hey guys,
usually i just wander around the truck sections of this site but i found the pc q&a finally.
i am looking into getting a new pc for myself for racing online. i need some direction as to what i might want to go with for this gamer. now i am not a hardcore gamer as i do not play doom 3-d or anything like that. the only games i will be playing are nascar racing 2003 and maybe r-factor.
i am a total clown when it comes to pc jargon so as much help as anyone iswilling to give i will take.
i hav had some tell me that i should d get a cuberpower pc a or go to newegg.com and get some stuff for building one. what should i do?
i have never built a pc nor am i about to try to do it and also have never purchased a pc. the one i allready have was given to me by my brother.

another ? tha ti have is,
i want to run my gaming from downstairs in my own space that the warden hads allowed me, er i mean finace, but i still want to have the basic internet and email pc upstairs. can i just run two seperate cable lines one to each pc or do i have to do something with the one line in the pc room then split it to go downstairs?
i was thinking naybe i could use a wireless connection to the mager but have heard that they are not tottaly reliable to use for online games. once again i do not know.
any help or direction would be greatly appreciated.
thanks
steve

p.s. i went through the shifty school of cleanup on the stickies in the pc forum and i must say it was easier than i thought it would be. thanks shifty for posting such great information for idiots like myself to enjoy.

First point - read post #2 in this thread - it summarizes most things. LINK: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=226068

At this point in time, Intel Core 2 Duo is the way to go - at the website linked in the last post ^^ I saw one Dell system that came with a 20" monitor, a system that looked good for gaming, for around $750 before you add the warranty to it. This is not bad!!

With Desktop PC's upgrades are VERY easy, so if you are not satisfied with the base package you get, you can always drop a few dollars to get something better as you go. This is the one benefit to desktops over laptops.

For your connection - is there any easy way for you to run a cable from your upstairs to your jail cell downstairs? If not, Wireless is probably the way to go. I am a "hardcore" gamer. I have gamed on wireless before. It's not awful, but from what you're saying, you don't play Doom3-style games (FPS - or "First Person Shooters"), so ... It shouldn't matter to you. Most wireless access points come with multiple hard-wired ports so if you are unhappy with the wireless, you have the option to run a wire later. I can give help details on that later. I have a post of mine around here I can dig up somewhere that talks about house wiring in decent detail.

As for the computers....A couple of basic things you need to understand:

CPU is a "processor", it is what makes your computer "compute". Faster is better. You want something "64-bit", "dual core" and "Intel Core 2 Duo" chips are the way to go anymore. Don't let the numbers confuse you. Pay attention to the names of the processors. AMD isn't doing as well as Intel right now for chips.

Hard drive is the internal storage space where files and stuff are held. A lot of people confuse this with MEMORY, but a hard drive is NOT MEMORY. This is one very important thing to understand. Any hard drive that is at least 80GB (GigaBytes) in size is adequate for your needs. Hard drives have a hard disc like a CD inside them - it's called a "platter" - and when you are buying, you might notice an RPM speed like 5400, 7200 or even 10,000 RPM. Don't buy 5400 RPM hard drives, it's just too slow.

RAM, which is also known as "MEMORY", is a card that plugs into the big ass main circuit board of your computer (aka the "motherboard"). Without getting too technical, these sticks/cards allow your computer to hold frequently accessed data in a spot which is very easy to access for your processor. 512MB is the minimum you can settle with anymore. 1GB (1024MB, normally two 512MB sticks together) is a good round number for decent gaming experience. 2GB would probably give you the power to do damned near anything you want with your computer.

Your video card is an add-on part that allows your computer to process all of those pretty graphics in the game. It processes everything, then sends it out to your monitor. Your monitor is nothing more than a fancy TV. It has basically NOTHING to do with your gaming experience - except....the bigger, the better, the more you can see. The more expensive the video card, the better your gaming experience is going to be. I suggest using an "nVidia" brand video card - personal preference here.

EDIT: You will see three notations after numbers when buying computers: KB, MB and GB.
KB = kilobyte (equal 1,000 bytes)
MB = megabyte (equal to 1,000 kilobytes or 1,000,000 bytes)
GB = gigabyte (equal to 1,000 megabytes or 1,000,000 kilobytes or 1,000,000,000 bytes)

Again - more is usually better in any case. A "byte" is basically just a chunk of data. Think of it like ... a square foot of space. You can stuff anything into that square foot - and the more square fett you got, the more stuff you can stick in that space.


I think this covers almost everything you need to know as far as "jargon" goes for most PC's. This information is geared towards a DESKTOP computer, and not a LAPTOP computer. Laptops are not as easy to upgrade, so you really want to stack them up with features before buying.

If you have *any* questions about buying a system, let me know. Those little pimply faced bastards at your local chain tech store are not going to be a help.

NO MATTER WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO BUY, MAKE SURE IT COMES WITH AT LEAST A 3YR WARRANTY!!!

