A new computer

Weasel · Post by **Weasel** » Mon Oct 29, 2001 1:25 am

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gateway 500X
$1399.00 ($1483.00 with shipping)

Processor
Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 1.5GHz

Memory
256MB SDRAM

Hard Drive
40GB Ultra ATA hard drive

Floppy Drive
3.5" 1.44MB diskette drive

CD-ROM
Recordable/ReWriteable CDRW

Video
32MB NVIDIA™ GeForce2 MX200 AGP Graphics

Keyboard
Multi-function Keyboard

Sound System
Integrated Stereo Audio

Case
Gateway Micro-Tower Case

Expansion Slots
3 PCI and 1 AGP

Controller
Integrated Ultra ATA Controller

Modem
56K PCI Modem

Network Adapter
Integrated 10/100 Ethernet

Internet Service Provider
1 Year America Online Internet Access

Anti-Virus Software
Norton Anti-Virus

Operating System
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition

Application Software
Microsoft® Works Suite 2001 - Including Microsoft® Word and Encarta

Monitor
15" LCD Flat Panel Display (15" viewable) (Limited Time ONLY)

Mouse
Logitech PS/2 Wheel Mouse and Gateway mouse pad

Speakers
GCS300™ Speakers

Home Network Solution
10MB USB Home Networking Adapter ........[ +US$59.00]

Limited Warranty Program
1 Year Limited Parts / Labor / Support

Joystick
Gravis Game Pad Pro USB ........[ +US$19.00]

Software Offer
I elect NOT to take the Two-$59 Software Bundles (By selecting this option, you elect NOT to get any $59 Software Bundles-Please remove the $59 Software Bundles that are selected for you) ........[ -US$99.00]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*First : Expansion Slots 3 PCI and 1 AGP ?

Is this enough?

*Second : Home Network Solution
10MB USB Home Networking Adapter ........[ +US$59.00]

Needed to run two computers thru one ISP?

*Third : Internet Service Provider 1 Year America Online Internet Access and Application Software Microsoft® Works Suite 2001 - Including Microsoft® Word and Encarta .

I'm going to try to have these took off.

*Fourth : Video
32MB NVIDIA™ GeForce2 MX200 AGP Graphics

There wasn't an option to move up to a 64MB one, but when I go to the Gateway store I will ask.

*Fifth : Operating System
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition

I'm using Windows 98 Second Edition now and really don't know if I want to move up to XP.

Thoughts

thantor3 · Post by **thantor3** » Mon Oct 29, 2001 2:27 am

Why a Gateway? Dell has consistently better customer service and equal or better systems. Or, if you are looking at a gaming machine, Alien Ware has some very attractive machines.

Processor
I prefer an Athalon. Benchmark scores are better, plus I would rather support them than Intel

Hard Drive
Which kind? I would do some research and see if you can specify. There are differences in quality.

CD-ROM
Again, which brand?

Video
Have you considered a GeForce 3 or GeForce 2 Ultra. 'Course, they are pricey...

Definitely dump AOL. Been on it for 4 years. Bites.

Operating System
In my experience, you usually don't have a choice of operating systems. Are they allowing you to choose? I'm using Windows SE, but I understand XP is more stable, which would be nice. The product activation feature of XP sounds like a pain, though.

Weasel · Post by **Weasel** » Mon Oct 29, 2001 2:55 am

Originally posted by thantor3:

Why a Gateway? Dell has consistently better customer service and equal or better systems. Or, if you are looking at a gaming machine, Alien Ware has some very attractive machines.

The computer I'm on now is a Gateway...and I have had little trouble with it. I guess it's like buying a car. I only buy GM, will not touch a Ford. Might think about a Toyota.

I believe Leedog has a Dell, so I might check in to one. Do you know if they have a site like Gateway where you can choose some of the options?

Originally posted by thantor3:


Processor
I prefer an Athalon. Benchmark scores are better, plus I would rather support them than Intel

See my answer above.

Originally posted by thantor3:


Hard Drive
Which kind? I would do some research and see if you can specify. There are differences in quality.

How can I find out the name? When I turn on the computer the writing at the beginning says something like Phoenix Fireball? Name brands? Speed?

Originally posted by thantor3:


CD-ROM
Again, which brand?

