Hi, I have a choice between a Gateway Desktop PC (GT5012) and a Gateway Desktop PC (838GM). I know the 2.8ghz is real close to the 3.0ghz but how much faster is the 3.0ghz? Will I even be able to tell the deference in speed when I'm encoding? I do muti task a lot, but I would like the fastest processor I can afford. What do you guys think of the integrated graphics and sound?. Which pc do you think is the best choice? Thanks. http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid...ategorylist.do/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do#tabs http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/prod...broadvision.session.new=Yes&BV_UseBVCookie=No
I wouldnt buy a gateway if I got a reach around for buying it...lol. So much better and cheaper building your own. Plus more satisfying. Plus I have heard many horror stories bout gateway is sickening.
Yes keep away from Gateway, Dell and all the rest of the pre-built brands. You will not get value for money, and when you want to upgrade you will be stuck with built in hardware just sitting there doing nothing. Everything is built into the motherboards, so there is no chance to sell on components after they become redundant through upgrades. They make money by sticking cheap parts together and making it sound like a high spec system. Computer performance is not just about the CPU speed and how much memory you have, it is about having the right quality parts connected with compatible parts all giving a better result. Why are they putting a 800MHz FSB chip with 533 memory, this straight away drops the performance of the CPU to below what it should be. How many memory slots are on board, if only 2 you can bet the 2 are filled with 2x512 mem sticks, so if you upgrade then you'll be left with memory that is no good to you. If you actually take each part they are offering and price it out, you'll find you really are getting ripped off. Are they supplying the original software disks, as these deals usually end up with customers with no way to reload their computers? The service you are paying for in the price, is also not worth bothering with, you will only ever get very basic help. Also try and read the customer reviews, they list the average scores and say there are 2 reviews, but you can't see them if you try to read them. If you need any help putting a shopping list together for a similar spec PC then just ask, people here will be more than happy to oblige, and give advise on setting things up if required, it's not hard and is as stated before very enjoyable.
funny i recommend dell to my customers if you want ready built they are cheap and the stuff is solid state so there is little to go wrong don't let peoples bias stop you getting a good deal go for the best you can afford at the time first time computer owners have very little chance of building and configuring a reliable system interestingly the 2.8 seems the faster system out of your choices but i think the moniters are extra look around more you can buy a complete system for that money
Quote; "first time computer owners have very little chance of building and configuring a reliable system". I simply cannot believe that an Afterdawn member would say such complete & utter nonsense! Most here know of the inferior parts that these companies use, firmware & driver updates are limited. I would avoid them like the plague. I was a 1st time computer builder, I did a reasonable job of my first PC. My second was better, due to my knowledge of building my first. So how does someone learn if they do not try it for themselves? Steven01, does yourself a HUGE favour & build your own. Shop bought PCs are a waste of time & money. Aftersales on most is appalling.
Where can I go to build my own system? I don't think circuitcity allows people to do that, or do they? But anythings better than the computer I have now which is a 6 year old gateway 433mhz with 384mb ram. The mouse can barely move on it, lol! So, you guys think the 2.8 is faster? Hmmm, I thought higher mhz would be faster? As for upgrading I think it has pci slots which would make upgrading a snap right? So, if I do get the 2.8 system all I have to do is upgrade with a sound card, a graphics card, and faster memory and I'll be all set right?
It sounds like your gonna buy one of these PC's regardless of what any of us say. Like many people are telling you, these types of system are a waste of money (end of story). You'll have to expect that on a forum like this, most people will try and help with honest opinions. It doesn't say what make of motherboard it is, or memory, no mention of PSU wattage, or spare PCI slots, no make and speed of DVD writer and the second drive is a CD ROM, who the hell puts one of them in a PC any more (no one) unless your cutting costs. What make is this robust HDD, until you get this PC home, you'll have no real idea of what you’re buying. If as said you’re gonna get one of these, then get the (GT5012) that would be an obvious choice as it has a better CPU and more memory. Dual core will enable you to have better performance if running multiple apps, plus it will allow you to go XP64 if wanted later. This lot took me 10 minutes to find, and I don’t live in the US. ASUS P5LD2-VM Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 945G Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $106.00 Intel Pentium D 820 Smithfield 800MHz FSB LGA 775 Dual Core, EM64T Processor Model BX80551PG2800FN - Retail $246.99 Antec Solution SLK2650-BQE Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 350W Power Supply - Retail $75.00 NEC Black IDE DVD Burner Model ND-3540A - OEM $38.99 LITE-ON Black IDE DVD-ROM Drive Model SOHD-16P9S Black - OEM $22.99 HITACHI Deskstar 7K80 HDS728080PLA380 -0A30356 80GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $53.50 x 2 set to RAID 0 160GB total capacity. GeIL DDR 2 Series 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Unbuffered DDR2 533 (PC2 4300) Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail $86.44 DCT Factory OG-1060 2.1 Speaker - Retail $10.00 Logitech Cordless Desktop Optical Black RF Wireless Keyboard - OEM $24.95 Thos lot will still cost only $720 + Delivery from newegg, I don't know what shops others can recommend in the US, as I'm in the UK . This will give you a good make of motherboard, although it is not top end, you could spend a bit more and get a better board. The same dual core processor and heatsink. Good quality case and more importantly PSU. Quality memory with room for another 2 to go to 2GB later. SATA 2 drives in RAID 0 will blow away any ATA 100 drive in read/write speed. A good burner and the quickest ROM drive on the market to enable quick copying of films without having to swap disks over half way through. A very cheap pair of speakers and keyboard if needed just to get it working. This will still have the onboard sound and graphics you would have got before. Just use the licence from your old machine, or get a cheap copy of XP media from somewhere if required.
