Plz help Me Customize My New HP

Finally getting a new pc. I only have about 1100 to spend( which isn't much I know) and I found this customizable HP..heres the link.

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/cto/computer_customize_components.do

Heres the plan, and I wish you would tell me if I'm going about this right. I'd like to get this a1130e series and customize it to handle games better. My pc right now is a HP 061 with AMD AthlonXP 2800+ MMx, 3D-Now ~2.1gHz with 448mb w/ DirectX 9.0. This is my current system and although it is quite small it handled GTA VC and Sims and SimCity with no problems.

So on the NEW a1130e series I'm going to have HP add this...

AMD Athlon(TM) 64 3400+ (2.2GHz / 512KB L2 cache +40.00US

1GB DDR-400MHz SDRAM (2x512) +160.00US

FREE UPGRADE from 40GB to 80GB SATA Hard Drive FREE

SAVE $30! Double Layer 16X DVD +/-R/RW drive FREE

48x max. CD-ROM Drive +30.00US

NVIDIA GeForce 6200SE w/TurboCache 256MB support +60.00US

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS for MS Home or Pro OS +60.00US

2-year HP extended service plan more info 69.99US(after rebate)

Heres the Customize Page...http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/cto/computer_customize_components.do


So, will this be able to run newer games like SimCity4, Sims 2 and GTA San Andreas with the configurations I have added? I'm not trying to keep 2 or more games on my drive at once, but I do want better performance for my few games I do have on their now and price is a factor. i'm getting this idea from a thread I saw here when a member tried getting a cheaper pc but customizing it for homework and gaming needs. Any help welcome, but please go easy on me



Thanks


Q-Bert23

 

Edit : One last question, which is better ...

Integrated ATI Radeon Xpress HyperMemory

or

NVIDIA GeForce 6200SE w/TurboCache 256MB support



which is better ...

Integrated 5.1 Capable Sound w/ front audio ports


or

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS for MS Home or Pro OS




Also, will the processor I talked about in my last post( the AMD Athlon(TM) 64 3400+ (2.2GHz / 512KB L2 cache) will it work well with my configurments??


Thanks again

Q-Bert23

 

video card is weak sauce all the way (either one). a 6200 doesnt need/use 256mb so save your money. No need to add service plan, waste of money IMO, if somethings gonna fail its gonna fail within its first year, besides most of those components arent hot off the press new, they've got their age so they are relatively "cheap" to replace/buy new if something was to happen 2-3-4 years down the road.

Get the audigy 2 ZS.


Remember non integrated > integrated.

 

Thanks for the info Yeh, I figured the vid card was alittle weak( but Financial Aid doesnt cover video cards..lol).

What exactly do you mean by this? Should I not get the Nvidia card at all? Should I stick with the Raedon?

And everything else I mentioned is ok so far correct? The processor, the memory and the audio card is good too right? So keep everything and chunk the Nvidia card out?




Q-Bert23

 

If you want a nice custom pc check out this site www.cyberpowerinc.com . You cant custom configure your own pc and get a nice pc for your price range. By the way your original link dosent work.

 

Thanks for the link, Im going to check it out right now. Srry about the bad link( it was working earlier?.?)..heres the link I was trying to show..

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/s...desktops/hp_pavilion&storeName=computer_store


Q-Bert23

 

I was wondering if you've tried Dell to customize your computer. I know we've bought quite a few at work and they've been pretty reliable. Me personally, I would rather build my own (which is what I did for my current system).

I personally don't like integrated video since you really cannot upgrade unless you did like I have done to my old machine and buy a PCI accellerator card.

The integrated sound is a personal preference. It's good for the basic things and possibly a good number of games, but if you are experiencing problems with some games with the sound you can get a separate card and use that instead.

I'm thinking you've got everything you could possibly want. I'm not sure if you'll notice a difference in speed between your old computer to your new one. I'm hoping this helps.

 

Thanks for your help! I'm thinkin of steering away from Hp and going with a CyberPower custom built pc, theyre actually cheaper( i didnt know that ) than HP.

This leads to my next question, I loved the options at Cyberpower and I think I'm going there for my pc. But how do they stack up for internet use, since some dont come with modems...keep in mind I need a pc thats good for homework and office applications but can handle afew games as well. I liked the Special 1 and 2, but do these pcs work for general surfing and online pool( im addicted to that damn game)?

Thanks again for that link Tourangh!



Q-Bert23

 

Id reccommend getting a Dell. They're reliable and relatively inexpensive and can be upgraded either before purchase. If you want a com for gaming then id reccommend one with a minimum of 512MB RAM, preferably more. Game requirements are becoming more and more demanding, so you'll need plenty of RAM if ya want to play the latest games. DONT buy an HP. Their PC business is suffering due to competition from other brands, and they rip you off.

 

I'd recommend you stay away from brands that use proprietary parts like HP, IBM, and Dell etc.

Find a decent builder, or better still do it yourself, and have them build you a custom PC, which uses standard parts and is much easier to upgrade and work on.

Whichever way you go, make sure they include a full Windows CD (if you are getting Windows) and not just a Recovery CD.

 

QFT!

We had a new Gaming Dell machine brought into the shop. The power supply and motherboard are proprietary garbage and the poor chum who brought it in cooked the PSU and no tellin what else. Now I can't test it, because the motherboard requires an odd 10 pin auxilary lead from it's crap PSU and even though Dell sold him the extended service plan, they won't replace a thing.

 

I dont know about your cpu.

AMD Athlon(TM) 64 3400+ (2.2GHz / 512KB L2 cache)

if HP offers something from intel might wanna go that way.

 

What are you talking about thats a great cpu.