Christmas smart PC shopping list
Sat, 12/08/2007 - 09:26 — J. Walterstein
This section is dedicated to all of you, who think about buying new PC but for some reasons prefer not to rely only on shop assistant, who indeed might suggest you guaranteed "high quality & high performing" PC configuration, the kind, he will make profit on, or composed by chance of components, which were lying on his stock for a really long time. Here you can find some example PC configuration models for different prizes as well as some "dreamy PC stuff" for few of those who have free choice and illimitable budget. Here I have to say, that last mentioned category is not only simple survey of the most expensive components, available on the market right now.
You can find huge amount of components, when you walk around shops. Many of them are out-of-date models, or some unsuccessful tries to attract certain group of customers. As a result, most of the time, you end up paying for overpriced stuff, which you don't even really need. For those who don't have time to follow always-changing PC market, it's difficult not to get lost and to orientate in variety of components available. It's so easy to get inspired by nice packaging or commercial tricks that manufacturers play on us. This section is for you; to save the time you would spend reading various tests. Other than rely on luck, read our PC shopping smart list. All the PC components mentioned in this article are suitable for overclocking and they are carefully combined in the way to achieve highest efficiency for lowest budget. While choosing PC stuff, we always think about the possibility of overclocking, and as a result your new PC composed of selected components will be well-balanced, not too quick and not too slow. It's extremely important not to forget, that with overclocking, nothing is never sure. Before overclocking your PC, we recommend you to carefully study specialized literature. Keep in mind, that every operation connected with overclocking is risky. I have to add that nowadays, PC manufacturers already count with overclocking, and many of them support this possibility, so it would be pity, not to use it.
PC $450
The cheapest PC set today, is suitable for common PC activities as surfing on Internet, office work, amateur photography work, playing videos and other activities, which don't require high graphic performance. Said in other words, this PC configuration could serve as a good family PC or a student PC. However, it is not suitable for playing fancy high-graphic PC games. Its integrated graphic is good enough for occasional players, who play some older PC games, or eventually it is possible to play newer games on this PC, but you have to compromise lower resolution and poorer graphic details. So if you are real PC games Fan, you'd better choose one of PC sets with additional graphic card. This PC is extraordinary silent.
PC $600
Our second presented PC set today can be without any problems classed in a category Game Computers, with sufficient performance to play most of the games available on the market. You can play games with resolution up to 1280x1024 and high graphic details. However, you have to keep in mind, that with newcoming games, resolution will be step by step lower. To get maximum performance of your PC, you'll have to overclock processor and memories. Price/quality make this graphic card to be a very good choice, however its overclocking will not help you to reach better performance. This PC set still belongs to the category "silent".
PC $900
The third PC set is Game Computer designed for playing games with high resolution, high details and often also with high degree of filtration and smoothing. In every aspect, this is a PC, which will allow you to play games without annoying stammering and big loading times. Processor performs great at set frequency; anyway, it would be convenient for you to higher its frequency up to 3Ghz and over. High-end graphic card needs sufficient processor support. I can imagine, that perfectionists will try to higher also graphic card frequency, what is, regarding its potential, the right option. This Computer will be, despite its very efficient performance, for you a very silent companion.
PC $1200
Our fourth presented PC set is a game computer for the most demanding users. This computer can show up its performance, only in case that you are owner of at least 24-inch Monitor with high resolution. Said in other words, if your Computer Monitor is only 19-inch with resolution 1280x1024, this PC set is a vasted money, and you'd better focus on third above mentioned configuration. Here, there are no doubts that SLI connection of two 8800 GT asks for overclocking. Again, operating frequency of 3Ghz is sufficient, however each additional Mhz will make a good job, so there are no reasons not to get higher.
PC for demanding players
And here we have the last PC set, which probably most of you are not going to buy. But at least, do yourself a pleasure by looking at this real high-end, not compromised PC. I don't have to say, that this configuration is suitable for any PC activity you can imagine. And for sure it will not disappoint any PC games Fan. Modern fancy games are supplied with multi core processors support. Arrival of Vista brought new tendencies, and 4GB RAM is not just a luxury anymore, as well as dual connection of graphic cards and RAID disks set up. All these features already belong to a decent PC. So, to spread some envy, you'll have to buy few components in double:). This PC is not made for everybody, and not just anybody will be able to appreciate price/utility rate. If you don't have socks full of money at home, you'd better invest in something more reasonable :).