The one I have has a MITSUMI CD-ROM FX4821T!A.

Good brand?

Originally posted by thantor3:


Video
Have you considered a GeForce 3 or GeForce 2 Ultra. 'Course, they are pricey...

I'm going to try to go with a GeForce card....a 64MB one if possible.

Originally posted by thantor3:

Operating System
In my experience, you usually don't have a choice of operating systems. Are they allowing you to choose? I'm using Windows SE, but I understand XP is more stable, which would be nice. The product activation feature of XP sounds like a pain, though.

This is my worst thought.

I'm still running DirectX 7 because of the fear.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Mon Oct 29, 2001 6:47 am

@PCI AGP yep that should be enough

Are you going to add a lot of peripheral devices?

I don't think you need all that processer power, you should be alright with about a Gig

That system seems a bit expensive to me, you might want to check out Dell, they seem to more reasnoable in my experience, they also have better customer support

AOL infect your machine with crap, they change files and alter your machine so it is AOL specific, avoid if possible

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Mon Oct 29, 2001 8:58 am

@Weasel - check this out, click on home and office, select one of the featured desktops then click on the customise button to adjust specification...

[url="http://www.Dell.com"]www.Dell.com[/url]

btw all - I have had AOL for over three years and no problems

[ 10-29-2001: Message edited by: Yshania ]

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Mon Oct 29, 2001 9:02 am

Originally posted by Yshania:
btw all - I have had AOL for over three years and no problems

They are evil i tell you, plus i know that isn't true

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Mon Oct 29, 2001 9:05 am

@Mr Sleep - LOL!

I would not call the occasional crash problematic, or even AOLs fault. I had more problems with Freeserve that you wouldn't believe

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Mon Oct 29, 2001 9:20 am

Originally posted by Yshania:
@Mr Sleep - LOL!

I would not call the occasional crash problematic, or even AOLs fault. I had more problems with Freeserve that you wouldn't believe

True, however SOL are also not the internet as they try to claim, they are more like a small network, who happened to have a connection to the internet.

Saruman · Post by **Saruman** » Mon Oct 29, 2001 9:35 am

Weasel, 1 AGP slots, 3 PCI slots, intergrated sound and a micro tower case. Wow, sounds like a cut down system to me. Personally I would avoid it if at all possible.

I would go for a midi tower case with a full size mainboard instead with no intergrated sound or intergrated display, that way you can upgrade in the future to whatever takes your fancy.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Mon Oct 29, 2001 9:39 am

Originally posted by Saruman:
Weasel, 1 AGP slots, 3 PCI slots, intergrated sound and a micro tower case. Wow, sounds like a cut down system to me. Personally I would avoid it if at all possible.

I would go for a midi tower case with a full size mainboard instead with no intergrated sound or intergrated display, that way you can upgrade in the future to whatever takes your fancy.

i second that. in the long run you will save money.

aahhh money - I love the smell of sterling in the morning.

Saruman · Post by **Saruman** » Mon Oct 29, 2001 9:39 am

Oh yeah, one thing that I forgot to mention in my last post is that although flat screen TFT displays look pretty nifty in your home office and have a much smaller footprint than a traditional CRT screen they are rubbish for playing games on due to the screen update not being as good as a CRT, besides for the same money you spend on a 15" TFT you can get a decent 19" CRT.

Bloodstalker · Post by **Bloodstalker** » Mon Oct 29, 2001 10:11 am

I like XP. so far I am haing no problems with it.

I don't like Gateway, personal choice though.

I agree with Sleep, 1 gig is plenty, and costs a lot less.

Why not buy the parts and build yourself? I bought a case, motherboard and 1 gig processoer for les than 300 dollars. It is an Athlon, not a pentium, but I love it. Memory is cheap nowadays too.

Have you tried going to TigerDirect? They have great deals, and you should be able to put a system together for less than what you are talking about.

By the way, on board sound is awful in my opinion.

Silur · Post by **Silur** » Mon Oct 29, 2001 10:25 am

Originally posted by Weasel:
Hard Drive
40GB Ultra ATA hard drive

Make sure it's an ATA100 with lowest possible seek time.

CD-ROM
Recordable/ReWriteable CDRW

I dont know how good they are, but I'd opt for a DVD/CDRW combo anyway.

