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twistedprincess
04-09-2013, 06:08 AM
I'm bumping this due to all the recent threads asking about computer specs! <3 Good luck ladies, and don't forget I'm always happy to help with computer questions!

limecoconut
04-09-2013, 10:28 AM
I am also not a fan of windows 8. The trend is now syncing all social media sites together, and that is a disaster for girls like us. Sadly, I bet in the future we will have to have separate windows accounts for our cam personality and our real personality. Because otherwise it will probably sync and we won't even realize it til its too late. Well, I'm already out to my family so I don't care, but I'm sure you girls do.

Is this a real issue right now? I guess I'm confused how windows would sync your computer to social media sites. Does it do it automatically? Is there a way to opt out?

Also, is Windows 8 a good idea right now as far as compatibility? I was reading some people are having issues running programs from Vista & 7. It sounds like 8 runs much faster but there are still a ton of issues and it's the lowest rated version of Windows ever.

limecoconut
04-09-2013, 10:33 AM
One more Q. :) After reading through your building a comp section and the price estimates, would you say building a good comp from scratch will cost around $1,000? (minus the monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers.)

twistedprincess
04-09-2013, 10:52 AM
One more Q. :) After reading through your building a comp section and the price estimates, would you say building a good comp from scratch will cost around $1,000? (minus the monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers.)

The parts for building my wicked awesome computer cost me about $550 waiting til each part I needed was on sale with newegg. (Not including my second video card which no non-gamer will need and not including Windows) If you're going Intel for a processor, I'd say around $700.

As for syncing with social networking it happens when people use the same email for their social networking that they put on their operating system OR if they use the apps instead of a normal web browser. (You don't have to register an e-mail with the OS, but the option is there).

I will also argue it being the lowest rated ever. It's just the home menu people don't like, but it's really no worse just difficult. It comes with IE10, so if you don't use a different browser or downgrade to IE9 some web apps may not work properly, but Microsoft has patched most incompatibility issues. You can check their site or the software manufacturer's site to see if the program you want is compatible. However, for the time being, you can still buy 7 from most places.

SluttyCocoLoca
04-27-2013, 11:53 AM
Hello ladies,

is this Lenovo good for camming& video edit and all stuff we need?

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009AEPB9C/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Thx! (I think it is I just wanna make sure it aint like super overpriced or some ish )

~Carmen~
04-27-2013, 02:44 PM
Hello ladies,

is this Lenovo good for camming& video edit and all stuff we need?

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009AEPB9C/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Thx! (I think it is I just wanna make sure it aint like super overpriced or some ish )

Specs look good. I don't know anything about the brand though. I'm a Dell girl.

Pottymouth101
04-27-2013, 03:17 PM
The parts for building my wicked awesome computer cost me about $550 waiting til each part I needed was on sale with newegg. (Not including my second video card which no non-gamer will need and not including Windows) If you're going Intel for a processor, I'd say around $700.

As for syncing with social networking it happens when people use the same email for their social networking that they put on their operating system OR if they use the apps instead of a normal web browser. (You don't have to register an e-mail with the OS, but the option is there).

I will also argue it being the lowest rated ever. It's just the home menu people don't like, but it's really no worse just difficult. It comes with IE10, so if you don't use a different browser or downgrade to IE9 some web apps may not work properly, but Microsoft has patched most incompatibility issues. You can check their site or the software manufacturer's site to see if the program you want is compatible. However, for the time being, you can still buy 7 from most places.

Some Lenovos are really good. I have one myself. It looks good but my advice would be to buy it at local store, play around with to see if you like it. If you don't like take it back! I can't remember the last time I bought a big ticket item and was satisfied with my first purchase. Even after doing tons of research. Ordering things online can be a hassle if it turns out to not be what you want.

twistedprincess
04-28-2013, 06:30 AM
Lenovo is a fine brand. Their support is easy to deal with.

