Buying An Assembled Desktop

[Soumyajit]

Hi all

I have decided to go for a desktop, after trying to decide whether a laptop would be better or a desktop. The reason being mainly the price factor.
Now, I wanted to know, what would be better? an assembled desktop, or one from any of the known brands like HP, Compaq, Acer, etc.
Also, what all should I look for while getting my PC assembled from the local computer shop. Which products to choose from?
My requirements are very basic... internet, movies, office applications and Photoshop.

My tentative hardware list is :
Intel Dual Core Processor
1 GB DDR2 RAM
approx 100 GB SATA HDD
DVD Writer
yet to decide whether to go for TFT or CRT (considering image editing in photoshop)

My budget : approx Rs 30,000

How much would such a gig cost me? Which product would be the best?
I dont know if such a thread exists, coz i couldnt find one in the "search".

Would be glad if the esteemed members can pitch in with their suggestions...

Thanks n Regards
Soumyajit

[amitava82]

if u r not into much gaming and u prefer portability then get a laptop. u can get a good config HP laptop for 35K..

[Soumyajit]

No, I did check up the laptops... I am looking for Dual Core, while 35K only offers Celeron processors. Secondly, most of the people whom i spoke to, were sceptical about HP/Compaq service support.

[xsreality]

go for intel C2D E6300 processor..with intel D965WH. this wil cost u arnd 15k.

go for 160GB SATAII HDD ..for 2.7k..
LITE-ON DVD-RW 1.9k
Corsair 1GB DDR2 RAM 5k

for image editing, CRT shud do d job 4 u...bt 17" TFT's r available 4 less than 10k..with CRT everything wil fit in ur budget of 30k.

[magnet]

in dell u get c2d in ard 39k inspiron 6400.........

btw 160 gb sata and 80 gb sata has hardly 500-700 difference btw tft isnt that bad also..get a good panel one not tn panel.......also they save a lot of energy comparing crt...but for total editing hardcore professional stuff get a crt or high end tft which cost bomb

also atlest get a 450w psu......powersafe one

[Soumyajit]

thanks friends for your replies...

but fact is, i am a total novice as far as computers are concerned. so if some one can be kind enough to explain to me what all i gotta ask for when i ask the local shop to configure a PC for me... for i am quite sure, that if i just go and ask for a PC, i will in most probability be duped.

so, what all do i need?

Processor - Intel Core 2 Duo? exact specs? price??
Motherboard - no idea !!
Graphics Card - do i need one?
Video Card - is it inbuilt?
Modem - ditto?
RAM - 1 GB DDR2 - which brand? price?
Hard Disc - 160 GB SATA2 7200 rpm? which brand? price??
DVD Writer - which brand? cost?
cabinet - specs? price?
mouse, keyboard, ...

anything else??

sorry, if my question is too dumb for a forum like this...

Soumyajit

[phreak0ut]

^^xsreality has already answered most of your questions.

[dOm1naTOr]

@Soumyajit
what xsreality recomented is a nice one: The exact specs are:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 1.86 Ghz :
Intel D965WH mobo: [both around 14k]
2x512 DDR2 667 Mhz [Kingston, Transcent, Corsair value etc] : 5k
160GB Seagate SATA2: 2.6k or 250 GB Seagate SATA2: 3.5k
!7" CRT Flat: 6k
Liteon DVD Burner: 2k
Cabinet : Zebronics cabby with 400w stock PSU : 1.4k
Microsoft Keyboard+ opti mouse : 0.8k
-------------------------------------------------
Graphics card and video card are same and this mobo has a decent card which will serve u enuf [if u are not onto gaming].
As bout modem, u shud get one from ur local broadband providers and going for a dialup is just waste of money.
----------------------------------------
The assembling charge will be some 500bucks and u will be charged extra for on-site warranty.

Best of luck buddy. Hope it helps

[azad_singh]

simply you can get a core dual PC in just 25000/-

[Soumyajit]

thanks aravind for that detailed relpy... i think i can go out scouting now. is there going to be major price differences? i am currently in Cochin.
any guys from here, can you suggest some good shop?
regards
Soumyajit

[Soumyajit]

hi all

seems no one from in and around cochin to suggest me about the prices, and about any dependable shops.

which cabinet should i go for? zebronics or VIP? which model (if anyone has any prior experience). how many fans should the cabinet have? there was one post about zebronics antibiotic. should i go for that (high end) or for an intermediate range?

