I needs teh computah halp! - Modern Warfare 2 Forum: Free Call of Duty MW2 Community

Keegs · 01-15-2011, 04:41 AM

Ohais. Yeah, well, I want to get a new computer, and found a desktop that i'm interested in. The only thing is, I need to know if I will be able to connect it (Dell Inspiron 580?) to my WiFi which is placed downstairs. Do I need some sort of router, or can I connect it straight away? Or is it impossible?

**abc** · 01-15-2011, 09:52 AM

If you have a wireless router already (which it sounds like you do. Wireless router = a router with built in wifi) then to connect a PC it either needs a USB wireless adapter or a built in PCI wireless adapter. USB adapters are a much better idea. They are relatively cheap and can be bought anywhere. Bear in mind wireless is THE worst option that exists for gaming.

No idea what exists in Aus, but it'd be extremely beneficial to see what local computer stores can offer to custom build you for your budget.

Keegs · 01-15-2011, 07:33 PM

Nah don't worry abc I'm just going to get myself a good laptop with built in WiFi as the Desktop I wanted didn't have that. The laptop I've found is just as good as the desktop, probably better anyway

**abc** · 01-16-2011, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keegs

The laptop I've found is just as good as the desktop, probably better anyway

I simply do not believe my eyes lol.

As a serious point, $800 can custom build a desktop which is faster than the world's fastest laptop. Electronics get hot, and trying to pack a lot of it into a tiny space (i.e. a laptop) is inherently a bad idea made even worse when the laptop user says "right, I want to power all of this, power hungry, high-performance electronics from a battery!" The end story is that all the components in laptops (e.g. CPU, GFX card, RAM, memory etc) are very cut-down versions (to save battery power & heat) of what you get in desktops. To ~~confuse people further~~ make their products understand they use the same names from desktop and laptops even thought the hardware is cut down or, in some cases, COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. So, a desktop "nVidia GeForce GT 240" (costing $80 btw because it's easier to make and more are sold for desktops) is typically about TWICE as fast as a laptop "nVidia GeForce GT 240" (costing $110...) So, for serious performance, either spend $2000+ on a laptop and don't complain when it runs out of battery after 5 hours (if it hasn't overheated and shutdown by then!) or stick to desktops.

As far as desktops go, it helps to think who they are made for. Dell make computers for average joe who wants to check his emails and use MS word to type up a report - and Dell are actually quite good at mass producing hundreds of thousands of low spec computers at low prices. Whereas smaller more specialised companies are targetted at users who can't buy what they want from people like Dell - namely reliable, bespoke and often high performance systems. The cheapest way to get the fastest computer is to build it yourself - you need to have patience and be grown up about it, but it's not as hard as it sounds!

Seems an odd reason to go straight for (what is porbably a much slower) a laptop - those non built-in USB adapters are better for gaming, watching videos and downloading stuff than built-in adapters, cost about $15 and are as complicated as plugging in a memory stick (pen drive or whatever the rest of the world calls them) or any other USB cable!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keegs

Nah don't worry abc

P.S. glad to read this BEFORE replying to your PM haha! If gaming performance is still the goal then NOTHING even comes close to a custom built system, the specs talked about in Voodoo (he's in AUS too so the prices etc are good to refference) come in $400 under budget and, straight to the point, will be faster than any laptop in the world!

Keegs · 01-16-2011, 05:58 PM

I don't look to get a laptop (or desktop) for gaming, just to clarify. I'm in need of something I can use for design, video editing, and production in music. Sure, I might load up CS:S on it, but I won't get CoD.

As for the brand, that's my problem. I have found about 5 laptops with all the same processor, memory, just about everything, but made by different companies. I'm probably going with Dell, but then there's Acer to think about.

And 99% of the time, I do have my current (very shitty) laptop plugged in. I don't know if that matters though.

I think i'll take my chances with the laptop, but thanks for all the help

EDIT: On second thoughts, I will try to get the desktop. I know exactly what to get, except i'm still confused when it comes to WiFi. I don't know if USB Adapters work the same way here. THIS is the page of all the WiFi adapters on offer at my local electronics store. Would you mind having a look and see if that's what you're talking about? Thanks

**abc** · 01-17-2011, 11:46 AM

That is the sort of thing I mean but err wow at the price. Don't get ripped off, be smart, shop around. In voodoo's what PC to buy thread he had a friend recommend him this website for computer components etc. On there the adapters start at $13 not $60... (look under "USB/Compact Flash Wireless Adapters")

Don't really know what you're thinking about USB adapters, it's pretty darn simple once you get it. It works exactly the same as anything with wifi with the exception you have to plug it in...

1) plug adapter into your comp
2) it will pick up all the wifi networks within say 50m
3) pick the one that belongs to you and enter password if applicable
4) do internet things

Good to hear that you know what you want (tho you keep changing your mind haha!) Just to clarify although not as intensive as gaming, video/photo/audio encoding (unlike say typing a letter on MS word) still benefits from very good components. Quad cores are defo worth it as they will render/encode videos literally twice as quick as a dual core in most circumstances! Don't forget a massive hard drive to keep all the HD content on!

oneinchwunda · 01-17-2011, 01:00 PM

I'm sure that a hex core AMD would be perfect for his needs, and within his budget if no GPU is required.