I'm really sorry I was so slow in replying to your PM as well. Both desktops you linked were just peachy and both good brands :)

I still recommend building your own on desktops which is what took me so long to respond. I was torn between finding more for you to pick from or trying to talk you in to building lol. Look for a PM from me ;)


Hello ladies,

is this Lenovo good for camming& video edit and all stuff we need?

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009AEPB9C/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Thx! (I think it is I just wanna make sure it aint like super overpriced or some ish )

Edit: PM sent!

SluttyCocoLoca
04-28-2013, 10:01 AM
33405

You are awesome Twisted Princess!!! xoxoxoxoxoxo

thx i got Lenovo I will post how it goes !!! thx ;)

I AM SUPER HAPPY SO FAR!!!!! LADIES - MY EARNINGS DOUVLED/TRIPLED!!! IT IS WORTH IT!

peace & thx Twisted ;)

Blovely
04-29-2013, 12:41 PM
I'm in this bitch lol. I original looked at an ASUS Essentio CM6870-US-3AB but now I'm worried about their support because of what Missbeth said. Now I'm looking at the Lenovo that SluttyCocoLoca posted. The Asus has a 4 processor count and the Lenovo has 1, does the count make a difference?

twistedprincess
04-29-2013, 01:54 PM
I'm in this bitch lol. I original looked at an ASUS Essentio CM6870-US-3AB but now I'm worried about their support because of what Missbeth said. Now I'm looking at the Lenovo that SluttyCocoLoca posted. The Asus has a 4 processor count and the Lenovo has 1, does the count make a difference?

Both computers have 1 processor with 4 cores.

The specifics on the Lenovo's processor is:
Ivy Bridge
Quad-Core
Core i7-3770
3.4GHz (3.9GHz Turbo)

The processors in that ASUS you listed and the Lenovo are actually identical. They're the exact same model: i7-3770.

If I had to choose between that ASUS and the Lenovo, I'd go with the Lenovo. It's only $879.99 vs the ASUS $1099.99. The only different between them is 6gb of RAM which you can buy for appx $50 an upgrade it yourself if you want. From my experience, Lenovo's support is easier to deal with than ASUS.

Pottymouth101
04-29-2013, 02:13 PM
Please ladies if you go with the Lenovo make sure its a model that is supported by Lenovo. Call the customer service line before and ask a random question. I made the mistake a few months back and bought a lenovo laptop that had mad issues. When I called to get help it wasnt in their database. The rep told me they were backed up and hadnt entered all models. But then he was quick to offer me a new laptop of the same model. It was very confusing. They had it for sale but didn't have the proper info to offer customer service. I bought it at Bestbuy. So anyways I returned it and got a desktop from Lenovo instead. It had a few quirks but easily manageable. But do save yourself sometime and make sure they have the computer supported.

TheBrownFox
05-02-2013, 02:34 PM
Tonight I'm finally gonna buy myself an i7 laptop. :) It's gonna be brand new (I always buy computers brand new), and probably either a Toshiba i7 or a Lenovo i7. I'm gonna be reading this entire thread over again as well as threads on ACF, because a computer purchase is a big deal, in my opinion.

MissSassyPickles
05-02-2013, 07:00 PM
Could someone please tell me the difference between these two types of external hard drives? I'm not sure which one would work better for me:

1. The Western Digital 'My Book'

http://www.amazon.com/Book-External-Drive-Storage-Backup/dp/B0042Z55RM/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1BYGVZQ169AGF&coliid=I3DYV0ON6DG2W1

or

2. The Western Digital 'My Passport'

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006Y5UV4A/ref=twister_B005HMKKH4?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Is there any different specs wise besides portability? The stats aren't listed for the My Passport so I couldn't make a good comparison

twistedprincess
05-02-2013, 07:12 PM
Could someone please tell me the difference between these two types of external hard drives? I'm not sure which one would work better for me:

1. The Western Digital 'My Book'

http://www.amazon.com/Book-External-Drive-Storage-Backup/dp/B0042Z55RM/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1BYGVZQ169AGF&coliid=I3DYV0ON6DG2W1

or

2. The Western Digital 'My Passport'

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006Y5UV4A/ref=twister_B005HMKKH4?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Is there any different specs wise besides portability? The stats aren't listed for the My Passport so I couldn't make a good comparison