Sound System
Integrated Stereo Audio

Depends... Games tend to be more fun with a super 3d surround whatever sound system, so if games is a high priority, I'd choose something else.

Monitor
15" LCD Flat Panel Display (15" viewable) (Limited Time ONLY)

"Limited time" as in "the price will drop the week after"? I like TFT screens, but they're no good for fast action games, and so-so for movies.

*First : Expansion Slots 3 PCI and 1 AGP ?

Depends... Sofar I've never managed to use up more than three PCI slots, except on servers.

*Second : Home Network Solution
10MB USB Home Networking Adapter ........[ +US$59.00]

What for? IIf you need another network card, buy a 10/100MB PCI card instead. They're about $20 for a decent one.

Needed to run two computers thru one ISP?

In that case, there are plenty of better solutions than using one machine as gateway. Forinstance, Dlink has a small router/firewall that does address translation.

*Third : Internet Service Provider 1 Year America Online Internet Access and Application Software Microsoft® Works Suite 2001 - Including Microsoft® Word and Encarta .

Sounds painful. Most of those mess up your system (IMO) and clog up memory even though the programs aren't started. But then, I'm no great fan of M$, so don't trust me too much on this one

*Fourth : Video
32MB NVIDIA™ GeForce2 MX200 AGP Graphics

As with sound, if games is a high priority, go for whatever is "state of the art" according to game magazines. They usually do the appropriate tests (ie run all the latest games on them

).

*Fifth : Operating System
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition

Well, it's M$, so I say "stay away". On the other hand, you need to run some version of Windooze to run games, in which case I think ME is the current winner. There's something about XP in general that doesn't quite feel right, but at the moment I cant put my finger on it.

Hope this helps...

Minerva · Post by **Minerva** » Mon Oct 29, 2001 4:49 pm

Weasel, could you tell us what is your main usage of this computer, apart from spamming?

It really will make different how you use it. If your main purpose is power gaming, you should get the best graphic card and maybe sound card you can get. But, for example, I don't need them at all, because I mostly use Word processor and internet search.

Weasel · Post by **Weasel** » Mon Oct 29, 2001 4:54 pm

Originally posted by Minerva:
Weasel, could you tell us what is your main usage of this computer, apart from spamming?

Apart from communicating, gaming is the main use.

In my line of work, a computer doesn't help to much.

humanflyz · Post by **humanflyz** » Mon Oct 29, 2001 5:03 pm

Why don't you just build your own computer. The parts are soooooooooo cheap right now. I think it's the lowest it can possibly go. Jump on the wagon before you miss out.

I don't like to buy these big brand name computer because the companies put a lot of crap in your computer when you buy it. For example, they put a lot of their own utilities and software that you don't need. It would be just better if you can install a bare OS and get software from other people. When you try to uninstall some of the useless features, your computer messes up, at least in my HP computer.

Minerva · Post by **Minerva** » Mon Oct 29, 2001 5:04 pm

@Weasel: I have another question. Will you upgrade or add cards etc. later on by yourself?

(You know you cannot do that with duct-tape...

)

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Mon Oct 29, 2001 5:15 pm

@Weasel,
I had a computer custom built by Dell, and I have been very happy with both the computer and their customer service.

tinytim · Post by **tinytim** » Mon Oct 29, 2001 6:18 pm

well i have had my gateway for 2 years and have had only one minor prob, but gatway fixed if. they said it would take 2 weeks but i only took about 8 days. from my exp dell is more expensive and alien ware is even more exp but i would buy a alien comp be for dell just dont like dell. it like weasel said it like buying a car i would buy a gm never a FORD.
(weasel you can up grade the gateway just call and tell thenm what you want and look in to a athlon i love mine)

THE JAKER · Post by **THE JAKER** » Mon Oct 29, 2001 6:59 pm

Gran Torino Ever - El Camino Never!!!!

Hey Weasel! - I think you should get this new kind of computer - it's called an Apple 2! It's even better than the first apple, and it's a classic, too! I think you'll really be happy with it's state of the art (for 1983) performance!

(only through persuading Weasel to get a slow, antiquated computer will I ever be able to reduce his rate of "communication" and allow my own posting to catch up! He must fall for my evil plan!!)