If you have a local Gateway store, I recommend their systems. It's nice to buy locally! www.gateway.com - click "contact us" to get the 800-number to see if there is a store near you. I prefer Dell first, Gateway second, and I honestly don't feel like there is any other brand out there worth mentioning. Seriously - with HP/Compaq, IBM/Lenovo, Sony, I have consistently had more bad experiences with them than any other brand I know.

excellent shifty! thanks for the rundown.
i could easily run a cable through the floor into the basement.
here are some pics of the dungeon:

http://s31.photobucket.com/albums/c372/nwmod39/sim-racing/

thanks a ton for the link.
steve

Yep it would be very easy to run that cable. Network cables are funny...you should never run them in parallel to power wires or near ballasts for your fluorescent lights.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=221802

That thread has a TON of info you can use. If you just need a 20-30ft cable, I can make you one and ship it to you, but if it's less than 40ft, it would be cheaper to by it from somewhere online (you'll pay 500% markup if you buy it at your local "technology store")

Seriously, if you have any questions or want to run anything by me, don't hesitate. I live and breathe this type of stuff every day and love teaching people new things/helping them understand all this mumbo jumbo crap!

thanks again shifty. you are a great person for all the help that you offer to people that you only associate with through websites.

a few of my racing buddies have sent me over to cyberpowerpc.com. they do have some deals on pc with monitors and they also offer a lifetime technical support for pc buysers as well as a 3 year limited warrenty and free lifetime labor warranty.

this is a copy of what the limited warranty covers.

WHAT IS COVERED -- CyberPower warrants that the hardware products it sells are free from defects in materials and workmanship. This warranty also covers damage due to the shipping of products to you. This warranty does not cover damage due to external causes, including accident, abuse, misuse, problems with electrical power, acts of third parties, servicing not authorized by CyberPower, usage not in accordance with instructions accompanying the product(s), failure to perform required preventive maintenance, including but not limited to backups, and problems caused by use of software, parts and components not supplied by CyberPower. This warranty does not cover software, external devices; accessories or other parts added to a CyberPower system after the system is shipped from CyberPower; or accessories or parts that are not installed in the CyberPower factory. Monitors, keyboards, and mice that are included on CyberPower's standard price list are covered under this warranty; all other monitors, keyboards, and mice are not covered.

i know that you do refer people to dell first but i was wondering if these were a lil bit better than a dell pc for around the same price.
now i do understand that dell does offer a 3 year "cover all" warranty that replaces stuff if you have the ever dreaded ACCIDENT. would it be worth it to just go with the dell and get the best coverage one could get or possibley settle for a lesser warranty and get maybe a lil bit better of a gaming pc.

i picked up a computershooper mag the other day and it had a dell e520 near the froint advetise as a gaming pc with 1 gb ram and 160 gb hard drive and an intel pentium d processor 915 with dual core technology. it also, from the ad, comes with a 19 inch flat panel monitor and a 256mb nvidia geforce 7300 le graphics card. all for 849.00 after 150.00 off. does this look like a good pc for me and my needs?

as for the cable to be run into the basement. i allready have one jack in the pc room and one on the same wall as the pc room just on the other side. i can easily drill straight down into the floor and run the cable down through there. if i was to do this what would i need to do to get everything to work.? do i just get the pc going and after all of my startup process insert the comcast internet cd? or do i have to go through some other steps to get the internet working downstairs.


and not to drag this on to much but i have a pc that my sister left behind when she moved to arizona that i can have. it is an hp i believe with windows xp. it does not have any of the windows disk or anything else. it does have a monitor,mouse,keyboard,and printer. is there anyhting that i can do with this pc since it is just sitting there. im pretty sure by how she handles things that it has viruses and bugs to work out but maybe i can play with it to learn more about pc.would this be something worth my time or should i just let it sit in her basement and nt worry about it.

thanks again for all of the help that you have offered.
steve

Ok, lots of questions to answer.

First, resellerratings.com is a great website to go to to look up online stores before you buy. Sometimes larger stores you already know by name get a bum rap, but they are usually spot-on with the guys you may not know by name. CyberPower PC is listed there and has an exceptional rating: http://www.resellerratings.com/store/CyberPower

I would be confident buying from them online, but I would click that link and read some of the bad reviews also so you get an idea of horror stories people have shared. Overall, the warranty is very vague - you are required to perform "routine maintenance" in order for the warranty to be valid. They do not explain what "materials" are...is the CDROM drive a "material"? How do they determine what is a defect in craftsmanship? I've never had to exercise a warranty with them, so I cannot say. I would not trust the word of mouth from a salesperson either, I swear, so many of them are genetically programmed to be yes-men it's not even funny (this goes for any salesperson for any computer company).