Second one is "Ultra Portable." That's the main difference. I'll answer you in more detail in the place we all hang out ;)

TheBrownFox
05-07-2013, 06:48 PM
I am posting this from my brand new i7 Toshiba laptop that just arrived today! :) I'm so excited. It's this one:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Toshiba+-+Satellite+17.3%26%2334%3B+Laptop+-+8GB+Memory+-+750GB+Hard+Drive+-+Prestige+Silver/7543046.p?id=1218851199437&skuId=7543046&st=toshiba%20i7&cp=1&lp=5

I'm happy about the 4 USB 3.0 ports too. On my old laptop with the USB 2.0 ports, I was getting this pop up message telling me me that using a 3.0 port will work better...lol.

twistedprincess
05-07-2013, 07:19 PM
I am posting this from my brand new i7 Toshiba laptop that just arrived today! :) I'm so excited. It's this one:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Toshiba+-+Satellite+17.3%26%2334%3B+Laptop+-+8GB+Memory+-+750GB+Hard+Drive+-+Prestige+Silver/7543046.p?id=1218851199437&skuId=7543046&st=toshiba%20i7&cp=1&lp=5

I'm happy about the 4 USB 3.0 ports too. On my old laptop with the USB 2.0 ports, I was getting this pop up message telling me me that using a 3.0 port will work better...lol.

Looks awesome! It does have integrated graphics, so you won't be able to upgrade them , BUT it's pretty darn high end integrated (as far as integrated go).

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lsadnbiOg41qbyxtx.gif

Only substitute boulder with laptop ;)

whirlerz
05-07-2013, 09:51 PM
Luv me some Twisty!:)

TheBrownFox
05-07-2013, 10:18 PM
Looks awesome! It does have integrated graphics, so you won't be able to upgrade them , BUT it's pretty darn high end integrated (as far as integrated go).

I don't even know what half that stuff means (the laptop specifics), but I'm happy with it for the great features that it does have (i7, memory expandable to 32GB, 17.3" HD display, 4 USB 3.0 ports). I'm just pissed that I won't be able to cam on it until I get a Logitech C920. :( I have the C910, and that cam doesn't work on USB 3.0 ports. *sigh* After all those stupid popups on my old laptop recommending I use a 3.0 port (because a 2.0 port is too slow), now that I do have 3.0 ports, the webcam I currently use won't work for it...lol. Guess I gotta go spend more money now on a brand new webcam...so in the meantime I gotta go back to camming on my old ass Sony VAIO laptop...ugh. I'm gonna try to have this webcam shipped super fast.

twistedprincess
05-08-2013, 05:09 AM
The ports on your computer are backwards compatible to USB 2.0, so you should be able to run the c910. You can download the drivers here: http://www.logitech.com/en-us/support/hd-pro-webcam-c910?crid=405&osid=14&bit=64

I did some research for you, and there is no reason the c910 shouldn't work with that computer. PM me if you need to :)

TheBrownFox
05-08-2013, 05:31 AM
The ports on your computer are backwards compatible to USB 2.0, so you should be able to run the c910. You can download the drivers here: http://www.logitech.com/en-us/support/hd-pro-webcam-c910?crid=405&osid=14&bit=64

I did some research for you, and there is no reason the c910 shouldn't work with that computer. PM me if you need to :)

Thanks so much! I'm gonna try it in a few minutes. :)

TheBrownFox
05-08-2013, 06:06 AM
YAY, it works! Thanks!

I guess I can hold off on buying the C920 unless I continue having issues with my C910 video freezing up (it does that sometimes when I gently pick up my cam off the top of the laptop). I think with these brand new USB 3.0 ports on this laptop, that probably won't be a problem anymore. :)

SadieTaylor
07-06-2013, 12:50 PM
I am currently computer shopping and am so glad I have found this thread! Thank you so much ladies! I am planning on getting an i7 desktop and maybe even possibly making my own.

