[Donnie Walhberg]

I've bought refurbs from tigerdirect before and never had a problem. This looks like a very good deal for a premade system. Just add a 9800gt and good to go for gaming. I wonder if it would overclock very well?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...99883&csid=_21

 

[Rauch]

People have claimed issues with Gateway PC's, but personally, I think they're great. Much better than Dell and much more stable.

So sure, it's a good deal when the processor costs about half that price. The other parts in it won't be top of the line, but you could always sell off the parts to friends to make a profit.

But, like I said Gateways are tough systems to beat, and are very affordable.

 

[ljason8eg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnie Walhberg I've bought refurbs from tigerdirect before and never had a problem. This looks like a very good deal for a premade system. Just add a 9800gt and good to go for gaming. I wonder if it would overclock very well? http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...99883&csid=_21

It won't OC at all. It's a Gateway, meaning the BIOS is locked. Even if you could OC, the slow RAM would hold you back

I'm not so sure you'd want to throw a 9800GT in there either...i doubt the power supply would be up to the task.

 

[Anqt31]

This computer looks like a great deal. With a 9800GT it will probably be mediocre to decent for gaming. However, I would not expect to overclock it, as it is a prebuilt factory machine.

 

[SacredChaos]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljason8eg It won't OC at all. It's a Gateway, meaning the BIOS is locked. Even if you could OC, the slow RAM would hold you back I'm not so sure you'd want to throw a 9800GT in there either...i doubt the power supply would be up to the task.

Exactly what I was gonna say lol. No overclocking on prebuilt computers unless its gaming brand like CyberPower PC which uses aftermarket boards. It will power the 9800GT. States on Newegg it needs atleast a 400Watt, which is what that computer has. 100watt for cpu, 200watt for GFX card, 100watt for everything else.

 

[Donnie Walhberg]

The ram would be replaceable right? I have a nice 500 watt thermaltake power supply to put in there if need be. Even at stock, it should smoke my old athlon 3200 system.

 

[ljason8eg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnie Walhberg The ram would be replaceable right? I have a nice 500 watt thermaltake power supply to put in there if need be. Even at stock, it should smoke my old athlon 3200 system.

Well...since you can't OC it, the RAM really won't matter that much.

As for the PSU, do you even know if that case can take an ATX form factor PSU? A lot of prebuilts can't fit them. I suppose a 500w thermaltake would power the GPU if the PSU fits...although non-toughpower PSUs from thermaltake aren't the greatest

Yeah it'll smoke the old system for sure, but i still think you're better off building your own. Remember...that's a refurb you're looking at, meaning something could have likely gone wrong with it.

 

[Donnie Walhberg]

I couldn't even build a system this cheap could I? Not with a Q6600. If I can, let me know. I do know how to build a system. I've built my current 2 myself.

 

[Anqt31]

Just be carefull what you put in it. Many factory PC's are proprietary, meaning they only take certain parts. If you don't use parts that the company approves, the computer won't work or even worse, could permanently damage itself.

 

[Donnie Walhberg]

I would rather have a system I could overclock and better ram and ofcourse a good video card like 8800-9800gt in there.

 

[ljason8eg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnie Walhberg I couldn't even build a system this cheap could I? Not with a Q6600. If I can, let me know. I do know how to build a system. I've built my current 2 myself.

Well...with that pre built you're getting a cheap case, mobo, and PSU for sure. Personally i'd spend a bit more and build. Do you really need a Q6600 anyway?

 

[SacredChaos]

Updated my previous post, I always for some reason post something then go back and add a whole bunch of stuff lol.

 

[Donnie Walhberg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljason8eg Well...with that pre built you're getting a cheap case, mobo, and PSU for sure. Personally i'd spend a bit more and build. Do you really need a Q6600 anyway?

No, I can step down to a 7300 or something like that and overclock it. Spend more on mobo, case and video card. A nice case but don't need all the neon crap to go along with it. Something that looks cool, cools well, and games well, as well as ripping, unraring and such.

