did i get completely ripped off with this computer?

[noble_aloof]

hello, i've had this computer for a little over three years, i've had it cleaned twice and it seems to be able to run games fine.

 

the two games that probably make my system work the hardest are bf2142 and oblivion, i can't run either on SUPER high detail but i can run them on high detail without much problem.

 

 

 

now, i've been looking at alot of prices and alot of specs on computers from all different sources, and i'm starting to think i got royally ripped of for this computer (please note that i asked for a high quality gaming computer with plenty of space):

 

 

 

audio engine: ALCAtech realtime audio

 

computer: acpi multiprocessor pc (dual core)

 

disk drive: 100gp generic storage volume,

 

display adaptors: 256 ATI radeon x1300pro, '' '' '' secondary

 

dvd/cdrom- sony dvd-rom ddu, tsstcorp dvd+-RW (dual layer dvd burner)

 

monitor- dell 22'' (widescreen?) monitor

 

processors- intel pentium d cpu 2.80 ghz, intel pentium d cpu 2.80ghz

 

controller- inter ich8r/do/dh SATA RAID controller

 

 

 

 

 

xp sp3 media center edition version 2002,

 

1.00 gb of ram

 

 

 

i paid $1,150 for this computer after mail in rebate

 

i also got a $200 scanner/printer in the package so you can subtract that aswell

 

as for speakers, i am using a $125 system with a subwoofer (also included with computer)

 

 

 

so, did i get totally ripped off? or was this a decent deal?

 

please tell me what you think, and any upgrades i desperatly need for under $100

 

 

 

thanks

[Sbrideau]

Well it's not too bad for the time, but you got ripped off. The computer I have now also comes from 3 years ago, and I'm going to tell you the specs it had before I upgraded it.

 

 

 

I paid around $900 in Canadian money for it.

 

 

 

Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 <-- Much less bugs than 2002, but still has a lot.

 

AMD Athlon Dual core (2.4GHz)

 

2GB RAM

 

320GB hard drive

 

Geforce 7300LE<-- performs less than the card you have

 

Cheap HP 19 inch screen though.

 

 

 

Wow, when I come to think of it, I did upgrade that computer a lot O_o, since I'm now on Vista (which runs MUCH better than xp media center used to), and I'm pretty much at the limit of the motherboard for the upgrades.

 

 

 

The computer's prices were higher at the time though. Now it's quite easy to have a computer much stronger for much less.

[OldJoe]

Not really a ripoff, it's only since about 1-2 years you don't need to pay much for good performance.

 

What you could use is another stick of ram and possibly a new graphics card (but if you feel your current one is enough, don't).

 

 

 

Download cpu-z.

 

Go to memory and see what DDR it says (DDR or DDR2). Then go to SPD and click the "slot#1" and see if you got more options ("slot#2" would be empty if you don't have 512x2), also give the speed (pc2-5300 for example).

 

Then go to mainboard and see what it says on graphics interface (agp or pci-express, as your card came with both).

 

 

 

If you want a new graphics card we need to know your power supply. Open up your case, don't touch anything and be grounded for safety, and see what it says as total wattage on the 12v rail/s (if you don't got that, just total wattage) and the amps on the 12v rail/s.

 

 

 

Also, if you don't like to install new hardware, you'll have to pay a pc-store about 40$ to do it for you.

[josh181830]

Wow... a 22 feet monitor... impressive :thumbup:

[Chaise]

Wow... a 22 feet monitor... impressive :thumbup:

 

That's some crazy gaming. o_O

[Talal28]

Lol I am pretty sure it is 22 Inches, Not feet.. ;)

 

 

 

I have a 22" monitor too, and the only thing that can get 22 feet would be a very good projector.. xd

[vesuvius27]

Not a rip-off. For three years ago, that's a pretty decent price for that machine.

 

 

 

As OldJoe said, it's only more recently that good performance came relatively inexpensively.

[Sam]

1GB RAM? That could be your problem. Also media center operating systems are NOT designed for running super-high detail games (it's kind of in the name :P )

[Sbrideau]

1GB RAM? That could be your problem. Also media center operating systems are designed for running super-high detail games (it's kind of in the name :P )

 

No. The media center Edition of Windows XP is because it has the media center on it. Simple as that. Only difference, else from the other versions of XP, is that it has a [cabbage] load of bugs and that it takes up as much space as Vista on the hard drive.