I Do Not Understand Buying Computers

[pming]

Hiya!

I do understand computers, and prices have not been changing like I would expect them. I wonder if the demand has shot up with COVID as well as the various supply issues with chips. If that's the case (and that's a big if, not a sure thing), then between time resolving demand and vaccination you would be able to get more value for the same cost in the fall.

Oh, one place I differ from others is that the "$1500 is better than the $1000" as a default. There is also value to buying cheaper but replacing more often giving you a net better experience over time for the same money over the period, because that money can buy you more down the road.

Yes...if you know what you're doing.

I have upgraded various family members "store bought" computers...and it's always a pain, btw, because the store bought guys ALWAYS "lock you in" to THEM and THEIR services when you buy it. I bought a 'cheap-o' temp computer from Staples for about $900. Only had to last me a couple months. I needed to install an SSD to have all my data. That's an "Open case, plug in to cable, close case" operation. BUT...there was a sticker over the case that said "If you break this, your warranty is null and void". So they wanted me to take it to them, pay them $120 for "service of adding new hardware", and then wait 7 to 14 days to get it back. LOL! I ignored that and installed it myself, obviously. ... ... Point is, if you are comfortable installing hardware, software and doing basic trouble shooting...then buying 'cheap' and installing parts as wanted/needed is a viable option, but at that point you're better off just buying all the parts and building it yourself.

(Pro Tip: Pick parts. Build your PC. Compare and share. [top...'System Builder'] ..or.. BuildMyPC - Custom PC Part Picker Tool to Build Your PC [top, again, 'System Builder'] are great sites to help you part out your own computer system; they even do compatibility checks to see if the parts you chose have any serious conflicts).

Bottom Line: I find it's best to either (A) Build your own; tends to be affordable and exactly what you want, and you know exactly what's in it and why, or , (B) Get a reputable 'Pro' computer company to sell you a customized one (e.g., Alienware [tends to be expensive; 'brand name' and all that, but supposedly good], Xidax [multiple Youtube gamer channels like "Neebs Gaming" have used for years], or...my personal favourite... Maingear [ Home | MAINGEAR ]).

^_^

Paul L. Ming

 

[Ryujin]

I suppose it helps that I'm a Dell certified tech on a number of their lines then, for several reasons

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Yeah, right now the supply issues have made prices on electronics really unpredictable. Parts on back-order could also mean a longer wait.

It is during normal times, but right now some of it is impractical due to the crazy prices/stock issues.

Right now the supply for some parts mainly GPUs are really out of wack due in part to covid related issues.

I work in IT (admittedly not in a hardware-focused position), and honestly, sometimes I think Warhammer 40K got it right with having to appease the Tech Spirits.

 

[embee]

A caveat regarding graphics -

Gaming GPUs are not just good for gaming. They are also good for "mining" cryptocurrency like Bitcoin and Ethereum. As such, when they hit shelves, they're immediately bought up.

For this reason, buying high-end GPUs right now is prohibitively expensive. There are two main chip brands for them - AMD and nVidia. Each has its merits and drawbacks. The nVidia cards have numbers like 1080, 2080, and 3080. The AMD cards have numbers like 4700, 5700, and 6700.

To put things in perspective on price, a 1070 card that retailed for $400USD in 2016 currently retails for $900. That's right. Over the course of 5 years, the price on the card doubled. Right now, the newest one of these cards - the AMD 6700 and RTX 3080 - each go for around $2,000. This price is because of scarcity. You simply cannot find graphics cards in stores, on Amazon, or any other major retailer.

ETA - An rundown of the causes of the GPU shortages and astronomical prices.

TLDR: Tariffs, shipping delays, chips all competing for limited manufacturing capacity, scalpers, crypto.

 

[Ryujin]

A caveat regarding graphics -

Gaming GPUs are not just good for gaming. They are also good for "mining" cryptocurrency like Bitcoin and Ethereum. As such, when they hit shelves, they're immediately bought up.

For this reason, buying high-end GPUs right now is prohibitively expensive. There are two main chip brands for them - AMD and nVidia. Each has its merits and drawbacks. The nVidia cards have numbers like 1080, 2080, and 3080. The AMD cards have numbers like 4700, 5700, and 6700.

To put things in perspective on price, a 1070 card that retailed for $400USD in 2016 currently retails for $900. That's right. Over the course of 5 years, the price on the card doubled. Right now, the newest one of these cards - the AMD 6700 and RTX 3080 - each go for around $2,000. This price is because of scarcity. You simply cannot find graphics cards in stores, on Amazon, or any other major retailer.