Thanks webhedreg. That setup looks good. The reason I'm hesitate to build one is because I've never done it before. I think I'm gonna take your advice and go for it. I hope I don't mess anything up. I've never shopped at newegg.com before but, it looks like a nice site.
I've just spotted a mistake in my spec. The motherboard is sata 2 compatible but does not support RAID. I can either take a look at some alternatives on the motherboard, or you could proceed with just the 1 drive or more but not using raid. If you want me to look at some alternatives, are you prepared to look at AMD instead of Intel, personally my choice every time?
steven01 Take a look at this site. It is very basic but will give you a good idea on what you will do to build your own system. If it looks like something you can handle, go for it. http://www.buildyourowncomputer.net/learntobuild.html Everyone one here will be more than happy to help with any question you have. And building your own is much more rewarding than buying from Gateway or Dell. Newegg is a VERY company to deal with. Very reliable and ship very fast. Good Luck
Hmmm, don't really like amd too much and the one drive should suit just fine. The one you listed is a little small though. I'm looking for something like 200+ gigs.
Okay HITACHI Deskstar T7K250 HDT722516DLA380 (0A31637) 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $77.00 HITACHI Deskstar T7K250 0A31636 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $106.00 I have a mate using Hitachi, and so far they are very quick and reliable. I tend to use Western Digital or Seagate, but most should be fine. Also get a 4 pin power to SATA power converter, the serial sata cables come with the board. Plus some extra heatsink compound in case you need it later on and a wrist strap for anti-static protection when building.
I just bought the GT5012 and I was happy for the first "week". The CDROM drive has totaly quit working and the system does not even think it is installed. It won't open either. The system takes FOREVER to reboot and it's running slow as hell. I have been on the phone with gateway for two straight evenings trying to get to the bottom of it. They are sending me the proper windows restoration software. webhedreg, you are right about the memory slots and the lock of original software cds in this package. I can't even get the thing to restore to it's original state less than a week ago. I'm seriosly thinking about taking it back and doing something different. This thing has given me more greif in a day than my old Emachines did in years. I do digital photography on the side and need a powerfull computer, but this is just slowing me down and costing me money.
I would take the decision asap to get the money back, before its too late. This the troublw with a lot of these products, they only have to sell one to as may people as possible, and it still builds up to very high profit. I wonder how many personal customers are actually return customers who have bought that brand before. I use my PC for video and photo editing using Pinnacle, Premier Pro and Photo CS and they all run very well on the system listed in signature. I also have a 3.0 Ghz P4 of a similar spec, but the performance is way off anthing my main PC gets to. Everyone has a preference, but mine is definately AMD over Intel
At first, I was really excited about having bought the Gt5012, until after owning it for two weeks the entire system crashed. I tried to recover with the system recovery disk only to realize that the disk is incomplete. The drivers and software bundle were missing and the OS is partially incomplete and partially corrupt. When I called Gateway I had the rudest service rep on the other end of the line and even though I pointed out to him that I suspected hardware issues as well, he was only willing to send out a new recovery disk. He also told me that Gateway is aware of the fact that the recovery disks are incomplete. The kicker was, when the rude rep suggsted that I just download the drivers from the Gateway website (which would be difficult for the average user to do when the modem and/ or ethernet drivers are missing). No problem, I took care of that one had an old card laying around. Then, when I went on- line and tried to download the drivers from the Gateway site, some of their posted drivers were not up to specs. When the "new" disk finally arrived some of the drivers on it, as well as the OS were corrupt again. After calling Gateway again and this time having the luck of speaking with a more friendly rep, I am to send the system in to Gateway for a check up. The main reason why we bought the system was so that my husband (currently in Iraq) and I would have an avenue of communication. In the 2 months that we have owned the system that has not been possible and now that the system is to be send back to Gateway comminucation is not going to happen for a while. I consider myself an end- user with above average computing skills. I have managed to get a skeleton of the system back up, but the average end- user would not be able to achieve that, besides, the average end- user is not likely to have extra hardware floating around the house. Buyer beware. I do not think that the computer is worth it's buck and if you are looking for reliability this certainly is not it. I would not buy this system again and regret having been to convenient to put my system together from scratch, however, I may still have to do that anyway to get a working system. Maybe the kid can use this one to play around on...lol.. once I put a better card in it. In short, stay clear of the GT5012, it is not worth the hassle.
pulsar i bow to your greater knowledge most of my customers have very little computer knowledge but i offer a phone helpline with free advice if i suggested they build their own i'd be on the phone all day.
i wouldnt buy either.those store boughts suck....they are already outdated when you buy them also you cannot usally upgrade them...peace...build your own,you will be happier on gameday...lmao
I would get all the money you were concidering spending on those systems and not buy either of them. take a look on this site http://www.eclipsecomputers.com buy all the parts seperate and build your own or you can customize a PC online and theyll build it for you theyre the cheapest i know of
