How'd I buy new PC?

what's a good place to buy pre-built or custom-built PCs? I'd build one myself but I'm a big fucking n00b and dangerously prone to static electricity.

I'm looking to spend around $1200 for a new PC (to run Vista but mostly b\c of DX10). My only requirements for the new computer is to have 2GB of RAM and a Dual Core Duo 2 CPU (preferably greater than E6400). However, it seems I can't find any PC from retail or the usual online places (DELL, HP) with a CPU better than Core Duo 2 E6400 (looking for atleast e6600). Am I overdoing it with the CPU?

   ESD is a non-issue if you build on linoleum while not wearing a sweater. I learned to build my own boxes at 55 and I'm a right brained English major.
    You could try a local shop and ask the resident geeks what they charge to assemble your parts on a private commission. Go here;
http://forums.anandtech.com/default.aspx
   You'll learn what's good and what's a headache.
   Your cpu could have impressed a Cray Supercomputer of a few years back. Why the DX10? Video games or rendering engine?

   Pricewatch.com for shopping
   Resellerratings.com to check the vendor
   Newegg.com for purchase or price comparisons.

   Building a box is 95% research on the components and 5% monkey work assembly. Puters are very by the book. Use the manual and ask questions if you're stumped. The motherboard mfg's have forums that support those boards.

   If you build it you'll be able to keep it clean, check out it's cooling and replace and/or upgrade it's parts.
   Vista will likely follow previous OS releases and need a year to get the bugs worked out. The rule used to be to at least wait for the first service pack before buying.

www.apple.com

No Snapple, it's for Ipods or wussies.

>>2
Exactly, there are too many variables in deciding what to buy and to put together, it's overwhelming. I followed the link you gave and browsed for a while and I'm still iffy about what I need.

As for DX10, yeah, it's mostly for the games (though I probably wont get a DX10 graphics card for some time).

Anybody hear anything good about ibuypower.com or cyberpowerpc.com? They seem to offer custom built PC with more options than Dell or HP.

    You need to use that referral to Resellerratings.com. I typed in ibuypower and got this:
http://www.resellerratings.com/store/iBUYPOWER
Six-Month Rating: 4.67 / 10 (Terrible!)

   A bit of digging on cyberpower fetched this:

"The puter i am on right now was purchased from Cyberpower. Would not buy from them again. The computer would always crash when i was running extensive stuff, i.e. games. Figured it was overheating, so to combat it i just opened the case and blew a box fan in it 24/7. Everytime i called to talk to tech support, i had to ask for another rep because i could not understand the quasi-english they were attempting to speak. The problem was not discovered until the processor and mb burnt up. After $700 out of my pocket to fix it imediately, b/c it is a home/business computer, we discovered that the wizards at Cyberpower had forgotten to remove the packing tape from the processor's heat sink! About 4 months later and a few stern phone calls, they did eventually replace the processor and mb. Anywhoo, those are my 2 cents."

http://www.resellerratings.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26439

   Having an unknown person putting together your box can be hell. Better someone in your own area you can strangle if need be.

   If you research the hardware you'll need for specific games it may put you in a better financial position regarding the video card you want. Past 800 mhz most power is icing. A game may require a good bit more but both AMD and Intel sell powerful cpu's that should easily cover your needs.
   Find out if there is a local computer club near you. Lots of people enjoy giving back what they've learned.

^^^^^^ = ?

go to www.apple.com

ok, looks like there's no easy way to get a good computer without having to do some research, though I wish there was a definitive guide for what to buy. But then, I'll probably wait for Vista to be released anyways...

>>7
I never really got the appeal of Macs, really. They look real sleek and it seems they can do every than a PC can now, but the price point and seeing how they have a monopoly on parts (correct me if I'm wrong) is a bit of a turn-off.

>>8

Also the hardest part about being a Mac user is turning gay first, after that it's all very easy.

Simple. Go to your local garage sale, buy the cheapest computer you can find, go home and dust it off, install BSD.

   This was my reference years ago when I was constantly building.
http://www.tomshardware.com/

Anandtech will give you people to ask whatever you want.
http://forums.anandtech.com/default.aspx

    You're either prey for the Dells or you get educated.

>>8
Macs have the following advantages over PCs:
- Braindead luser fucktard-proof

And the following disadvantages:
- $5000 please
- 4 times more monopolistic, more propietary and more DRM shit than Microsoft
- Stupid waste of system resources on shit for lusers
- Apple only appeals to fags

>>12

- You could just as easily configure a dell (for example) of a similar spec to be $5000
- That would be true like ten years ago but since then apple use standard components/connectors for hardware and you can run pretty much any Windows or Linux version. Of cousre not if your a fucktard.
- There is more DRM in Windows than Mac OS X
- Lol vista
- NO U

you can build your own Mac after x86 too

>>14
but nobody does it because macs suck

>>13
- Dude, you get a Dell! If it's too expensive, don't. You can buy an awesome PC for $800.
- Still, 4 times more monopolistic, propietary and DRM ridden than Microsoft. It's even got hardware DRM, for fuck's sake.
- No
- Vista is a piece of shit that sucks even more then OS X, and it's not out yet so I wasn't comparing it
- MACFAG

>>13
Why would you buy the Dell if you'd have to replace it completely?

"but nobody does it because macs suck
  
   I used to crunch numbers for a distributed computing project. There was a Mac team too and when a new faster Mac came out they all bought one.
   Many cries of "hawt or hawtest, fastest computer evah?" The Mac team remained near last place as all the Windows boxen continued to increase their leads.
   Macfags are great fun to mock.

Vista has the DRM virus (not actually a virus, but to me it is)

drm in os x:
TPM check for OS X Intel
...
... fairplay if you want to buy drm music?
... dashboard widgets are checked for integrity?
.. um

drm in xp and vista:
windows activation
wga
office activation
wmp wga activation ie wga activation probably fucking solitaire wga activation
license key server shit
LOL PROTECTED AUDIO CHANNEL SHIT
AACS
hdcp
driver signing
even the fucking serial you have to type to install it

apple does not = ZOMG DRM, at least not yet. bitch about tpm all you want but it doesn't affect macfags' lives in any meaningful way, unlike the multitude of shit you have to put up with

oh yeah did you remember the proprietary formats? windows does plenty more of that than apple (though apple is hardly a model of format openness)

>>18
who the fuck cares anymore, mac advocates are talking about desktop macs 99% of the time not servers, and mac servers are all intel now so they're just the same as anything else but with the cheapest server software that's not gpl\bsd.

your bitching about powerpc is out of date. macs = your prized generic x86 pcs with os x and a nice case\form factor, for a premium that ranges from nothing to 20%.

>>1
www.apple.com

>>20
No DRM in my Linux?  Linux sucks.

>>20
First, you can't compare against Vista because it's not out. Vista is pure AIDS and it's targetted at being even worse than Apple stuff. But the current Windowses are XP and 2003.  Second, Office is not part of Windows. Third, fairplay features the worse kind of DRM implemented to date, messing with your files.

Enjoy your AIDS Applefaggot. Oh, and x86 Macs come at an extra cost ranking from 20% to ITS OVER NINE THOUSAAAAAAND!, including the popular "$5000 please" standard line.