Best computer/laptop with a reasonable price

[Ddavis]

What exactly will installing a new OS do? (I've goggled it, but I want your average person thoughts)

[MXTrent75287]

Well if you wipe the drive there can't possibly be any corrupted files on the drive. Being that it is empty. Once you install the OS it is going to provide a clean slate of all your original files.

[Ddavis]

I'm starting to lean towards a desktop tower PC (6 pages, it's about time), but I'd like to do videos and screenshots (Similar to Osari) for my articles. So with that said, I'll go re-read everything about towers in here

[Ddavis]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+15.6%2 ... Id=3822924

That one was mentioned a while back, this is an option.

[Holden#48]

Before installing/reinstalling anything, check the integrity of your hard drive, for the time's sake. I've been working at a computer repair shop for almost a year now, and the number one case of BSODs we see is a failing hard drive. Download and install HDTune, and check the health tab. If everything checks out okay, then I would recommend what jlv said earlier: blowing out your computer. If that doesn't work, and you have more than one stick of RAM, take one out. If you have only one stick, maybe borrow one from another laptop... if there isn't one, then you don't necessarily have to do this (RAM typically isn't the cause... worth a try here though, since bad RAM can cause BSODs and general stability issues). After that, I'd say you're safe to re-install windows. You don't have to completely reformat and lose all of your items, though, just don't reformat, and it will either repair your OS files (for XP), or install over your current installation of windows and save all of your old files to C:\windows.old\ (for 7. Vista.. not so sure).
I always try to get the least time-consuming tasks out of the way... start from the ground up. Could end up saving you hours/days.

------ IF however, you are looking to do away with your laptop (I'd still check for errors before you sell it though ), might I recommend building one yourself? I've heard it come up a lot in this article. You could build a decent micro ATX build, pop in the new GTX 650 Ti, 8GB RAM (1600MHz) is pretty standard for gaming (you won't need anymore than that), SSDs are kick-ass, but pretty spendy. If the budget allows, go with a 120 or 180GB for your OS and games/programs, and maybe a 500GB HDD for your pics and other stuff (WDD Caviar Blue 500GB on sale on newegg.com right now for $55!).

I reckon a future build that will last you a good while should cost around $1000 - worst-case scenario. That includes case, motherboard, CPU, ram, PSU, GPU (graphics card), dvd burner, SSD, HDD and OS. Now, you don't need an SSD, or probably even a GPU (that should knock off about $250). So, yeah... $700-$1000 for something that'll make you happy for a long time

Sorry for the wall o' text...

If you go pre-built (which I would advise against): DON'T GO WITH HP.... please, please don't do it.... you have no idea how many HPs are sitting on the shelf, dead, at work right now. Dell, IBM or ASUS... those are the goodies off the top of my head.

[Ddavis]

Thanks for the help. And really? I thought HP were the best laptops besides Apple.

[Holden#48]

Well, yeah, I guess they are... If you like bloatware... and the occasional failing component. I'd really, reeaalllyy strongly recommend building your own. I could help you out with it every step of the way, or even build it for you (but that's only fun for me ). There's a strong sense of pride felt when sitting next to your own custom built rig. Trust me... I get to look at this sexy bitch all day.

[Ddavis]

My issue is money. If I had a job right now I would buy a decent laptop and a good PC.

But, right now I have about $500 saved. My brother wants to buy my laptop for $400, so I'll have around $900, but I want to have a laptop. So I'm really getting frustrated, mainly due to the fact I can't get a job to save my life. Cycle Gear said they aren't interested anymore, and I've literally applied everywhere. I've been working with my step dad lately, and my driving test is tomorrow so I can't help him tomorrow I am also trying to help my Dad by saving up for a bike (MXS hates it when I say it but I'm still trying to pursue racing so a bike is a high priority). It would be great to have a Tower to handle all my MXS needs, but they aren't my only needs.

[squirrelboy86]

Well, yeah, I guess they are... If you like bloatware... and the occasional failing component. I'd really, reeaalllyy strongly recommend building your own. I could help you out with it every step of the way, or even build it for you (but that's only fun for me ). There's a strong sense of pride felt when sitting next to your own custom built rig. Trust me... I get to look at this sexy bitch all day.

I know what you mean.

[Holden#48]

Well, what do you want more? A bike, or a computer? The choice is yours. We're only here to help you with building a PC/choosing a laptop

And $900 will get you a really nice system built, or a really decent laptop - jussayin'.

PC: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/jTRr <- that is without the case (I figure it could cost $70-$150, depending...). Browse newegg for a bit... there are thousands of cases out there - this is mainly aesthetic, so this is where you can pick and choose. Just show it to me first so I can confirm that it's a good case and all your parts fit and everything.

Lappy: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6834246491 <- I'm actually going to be getting this one soon. I've been hearing good reviews about it, and it has really decent specs for the price. I'm going to swap out the 4GB 1333MHz RAM for 8GB (2x4GB) 1600MHz though... don't know why it comes with 1333 when it's built for 1600 -_-... anyway, it's a nice system.

and squirellboy: I see that case all the time... and it is still amazing, good choice (I bet you hear that all the time ). You really can't go wrong with corsair...

[squirrelboy86]

I see that case all the time... and it is still amazing, good choice (I bet you hear that all the time ). You really can't go wrong with corsair...

Yeah I love it haha Corsair makes cable management and all so easy. Also I like their new fans and I can see you have a few of them too. I am thinking about getting an h100 someday. How is your cooler? Not sure which one it is but I am guessing h70.

[Holden#48]

I see that case all the time... and it is still amazing, good choice (I bet you hear that all the time ). You really can't go wrong with corsair...

Yeah I love it haha Corsair makes cable management and all so easy. Also I like their new fans and I can see you have a few of them too. I am thinking about getting an h100 someday. How is your cooler? Not sure which one it is but I am guessing h70.

I've heard awesome things about the H100, but unless you're doing some pretty serious over-clocking, I'd just go with the H60 (which is what I have). I'd maaaaaybe go with the H100 if you're running Ivy bridge, as I've heard they produce a little more heat. But, you can't get that high of a clock out them anyway, so.... yeah.

(That said, I'm sure you know that even though they can't reach higher clocks, they still out-perform sandy-bridge chips operating at the same frequency)

Anywho, I don't think OP will be doing a lot of over-clocking, or will ever really need to. Possibly in a few years, but at the moment, I'm sure he's fine with the stock intel cooler.

[Ddavis]

I've had problems with my Lenovo, do you think it's a freak deal or should I not avoid Lenovo like I've been telling myself to do?

[Holden#48]

With lenovos and dells, they usually are known to last... but technology is technology, and it can fail at any time for pretty much any reason. Although, some brands are more prone to failure to others, based solely on the parts they choose to use. Most laptops and PCs you see from HP or gateway have all the eye-catchers, "i7! 1TB Hard Drive! 8GB RAM!"... but there are so many different manufactures out there, and HP has seemed to chosen the pretty crappy ones, while it seems that dell and lenovo, while being a bit pricier in some cases, chose the quality components.

That made sense right?

...right?

...right?

[squirrelboy86]

I have the I-7 3930k. My current cooler cant handle very high clocks so that is why I was thinking of going with the h100. Right now I cant really overclock much without it getting to hot.