Curse

Panais · Jul 03, 2008, 10:48 PM // 22:48

Not sure if these is the right section, but wth it seems right.

Due to recent events my parents are allowing me to buy a new pc, either a laptop or a desktop. They have given me a budget of 17000 British pounds, which is around 30000 dollars i think. I dont know anything about computers technologically, all i know is how to use them. So my question is can i buy a good PC with that cash, and which are the best gaming desktops and laptops.

PS: I havent researched the internet for prices as i dont know what is good, but i think the cash should be fine.

Snograt · Jul 03, 2008, 11:13 PM // 23:13

Er, I think you're adding one zero too many there, Panais. 17 thousand pounds? At least I hope that's what you've done and not just missed the decimal point, cos you aren't going to get a pc for £170.00

As to desktop vs laptop - you are going to get one HELL of a lot more desktop for your money. You pay a premium for miniaturisation with laptops and, let's face it, they just can't compete with high-end desktops.

Post the proper amount - if it really is 17 grand, we're going to have some fun here! (and tell you to wait until Christmas, when the good stuff might start to appear)

In a nutshell: 170 quid = calculator. 1700 quid = good gaming pc. 17000 quid = buy your own branch of Curry's

(Oh, and I decided that "Computer Buying & Building" would be the right place for a thread on buying a computer ^^)

Panais · Jul 04, 2008, 12:05 AM // 00:05

it is 17000.00 pounds.
why is that alot for a good pc?

EDIT: My parents think that getting into Cambridge is good enough to give me 17000 pounds, with most of them going towards a new pc

Crimson Flame · Jul 04, 2008, 01:30 AM // 01:30

You can get a better-than-the-top of the line gaming computer for $5,000 (2500 pounds?) so 17,000 pounds is incredible. How about you buy two awesome computers and send me one? That'd be awesome.

tijo · Jul 04, 2008, 01:54 AM // 01:54

I'm not even sure you could find or build a PC and spend all that money. With that you have enough to get a very high end gaming PC and a high end laptop.

Just tell us exactly what you are looking for and we'll point you in the right direction.

And as snograt said, for gaming: PC but for university i'd say a laptop, i made the move PC to laptop for university and i never regretted it (laptop and wireless network in boring classes is awesome), you won't have to wait for access to computer labs although depending where you are studying that isn't a problem but the best part of all is that you can work on your homeworks, essays reports and w/e wherever you like.

moriz · Jul 04, 2008, 01:54 AM // 01:54

i'm pretty sure most of that money is for.... i don't know, rent, school supplies, food, transportation etc.... maybe it's your tuition.

you can build an extremely powerful PC for 3000 pounds. anything more than that, and you'll be spending on useless fluff.

Why_Me · Jul 04, 2008, 02:38 AM // 02:38

Here's what you are going to do: get a decent, portable laptop now for college. Then, come back after christmas when the real good stuff from intel comes out, and we'll have some fun.

Evil Genius · Jul 04, 2008, 03:20 AM // 03:20

Post you address and I will come and build it for you

Panais · Jul 04, 2008, 09:32 AM // 09:32

ok so a laptop it is, no all 17grant is to spend for fun, not for college expenses.

but which laptop is good. some guy pmed me in game and told me that area 15 or something like that was good.

Etta · Jul 04, 2008, 09:46 AM // 09:46

Get a Mac book pro, then install window vista on it, best. Then buy a car.

17 grand just for getting into Cambridge or for 4 years there? If it's the former then awesome to you, if it's the later then man, you're gonna be so skint.

Anyway use some of that for lapdance, ace.

deluxe · Jul 04, 2008, 09:59 AM // 09:59

Quote:

ok so a laptop it is, no all 17grant is to spend for fun, not for college expenses.

Don't be an idiot and spend it all :x
That's a lot of money, I have to work a year for that..