TheBrownFox
07-06-2013, 04:45 PM
Trying to copy/paste things on this Toshiba laptop can be a bitch. I'm used to doing the 'use cursor to highlight, right click to select 'copy' method, but half the time when I do that, right clicking it removes the highlight. So instead I'll just highlight, and then press CTRL + C to copy it.

I had to get rid of my printer too. It was refusing to print documents, even after doing head cleanings and nozzle checks. So I was just wasting printer ink trying to do maintenance on it. I got an Epson WF-2540, which is a printer/scanner/copier/fax machine, and it prints super fast (and that's just with a USB 2.0 printer cable...imagine how much faster it'd be with a 3.0). The last Epson printer I had took forever to print one page...lol. Best Buy, Walmart, and Target didn't have a USB 3.0 printer cable, so I'm just gonna get one from Amazon.

I have music notes and stars on the lid of my laptop. They're laptop stickers that I bought from Walmart a while back. I figured if my laptop can't be pretty like my last one was (my last one was pink), I might as well try to decorate it a little. :)

RaeRae
08-07-2013, 05:03 PM
I'm looking at buying a new laptop for camming, and I generally am familiar with computer specs. However, I have no idea if the current selection of Intel graphics would be fine for MFC and Streamate. I use my desktop for video processing for clips, and it has a good video card, so I just need it for being live. From what I was looking at, I could save close to 300 dollars by getting a laptop with integrated graphics. So what are your girls' experiences with camming with Intel HD graphics?

whirlerz
08-07-2013, 09:33 PM
Ask Twisted Princess she's the guru of 'puters..

twistedprincess
08-08-2013, 11:12 AM
If you're only using the laptop for live streaming, integrated is fine. However you cannot get a dedicated card later to upgrade a laptop, so if there is any chance you could do recording, rendering, etc... on it I strongly recommend getting a dedicated card because there is no takesies backsies later.

CummingCouple
08-08-2013, 12:42 PM
would you recommend a solid state drive? If our laptop fails, I'd like to get something like this: http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Xplorer_X6-6000_Gaming_Notebook/
I'm assuming it's good enough for just streaming, but are there upgrades you think are necessary?

twistedprincess
08-08-2013, 01:55 PM
In a desktop an SSD is fun to have your software and OS installed on for faster load times. I do not recommend anything that relies ONLY on a SSD with no normal HDD available. Why? 1) SSDs are still very small in size and very expensive per gb compared to normal HDDs. and 2) They still don't last as long as a normal HDD, and start failing often under 2 years of age 3) Some brands of SSDs you can good a decent timespan out of (at least a year) and some brands are shit and start failing in under 6 months. It's very hit or miss right now.

Perks of an SSD: fast load times due to no disc spinning to read

Downsides of an SSD: short lifespan, small size, very expensive

whirlerz
08-09-2013, 03:18 PM
Bumpie for this, can it please be a stickie???

sammii
08-10-2013, 01:26 AM
The one you bought is sold out BrownFox, but I think this one might be the same ...? http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Satellite+17.3%22+Laptop+-+8GB+Memory+-+750GB+Hard+Drive/8968379.p?id=1218957871989&skuId=8968379&st=toshiba

Trying to decide between the Toshiba and this HP http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP---ENVY-TouchSmart-17.3%26%2334%3B-Touch-Screen-Laptop---8GB-Memory---1TB-Hard-Drive---Modern-Silver/9349042.p?id=1219013209337&skuId=9349042

Twisty, when you have a free moment, do you think the HP is worth the extra $$? I'm kinda leaning towards the Toshiba but I've heard good things about HP. Hmmm. ... the Toshiba has more expandable (sp?) memory even though it's cheaper.

I may go to Best Buy tomorrow and purchase one of these computers.

kikiwiki
08-10-2013, 04:33 AM
Thru all my research, and of course this incredibly helpful thread, I came to the conclusion that the Toshiba satellite touch screen 15.6 inch i7 w/ dedicated graphics, 16gb RAM and with USB 3.0 is the most perfect laptop to cam on. Piggy bank set aside now for it.

