The Computer Megathread

[Uncle Bengs]

ha-ha, very funny.

It's $3,499.
And, if I get all A's by the end of this semester, I'll at least have a part for my build. Not the computer, the build.

If I have all A's by the end of this year, and I have my CCNA, I'll get the Mac.

ya well macs r stoped loL

[Ad Bot]

[KoopaScooper]

Yeah, you can install a Mac OS on a custom build if you get a bootloader and have a copy of Mac OS laying around.

[Gojira]

Yeah, you can install a Mac OS on a custom build if you get a bootloader and have a copy of Mac OS laying around.

I want a Mac for school and a PC for gaming.

They are both fine OSes, and they both have their purposes.

[KoopaScooper]

FYI there's no difference between Mac & PC because they're the same stuff. Personal computers. They're just different operating systems, as Mac OS runs off Unix, while Windows runs off DOS (no clue if it does anymore, NTLDR is DOS so I'm assuming so.)
You can run a Windows OS on a Macbook and run a Mac OS on any other laptop or netbook.

[Wedge]

FYI there's no difference between Mac & PC because they're the same stuff. Personal computers. They're just different operating systems, as Mac OS runs off Unix, while Windows runs off DOS (no clue if it does anymore, NTLDR is DOS so I'm assuming so.)
You can run a Windows OS on a Macbook and run a Mac OS on any other laptop or netbook.

Ntldr is a boot loader, not an operating system. Ntldr is also not used anymore, Windows Vista invokes winload when it starts up. Ntldr was also never used with DOS based operating systems, hence it's called ntldr and not dosldr or something. Windows 3.1/95/98/Me were booted by DOS. Interestingly enough, 95 and up would actually boot through DOS, run Windows, then shutdown DOS, then relaunch MSDOS in a virtual machine whenever you ran a DOS application (further reading).

Windows has actually not been DOS since it switched over to NT based systems, the first of which was released in 1993. For nearly a decade, Microsoft would continue to release two different versions of Windows, one that was DOS based and one that wasn't. Windows ME would be the last Windows OS that ran using DOS and Windows XP was the first version of Windows to be released without a DOS based OS being sold alongside it.

[KoopaScooper]

Thank you for clearing that up, I had no clue if anything ran off DOS anymore.
yay outdated software

[Ethan]

Are these specs any good?
Mac Pro
Two 2.4GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon “Westmere” processors
6GB (six 1GB) memory (easily upgradable to a ridiculous 24gb)
1TB hard drive (can get four 2tb HDDs in RAID config)
18x double-layer SuperDrive
ATI Radeon HD 5770 with 1GB GDDR5 (could get a 6970/6990 to upgrade)

Yes, it's a Mac.

IMO the best thing to do would be to get a computer built, then install Mac and Windows in dual-boot, if possible.
That way you save money and get the best of both worlds, in a single computer.

Also, those are server processors. No need for that, just get an i7 or something. Dude,with that budget and building your own, you could have one of the best gaming computer ever, with your Mac partition right on board, completely separate and a simple computer restart away, for your schoolwork.

[LeetZero]

PSU: ChiefTec A80
Cooling: Any
Video Card: Palit Sonic Overclocking (Platinum) edition Nvidia GTX 460 1 GB GDDR5.
RAM: 2x2Gb Corsair
Motherboard: AsRock H61M-VS
CPU: Intel i5-2300 (2.80GHz Quad)

Estimates under $800, depending on your other choices (HDD, CD/DVD, which is chosen to your needs).

I personally paid exactly $800 for a prebuilt with the above, 2 TB HDD, DVD-RW, and some other stuff.

So relatively you'd actually get under $700. (Our VAT is 25% so I paid a unnecessary extra bunch).

Runs Battlefield 3 on Ultra on Operation Metro (When I played it in BETA). Not reliable for recording, since it kinda limits your FPS. Also my resolution is 1366 x 768.

[Ethan]

PSU: ChiefTec A80
Cooling: Any
Video Card: Palit Sonic Overclocking (Platinum) edition Nvidia GTX 460 1 GB GDDR5.
RAM: 2x2Gb Corsair
Motherboard: AsRock H61M-VS
CPU: Intel i5-2300 (2.80GHz Quad)

Estimates under $800, depending on your other choices (HDD, CD/DVD, which is chosen to your needs).

I personally paid exactly $800 for a prebuilt with the above, 2 TB HDD, DVD-RW, and some other stuff.

So relatively you'd actually get under $700. (Our VAT is 25% so I paid a unnecessary extra bunch).

Runs Battlefield 3 on Ultra on Operation Metro (When I played it in BETA). Not reliable for recording, since it kinda limits your FPS. Also my resolution is 1366 x 768.

The $700 one in OP is quite a bit better than this, sorry.
Also, 1366x768 is a rather small resolution, so it's easier to render.

[DontCare4Free]

IMO the best thing to do would be to get a computer built, then install Mac and Windows in dual-boot, if possible.
That way you save money and get the best of both worlds, in a single computer.

Also, those are server processors. No need for that, just get an i7 or something. Dude,with that budget and building your own, you could have one of the best gaming computer ever, with your Mac partition right on board, completely separate and a simple computer restart away, for your schoolwork.

Why would you need MOX for schoolwork? Also, installing MOX on a non-Apple build would break their EULA.

[LeetZero]

The $700 one in OP is quite a bit better than this, sorry.
Also, 1366x768 is a rather small resolution, so it's easier to render.

Perhaps, perhaps not.

And I said $700 as an estimative, as I said my VAT is 25%.

[Ethan]

Perhaps, perhaps not.

And I said $700 as an estimative, as I said my VAT is 25%.

Well even the $600 one would be pretty comparable.
Also all newegg costs include tax.

[Gojira]

IMO the best thing to do would be to get a computer built, then install Mac and Windows in dual-boot, if possible.
That way you save money and get the best of both worlds, in a single computer.

Also, those are server processors. No need for that, just get an i7 or something. Dude,with that budget and building your own, you could have one of the best gaming computer ever, with your Mac partition right on board, completely separate and a simple computer restart away, for your schoolwork.

Ah, okay.

I only have a $1500 budget according to my dad.

[Ethan]

Ah, okay.

I only have a $1500 budget according to my dad.

That is forgetloads.

When do you need it?
Do you need peripherals (keyboard, mouse) and/or a monitor?
Need a copy of Windows 7?

[Pepsidude]

Just realized something about the problems Ive been having.  Before this happened GTA IV said there was about 2gb something video memory, when I have 1gb.  Now it says I have 1gb like I actually do. Does this information change anything? At the least I hope it tells me more about the problem.

Look at the display now compared to earlier.

Then

Now


The hell happened.  This really bites ass since I pre-ordered Saints Row the Third for PC. I did try the things you posted for me, and it didn't work. The drivers wouldn't install and there was no effect. All because I wanted to ever so slightly boost my performance ;_;.