I found this thread after I went to google.com and searched for "cyberpower pc review" - scary stuff in the first couple of replies :D : http://www.resellerratings.com/forum/showthread.php?t=118262

Monarch PC is another place here in GA that makes PC's that has a great reputation in the area - www.monarchcomputer.com - but again, this is a smaller shop, I know their sevice, but I have never bought a PC from them. The fact they are closed on weekends is a pain in the ass for me. I also don't know how well budgeted their systems are.

The Pentium D 915 processor in the Dell system you saw in Computer Shopper is actually very good mid-range system for budget gaming, and is pretty upgradable also, and a good price (make sure you read terms and conditions on how to secure the rebate and be diligent if it is mail-in!!). If you want a gaming PC in the price range you saw in Computershopper, you could keep an eye on the deals at DealNews.net (link is in that other thread) and wait for something to pop up. Look out for "XPS" systems and the Dell Dimension 9200 looks like it might be a pretty good gaming machine (you can upgrade the video card later, or when you setup the cart for purchase).

I can't say whether better computer with lesser warranty is better than a slightly lesser computer with a great warranty. That is really your judgement call. How important is insurance to you? Do you think you can troubleshoot and fix it yourself if it breaks? Will you need to get someone else to do it (for $$$)?

I try not to refer everyone to Dell first, I actually have been trying to encourage lots of people to go to your local Gateway store, there are several outlets all around the country. I (and my friends and family I've referred) have had exceptional "luck" with Dell for years, both for home and business use, and Dell have always followed through on their warranty promises, so .... I give them the praise deserved. I have heard nothing but rave reviews about Gateway, so I recommend them also.

The HP computer your sister left behind - a lot of times, you can contact HP through HP.com and get "restore discs" from them for around $20-40. These should allow you to simply pop in a CD, boot up the computer and restore the computer back to the exact state it came from the factory in. Sometimes, you can do special keypresses, like hitting the F12 key when you see the HP logo at bootup, and it will let you restore the computer to factory installation with a couple of keypresses (it transfers the setup/install files from a secret part of the hard drive). I would need an exact model number off the front of the case to tell you more.

For the cable to the basement....you have some options - please tell me more about your configuration ... what type of internet connection (cable, satellite, dialup or DSL), look at the bottom of your modem and give me an exact model number, look at the bottom of your router if (you have one) and give me an exact model number as well. I will try to give you a couple of options.

Do you already have a "network switch", "network hub" or "router"/"gateway" component? This is usually a separate device, a small powered box that sits between your cable/DSL modem and your computer.

thanks again shifty.

the model number on the modem is tm402p/110
i do have a high speed internet using comcast cable.
as for the router, no i do not have one. my modem is run from the cable jack in the wall to the modem and from the modem to the back of the pc. i believe it is called ethernet?

the more i think about it the more i get crossed up in my decision. when i think that i like one pc i see something else and like it as well. now i do know tha ti am not going for a super gamer but do not want to buy something just because he/she said it was great. i am the type of person that needs to know what im looking at before i buy something. i have spent hours on the pc lately looking at differnet pc setups as well as many differnet site trying to educate myself on what is what. i will call the gateway number right now to se if there is one near me. i know we used to have one close by five years ago but that store has since been closed so i do not know, or have not seen, if there is another one.
thanks agian for all of your input shifty.
steve

well after reading through 20 of the 86 pages of reviews i come across many who have had a good experience with cyberpower. BUT, the ones who did not have a good experience seemed like they had a real difficult time getting things resolved right. as much as i like their site and have heard from friends how good their pc is i think i will steer clear of cyberpower and go with something else.
thanks for the linky shift
steve

You have a couple of cables:
- Coaxial cable, which is the RF cable that connects to the cable jack on the wall
- Telephone cable, which is used for dialup or DSL. Has four wires inside - you may not be using this type of wire at all.
- Ethernet cable, which is also called a "network cable" and is made out of "Cat5" or "Category Five" wire. The ends of the wires look like large telephone connectors. Has eight wires inside.

Normally cable modems only have one "coax" connector and one "ethernet" connector. What people normally do in your case is go buy a router. Normally, these days, most of your common routers will have one ethernet input and four ethernet outputs.

Now, just to be clear and simple, all a router does is take incoming data and "route" them to the correct computer(s). Normally it takes the ethernet input from the modem (your internet connection from the modem) and creates a special network on those ethernet output ports so everyone can share the same internet connection. So, simply: One internet connection in, four internet connections out.

If you pick up a router, all you need is a long network cable that will reach the downstairs computer - you will:

- Power off your modem for approximately 10 mins.
- Run the ethernet cable out of the modem and into the "WAN" ethernet input port on the router.
- Run network cables from the output ports of the router into any computers on your network.

Normally, reputable routers will come with a "quick install" CD that will help you configure them pretty easily. If you get a wireless router, you should either A) make sure you secure it by requiring a key code to connect to it or B) turn off the wireless part of it entirely.