Most affordable customizable computer site?

[MikeMGMVE]

Other than building it myself, which I'm tempted to do, but don't really have the ability/time/know-how, what are the best sites out there that offer relatively customizable, higher-end computers?

I bought an Alienware computer some 6 years ago. I still love it, and it's been extremely good to me - and yes, I know Alienware's prices are exorbitant (now anyway...), I wouldn't mid going with them again, but I guess I want something a little nicer looking, clean, and simple, but still powerful, and most importantly, affordable.

(I realize I probably should just find someone to help me build it myself...)

[Bodyslide]

Most of the major Brands, Gateway, Dell and HP allow this. Goodluck....

[wtsinnc]

www.ibuypower.com has a great website and allows for in-depth configuration. Each facet, from the case, power supply, processor, etc. is customizable and you get a running total as you make your selections. I know only one person who has done business with them, but that person is very happy with (their) purchase and having seen the end product I would strongly consider them for my next computer. In addition to really nice workmanship, I'm told they have excellent follow-up and knowledgeable tech support should the need arise. Obviously, Dell, HP, Gateway and the rest also offer some degree of customization, but nothing like ibuypower.

Good luck in your search.

[Nelson37]

Build it yourself, it's really not that hard. Recommend finding a local technician to assist for an hour or two, maybe swap your old unit. Or, just check back here regularly. Properly mounting the chip fan is the main danger area, most everything else, real damage is highly unlikely. It just won't work, but no damage done.

I'll also plug Newegg, good prices, good product, good service, fast shipping.

[MikeMGMVE]

I would probably transfer over stuff my alienware units. The cooling system is excellent, and the hard drives work fine, as well as the ram, plus I have a relatively new lightscribe dvd burner.. so no real reason not to keep some of that. I just know I need a new good motherboard, case (smaller... i love my alien, but it's just TOOO big)...

are there any good sites that have comparison's of these types of things?

thanks for all your help guys!

[TBoneit]

Go to the local PC store where they custom build to your specs.

Alienware = gamer in my mind.

SLI motherboard with lots of video memory, Large Power supply. Personal opinion XP not Vista. The newer processors use less energy than the old ones and generate less heat too.

The Same cooler used on a E6550 that was used on a Pentium D 3.0Ghz yielded a CPU that runs cooler for example. The Video cards will most likely put otu more heat than the CPU.

[fritzi93]

Building a computer isn't hard. I'd venture to say choosing/matching all the various parts to ensure they will work well together is the hard part. Want someone to help you? How about Redwudz' clear, simple guide:

http://pages.suddenlink.net/sredwudz/index.htm

[TBoneit]

A Couple of thoughts if you build it yourself.

The air flows out of the fan on the side that the wires go into the motor which should also be the side with the label that shows voltage, current, and sleeve bearing or ball bearing.

If you are doing a Intel 775 processor be carefull with the little plastic parts that go through the motherboard. It is easy to break some of them off. I see it here at work all the time. I like to be sure the HSF assembly is properly mounted by looking underneath the Mobo and ensuring that the plastic pin that spreads the white plastic is all the way through and tha they are even on all four attachments. Some of the aftermarket Socket 775 HSF's use a metal X on the backside of the Mobo and the HSF attaches with screws. Easier to ensure proper mounting as teh screws will only tighten to the proper point.

The HSF should put a small bow in the mobo to ensure proper attachment presure. This is normal on newer

[MikeMGMVE]

Well I'm definitely looking into an Intel or AMD quad-core processor. I have a friend who built her own computer before, so she'll be helping me find the parts that will work well together, and my sisters husband is an electrical engineer, and likes building things, including computers, so I should have plenty of help and support.

I do want it for some gaming, but mostly it's going to be used in converting my old VHS tapes and warehousing them.

I plan on getting an eeebox when it comes out, or down the line, and setting up mythtv on it to be able to view all my favorite things captured from my tapes (music fan, with 70 tapes of stuff). Originally i planned to convert to dvd, but never got around to it. I've been thinking of just converting to the h.264 codec to keep everything nice, clean and organized. But I need a machine with some power to do all the conversion work. My alien just doesn't run as fast as it used to, and while it still has a good processor, it is 6 years old, and times have changed.

[MikeMGMVE]

http://shop2.frys.com/product/5622961;jsessionid=b3eu7SpzpMA2NX2gLSS03w**.node3?site=s...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

This has alot of specs I want, and I'd almost consider just buying that - but personally speaking, I've never been a huge fan of HP's.... :/

[TBoneit]

Well lots of the HP desktops seem to use Customized ASUS mobos.

The one advantage of buying a brand name is that the restore disk installs drivers and the OS doesn't need activation. It installs pre-activated.

[SingSing]

I drive down to microcenter.

See: www.microcenter.com

[MikeMGMVE]

Well lots of the HP desktops seem to use Customized ASUS mobos.

The one advantage of buying a brand name is that the restore disk installs drivers and the OS doesn't need activation. It installs pre-activated.

That's also part of it. I mean, my alienware respawn disc doesn't seem to work anymore, but i have my own full copy of a newer windows, so installing it, I had to then re-install all my own drivers. A pain, a bit, but it wasn't the end of the world either.

Are HP's that bad? I've just always heard bad things about them. I dunno....

[budz]

IMHO build your own computer. You said you'll have lots of support in building one which is a big plus. Then after you build it you'll wanna build more in the future.

