Thread: Your Advice on My Computer Purchase?

Originally Posted by danzik17

Find a good laptop with a cheap 5400 RPM hard drive. Replace said hard drive with an OCZ Vertex SSD or Intel G2. Win.

I did about 2 days worth of reading and digging to determine the best way to maximize performance of my next rig cost effectively.

The OCZ looks like a solid choice. The real expense comes at the hands of the controller. Most motherboards have dogshit SATA controllers, and you lose more than half of what you could have if you had a good controller.

Picking the right laptop mobo is as important as what SSD you pick.

Staples - HP Core i7 Pavilion dv7-4071nr 17.3" Laptop for $774.98 AC + Tax (B&M Kiosk Order Only) - SlickDeals.net Forums

Pretty damn good deal

I appreciate the feedback about the hard drive. That's exactly what I needed to know. Assuming I don't want to upgrade anything other than RAM after the purchase, what should I look for in a HD aside from the speed? I'm ignorant, here. I'm fine changing the RAM, but that's it. Maybe I'll pass on warranty.

Originally Posted by Pirate!

I appreciate the feedback about the hard drive. That's exactly what I needed to know. Assuming I don't want to upgrade anything other than RAM after the purchase, what should I look for in a HD aside from the speed? I'm ignorant, here. I'm fine changing the RAM, but that's it. Maybe I'll pass on warranty.

Honestly it's really easy to swap out the HDD. Even if you don't want an SSD, I saw a 7200RPM 500GB 2.5" drive for like 60$ on bensbargains.net the other day. Much cheaper than you're going to get from Dell.

Originally Posted by LikeARock

I have to say that's some bad advice. Go with the best processor you can than if you need down the road you can add RAM, its super cheap.

how many people do think are going to do that ?

plus it voids some warranties

desktop i could see doing this

Originally Posted by ROID

how many people do think are going to do that ?

plus it voids some warranties

desktop i could see doing this

Processors are really easy to change out on a laptop too....if you buy a laptop with a mobo that is compatible to the cpu you want. Just open the keyboard. But I agree, buy a laptop with a good cpu and then if you get the laptop cheap enough, change out the hdd for SSD and more ram.

Originally Posted by ROID

plus it voids some warranties

This is incorrect. There is no major manufacturer that will void your warranty if you add RAM. The only "gotcha" is that the manufacturer doesn't have to support it. In other words, if your self-installed RAM malfunctions, they won't have to troubleshoot it.

Originally Posted by DOMS

This is incorrect. There is no major manufacturer that will void your warranty if you add RAM. The only "gotcha" is that the manufacturer doesn't have to support it. In other words, if your self-installed RAM malfunctions, they won't have to troubleshoot it.

some still have warranty seals.

I'm not gonna argue about it. I dont care.

this is my story and I'm sticking to it.

i love you

Originally Posted by ROID

some still have warranty seals.

I'm not gonna argue about it. I dont care.

this is my story and I'm sticking to it.

i love you

For major manufacturers, there are no seals on either the RAM or HD housings. Actually, they've made it very easy to replace these items. It used to be that you had to take the keyboard off to get at them. Now, all it takes it removing one, maybe two, screws.

I love you, too!

BTW, I bought a 17" Dell Studio 17 with i7 and 6G RAM. 7200RPM 500 G. It's perfect for me. Cost $1,031 on Amazon with no tax. No matter how much I throw at it, it never slows down. Screen size/resolution allows me to simultaneously operate Word, Excel, PowerPoint and internet browser on screen.
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you want to max out the RAM, it's the single and most expensive performance upgrade for any computer. for that I would check out RAM Memory Upgrade: Dell, Mac, Apple, HP, Compaq. USB drives, flash cards, SSD at Crucial.com. I would also go with the SSD if that's an option, eliminating all the moving parts increases the reliability of the device.

Huh? No RAM is cheap, that's why it's always the best route. 8GB of gaming RAM for my PC cost me less than $200. A top of the line Video card could run you $500 and a new processor could go up to an easy grand

Originally Posted by ROID

some still have warranty seals.

I'm not gonna argue about it. I dont care.

this is my story and I'm sticking to it.

i love you

Roid is correct. There are a few vendors that put a sticker on the ram and hard drive. You have to tear the sticker to take the part out. Gateway told me they wouldn't honor my 3 year warranty because the sticker seal was broken when I sent it in after a meltdown.

It's rare but it happens.

Originally Posted by TheGreatSatan

Huh? No RAM is cheap, that's why it's always the best route. 8GB of gaming RAM for my PC cost me less than $200. A top of the line Video card could run you $500 and a new processor could go up to an easy grand

I think it was a typo.

Goody

Originally Posted by LAM

you want to max out the RAM, it's the single and most expensive performance upgrade for any computer. for that I would check out RAM Memory Upgrade: Dell, Mac, Apple, HP, Compaq. USB drives, flash cards, SSD at Crucial.com. I would also go with the SSD if that's an option, eliminating all the moving parts increases the reliability of the device.

that was a typo I meant inexpensive

And I would get it from Newegg, not directly from the manufacturer

newegg for the win also sometimes ebay but newegg def .