Dimensions: 13.9" H x 7.1" W x 16.9" D
* Power Supply: 350W
* Hardware Warranty: 2-year limited hardware parts and labor from date of purchase
* Lifetime 24/7 toll-free phone support
* Email and fax support from 9am-6pm EST
* For information, visit www.ztsystems.com/support


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ZT Element 2120Li


Processor & Memory:

*

Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core Processor E6500 (2.93GHz)
* 6GB DDR2 SDRAM memory

Drives:

* 1.5TB SATA Hard Drive
*

22x DVD±RW optical drive
* Front panel 19-in-1 multimedia digital card reader

Graphics & Video:

* Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500HD Graphics

Communications:

* 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN

Audio:

* Integrated 6-channel High-Definition Audio CODEC

Keyboard & Mouse:

* ZT Desktop 104-key Keyboard
* ZT Optical Mouse

Expandability (total):

* 2x 5.25" external (1 occupied)
* 1x 3.5" external (1 occupied)
* 5x 3.5" internal (1 occupied)
* 1x PCIe x16
* 1x PCI

Ports and Slots:



* 8x USB 2.0 ports (2 front, 6 rear)
* 1x RJ-45 (LAN)
* 2x PS/2
* 1x COM port
* 1x DVI port
* 1x VGA (15-pin)
* 3x Audio ports

Operating System:

* Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)

Additional Information:

* Dimensions: 14.25" H x 7.1" W x 16.5" D
* Power Supply: 350W
* Hardware Warranty: 2-year limited hardware parts and labor from date of purchase
* Lifetime 24/7 toll-free phone support
* Email and Fax support from 9am-6pm EST
* For information, visit www.ztsystems.com/support

[Model Element 2120Li]


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Alright, that's it! Sorry if I am giving you too many options. :-)

Thanks for any advice!!!

[oracleguy]

Well what do you want to do with your computer? You mentioned "graphics" but that is pretty vague.

[creativemind]

Well what do you want to do with your computer? You mentioned "graphics" but that is pretty vague.

Oracleguy, thanks for getting back!

I am using 3ds Max to render jpeg images. Every time I render each jpeg image, it take about 5 - 8 hours!!

I am looking for a PC which can cut the time in half or greater. Also, when the rendering in 3ds Max is in progress, the laptop is working extremely hard. I can feel the hot heat coming out and the laptop is making a louder noise from the hard drive. Sometime, I have to turn off the laptop because it might explode or die on me. ha-ha

[oracleguy]

Then the processors in the machines you selected are not well suited for that job. The Pentium brand of processors from Intel is now their low end budget type processors. You want something more like an i5 or i7 processor based machine (or the equivalent AMD model).

And the video cards in those machines are massively below the minimum system requirements to run 3Ds Max (http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?siteID=123112&id=13571366).

[creativemind]

Then the processors in the machines you selected are not well suited for that job. The Pentium brand of processors from Intel is now their low end budget type processors. You want something more like an i5 or i7 processor based machine (or the equivalent AMD model).

And the video cards in those machines are massively below the minimum system requirements to run 3Ds Max (http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?siteID=123112&id=13571366).

Oracleguy, can you please send me some links to better machines out there? Also, is Dell better in quality and reliable than HP?

Thanks!

[oracleguy]

What is your budget like?

For home stuff, it is all the same, I wouldn't say either was necessarily "better" than the other.

[creativemind]

What is your budget like?

For home stuff, it is all the same, I wouldn't say either was necessarily "better" than the other.


My budget is $1300. I don't need a monitor, I just need the PC.

I was looking at the website www.costco.com. Let me know if you see anything in there that might fit my needs. I have a membership there to get great deals.

Thanks!

[Spookster]

My budget is $1300. I don't need a monitor, I just need the PC.

I was looking at the website www.costco.com (http://www.costco.com). Let me know if you see anything in there that might fit my needs. I have a membership there to get great deals.

Thanks!

You can get a much more powerful machine than those for that budget. Even if you don't build a custom one. Last Christmas I bought an HP from Best Buy for about $1000. That included a 20" widescreen monitor and and additional high end graphics card that I installed later.

Specs on it are an AMD Phenom Quad Core 2.6Ghz with 8Gb's memory running Windows 7 64bit. The graphics card I bought to put in it was an ATI Radeon 4500 HD series card with 1Gb of memory. It's got a 600Gb hard drive.

[BWiz]

For $1300, without a monitor, you build a great PC. If you don't know how to do it, ask any of your friends if they have done anything like before. Honestly, building your own computer isn't that hard, you just have to be careful.

If you do decide to build your own computer, I'd go with i7-920 or 930 (around $280). Ensure that you go with socket 1366, so later down the line when you want to upgrade again, you can go for Intel's six-core processor. AMD also has a six-core phenom if I remember correctly though.

For rendering, if you can afford it, I'd spring the extra cash for at least 6 gigs ram, DD3.

It's the graphics card your going to have to worry about. That'll be the thing you want to invest in. Look around, do a little research, and figure out that's the top cards are for rendering.

After you've selected those parts, then figure out which motherboard will support your selected hardware. See if you can't get an Asus one, there pretty good.

The remaining hardware parts are up to you. Just remember to get a CPU fan & thermal grease. I had a friend that wanted to build his own PC, and he forgot about cooling.

[creativemind]

oracleguy, BWiz and Spookster, thanks for your help!

[cher]

Do you want to assemble the PC on your own or get a branded one from Dell.
As you have a great budget, you don't need to look for cheaper ones.

[deniel.volt]

Hi Guys,

Thanks a lot for sharing the post.

Deniel.

[deniel.volt]

Hi Guys,

can you tell me the minimum price for assemble dell?

Deniel.

[dodgefernandez]

I highly recommend HP Pavilion s5310t Desktop, I've been using that for years and I must say that the price i pay for was worth for it.

[bancs]

If you have budget, it's better buy more expensive PC

[jfreak53]

Personal opinion. For laptops I always go with namebrand since broken parts cannot be taken out and replaced easily. But 90% of all manufacturers have their own waranties, have had for years.

I always buy clone PCs or make my own and use manu waranties when needed, which I have never. I have an AMD board clone that I have had for 10 years now, outbeats most namebrands. Bought off of tigerdirect and never had to replace anything everything works like from factory when bought. Have given it a rigourous workout through these years too, graphics processing and everything, still kicking.

Always go clone. Better yet buy your own pecieces and assemble. Don´t know how, cheaper to hire someone to assemble once have all parts.

You can even buy a NOos PC on tigerdirect or NewEGG and get it even cheaper if you have the license from your laptop windows.

I have not bought a namebrand desktop in years, and I haven´t looked back since.