We're hoping to get a new computer very soon (within the week). My father has found three four computers that he wants looking in to. Can you guys provide any further input?

EDIT:

(FML)

1) HP Pavilion AMD Phenom II X4 925 2.8GHz Computer (P6102F)

2) HP Pavilion Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 2.5GHz Computer (P6153F) - Future Shop Exclusive

3) HP Elite Intel Core i7-920 2.66GHz Desktop Computer (E9180F)

Also: 4) Gateway FX6800-01E Refurbished Desktop PC - Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz, 3GB DDR3, 750GB HDD, DVDRW, Vista Home Premium 64

The computer will be used for relatively extensive 3D gaming. I'm interested in what you have to say about the four computers.

Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Oct 4 2009, 1:49 am by New-.Hydrolisk.

I don't see any comparison of three specific computers. Try getting links to each one separately.

FML.

1) HP Pavilion AMD Phenom II X4 925 2.8GHz Computer (P6102F)

2) HP Pavilion Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 2.5GHz Computer (P6153F) - Future Shop Exclusive

3) HP Elite Intel Core i7-920 2.66GHz Desktop Computer (E9180F)

Also: 4) Gateway FX6800-01E Refurbished Desktop PC - Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz, 3GB DDR3, 750GB HDD, DVDRW, Vista Home Premium 64

I recommend the 1st one hands down.

All are overpriced pre-builts. I cannot recommend any of them.

HP Pavilion AMD Phenom II X4 925 2.8GHz Computer (P6102F)

I would pick that one because quad core is overrated to me.

What about hexacores. HUH. What about hepta, octa, nona, and deca. HUH. WHAT ABOUT THOSE.

None of the cores you said will ever exist except for octa cores, because it is simply too annoying to make non-binary amounts of cores.

There are CPU's with three cores.

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Not useful CPUs.

http://media.bestofmicro.com/B/I/218142/original/CPU Cores - Multitasking.png" style="max-width:500px; max-height:500px;" onclick="javascript:show_image(844722141)" id="image_clickable_844722141" class="image_clickable">
Multiple cores are outrageously useful when multitasking. Multiple cores are outrageously useful when running an intensive process (brute force attack or something).

As for the pre-builts: They're all made up of what I'd like to call "meh" parts. I can build you an approximate copy of that tiger direct i7 model, but the problem is that it will be about $50 more expensive, since gateway saved more money than I could hope to save. However, they didn't buy a proper computer, and threw in junk which costs them literally nothing, but costs someone like me ~$50 extra. Those HP models will probably come out to be a little less expensive.

Now I need to emphasize this: do NOT buy this sample cart I put together. It's just showing you essentially where your money is going if you buy that computer.

As you can see, it has a terrible PSU, some worthless mice/keyboard/speakers, a pointless optical drive, a (lol) $100 operating system, a meh hard drive, and a way overpowered cpu for the graphics card. Now think if you could reassign some of this to other areas. If you already have an operating system, or optical drive, or keyboard/speakers/mice. Do you really need to buy them again? Do you want a BIOS which is completely locked down, so you can't overclock/underclock at all?

If you are asking someone who knows what they are talking about when it comes to computers to compare prebuilts, the answer will always be: build it yourself. However, that being said, all those computers will work. They are still computers. There's little to compare. If you really don't want to bother reusing old parts, or putting a little bit of work into your computer, then go ahead. I personally think it's an excellent learning experience to build a computer.

Also: kilocore

We ended up getting this one. What do you think of it?

That actually looks pretty damn nice.

Triple cores. Not multi cores. I am simply saying that no one really uses triple cores because it's easier to use a binary multiple of processors.

What a waste of good processors. The whole reason triple cores exist is because the fourth core doesn't work up to standards, so they disable the subpar core, and you now have a perfectly good processor for less. As you can see by my benchmark, the quad core barely takes a hit. The tri-core gets a bit of a hit but is still playable. the dual core takes even more of a hit. That means triple cores aren't useless.