**abc** · 01-17-2011, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oneinchwunda

I'm sure that a hex core AMD would be perfect for his needs, and within his budget if no GPU is required.

Love how I literally forget that 6 core CPUs exist.

Keegs · 01-17-2011, 05:37 PM

Okay, thanks for your help. I think the desktop i'm getting has a Duo core, which should cut it for me. I'll go into the shop in the next few days to buy all the parts, and maybe get them to throw in a WiFi Adapter for free with the PC

**abc** · 01-18-2011, 07:16 AM

Ok, I mean obviously it's your money so it's up to you, but I'm just letting you know that for the same price as that Dell you could build yourself a much MUCH faster gaming & editting PC, have one custom built or you could buy the Dell which will be rubbish for games and slow at editting.

I guess examples/proof helps rather than just saying "faster, slower, very, much" etc?! This is taken from a post in voodoo's "build me a comp" thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fandom Ruck

$112 P7P55-LX P55 - On one hand it's a motherboard, but on the other hand all of the components in this proposed build are higher quality than what Dell uses. This means they work better and last longer.
$312 i7 870 - The i3 is the slowest/cheapest "group" of proccessors that Intel do, whereas the i7, like this one, is the highest group that Intel do. This one is a quad core that has a special feature which can effectively give it 8 cores.
$132 ATI HD5770 - As it's not a gaming PC for you, you don't have to spend this much on graphics cards, but this ATI card will play all modern games on high or highest settings.
$112 Centurion 5 II + 500W PSU - A case and a power supply
$59 Corsair 4GB (2x 2GB) RAM - 4GB of DDR3 RAM from a great brand
$96 Samsung 2TB Spinpoint F3 Ecogreen - Massive 2000 GB of storage for all your videos/music/photos etc

$823 Total - All for less than that dual core Dell

Now, that proposed build isn't perfect, but it gives a general idea of what you can get from a custom build.

This chart Bench - CPU - AnandTech :: Your Source for Hardware Analysis and News shows the i3 (the CPU the Dell has. shown in blue) vs the i7 870 (the sort of CPU you could afford in a custom build) You can see that in things like Sony Vegas 8 and Photoshop the i7 is around twice as fast, whilst in x264 rendering (making HD videos basically) it's over twice as fast.

oneinchwunda · 01-18-2011, 08:53 AM

I had nothing better to do:

Umart Computer Notebook&PC Parts - Umart Online® Your one stop Computer Shop for computer parts,notebook and new system

EDIT: Fail forum resizing. Click on it to read it properly.

Keegs · 01-18-2011, 06:00 PM

:/

Now i'm confused.

oneinchwunda · 01-18-2011, 07:10 PM

Buy it.
Build it.
End up with a much better PC that will not only be more than twice as quick as the Dell for encoding etc., it will also play games well.
????
Profit.

**abc** · 01-20-2011, 06:21 AM

alright start from the beggining

you can get a computer in three ways:

1) Buy one which is "pre built" (sometimes reffered to as OEM, e.g. a Dell, Acer, Compaq etc) The obvious benefit is that it comes assembled and good to go. The disadvantage is that they are a company. They HAVE to make a profit and so you are paying say $800 for a system where all the parts cost $400. Another disadvantage is these computers are designed for everyday stuff and not high performance stuff like video editting or gaming, I mean of course they'll do it but they'll be extremely slow. The final disadvantage is that because they have to make a profit they use the cheapest lowest quality parts available.

2) You could buy from a local small PC shop. You can negotiate, yes they still need to make a profit but they will be knowledgable and flexible. You can say for example that you have $800 and want a 6 core system with 4GB of RAM and a large hard drive. They will then work with you to price something up and build it for you.

3) Third and best option for getting the fastest PC for the least money. You buy all the bits seperately (CPU, GFX card, RAM, etc) and put it together yourself. A massive advantage is cost, because there is no middle man that has to make a profit you can buy things much cheaper. To prove this, dell will sell you a dual core system, 4GB of RAM, decent size HDD etc for $800 ish, whereas the two lists of parts that me and oneinch have suggested include a 6-core CPU, 4GB of RAM, a huge 1 or 2 TB hard drive and for when you want some fun a high end gaming GFX card worth $100+ and all this also comes to just $800. Also building it yourself is educational AND you can use higher quality parts so it will last much longer without breaking.

So if you are confident enough (and building a PC is much easier than it sounds!) then option 3 is the best as it's almost a sort of 50% discount on anything you see in from Dell etc. If you're not too confident then option 2 is still great because you do save a bit of money (not as much as building it yourself, but you still save money) but it will be built by a specialist PC shop (who btw know much more about computers than anyone in dell's indian call center) and come with a warranty.

Keegs · 01-20-2011, 06:34 AM

I already bought my computer

So far it's running extremely fast, no lag or problems whatsoever. So, I'm happy.

oneinchwunda · 01-20-2011, 11:28 AM

Just out of curiosity (or maybe so we can laugh at your terrible mistake), what did you buy? I really hope it wasn't the Dell.

If your not sure of the specs etc., download CPU-Z which will tell you pretty much all of them.

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