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I'm looking to buy a new PC. I'm hoping to spend $500-$600 on it.

I'm currently interested in this computer: http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetai ... &langid=EN

I'd be using it for video editing and playing Garry's Mod and other Source mods.

I'm only interested in computers from Canadian companies, and I'm hoping to be able to pick it up at a store to keep the cost down.

Will this computer do what I want it to, and can anyone recommend a different one for a similar price?

If I could find out where they're selling this one, I'd suggest it. But I can't seem to find it anywhere.

What other computer places do they have in Canada? At first I was thinking, "Maybe CompUSA would have something." But then my mind got back into gear.

[EDIT]
Sorry, my mind just disengaged again. Can anyone else find the full specs page or the model number for the Acer Z' just mentioned? Maybe I'm just tired.

Here in Canada we've got Future Shop, the Source (by Circuit City), ummm Wal-Mart (:lol:)... Then a bunch of random small businesses. At least that's whats up there in the Soo. But down low in the Toronto and Niagara area and whatnot where DZ is, there's prolly a crabload more.

The Specs for the computer mentioned in the first post:
http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetai ... &langid=EN

The nVidia GeForce 7050 doesn't seem too great from the reviews I've read about it, but it's not bad. It'd be best if you researched this yourself so you could decide what you want your card to be able to do.
2GB of RAM is enough to run Source and Garry's Mod, probably enough to do video-editing too. The processor, Intel Dual Core E2180, should also be researched. Lastly, it comes with Windows Vista Home Basic. From what I've read, Basic is the crab version of Vista. If you are to get an operating system, get Linux, XP or Vista Home Premium. However, you've said before that you don't really like Linux, and XP is losing (or has lost) Windows' support. I would go for Home Premium.

Therefore, I would suggest looking elsewhere for a computer. You could see if that crazy-awesome Acer that Lase posted is sold in Canada. If so, get it. It's pretty much an amazing computer for an amazing price.

The graphics card isn't my primary concern, as the only game I want to run is Garry's Mod, and that will run with a DirectX 7 card and 256 MB of RAM. I can upgrade in the future if I need more power.

2 GB of RAM is what I currently use for video editing, so that's not a problem.

As for the Vista issue, I have a copy of Home Premium, so I'm going to wipe the computer when I get it and install Premium.

As for the processor, it's a big upgrade from what I'm currently using (2.8 GHz), and this new one is dual core (2.0GHz).

Plus I like the 19" monitor that comes with it.

Overall, it's an upgrade I'm quite happy with. I was just wondering if it's not worth it, or if someone else had spotted a better deal on a Canadian site.

Well then, looks good
You no need me.

All I can give is some general advice.

1-DO NOT buy from a little mom/pop store. If you're gonna buy instead of build, go with a retail brand at an electronics store (that means no Wal-Mart/Target either)
2-Don't buy based on the graphics card. Odds are you'll end up putting another one in it anyways. (people are always asking me to do this for them)
3-Remember that pretty much anything you buy brand new will be more than enough to run all your games, and will also run the latest and greatest games. Some of the lower end models may not run it as fast, but like I said you'll probably put a new gfx card in it anyways
4-Give Vista a good run before clean sweeping the drive. You void your warranty if you get rid of Vista, and frankly if it's a brand new PC you should be able to run with zero issue. As much as I hate Vista, most of that is due to the fact that it has a lot of bloatware programs (which can be turned off in the options)

Teancum wrote:All I can give is some general advice.

1-DO NOT buy from a little mom/pop store. If you're gonna buy instead of build, go with a retail brand at an electronics store (that means no Wal-Mart/Target either)
2-Don't buy based on the graphics card. Odds are you'll end up putting another one in it anyways. (people are always asking me to do this for them)
3-Remember that pretty much anything you buy brand new will be more than enough to run all your games, and will also run the latest and greatest games. Some of the lower end models may not run it as fast, but like I said you'll probably put a new gfx card in it anyways
4-Give Vista a good run before clean sweeping the drive. You void your warranty if you get rid of Vista, and frankly if it's a brand new PC you should be able to run with zero issue. As much as I hate Vista, most of that is due to the fact that it has a lot of bloatware programs (which can be turned off in the options)

1. I was joking when I said Wal-Mart XD
4. I've heard that basic is just full of bugs and whatnot. Maybe not. I've just heard that. Though, I guess DZ can just try it out and tell for himself if he likes it or not..

I was mostly saying he should give it a try due to the warranty thing. If you've got XP on your machine and you take it in for warranty service, even if it's a hardware issue they'll say "Sorry, tough luck"

I was planning to install a copy of Vista Home Premium though. Will it still void my warranty?

Depends really on what it comes with. If Home Premium is also considered just a separate upgrade (like XP Pro) you shouldn't have any issues at all with the warranty.

Teancum wrote:...go with a retail brand at an electronics store (that means no Wal-Mart/Target either)

I understand why you're saying this as general advice, but I have to disagree, I purchased my current PC from Wal-Mart nearly 5 years ago for just over $750 as an impulse buy because I needed a computer and it turned out to be one of the best investments I have made, it had zero defects and experienced no compatibility issues with anything installed, the only upgrades I have done since the purchase is add a TV Capture Card and Graphics card.

AceMastermind wrote:

Teancum wrote:...go with a retail brand at an electronics store (that means no Wal-Mart/Target either)

I understand why you're saying this as general advice, but I have to disagree, I purchased my current PC from Wal-Mart nearly 5 years ago for just over $750 as an impulse buy because I needed a computer and it turned out to be one of the best investments I have made, it had zero defects and experienced no compatibility issues with anything installed, the only upgrades I have done since the purchase is add a TV Capture Card and Graphics card.

Yeah, come to think of it, electronics stores tend to overprice their products.

If you can wait, there is Black Friday. I bought $1200 worth of hardware for $600. Just wait in line at a place like Fry's Electronics, everyone else goes for the tvs while I got my hardware; or you can get a barebones kit and place whatever you want with the basic hardware included: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... ?CatId=333

I built THIS for only a little above $700 (excluding the costs of some issues I had with some hardware )

Check this site out, it may not be perfect for your price range, but I was able to get my new computer, which is very strong, and JUST what I want for 750$ I think.

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/

Try the media section, start with the cheap base computer, and add/remove whatever to/from it.

I made this setup in less then five minutes, and you get a free copy of Halo 2 for PC.
No monitor, though I made the video card more powerful, then you may need.

I looked at that site too, and it got a very low rating from most people.
http://www.labbb.org/BBBWeb/Forms/Busin ... D=13080817

It got a CCC which is "satisfactory" - just recently it was rated a C, which, in my opinion, is not so good.
Besides, this company is American.

Still, look into building it yourself, you can save a slew of money

Ipodzanyman wrote:If you can wait, there is Black Friday. I bought $1200 worth of hardware for $600.

Black Friday has the best prices for almost everything including computers.

Not sure if the day after Thanksgiving in Canada though.

Our Thanksgiving is different then yours. Black Friday doesn't exist here.

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... p?CatId=31

barebone kits can help save money too

I've settled on this machine.

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetai ... atid=20215

Hoping to get it mid August.