Evil Genius · Jul 04, 2008, 10:14 AM // 10:14

Perhaps a Dell XPS M1730.
Components
Intel Core™ 2 Extreme Processor X9000 (2.80GHz, 800MHz FSB, 6MB L2-cache)
Genuine Windows Vista SP1™ Ultimate - English
4Yr XPS Premium Warranty Support - Priority Call In and Onsite Support
Crimson Red with White LED Backlights
17.0" UltraSharp™ WUXGA (1920x1200) TFT with TrueLife™ with Integrated 2.0MP web cam
4096MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x2048]
64GB Solid State Drive
DUAL SLI 512MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8800GTX card
Ageia PhysX Processing Unit Card
UK/Irish Additional 220V AC Adapter Power Cord
Blu-ray Disc DVD+/-RW Optical Drive including software
Primary 9-cell Lithium-Ion Battery (85 WHr)
Accessories
XPS M1730 Backpack Carrying Case
Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth 2.0 Module (up to 3 Mbps) with Enhanced Data Rate EUR
Intel® Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-PCI Card, EUR
Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy ADVANCED HD Audio
Dell™ Travel Remote Control
Microsoft® Office 2007 Professional/English - Microsoft® Office 2007 Small Business and Access

Even that comes to only 3400 pounds. Don't spend it all at once - it will be a waste. If you have 17,000 pounds buy a new laptop at the start of each year and sell your old one second hand. This way you have the very best for the entire 4 years.

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/pr...hs1&l=en&s=dhs

Panais · Jul 04, 2008, 10:39 AM // 10:39

cool thanks
/close

Snograt · Jul 04, 2008, 01:32 PM // 13:32

Close? Hell no - we've got 17 grand to spend!

moriz · Jul 04, 2008, 01:40 PM // 13:40

as rahja once said: don't EVER put that laptop on your lap. you will kill your future children if you do.

anyways, i'm going to go in different direction and recommend you get an actual laptop, and not a "desktop replacement". laptops are supposed to be mobile, and that monster is anything but mobile. you can't use it as a laptop at all, in fact, since it's so big, so heavy, so hot, and so.... drain-your-batteries-in-5-minutes.

go with something like this:

http://configure.euro.dell.com/dells...N07X5308&s=dhs

it's an actual laptop, not a desktop replacement... and you can actually use it as a laptop. it's also much cheaper, which will give you more money to build your monster desktop down the line, as well as school supplies, food, rent, drugs, booze, redbull, and other essential student amenities.

edit: grrrr, that website won't save my customizations. whatever, have fun with it yourself.

Etta · Jul 04, 2008, 01:53 PM // 13:53

Once he discovers the great student life of boozes, girls and pots, he won't stay in and play on his pc anymore. So spend about a grand or two and keep the rest is a good idea. Lappy'd be better as well cus when you get to 2nd year you'll want to move out from the hall, so easier to move about.

Ah...seem like yesterday that I was at Uni.

Elder III · Jul 04, 2008, 02:50 PM // 14:50

unless you are going to cambridge as a computer tech major in graphical design you can get all the laptop you need for way under 2,000.00 pounds.... probably 1500 would be more than enough. Go buy a car with the rest, or be smart and save it to put the first down payment on your house or apt. in the future.

*if you want name brand recognition and a damn fine product with pretty good lifetime customer service..... try www.alienware.com there are other's out there but that is the leader of the pack in gaming computers (laptops and desktops) - - - Of course with all that cash you could start a sweepstakes, 1000 quid to the first 15 applicants on these forums and see who can build the best laptop for you with that cash, you can then donate the others to charity (I'll send you the address later). *

Panais · Jul 04, 2008, 04:17 PM // 16:17

stop telling me what to buy other thank a pc pls. i do have a car an M5 to be exact.
so i get it that 17000 is alot for a pc, but really it isnt alot for my family.
I understand that 17000 is alot for 1 pc, so ill buy those 2 laptops stated, and a desktop, if some1 has any good suggestions

moriz · Jul 04, 2008, 04:19 PM // 16:19

life lesson #1: save your money.

learn it, remember it, live by it.

you'll thank me later.

Snograt · Jul 04, 2008, 04:55 PM // 16:55

If you buy the most awesome desktop on the market right now, you will want to replace it in a few months. Now is the wrong time to buy.

In the meantime, have a look at this http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=FS-006-OE