Rausch turns to the dark side...PC
 

So, the old Mac I've got will cost more to upgrade (Ram, new 0S, et) than just buying a new low-end PC. I really haven't used a PC much since 2000 so I'm pretty out of the loop there.

The stepdaughter will be doing her school online and can't with the mac I've got. Since I can't afford a new PC and PS3 the puter will be my new gamestation and want to hook it up to play Netflix movies on the TV.

I've looked at a few deals I'd like you PC nerds to give your thoughts on and any recemondations (no Gateways, thx) would be appreciated.

Mostly looking at this: http://www.pcmall.com/pcmall/shop/de...op%20Computers

And this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16883227087

Geek advice?...

The computer from New Egg looks better to me...A lot bigger hard drive, faster cpu, and the price is a lot better.

wait just one fucking minute there, brad. macs are expensive? WTF? I had NO clue!!!


:p

I'd expected more feedback from you bastids...

Why can't your daughter do her schooling on your mac?

Don't expect to game on either of those...

I'd need to upgrade my OS to accomodate the newest java. On top of that add over 500+ gigs of ram. Perhaps even then the new OS wouldn't run all that smooth with my ancient processor (G4 - 800mghz.)

Any deeper thoughts there Padwan?...

Video cards are shit. Otherwise I'd get the second one...can't go wrong with a Q6600 and 4GB for 600 bucks.

If you want to upgrade the video card on the second one it'd be a snap...has a free PCI-E port. Get an 8800GT.

I hope you know that RAM is not Storage. I think you know that though. ;)

But yeah, that's an old mac.

I'd probably go with the newegg one. I like it's specs.

Claythan - the Video cards aren't terrible.

I'm tring to keep under $1,200 for everything (monitor, upgrades, etc.)

Most "out of the box" desktops come with $#it vidcards. I'd expected that, but I don't need to p0wn the competition, just enough muscle to run the games as inteded for 2-3 years...

They're freakin' integrated. If he wants to do any gaming at all he needs to get a real video card. Neither of those cards will run Mass Effect well.

The second one was an Nvidia 7000 series. I don't think that's integrated.

Unless I'm missing something....

EDIT: Yep, I missed the Integrated part in the detailed specs. The headline just said Nvidia 7000 series, which isn't necessarily Integrated.

You are. It's a piece of shit. It barely runs Unreal Tournament 2004

Newegg is my choice, the PCmall (still get PC/MAC mall mailers from my last purchase) is hers.

What I have is WAY beyond behind (new games, photoshop, illustrator, final cut pro, etc.)

You could always build your own. Better value a lot of the time.