Laptop dying - Computer Technical Help - Software and Hardware Forum

I have a aprox 6 year old laptop that i use for everything. It works fine for everything i need except poker, and lags really bad with only 2 tables and PT4 running. I want to buy a desktop that i can MT on without problems. The problem is i know diddle sqwat about computers. If someone in the know could tell me what i should be looking for or recommend me a PC that doesn't cost a fortune i would be very grateful.

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09-20-2014 , 06:59 PM

MarcoSilva92

adept

Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 734

i5-3XXX/4XXX (quad core)
8GB DDR3 RAM
120/250GB SSD + 1TB HDD
~300W PSU
Any decent mobo <=60e

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09-20-2014 , 07:15 PM

Zombiefan

adept

Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 1,175

^ this may as well be German from the amount i understand.

Can you name/ link a PC with this that as much under $1500 as possible. Thanks for you help!

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09-20-2014 , 07:18 PM

Zombiefan

adept

Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 1,175

Either of these 2 fit the profile?

http://www.priceme.co.nz/HP-Prodesk-...888706839.aspx

http://www.priceme.co.nz/Acer-Aspire...889568537.aspx

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09-20-2014 , 07:41 PM

Doc T River

Master of the Edit Line

Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 13,059

With your budget and the age of your laptop, I think you would be able to get a pretty good desktop AND a laptop with specs better than what you have now. At six years old, your laptop might be living on borrowed time.

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09-20-2014 , 07:47 PM

Zombiefan

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Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 1,175

Yep, just looking for a recommendation. $1500 is max budget. Would prefer to get cheapest one possible.

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09-20-2014 , 08:14 PM

MarcoSilva92

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Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 734

Why not build it yourself? You'll get a better price-performance ratio.

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09-20-2014 , 09:06 PM

Zombiefan

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Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 1,175

Because i'm computer illiterate and wouldn't even know where to start/

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09-21-2014 , 05:04 AM

FUrake

old hand

Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,640

where about are u OP? are there any local computer shops near you that could build a computer for you?

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09-21-2014 , 05:18 AM

#10

Zombiefan

adept

Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 1,175

I'm in New Zealand. There are probably computer shops near me that will do it but i'm just going to ask a student at uni to do i for me for a few $$.

MarcoSilva92 kindly put a list of everything i need together for me here: http://nz.pcpartpicker.com/p/JJcrpg

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09-21-2014 , 05:19 AM

#11

Zombiefan

adept

Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 1,175

Q: What OS should i get? I currently use vista.

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09-21-2014 , 05:34 AM

#12

Morphismus

BBV Poker Player of 2022

Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 24,272

Windows 7 Professional; you probably won't like the Windows 8 user interface.

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09-21-2014 , 06:34 AM

#13

Zombiefan

adept

Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 1,175

^Thanks

Do i need a video card? I have no idea what it does, but seems to be added to computers.

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09-21-2014 , 06:48 AM

#14

Morphismus

BBV Poker Player of 2022

Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 24,272

Not with the i5 processor, it has a graphics processor included.

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09-21-2014 , 09:07 AM

#15

Baobhan-Sith

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4,279

Quote:

Compatibility Notes

Some Intel H81 chipset motherboards may need a BIOS update prior to using Haswell Refresh CPUs.

Zalman Z3 Plus ATX Mid Tower Case has front panel USB 3.0 ports, but the Gigabyte GA-H81M-S2PV Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard does not have onboard USB 3.0 headers.

Just fyi. Prolly not the worst idea to look for another board.

Other downsides of the board are:

only 2 RAM slots @ 1600MHz max

only 4 SATA ports

1920*1200 max resolution

Last edited by Baobhan-Sith; 09-21-2014 at 09:18 AM.

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09-21-2014 , 10:11 AM

#16

Morphismus

BBV Poker Player of 2022

Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 24,272

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baobhan-Sith

Just fyi. Prolly not the worst idea to look for another board.

Other downsides of the board are:

only 2 RAM slots @ 1600MHz max

only 4 SATA ports

1920*1200 max resolution

OP if you worried about this I upgraded Marco's list a little. Recent Motherboard +$100, a bit faster memory +$0

http://nz.pcpartpicker.com/p/TpHZWZ

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09-21-2014 , 10:47 AM

#17

Baobhan-Sith

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Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4,279

The RAM speed difference isn't all that significant tbh, maybe B85M would be a good compromise.

http://nz.pcpartpicker.com/part/asro...board-b85mpro4

- 4 RAM slots
- 2*SATA2 + 4*SATA3
- front USB3
- 2*PCIEx16
- HDMI1.4
- triple monitor support
- only $28 more

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09-21-2014 , 11:02 AM

#18

Morphismus

BBV Poker Player of 2022

Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 24,272

The board I picked can also do faster RAM; I just kept it at the same prize as before. But yeah that's a good alternative if RAM speed and a resolution >>1080p isn't that important.

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09-21-2014 , 02:06 PM

#19

MarcoSilva92

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Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 734

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baobhan-Sith

Oh yeah nice mobo, didn't see that one there ^^

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09-21-2014 , 04:24 PM

#20

Zombiefan

adept

Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 1,175

Thanks guys!

So do i go with the $108 motherboard or the $174 one?

Can you tell me what monitor is the best to get from the list below. budget is $500.

http://www.priceme.co.nz/LCD-Monitor...9&sb=BestPrice

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09-21-2014 , 06:14 PM

#21

Morphismus

BBV Poker Player of 2022

Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 24,272

If you need more than 1920x1200 resolution, and/or want faster RAM, you need the $174 one. It's also the most recent MB. If you don't need that, the $108 one is fine.

I would take one of them Samsung 27".

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09-21-2014 , 11:08 PM

#22

Zombiefan

adept

Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 1,175

Hey,

Last question, promise.

Would it be better to spend and extra $300 and get one of the monitors below? Or is this not necessary if i only want to play 8 tables?

http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/comp...p&partid=22658

http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/comp...p&partid=21538

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09-22-2014 , 01:52 AM

#23

Morphismus

BBV Poker Player of 2022

Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 24,272

Yes imo; a monitor lasts you typically much longer than a computer. You will have a new computer in 10 years most likely, but you might well still using the monitor you are buying now. So it pays off to invest some money there.

Of course you would need the $174 Motherboard then.

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09-27-2014 , 02:54 PM

#24

KatoKrazy

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Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 4,533

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morphismus

Windows 7 Professional; you probably won't like the Windows 8 user interface.

Windows 8.1 has made significant improvements in many areas over Windows 7. It takes minimal work to make Windows 8.1 almost the same as Windows 7 as far as UI goes.