Edit: I personally chose the 15 inch over 17 inch so it would be more convenient to travel with on strip trips

twistedprincess
08-10-2013, 11:17 AM
I absolutely LOVE my HP laptop. That said, those laptops are practically identical except the hard drive size. They use the same processor, same amount of ram, and same integrated graphics.

Between those two, I'd likely buy the Toshiba. However, if you can go up to the $999 pricepoint, you might want to look at these two which offer dedicated graphics that you can upgrade in the future if needed, and will run video editing and rendering better if you need to.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dell+-+Inspiron+17.3%26%2334%3B+Laptop+-+8GB+Memory+-+1TB+Hard+Drive+-+Stealth+Black/7850052.p?id=1218861156197&skuId=7850052

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834131521

minniesoporno
09-02-2013, 05:09 PM
Going into a computer store asking them about a certain machine is actually pretty easy, all the sales people need to know is that you need a system that can broadcasting streaming video if there is a follow up on that , you tell them you run a channel on ustream, it's quick and to the point then if you want something with video editing you let them know you also need something to handle video editing which basically means anything hiring the I3 core. then the next one after that is asking about how many usb ports anything more then 6 is great for camming.

I am in the process of upgrading my systems I love my tosihba laptop but I do not like using it for caming I much rather a desktop computer. so I know my desktop needs the best video card and a video capture card, the video capture card is what I will be using to plugin a video camera in the back with their AVI cable that comes with the camera. Which helps great with video editing.

Then the new factor to consider with a new computer is are you going to hook it up to your HDTV, it can be done with HDMI, DVI or VGA. plus the bigger the monitor the better you can see the chatroom while you are in different angels while camming.

A good system last about 3 to 5 years with minor upgrades usually just upgrading the RAM. and doing a harddrive clean up.

whirlerz
09-03-2013, 10:15 AM
thanks minnie gr8 2 know

CurvyWinona
09-07-2013, 05:21 PM
Any recommendations for laptop coolers? I had a cooler by cool master and it died on me after a year. meh...

I will have to invest on a PC as soon as I can afford one.

twistedprincess
09-07-2013, 08:05 PM
I had a swissgear cooler I worshiped for years until it broke. When I went to replace it, it was discontinued. I bought this one: http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-NotePal-Cooling-R9-NBC-NPX3-GP/dp/B0079T2KHG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1378609438&sr=8-3&keywords=cooler+master

It's lasted me over 2 years now and is very durable.

There are so many, that really I just advise staying away from this one: http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-F5L001-Laptop-Cooling-Pad/dp/B000NWIOM6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1378609494&sr=8-1&keywords=belkin+laptop+cooling
I had 3 of them that broke in under 6 months, the tiny fan gets clogged easy, and there is very little airflow.

Charlotteslut
09-07-2013, 09:32 PM
If anyone wants to build their own desktop, this site makes it really easy: http://www.choosemypc.net/?budget=400&oc=false&hddsize=false&ssdsize=false&options=false#

twistedprincess
09-07-2013, 10:35 PM
That site is a bit outdated as it doesn't even include i7 processors or the last round of AMD processors. Either that or they are building for just gaming and not needing peak processing power and just peak video card. Camming really needs better processors than that site suggest.

Charlotteslut
09-07-2013, 10:53 PM
Do you know of a similar resource that's more up to date? I'd like to try building my own soon but it's all getting so confusing, lol :(

twistedprincess
09-08-2013, 08:11 AM
Laptop vs. Desktop

This is a common debate. If you move your camming area often, or just need portability you will end up with a laptop. However, be prepared to spend a decent chunk of change ($900+) to get a system that will perform as needed. With a tight bidget, desktop is the better way to go. You will also be able to get more power out of a quality desktop than you can out of a quality laptop. (It's hard to make high performing parts so tiny!)

If you are willing, building a desktop is the most cost effective way to have a computer that will last for years. I'll go more into how to build, parts checklists, etc... later. It isn't as hard as you might think at first and you will be able to tweak and upgrade it as technology advances.