[Megahurts]

I bought the Intel version of the HP media center from BB for $1K. It had all the specs your model has + an HD capture card.

I wanted to install XP so I had to partition the 750GB HD. The smallest partition for the C drive that Vista allowed was 325GB. All other partitions could be any size after that. Probably could have used other SW to partition better.

After partitioning, I tried to install XP but the competer wouldn't let me. Maybe is was the version of Vista that comes with HP. After all that trouble I found out there are no XP drivers for anything in that computer.

Capturing from the HD card was not a .ts file but a downsized 1440x480 mpeg file. Hardly hidef.

I wanted to install my Blu-ray burner but the way the DVD bays are setup, I couln't do it.

Hardly enought room to install another HD but you can buy a drive from HP that slides in the vertical door on the left side.

I returned it before the 14 day return limit.

Ended up building a computer with parts from Newegg and saved $400.

[MikeMGMVE]

Sounds like a good idea Mega. Can I ask what your specs are?

I need to open up my PC to check out what kind of ram I have, so I can carry the 2 1GB modules over to a new mobo that will recognize it, as well as getting 2 more GB (i want 4 total). As a newbie - do you typically buy the mobo's with or without the processors? I know I want an AMD or Intel Quad-Core processor. What kind of cooling unit would these require as well?

I'll likely carry over just my Lightscribe DVD/CD burner - IF it's dual-layer. I need to double check on that, I believe it may be. If not, I'll opt for a new one.

Mostly, I just want to transfer all of my video tapes (collection of music artists' appearances I've collected over the last 10 years) to video files. I have an ADVC-100 that still works brilliantly. Initially I wanted to burn DVD's, but the process just seems like it will take too ridiculously long, and the way I am with my computer, it seems like having it at my finger tips on a hard-drive would be the better way to go. I was going to convert to h.264 - since you can really nice quality for decent file-sizes that will still look clean on a tv.

So mid-tower, mobo, processor, 2 more GB of ram, and possibly a new DVD/burner.

What about sound-cards, video cards, and adding USB and firewire ports? Any suggestions?

[mats.hogberg]

Never buy brand name PCs (if it's not laptops). Build your own, or stroll down to your local PC store and have them build it for you, to your specs.
USB and FireWire is usually already on the mobo. Gfx card depends on if you're a gamer or not (but then you're better off with a PS3!).

/Mats

[MikeMGMVE]

I'm not a huge a gamer, but do dabble occassionally, I guess I'd like to have something just in case.

[budz]

Sounds like a good idea Mega. Can I ask what your specs are? I need to open up my PC to check out what kind of ram I have, so I can carry the 2 1GB modules over to a new mobo that will recognize it, as well as getting 2 more GB (i want 4 total). As a newbie - do you typically buy the mobo's with or without the processors? I know I want an AMD or Intel Quad-Core processor. What kind of cooling unit would these require as well?

If your ALIENWARE pc is over 6 years old, you probably won't be able to use that ram in your new computer. Socket 775 mobo's as well as AMD 2 mobo's use DDR2 RAM such as DDR2 667,& DDR2 800. You're more than likely have to BUY ALL NEW RAM.

As suggested you could just go down to a local pc shop and let them know what components you want and let them build it for you. Or just build it yourself. Also most mobo's now only have ONE IDE connection so if your hard drives are all IDE as well as your LIGHTSCRIBE DVD burner then you'll have to sacrifice one for the other. Best would be to buy a new SATA HARD DRIVE that way you can free up the one ide for your DVD burner. Just my 2 cents!

[videobread]

I swear by HP Workstations: http://www.hp.com/sbso/busproducts-workstations.html

They are reasonably priced and professionally designed. The latest chipsets/motherboard/processor combo's. A lot of people don't know the difference between a PC and a Workstation. You get what you pay for.

[wtsinnc]

Some pretty good information/guides for building your own.

http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/15009/1

[TBoneit]

Some stray thoughts.

Building your own will cost more than ready made from a brand name maker.

Building your own allows much more control.

Not enough IDE ports? Add a controller card. The Silicon Image based cards seem to work OK and are cheap.

The new Motherboards will be DDR2 or DDR3 and that old Alienware is most likely DDR.

I would not buy a ready made computer if you are the kind of person that is always changing things.

Having said that I am not afraid to buy a ready made, since the days I modify everything are more or less past. My old computer case could hold up to 12 drives total. My old motherboard had 2 SATA plus 3 IDE ports. Now I sprung for a Dell Quad since it could hold 2 optical, two SATA hard disk drives and a floppy and that is enough since the drives have gotten so large in capacity. I couldn't have built it any cheaper and by the time I added in the cost a XP license it was cheaper. I bought with 2Gb and have two more memory slots, the built-in video is good enough but I can put in a PCI express video card. I've been building my own since the time I put together my first MS-DOS computer a XT Clone. I just couldn't justify it this time. The Dell runs quiet and cool. And I don't even use the built-in DVD burner. It sits next to the TV set and I use a USB burner that I bring over to where I'm sitting when I want to burn. Wireless Keyboard and Mouse and TV for display and I'm set. I've simplified my life. I plug in a USB external for backups if needed and that is it. My capture device is USB and sits over by the DVR.

BTW anything you build should run cool these days as long as you don't go with the older power hungry chips. The new processors will save you money on your electric bill too.

Good Luck