[s18000rpm]

the Zebronics AntiBiotic & Peace cabinets cost around Rs.2400 to 2600+

AntiBiotic comes with 3 LED Fans, 1 LCD display & transperant side panel & a Zebronics 400 Watt SMPS (PSU)


(not sure of Peace's price).

[Soumyajit]

thanks s18000rpm

so should i go for such a costly affair or should i settle for something less extravagant? considering that my budget is around 30,000 (extendable by max another 5000) and i plan to go for a 17" TFT.

regards

[s18000rpm]

hmm, btw those two cabinets are Gaming cabinets. sorry.

take a look here, these cabinets will suit your needs.



Zebronics Intermediate & Mid End Cabinets

these look the best in the mid-range.

[azad]

the zebronics peace cabinet shld be arnd 2600 rs and antibiotic arnd 2400 rs...they are really cool cabinets and u wont regret buying any one ..

And if you are buying a 17" tft, its a good idea to go in for a viewsonic 17" widescreen

[Pathik]

btw
Core2Duo E6300 1.86Ghz
Intel DG965RY/WH
1*1GB Transcend DDR2 Ram
Sony DRU-830A
Seagate 160GB SATAII
VIP case + 400watts SMPS
Creative 2.1 speakers
Viewsonic 17" TFT
is wat u can easily get in 30-35k.

[Soumyajit]

now...

about this dual channel RAM issue
should i go for 2 x 512MB DDR2 RAMs or 1 x 1GB DDR2 RAM? i read that for utilizing a dual core processor to the optimum one should use two RAMs.

secondly, which DVD writer? Sony or Lite-on or Samsung or LG??

and..

would it be better to buy original components from various shops, or buying all the components from one shop?

thanks n regards

[azad]

i think u sld go in for 1 gb now and get another 1 gb as soon as u can afford it ....

well, all dvd writers are good, but if u will listen to me, then buy the asus 16x


and as for buying the components are concerned, i guess if u buy all the parts from a single shop, u can push harder for discounted prices...

anyways best of luck setting up your system ...

[Soumyajit]

thanks azad for your post...

i think i will go with your suggestion of going for a single 1GB RAM right now.

any idea, which UPS i should go for? what rating should be ok??

regards

[dOm1naTOr]

@Wannabe_a_techie
Me too from Kerala but Kottayam. Bout the cabinet go for gud ventillated one. Zebronics ones are quite gud and gr8 value for money.
And the mobo has 4 mem slots. Then why are u going for a single stick now. U can have better perfomance by having 2*512 DDR2 in dual channel. If u want to upgrade later, just add another 2*512 in the secondary slots.

As bout UPS, APC is gud. A 600VA wud do.

For DVD writers, go for Liteon. Its best in class performer with 20X DVD speed and liteon drives has quite gud quality. It cud burn 16x discs at 20x. Liteon is easily available in kerala.

[Soumyajit]

how much would the UPS cost?

azad suggested me a viewsonic 17" TFT. anyone any other suggestions? how much would that cost me?

regards

[azad]

APC 500VA - 2400 Rs
APC 650VA - 3200 Rs
APC 800VA - 5500 Rs
All these prices are mumbai prices


abt the monitors, u cld go in for a 19" wide benq FP92W . it costs arnd 11600 in mumbai

ViewSonic LCD 17 '' VA712 8900 Rs
ViewSonic LCD 17'' VA1703 10050 Rs
ViewSonic LCD 19" VG1930VM 12700 Rs
ViewSonic LCD 19" VG1912W 11700 Rs


however if u r going infor 19", i suggest u take the benq...its gr8 vfm...

[Soumyajit]

is win xp available in the market after the launch of vista? how much would it cost me? would i get the CD? or would it be just loaded and given to me??

[praka123]

@soumyagit:I am from Cochin area.You can find wholesale dealers:
they are Noveon Systems near Atlantis-MG rd nr Shipyard,International Marketing Company nr Ravipuram,Online Computers-South over bridge,Radha Electronics etc.for your case u should try Noveon Systems.
WinXP is available and Linux too is used by many.