 

[Drivr3g]

I still have my gateway pentium 2 400 MHz machine with 128 mb ram from 1999 and it still works so ya they are good machines but forget about overclocking it.

 

[Donnie Walhberg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SacredChaos Exactly what I was gonna say lol. No overclocking on prebuilt computers unless its gaming brand like CyberPower PC which uses aftermarket boards. It will power the 9800GT. States on Newegg it needs atleast a 400Watt, which is what that computer has. 100watt for cpu, 200watt for GFX card, 100watt for everything else.

Can I build a similar system that cheap, even if I step down to a 7300 but overclock the crap out of it? Of course I would have to add price for a nice video card and such.

 

[maddux]

for gaming...e7200/3/4 etc...and with cheap case, stock HSF 9800gt decent PSU..decent ram...dude 500 bucks MAX...thats how much you would have to spend anyways buying that thing and setting it up with a card etc...

7200 119
any p35/45 board 100
9800gt 100
2/4gb dd2 800 ram 50ish
450w PSU 45
DVD rom drive 25
case 35
HDD 35
shipping is like 10-15 bucks cause so many items can be free....I didn't even add combo deals either.
509...thats pretty much a ballpark figure and this thing will rock games...

the system in my specs was done for 475 like a month and a half ago after rebates, but I did get an AWESOME deal on my vid card from a buddy. still add 70 or so...

 

[maddux]

and similar no this thing will DEMOLISH that system in a heartbeat....again my 7200 is OC'd to 3.6 easy on stock cooling and it never EVER goes over 60C on load 33C on idle.

 

[Donnie Walhberg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddux for gaming...e7200/3/4 etc...and with cheap case, stock HSF 9800gt decent PSU..decent ram...dude 500 bucks MAX...thats how much you would have to spend anyways buying that thing and setting it up with a card etc... 7200 119 any p35/45 board 100 9800gt 100 2/4gb dd2 800 ram 50ish 450w PSU 45 DVD rom drive 25 case 35 HDD 35 shipping is like 10-15 bucks cause so many items can be free....I didn't even add combo deals either. 509...thats pretty much a ballpark figure and this thing will rock games... the system in my specs was done for 475 like a month and a half ago after rebates, but I did get an AWESOME deal on my vid card from a buddy. still add 70 or so...

What's a good combo deal on that 7300 processor with mobo? One that overclocks well. I see some at tigerdirect fairly cheap but want the right one. Man you guys burn the midnight oil. I couldnt sleap and came here.

 

[Donnie Walhberg]

Well, far as that goes, might as well go with the 8400, only $38 more and get more front side buss and cache/

 

[NuclearCrap]

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddux for gaming...e7200/3/4 etc...and with cheap case, stock HSF 9800gt decent PSU..decent ram...dude 500 bucks MAX...thats how much you would have to spend anyways buying that thing and setting it up with a card etc... 7200 119 any p35/45 board 100 9800gt 100 2/4gb dd2 800 ram 50ish 450w PSU 45 DVD rom drive 25 case 35 HDD 35 shipping is like 10-15 bucks cause so many items can be free....I didn't even add combo deals either. 509...thats pretty much a ballpark figure and this thing will rock games... the system in my specs was done for 475 like a month and a half ago after rebates, but I did get an AWESOME deal on my vid card from a buddy. still add 70 or so...

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddux and similar no this thing will DEMOLISH that system in a heartbeat....again my 7200 is OC'd to 3.6 easy on stock cooling and it never EVER goes over 60C on load 33C on idle.

Except I would never go with cheap 450W PSU since there won't be much possibilities for expansion. At least recommend that Corsair 550W you have.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnie Walhberg Well, far as that goes, might as well go with the 8400, only $38 more and get more front side buss and cache/

Stock FSB isn't a factor when you're overclocking. The only thing you're really getting is higher cache, but a little less multiplier. $38 is a lot in proportion to the prices you're looking at. E7200 or E7300 will suffice. The difference is unnoticeable anyway. On the other hand if you drop that extra $38 on the GPU, miracles will happen.