Building your Own Computer
It's not as scary as it seems.
(If you are building a gaming PC and you have any questions I suggest PMing them to me or asking in the thread, as I'm not going to cover gaming builds in the overall guide)
Building your own computer is the most cost effective way to get a pimped out computer for camming, gaming, or plain old ordinary use.
When you're building a computer, be sure to factor in the cost of a mouse, keyboard, and monitor if you don't already have one. Also add an operating system and any software you want.

Core Components

Tower/Case Price $20-$200 (most people buy ones around $40-$75)
When looking for a case, it is very easy to be overwhelmed by the kinds and colors. Keep in mind that there are so many cases in so many colors because people just like stuff that looks cool. Overall, there isn't much of a difference between most unless you're building a gaming PC.
Things to look for:
Size:They come in three main sizes: Micro, Mid, and Full. Most people are perfectly fine with Mid, but if you have very little space you may want to build with a Micro tower. Just be careful to check the measurements if you are getting a large video card to ensure it will fit. Full cases are mostly for hardcore gamers or computer users who pack their towers full with goodies.
Fans: Most cases come with 1-3 fans. The more fans, the better the airflow. You can add more later, but it's a pain. 3 is my overall recommendation one on top, one on the front, and one on the back
Brand:Brand is pretty lackluster for the cases. Check the reviews before you buy! I can personally recommend Cooler Master, Antec, ThermalTake, NZXT, and Rosewill. Rosewill happens to be my personal favorite just because they have amazing customer support, but they're all really good. Your case with come with your basic manual for building the computer.
Is It Pretty I know function over form is important, but since you have so many choices all around the same price point, you might as well get one you like!

Before you move on to other parts, you're going to have to make a few decisions.
Do you want an Intel or AMD processor?
Intel always comes out with the latest and greatest first. That's just how it's always been. However, AMD is never far behind and is always cheaper. If you're budget conscious (or nerdy and like to overclock) I will always recommend AMD. If you have the extra money to spend, go Intel. (As a personal note, all of my systems run AMD but I don't want my opinion to be your deciding factor.)
What peripherals do you want?
Do you want a Blu-Ray player? A DVD Burner? If you use many SD card for cameras, do you want a card reader? Will you want a wireless card? If you're not sure now, remember part of the beauty of building yourself is that you can always add parts you want later. Just make sure that if you may want it, your motherboard can support it.

Motherboard $50-$200 (most $80-$100 will do the job) The motherboard is what makes everything work together and talk nicely. The first choice you have to make is Intel vs. AMD. If you get an AMD motherboard, an Intel processor will not work with it and vice versa. Once you've made that choice it is all about brand and function.
Things to look for:
Processor Socket Look only at motherboards that can socket your motherboard. If going AMD, you will want a motherboard with the AM3+ socket. Be sure to check your processor as it will always tell you what kind of socket it needs.
Brand Asus and Gigabyte are my favorite all-around motherboard brands. They both have good tech support and make motherboards for both AMD and Intel. MSI and Biostar are my next choices.
PCI Express 2.0, PCI Express, and PCI slots Alright, I know these sound similar, but they are very different. PCI Express 2.0 is mostly used for video cards, so be sure you get a motherboard with 1-2 PCI Express 2.0 slots. PCI Express and PCI slots are used for some peripherals so when you're looking at the bits of addons you may want (wireless card etc...) make sure you have enough slots for all the parts you may want to add.
Ram Slots/Max Ram 4 slots. When you're getting budget motherboards, be sure to check the maximum RAM amount allowed in the specs. I always suggest max 32gb, so you have plenty of room to upgrade. Also, make sure it says DDR3 and Dual Channel (it would be really unlikely to find an old DDR2 motherboard, but just in case!)
USB ports Make sure you have plenty of ports for your needs. Almost all motherboards have USB 3.0 ports available on the back, but if you got a case with USB 3.0 on the front panel, make sure you get a motherboard that has places to plug those in!
Things you shouldn't worry about unless you're hardcode/gamer Overclocking and dual bios are things you won't have much need for in normal use. Onboard video is nice if you're feeling cheap, but for legitimate usage you're going to want a separate video card.

