The Carnal Sin!

geofftelforduk · 20-12-2006, 1:20 PM

Guys,

I have heard that I have just committed the carnal sin!!! I have sold my iMac to buy a PC!!

I bought the iMac about a year ago, and I have to say it was a really good machine, but I just found it difficult to get used to when I am so used to a PC (i.e. Windows PC).

There were a couple of things that I didnt like about it. I hated the mouse movement on it. Believe me, I tried every mouse known to man to try and rectify it. There were a couple of other things that I didnt like, but i wont bore ya.

Basically, in the New Year I intend to build a new PC. From experience is there anything in particulat that I should look out for (I have experience in PC building) being out of the PC arena for about a year or so. For example, AMD or Intel!!??

Any tips and good online retailer references would be appreciated!

Thanks
Geoff

WSB · 20-12-2006, 1:38 PM

I built a box about a year or so ago but it was more of a budget thing. (Happily bagged myself a macbook a few weeks ago with the newer core 2 duo processors with 2 gig of mem and trying to learn to use Aperture now!)

You can get a good barebones unit from ebay and build it up or make your own....ebuyer always seem to offer everything you need at a decent price.

On another project I turned a dell into a very very decent media center so perhaps you could see what Dell offer in the new year and buy the bits to upgrade it yourself. To be honest- building your own PC from sratch will prob be more expensive.

Look at the 'entertainment computers' section on the forum for advice but if I was going for a new machine I'd go for Intel Core 2 Duo, min 2 gig of mem (should be enough for photo editing but if you do camcorder stuff you may want more) and a decent graphics card.

T0MAT01 · 20-12-2006, 1:54 PM

I'd also go the Intel dual core route.

Also look for DDR2 memory and PCIe graphics.

Get a motherboard with as many slots as you can find because it's a pain to have to remove cards when you want to fit extras!

Personally I'd get a sound card as well as I hate having on board sound.

BTW www.novatech.co.uk do some good motherboard bundles, but ebuyer can be cheaper for drives etc.

HTH.

pixelpixel · 20-12-2006, 2:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geofftelforduk

Guys,

I have heard that I have just committed the carnal sin!!! I have sold my iMac to buy a PC!!

I did something like that when I moved across the water, sold my G4 PowerMac and ibook. I now have a old 3 year old pc that is about to have linux installed shortly.

Do miss my G4...

geofftelforduk · 20-12-2006, 2:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T0MAT01

I'd also go the Intel dual core route.

Have you any specific reason why you would go for Intel!!! There is a significant price difference!!

onefivenine · 20-12-2006, 3:10 PM

If you're interested in HDTV make sure you get a graphics card which supports HDCP. They've only recently come on the market.

Radiohead · 20-12-2006, 3:53 PM

I just went the other way, from a PC to a C2D iMac. I'd never go back now.

pixelpixel · 20-12-2006, 4:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onefivenine

If you're interested in HDTV make sure you get a graphics card which supports HDCP. They've only recently come on the market.

I dont have a hdcp card but have enjoyed HD material for over a year now.

onefivenine · 20-12-2006, 4:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixelpixel

I dont have a hdcp card but have enjoyed HD material for over a year now.

Same here mate. Not everyone has a wooden leg and an eye patch though

Anyone that goes down the HD-DVD drive route will probably benefit from a card with HDCP just in case they have some legitimate material!

I just mentioned it for the OP as it's the only thing I could think of that's changed significantly in the last year which I would watch out for now if I was upgrading or building.
The gfx card can be a relatively big outlay in a PC's cost.

Chunder · 20-12-2006, 4:46 PM

Carnal sin or cardinal sin?

T0MAT01 · 20-12-2006, 4:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geofftelforduk

Have you any specific reason why you would go for Intel!!! There is a significant price difference!!

I just find Intel more reliable, simple as that really.

...can open, worms everywhere...

Mr.D · 20-12-2006, 5:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chunder

Carnal sin or cardinal sin?

Yes I was wondering if he was commiting forbidden acts with his iMac.

**senu** · 20-12-2006, 6:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.D

Yes I was wondering if he was commiting forbidden acts with his iMac.

Hmm...
Some will consider selling off a Mac to get a PC committing a forbidden act!!

toadoftoadhall · 20-12-2006, 7:29 PM

one thing to watch out for is noise.
Get some decent fans, not cheap and noisy, and some sort of fan speed controller.

toad

Valleyman · 20-12-2006, 7:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T0MAT01

I just find Intel more reliable, simple as that really.

...can open, worms everywhere...

It's not a can of worms anymore (Though i do believe AMD are just as stable as Intel, and with the old P4s AMDs were MUCH more stable due to the temps on P4 chips). However, AMD are the fallen kings. All hail Intel!

Intel are faster and cheaper than AMD since the core2duo hit the shelves. Don't look at clock speeds whatever you do. At EVERY single level from budget to top end, Intel kicks AMDs ass in price

erformance. Not only that they have the fastest chips available aswell (also cheaper than AMDs top end)

<---- Using a AMD x2 4800+ currently. Will be going the Intel route next, unless AMD pull somethign special out of the bag. Story on the grape vine however is that it will be a couple of years until they can "pull a conroe" on Intel.

**senu** · 21-12-2006, 1:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valleyman

.......... However, AMD are the fallen kings. All hail Intel!

Intel are faster and cheaper than AMD since the core2duo hit the shelves...

For now

Quote:

<---- Using a AMD x2 4800+ currently. Will be going the Intel route next, unless AMD pull somethign special out of the bag. Story on the grape vine however is that it will be a couple of years until they can "pull a conroe" on Intel.

I hope not. Intel has not become a monopoly because of healthy competition from AMD. The thought of them having no competition brings back nightmares of "Wintel" and all its negatives

geofftelforduk · 21-12-2006, 1:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chunder

Carnal sin or cardinal sin?

Guys! Please accept my humblest apology for the typo!!!! I am no PCophile!

Keep the advice coming cos I am not intending to do anything till the New Year!!