Most of the wholesalers may not have ex-stock as the year ending was just over(March 31)

[Soumyajit]

hi all

went computer shopping today. visited two shops and this is the price i was quoted (including 4% VAT) :

NOVEON SYSTEMS
Intel E6300 processor : Rs 9048
Intel DG 965 WH mobo : Rs 6760
2 x 512 MB DDR2 RAM : Rs 3640
Samsung Puma Hard Disc 250 GB : Rs 3328
Sony DVD Writer : Rs 1742
Mercury Cabinet with 400W PSU : Rs 1118
17" LCD Monitor Samsung/Acer : Rs 9828/Rs 8788
APC 500VA UPS : 2132

IT NET Infocom
Intel E6300 processor : Rs 8950
Intel DG 965 WH mobo : Rs 5500
2 x 512 MB DDR2 RAM Corsair : Rs 4100
Seagate Barracuda Hard Disc 250 GB : Rs 3650
Sony DVD Writer : Rs 1800
Mercury Cabinet with 400W PSU : Rs 1450
17" LCD Monitor ViewSonic : Rs 9200
APC 500VA UPS : 2100
KB / Mouse : Rs 750

Now, going by this kind of prices I am exceeding my budget by too much. And I also got to buy an OS (Win XP - Rs 3600)

So, guys I think I will have to reconfigure for a lower configuration. What about taking a Intel E4300 Core 2 Duo Processor? Which one would be a compatible motherboard? preferably with onboard graphics??
Should I go for Mercury cabinets? Seems Zebronics is not available..

Waiting for further advice..

Soumyajit

[ruturaj3]

Suggest me an AMD based PC. Only the processor ,mobo.
Mobo should have onboard graphics. Also support for DX10 cards.

I have heard that AMD/ATI is designing chipset with onboard 7000 series Graphics.

[ankushkool]

Originally Posted by Soumyajit

Now, going by this kind of prices I am exceeding my budget by too much. And I also got to buy an OS (Win XP - Rs 3600)

So, guys I think I will have to reconfigure for a lower configuration. What about taking a Intel E4300 Core 2 Duo Processor? Which one would be a compatible motherboard? preferably with onboard graphics??
Should I go for Mercury cabinets? Seems Zebronics is not available..

as 4 de OS u will be a fool if u buy it 4 '3600'... u can get it 4 free
if ur budget is under 30k, dont buy LCD monitor go 4 crt 15 inch
n i will say go4 AMD athlon 3800+ & MSI K9 mobo (tried n tested)
or cheaper AMD 3200+ MSI K8 (9000)

dont spend much on de cabnit get intex cabinet 4 around 1200

if u r not a power user 80 -120 GB segate harddisk is enough (7200 rpm)

if u can... go 4 a nvidia 6600 GS graphis card
ram at least 1GB (preferabbly DDR2, sud be compatible witl mobo)
logitech keyboard mouse
creative/ altech speakers
and a liton DVD Writer

[Soumyajit]

Originally Posted by ankushkool

as 4 de OS u will be a fool if u buy it 4 '3600'... u can get it 4 free

Is it true that Win XP would be given free by the assembler?? I am not asking for a pirated version. Want to load original OS.

n i will say go4 AMD athlon 3800+ & MSI K9 mobo (tried n tested)
or cheaper AMD 3200+ MSI K8 (9000)

i dont want to go for AMD. I want to take Intel Dual Core

dont spend much on de cabnit get intex cabinet 4 around 1200

Ya, i wish to reduce the cost in that...

if u r not a power user 80 -120 GB segate harddisk is enough (7200 rpm)

and, maybe i will go for 160GB hard disc (cost diff 1000 i think)

anyone any suggestions?

do you think i am being quoted the correct prices?

regards
Soumyajit

[Pathik]

@ankushkool... Dont encourage piracy... he s making a good decision if he wants to get the original OS.. thats not foolish..
@soumyajit
Get a athlon x2 3800+ and a asus m2n pv vm...
or if u want intel than get a pentium d 820 + a d102ggc2
but the amd config is way better than intel...
btw get a VIP cabinet... they come cheap..
if u can increase ur budget than get a c2d config...
and get 160gb the price diff is abt 700 only..

[ankushkool]

Originally Posted by pathiks

@ankushkool... Dont encourage piracy... he s making a good decision if he wants to get the original OS.. thats not foolish..

oops u got me wrong ... i ment was that he sud go 4 free OS likr linux, which i m using n not spend so much on XP