CPU/Processor http://www.cpubenchmark.net/ to compare processors
No matter what brand, you want a high ghz, high core amount (4 core minimum), and high cache.
You all know Intel i5 or i7, plus we already talked about it in the previous section, so I'm not going to rehash it here.
AMD you're going to want the FX line for their newest processors. If you're going AMD you can easily afford the high end 6 core or 8 core processors. Just be sure to check the cache and ghz.

RAM
Obviously you already know how much you need from before. When you're building though, there is a bit more to consider than just the amount.
Make sure you're buying DDR3 to be compatible with your motherboard. DDR and DDR2 are still on the market for old systems, but all new ones should use DDR3.
Speed avoid 1333 RAM, just trust me on that. You will want 1600 or 1866. There are higher speeds which are obviously faster, but again the average user won't need them.
Timing The easiest way to explain this is the lower the number, the better.
Latency Another thing where the lower the number is better
Voltage Wait, you're in for a switcheroo! The higher the voltage, the better as it helps the RAM work faster.

Hard Drive $60-$150
Brand The only hard drive brands I truly recommend are Western Digital and Seagate. Both have excellent support and are great products.
RPMs Some green drives don't have RPMS listed as they're eco friendly and thus try to spin at less power consuming speeds. Overall, the higher the RPM the better the drive.
Capacity Bigger the better, in my opinion. 500gb is the smallest I recommend. Usually it is only a pittance more to get 1TB
Cache The cache stores data so it doesn't have to send the hard disc searching for every little thing. A bigger cache is nice, but not an absolute must

Solid State Drive(SSD): if you have the budget and want super fast load speeds, you can get a solid state drive to install your operating system and main programs on. SSDs do not have moving discs in them (hence the name solid), so the computer pulls the data faster. They're generally pricey and much smaller than normal HDDs, which is why most people only put long load time programs and the operating system on them. For example, adobe takes forever to load so I keep it on the SSD to make it open faster.

Video Card $50-$600 (most average cards are good for around $100-$150, for medium spec gaming or higher end video editing a $200-$300 card will be sufficient)
http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/ to compare benchmarks
Really look for a good promo and compare benchmarks. These are also something the reviews and warranty will be very important to check on.
I prefer 2gb video cards, but for most things a 1gb video card is sufficient. If you want to game or improve in the future, video cards are super easy to upgrade.

Bluray/DVD/CD drive Just pick one and buy it, there really isn't too much to it unless you make a living burning DVDs. Bluray are obviously more expensive, but you can get a dvd/cd burner for about $16

Wireless Card If you're going to be hard wired you don't need this (and I always recommend hard wired). There are a lot of cheap ones, but this is not where you want to cut corners. Find one with good reviews.

Those are all your main parts. The rest is just extras.

As for building it, there are many really good tutorials. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPIXAtNGGCw is part 1 of a short 3 part video series on it. They recently remade this, but their old one recommended smearing thermal paste for the processor. That is completely outdate and most people will be just fine with the thermal paste that is already on the processor. Basically, this is an excessive step you can completely ignore :)

One step you don't want to forget (and is covered in your handy dandy manual that came with your case) is the spacers for your motherboard. They screw in to the case, and your motherboard screws in the them to keep it from touching the actual case.

I swear it sounds way harder than it is :)

Buying the Parts
If you're not in a rush, subscribe to www.newegg.com promo blast emails. They hit your email every couple days, but the promo codes and sales are well worth it. Grab a part here and there, and you can get all the parts you need and save a couple hundred.
When shopping, I always find the parts I want at newegg and then price check with amazon.