You can find huge amount of components, when you walk around shops. Many of them are out-of-date models, or some unsuccessful tries to attract certain group of customers. As a result, most of the time, you end up paying for overpriced stuff, which you don't even really need. For those who don't have time to follow always-changing PC market, it's difficult not to get lost and to orientate in variety of components available. It's so easy to get inspired by nice packaging or commercial tricks that manufacturers play on us. This section is for you; to save the time you would spend reading various tests. Other than rely on luck, read our PC shopping smart list. All the PC components mentioned in this article are suitable for overclocking and they are carefully combined in the way to achieve highest efficiency for lowest budget. While choosing PC stuff, we always think about the possibility of overclocking, and as a result your new PC composed of selected components will be well-balanced, not too quick and not too slow. It's extremely important not to forget, that with overclocking, nothing is never sure. Before overclocking your PC, we recommend you to carefully study specialized literature. Keep in mind, that every operation connected with overclocking is risky. I have to add that nowadays, PC manufacturers already count with overclocking, and many of them support this possibility, so it would be pity, not to use it.
PC $450
The cheapest PC set today, is suitable for common PC activities as surfing on Internet, office work, amateur photography work, playing videos and other activities, which don't require high graphic performance. Said in other words, this PC configuration could serve as a good family PC or a student PC. However, it is not suitable for playing fancy high-graphic PC games. Its integrated graphic is good enough for occasional players, who play some older PC games, or eventually it is possible to play newer games on this PC, but you have to compromise lower resolution and poorer graphic details. So if you are real PC games Fan, you'd better choose one of PC sets with additional graphic card. This PC is extraordinary silent.
PC $600
Our second presented PC set today can be without any problems classed in a category Game Computers, with sufficient performance to play most of the games available on the market. You can play games with resolution up to 1280x1024 and high graphic details. However, you have to keep in mind, that with newcoming games, resolution will be step by step lower. To get maximum performance of your PC, you'll have to overclock processor and memories. Price/quality make this graphic card to be a very good choice, however its overclocking will not help you to reach better performance. This PC set still belongs to the category "silent".
PC $900
The third PC set is Game Computer designed for playing games with high resolution, high details and often also with high degree of filtration and smoothing. In every aspect, this is a PC, which will allow you to play games without annoying stammering and big loading times. Processor performs great at set frequency; anyway, it would be convenient for you to higher its frequency up to 3Ghz and over. High-end graphic card needs sufficient processor support. I can imagine, that perfectionists will try to higher also graphic card frequency, what is, regarding its potential, the right option. This Computer will be, despite its very efficient performance, for you a very silent companion.
PC $1200
Our fourth presented PC set is a game computer for the most demanding users. This computer can show up its performance, only in case that you are owner of at least 24-inch Monitor with high resolution. Said in other words, if your Computer Monitor is only 19-inch with resolution 1280x1024, this PC set is a vasted money, and you'd better focus on third above mentioned configuration. Here, there are no doubts that SLI connection of two 8800 GT asks for overclocking. Again, operating frequency of 3Ghz is sufficient, however each additional Mhz will make a good job, so there are no reasons not to get higher.
PC for demanding players
And here we have the last PC set, which probably most of you are not going to buy. But at least, do yourself a pleasure by looking at this real high-end, not compromised PC. I don't have to say, that this configuration is suitable for any PC activity you can imagine. And for sure it will not disappoint any PC games Fan. Modern fancy games are supplied with multi core processors support. Arrival of Vista brought new tendencies, and 4GB RAM is not just a luxury anymore, as well as dual connection of graphic cards and RAID disks set up. All these features already belong to a decent PC. So, to spread some envy, you'll have to buy few components in double:). This PC is not made for everybody, and not just anybody will be able to appreciate price/utility rate. If you don't have socks full of money at home, you'd better invest in something more reasonable :).
