Not quite. Most OEMs like Dell use Intel's own chipsets while many of the cheaper boards might use VIA, SiS, ALi or others. Some OEMs have taken to nVidia and ATi too, I guess.</strong><hr></blockquote>
True, but then one can buy boards with Intel chipsets as well? (And, I might add, there have been some real dogs from Intel as well.)
[quote]<strong>In fact, Dell uses really nice chipsets for its workstations and servers...mostly ServerWorks stuff for the low-end servers, I know for sure.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Unless Dell has decided to finish HP once and for all by selling their workstations and servers for sub-$600, that's not relevant. My observation was in relation to the sort of price range that's under discussion here.
[quote]<strong>People often complain about VIA in particular.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Except for the sound engineer I know who cheerfully runs a home-built VIA-based computer as a music recording/sound engineering rig. It works as well as you could ask it to. The trick with VIA chipsets is never to buy the first version of anything they release.
Even if it is less than perfect, or less perfect than the (flaky) $3K Dell workstations I'm accustomed to from work, he shouldn't expect all that much for $600. What he can get will probably work fine, but there are enough corners cut in that price range that nothing is certain.
Wow, I kinda disappeared for a day or so and this thread took on a life of it's own. The discussions that have taken place have been very influencial, and I have another question I'd like to bring up.
has a section for prebuilt PCs where you can get P4 and Athlon based comps for like $290 and up. First, are these computers too risky as far as compatibility? Should I just go to Dell? I mean it its just a little more money for a Dell but I imagine the customer support would be worth it...and yeah I really would hate having to go over to the dark side of the dark side (the evilest PC maker) haha
<strong>Lets say you're put in a situation where you have to buy a PC. You can install any OS you want on it but it must be a PC and it must be in the sub-$600 range. What kind do you buy?</strong><hr></blockquote>
A friend of mine was given the following Dell for Christmas, even though she didn't ask for it:
1.4-1.5ghz Pentium 4, 128MB PC133, ATI Rage 128...
This computer runs slower than Opera Winfree after downing 24 big and Tastey's. I mean, it takes minutes to open an IE browser. And I HAVE NOT IDEA why. Turning setting off and reducing start up programs did not help at all. The only thing I can think of is that early Pentium 4's sucked, and that 128MB ram for Windows XP is like trying to fit a fat Al gore into the President's chair... it ain't gonna happen... not even if he wins the popular vote.
I should have probably edited my previous post to add this on but I really think its a fearful thing that adding functionalities to your computer means taking risks with compatibility and the like... after the audio project is over I plan to turn it into a recreational media type box with a video out card so i can watch dvds or do something like MAME in my living room..should I get whichever PC I buy set up for its second job right as I buy it to avoid future compatibility issues or would it be ok to wait and see?
Comments
<strong>
Not quite. Most OEMs like Dell use Intel's own chipsets while many of the cheaper boards might use VIA, SiS, ALi or others. Some OEMs have taken to nVidia and ATi too, I guess.</strong><hr></blockquote>
True, but then one can buy boards with Intel chipsets as well? (And, I might add, there have been some real dogs from Intel as well.)
[quote]<strong>In fact, Dell uses really nice chipsets for its workstations and servers...mostly ServerWorks stuff for the low-end servers, I know for sure.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Unless Dell has decided to finish HP once and for all by selling their workstations and servers for sub-$600, that's not relevant. My observation was in relation to the sort of price range that's under discussion here.
[quote]<strong>People often complain about VIA in particular.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Except for the sound engineer I know who cheerfully runs a home-built VIA-based computer as a music recording/sound engineering rig. It works as well as you could ask it to. The trick with VIA chipsets is never to buy the first version of anything they release.
Even if it is less than perfect, or less perfect than the (flaky) $3K Dell workstations I'm accustomed to from work, he shouldn't expect all that much for $600. What he can get will probably work fine, but there are enough corners cut in that price range that nothing is certain.
<a href="http://www.pricewatch.com"; target="_blank">www.pricewatch.com</a>
has a section for prebuilt PCs where you can get P4 and Athlon based comps for like $290 and up. First, are these computers too risky as far as compatibility? Should I just go to Dell? I mean it its just a little more money for a Dell but I imagine the customer support would be worth it...and yeah I really would hate having to go over to the dark side of the dark side (the evilest PC maker) haha
<strong>Lets say you're put in a situation where you have to buy a PC. You can install any OS you want on it but it must be a PC and it must be in the sub-$600 range. What kind do you buy?</strong><hr></blockquote>
A friend of mine was given the following Dell for Christmas, even though she didn't ask for it:
1.4-1.5ghz Pentium 4, 128MB PC133, ATI Rage 128...
This computer runs slower than Opera Winfree after downing 24 big and Tastey's. I mean, it takes minutes to open an IE browser. And I HAVE NOT IDEA why. Turning setting off and reducing start up programs did not help at all. The only thing I can think of is that early Pentium 4's sucked, and that 128MB ram for Windows XP is like trying to fit a fat Al gore into the President's chair... it ain't gonna happen... not even if he wins the popular vote.