Where to shop online, and a few other questions =)

[chuck462]

I am looking to built a new system, most likely in 2 months after I move into a new house. As my normal routine, I let my computer knowledge lapse in between builds. I built my current computer back in 07-08, and did my son's computer later in 08.

I have been a huge fan and user of Newegg, but was wondering if there are other sites out there comparable to them in service and selection. My planned budget will be 2000-2500 dollars for the new system, and it will be a gaming platform, but I am not a huge overclocking fan. I just don't have the time to be tweaking my system when I'd rather be playing it.

I've spent the last few days reading up on current specs and, quite frankly, getting lost in the myriad of things on the market today. Crossfire is the double ATI graphics card config, and is SLI still the NVIDIA config as well for dual cards? Are they worth it really?

I still see the usual battle between AMD vs Intel. I've always gone with AMD in the past, simply because they were cheaper, but I've never been disappointed with them. I don't need the hottest new CPU, but would like to get the one that was hot 2 months ago that has dropped in price 50% as the newer/better/faster chips are released.

The primary use of the new build will be gaming, with heavy data storage (photos/videos) and web surfing, as well as some school work when I get off my lazy butt to get back in school.

Thanks for all the input I'm sure will follow. You guys here rock and this is the one place I always turn to "get smarter" on computer topics.

[David M]

I shop both Newegg and Amazon. Newegg clearly has the better service. Amazon almost always has the better selection and more often than not the better prices especially when the sales tax where I live is 9.75%. Newegg is in California therefore I have to pay it directly when ordering through them. Where I would never buy from is TigerDirect. Ask glc, TigerDirect makes him really talkative.

No other vendors I don't think stand out as being exceptionally good, except for perhaps that one in Canada (forgot the name). There are plenty of horrible vendors to choose from.

[chuck462]

[QUOTE=David M;1501485] Where I would never buy from is TigerDirect. Ask glc, TigerDirect makes him really talkative.

QUOTE]

Heheh..Yeah, I've seen his posts on Tigerdirect and specifically did not talk about them in the OP, didn't want him to get going on it.

[birddog_61]

For the budget you have you can afford the hottest new cpu, but its not an AMD, its the i7-2600k. What games are you planing on playing, and at what resolution? Multiple monitors or just one?

[SARGE]

Originally Posted by David M Where I would never buy from is TigerDirect. Ask glc, TigerDirect makes him really talkative.

What you talkin' about? "Tiger Direct sells a lot of "distressed" merchandise. The brands that they push (Ultra, ECS, XFX, and several others) are basically cheap unreliable crap, and their ad writers can make a turd smell like a rose. "

[Nuclear Krusader]

I've bought from TD in the past. Never had an issue myself. As long as you know what you're buying, you're OK. That being said, it's not a store I'd personally recommend, considering that a great deal of people really don't know what they need and are easy victims for TD's pushing of crap. I stopped buying from them because Ncix had (still has) better prices and service, and TD's shipping is expensive, and there's also not much selection.

[chuck462]

Originally Posted by birddog_61 For the budget you have you can afford the hottest new cpu, but its not an AMD, its the i7-2600k. What games are you planing on playing, and at what resolution? Multiple monitors or just one?

I know I'll be playing SWKOTOR when it comes out, and maybe a few others. I've been out of the country for a year and really out of touch on things, so whatever catches my eye. I just don't want any regrets or have to turn down settings to play a good game.

As for the monitors, I'm happy with my single 24" LCD from a couple years ago, but not against going dual monitor. I've done it before and liked it, I just didnt have same sized monitors and it became annoying.

[SARGE]

I catch some flack for doing so, but I like seeing and holding the merchandise, not some photo online. Online is great for those who have to do so, including myself whose only choice for a particular item is an online joint. An item at Newegg costs something plus shipping, and wait 3 days. I can go up the street and pay $1 less, no shipping charges and be home in 5 minutes with it - for same product. It all depends on what you're doing and where you live.

[birddog_61]

Ok if your going to be gaming around 1080p then a gtx 570-580 or amd equivalent card will be more than plenty. With your budget and a gaming pc in mind this is what I would do personally.

Since you don't want to OC.
Newegg.com - Intel Core i7-2600 Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I72600

Motherboard when it comes back in stock.
Newegg.com - ASUS SABERTOOTH P67 (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

PSU
Newegg.com - CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750 V2 750W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power Supply

Ram
Newegg.com - CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory Model CMX8GX3M2A1333C9

Video card
Newegg.com - EVGA SuperClocked 015-P3-1582-AR GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) 1536MB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

OS
Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - Operating Systems

Case up to you just make sure it is good quality and fits a full size atx motherboard, full size atx PSU, and good cooling.

Total 1330 roughly, and without case.

This will play any game with no problems at 1080p and well beyond. I started to recommend a gtx 570 and still think it would be a great card for you however you said you play all types of games and this card is a little more future proof than a 570 especially with 2 monitor gaming and not knowing if you will start playing more graphics intensive games.