Desktop PC advice?

I'm in the market for a new desktop PC. I already have a monitor, speakers, keyboard and mouse so I'm just looking for the tower. I was browsing on Best Buy's website and found one that (I think) looks good.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP---Pav...=1218809261335

I'm really not wanting to spend more than $400. Are there better avenues to go through? Tiger Direct? Amazon? Direct from manufacturer? This won't be used for gaming....it'll mostly be for home office use and playing music.

Any advice? Thanks!

Every HP product I've used has been a complete POS..you should take a look at Dell's website; they have sales all the time.

Originally Posted by Kwando

Every HP product I've used has been a complete POS..you should take a look at Dell's website; they have sales all the time.

I've had one of their laptops for about 4 years and I haven't had any big issues

Originally Posted by evolved

I'm in the market for a new desktop PC. I already have a monitor, speakers, keyboard and mouse so I'm just looking for the tower. I was browsing on Best Buy's website and found one that (I think) looks good.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP---Pav...=1218809261335

I'm really not wanting to spend more than $400. Are there better avenues to go through? Tiger Direct? Amazon? Direct from manufacturer? This won't be used for gaming....it'll mostly be for home office use, porn, and playing music.

Any advice? Thanks!

fixed and check newegg perhaps

Originally Posted by Kwando

Every HP product I've used has been a complete POS..you should take a look at Dell's website; they have sales all the time.

My company has a contract with HP so all of our computers are... HP. My only gripe with my laptop is that it weighs about 75 lbs and is the size of a Ford F-150.

Originally Posted by Kwando

Every HP product I've used has been a complete POS..you should take a look at Dell's website; they have sales all the time.

I agree. Myself and two other friends bought HP laptops that were basically the same model a couple years ago. All 3 failed the same exact way, battery, and charge port within a year. I had to hold the computer a certain way in order for it to even turn on.

I'd go with ASUS if I were OP

HP products are total sh!t until you hit their business line. Every business line HP product I've used has been solid. That said, you won't get into that family by spending <$400...

For going that cheap, I'd look into either Dell, Asus, or building your own. If you have an old tower that you are planning on throwing away, that lowers the price of building your own substantially.

Originally Posted by CollinsE90

I'd go with ASUS if I were OP

+1 if he's planning on buying and not building.

Build your own? Why a desktop? Maybe a laptop with a touch screen?

You're buying a desktop so reliability isn't as big an issue. All brands will have the same internal parts. That being said, I'd still go with a quality brand. For your budget, you'll be in the i3 range for the processor. I'd get the i5 so you aren't behind the world in 3 months. RAM isn't an issue, can always add more. Graphics card is a another thing you want the best you can afford.

Something like this would be good for you.


http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+E...&skuId=6957646

Okay so you want to start out with an ATX case with six 120mm fans, to cool your dual GTX690's in SLI.

No seriously, go over to HardForum and just tell them your budget and use, or look at the dozens of other similar threads and look into those components. Get an i3 or i5 Intel processor with integrated graphics, a base ATX motherboard, 6 or 8 GB RAM. A nice upgradable case is only about $100.

$400 will actually build a somewhat decent computer if you find the right prices.

A little higher than your price range, but

HP (Compaq) 6300 pro
Dell Optiplex 3010

I also ordered one of these recently: http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/Len...e/2862212.aspx
Its pretty legit, about the size of a Mac Mini..

Originally Posted by kuksul08

No seriously, go over to HardForum and just tell them your budget and use, or look at the dozens of other similar threads and look into those components.

I just checked, I have been on HardForum for a long time...

Join Date

04-10-2002

Total Posts

3,265

build your own. its super easy, kinda fun.

http://deals.woot.com/

Thanks for all the links/help, fellas. I think I'm shying away from building my own because I would rather have it sooner than later and between travel and work I won't have a ton of time to build anything.

Originally Posted by 'busa

Build your own? Why a desktop? Maybe a laptop with a touch screen?

I already have a laptop, and the wife has an ipad (work). I'm wanting this mainly for a home office that's dedicated to work and shtuff like that.

Lenovo is the best value IMO.

ie ..

Sale: $439.99

Reg. Price: $499.99
You Save:$60.00

Lenovo - IdeaCentre Desktop - 6GB Memory - 1TB Hard Drive

Model: K410 - 57308926 SKU: 6651257
Windows 8 64-bit
Technical details: 2nd Gen Intel® Core; i3 processor; 6GB memory; 1TB hard drive
Special features: HDMI output
Customer Reviews: 5 of 5 (2 reviews)

^^^I saw that one and it looks pretty nice, but for the price I wish it had a built in wireless receiver.

^ specs are a bit different.

http://www.staples.com/Lenovo-H430-5...&storeId=10001

2nd generation Intel® Core™ i3-2130 3.4GHz 3MB Cache Processor
4GB DDR3 1333 MHz Memory
1TB SATA Hard Drive

For $379.99

fatwallet.com lists good deals on technology/computers.

The next set of processors will start around the i5 speeds and go up. The i3 will be obsolete by summer. Unless you never use the computer, spending a little extra now on the processor and prolong the computers use will save in the long run.

Even if you get only 4GB of RAM, just add more later.

Edit: Lenovo is a good brand, too.