This walks you through all the parts you need, low to high range.
There are no sites like that up do date as there are just too many options and it's all personal preference. It's too difficult to keep them up to par. You can compare benchmarks of parts with a quick visit to cpubenchmark.net. It also has tabs for graphics cards, hard drives, ram, etc...

shysara79
09-11-2013, 02:04 PM
I am thinking about buying this off of CL for Sm.. What do u think guys? all help appreciated :)

Intel Core i7-870 quad-core 2.93 Ghz hyperthreading processor so it acts like a 8 core CPU MSI P55-GD85 motherboard with SATA 6Gb/s and USB 3.0 8 GB DDR3 1600Mhz RAM Gigabyte GeForce 8600GT video card ThermalTake Element G case Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB hard drive Lite-On 24X DVD burner with LightScribe support OCZ 600 watt StealthXStreme power supply Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium with disk.

Blovely
09-11-2013, 06:36 PM
So I just got my computer today. I ordered the Lenovo I7 Ideacentre K450 from TD. I hooked up the cables, attached the monitor, and turned it on. The monitor started up and then went to sleep. At first I thought it was the monitor so I turned it off and then back on, no luck. The fan was really loud and I thought that it was turning heating up and then cooling down.

Since I thought the monitor was the problem I dragged the computer to where another monitor was and hooked it up. The second monitor gave me the same issue. So for ha ha's I hooked the monitor up to my labtop and what do you know it worked fine. Its turns out that it wasn't the fan heating up and cooling down it was the computer constantly rebooting itself.

I dunna if these people sent me a dud computer or what. When I contacted them I was expecting them to troubleshoot the computer with me but they quickly issued me a refund without any questions. I dunna if I want to order from them ever again.

This sucks ass, I was excited to play with my new toy and see if it would increased my $$. Now I have to send it back, wait for my refund, and then order a new computer. I'm not even sure if I should look for this computer else where or just look at a complete different brand.





Edit: I did not see this until now. Reading all the bad reviews right now on Resell.

Yeah, when t*ger is good, it's really good but they have sooo many bad ratings too

CurvyWinona
11-04-2013, 09:44 AM
How about this - http://www.amazon.com/HP-Phoenix-800-060-Desktop-Black/dp/B00CPG80XG ? I would love to build but it is too much of time consuming and my laptop is gonna be in 6 feet under soon.


oh i found another desktop.. http://www.amazon.com/HP-Pavilion-h8-1360t-Desktop-Gen-IntelCore/dp/B008LDOO6O/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1383586143&sr=1-1&keywords=hp+pavilion+hpe+h8-1360t

which is better?

thanks in advance!! :)

limecoconut
01-14-2014, 02:07 PM
This is kind of last minute but I really need a laptop quickly and have no idea what to buy. I need something I can get on Amazon (with giftcard balance hehe) for under $800 and can handle recording/editing clips, photoshop, and streaming cam on Skype. Thanks sooo much in advance.

kortneykay
01-14-2014, 02:48 PM
Lime, an i7 with plenty of memory sounds key. Good luck bb!

limecoconut
01-21-2014, 04:35 PM
I'm giving myself a little more time to research and save up $. Ppl keep telling me to just save up & get a MacBook. I don't know ANYTHING about macs. Anyone care to help me out with pointing me towards one on amazon? Thanks. :)

SexySiren
02-15-2014, 11:56 AM
What about this computer? http://www.amazon.com/Dell-Inspiron-23-Inch-Touchscreen-io2330T-7273BK/dp/B00HRLSTSK/ref=dp_ob_title_ce#productDetails

CatBBW
02-16-2014, 06:20 AM
I just want to say THANK YOU SO MUCH to the OP for the OP! I have been looking for a new computer, and just not finding any with the kind of specs that I want/need, and even going up the price range just means you're getting more crap (software, touchscreen etc) that I don't need or want. I was thinking of building my own but had no idea where to start....and then saw this thread! Thank you for all the info!

Can someone please confirm that the specs talked about in the OP are still current? Or would I be looking at even higher specs now? Thanks! :)

IvyRose
02-26-2014, 02:00 PM
Thank you SO much Twisted Princess!!! I am planning on getting a custom made computer, and know I know exactly what to ask for. I can not thank you enough!!!!