ETA - An rundown of the causes of the GPU shortages and astronomical prices.

TLDR: Tariffs, shipping delays, chips all competing for limited manufacturing capacity, scalpers, crypto.

They're also great for offloading work from tasks like video editing, which is one reason why I want to swap out my old AMD R7 450. I want to get into a lower end RTX based card for that, and to use their proprietary noise suppression, but the damned things are unobtanium at the moment.

 

[embee]

They're also great for offloading work from tasks like video editing, which is one reason why I want to swap out my old AMD R7 450. I want to get into a lower end RTX based card for that, and to use their proprietary noise suppression, but the damned things are unobtanium at the moment.

Another industry booming in the Age of Corona.

 

[trappedslider]

A caveat regarding graphics -

Gaming GPUs are not just good for gaming. They are also good for "mining" cryptocurrency like Bitcoin and Ethereum. As such, when they hit shelves, they're immediately bought up.

For this reason, buying high-end GPUs right now is prohibitively expensive. There are two main chip brands for them - AMD and nVidia. Each has its merits and drawbacks. The nVidia cards have numbers like 1080, 2080, and 3080. The AMD cards have numbers like 4700, 5700, and 6700.

To put things in perspective on price, a 1070 card that retailed for $400USD in 2016 currently retails for $900. That's right. Over the course of 5 years, the price on the card doubled. Right now, the newest one of these cards - the AMD 6700 and RTX 3080 - each go for around $2,000. This price is because of scarcity. You simply cannot find graphics cards in stores, on Amazon, or any other major retailer.

ETA - An rundown of the causes of the GPU shortages and astronomical prices.

TLDR: Tariffs, shipping delays, chips all competing for limited manufacturing capacity, scalpers, crypto.

my old GTX 1060 is going close to it's price at launch on ebay and on amazon it's going for $770, like i said up thread folks are buying up prebulits just to get the graphics card.

Take a look at some of the rigs on r/gpumining holy hell...anyone wanna commit some B&E to get a graphics card? lol

 

[Ryujin]

Another industry booming in the Age of Corona.

Definitely useful for podcasting and I have friends who make use of it. They also do professional video editing/production and so can justify the current huge prices.

 

[Kaodi]

I think that in pretty much every laptop I have had, three so far, they just used Integrated Graphics. And in last ten years I have used them primarily for gaming (obviously I play way behind much of the curve). But supposedly that is not gonna cut it for Witcher 3. Intel has a fancy new integrated graphics tech called Xe I hear, or something like that, but the only laptop in my "range" which had it still only had 8 Gb of RAM whereas I think I would want at least 12 to risk it.

That is crazy to hear how much prices have spiked even on old GPUs though. Mining has really screwed people who actually want to have fun, :\ . "This is why we can't have nice things," and all that.

 

[GreyLord]

The new Intel chipsets actually can run Witcher 3 just fine from what I understand. They actually are probably equivalent or better than the R5 series from Radeon (and old chipset to be sure, but still can run W3).

I have preferred Nvidia to Radeons to be honest, but Nvidia's drivers seem to have difficulties with certain older games while Radeon's run them just fine.

Anything you want to run probably can be done on a Nvidia 1660 or along that series. You don't need a top of the line card to run most of the PC games out today. I haven't had anything press the capacity of a 2060, much less a 1660 or 1060.

Even with Radeon most games are not pushing far beyond the R7 series these days.

I think even Intel chipsets could probably run the Witcher 3 these days just fine. That from what I hear (I haven't actually tried this myself, but part of that is because all I currently use for gaming are Nvidia computers and one Radeon).

I would actually say, buying from a retailer rather than a specialist MAY be handy depending on what sort of warranty a retailer offers.

I buy online for computers sometimes because I can order specifically what I want. HOWEVER...if you do NOT know what you want, a retailer may be the better way to go. The reason is because they design in bulk. These computers are put together in the same way, which also means that everything is tested originally to ensure they work well together. With a good warranty to go along with that, you'll have a computer that will probably run almost any of the mainstream items out there that you would want to run without having to worry about compatibility or not.

HOWEVER, make sure it is a GOOD warranty (replacement if it breaks, shuts down, etc, in home repair and warranty, in-store replacement rather than mail-in...etc). Some speciality stores may offer the same stuff, but in my experience, most do not.