current state of computer market

[Pew]

How is ibuyPower these days? I used them awhile back and use the same case but parts from all over.

I CAN DIY, but there is no pleasure in it anymore for me.

I think they're the biggest non-oem builders now but they work pretty good and priced very close to DIY. The only issue is because they're shipped as a whole unit can get jumbled up inside so there's a small chance you'll have something dead on arrival and have to rma it.

EDIT: But I think they use that cool expanding foam inside a plastic wrap to make "custom" shipping foam to sure everything is as secure as possible.

 

[dogememe]

How is ibuyPower these days? I used them awhile back and use the same case but parts from all over.

I CAN DIY, but there is no pleasure in it anymore for me.

I haven't used them recently... many years ago when fixing/refurbing PCs they used trash power supplies and cheapest possible motherboards that would technically support the CPU and RAM they put in there. For more recent experiences, check out Gamers Nexus on YouTube - they anonymously buy pre-built PCs from system integrators and OEMs and explore how bad they are. Very few good ones.

What type of system are you looking to get?

 

[Pablo]

I haven't used them recently... many years ago when fixing/refurbing PCs they used trash power supplies and cheapest possible motherboards that would technically support the CPU and RAM they put in there. For more recent experiences, check out Gamers Nexus on YouTube - they anonymously buy pre-built PCs from system integrators and OEMs and explore how bad they are. Very few good ones.

What type of system are you looking to get?

Me? None now. I guess I had decent LUCK.......wait for it..............

The originals lasted long enough, the latest mish mash, will see. As I recall I bought decent stuff.

Come to think of it though, I think the original PS did die and eventually the MB died!

 

[dogememe]

Me? None now. I guess I had decent LUCK.......wait for it..............

The originals lasted long enough, the latest mish mash, will see. As I recall I bought decent stuff.

Come to think of it though, I think the original PS did die and eventually the MB died!

Yeah, sounds about right.

I think at this point, most people should find a friend or family member who's into computers, and tell them to find them something on Marketplace. Unless you absolutely need the latest and greatest, if you find someone that's selling something decent at a fair price, you'll save a ton of money.

 

[Pew]

I haven't used them recently... many years ago when fixing/refurbing PCs they used trash power supplies and cheapest possible motherboards that would technically support the CPU and RAM they put in there. For more recent experiences, check out Gamers Nexus on YouTube - they anonymously buy pre-built PCs from system integrators and OEMs and explore how bad they are. Very few good ones.

What type of system are you looking to get?

You can buy them at Costco now .

Ram is so expensive I think the store takes them out of the display models.

 

[melk]

https://www.thedeepview.com/articles/how-apple-s-decade-long-bet-on-chips-won-ai

Short read on why Mac’s are so popular with AI devs.

 

[Zee09]

I built - assembled two computers with top quality parts like power supplies, then new Gen 5 hard drives at the time and much RAM... now the cost of two then is the price of one now... sticker shock....

 

[Donald]

It's a webcam and yes they are needed if you do any sort of meetings online. Buying a laptop without one is like buying a car without a radio.

I attend many meetings daily over Zoom or Teams. Never use the camera. We all know what everyone looks like. Typically what is on the screen is a document not video pictures of people. Some have a photo of them saved as the picture to display.

 

[Skippy722]

I haven't used them recently... many years ago when fixing/refurbing PCs they used trash power supplies and cheapest possible motherboards that would technically support the CPU and RAM they put in there. For more recent experiences, check out Gamers Nexus on YouTube - they anonymously buy pre-built PCs from system integrators and OEMs and explore how bad they are. Very few good ones.

What type of system are you looking to get?

My brother bought one a couple years ago.... We immediately had to replace the thermal paste as the CPU was thermal throttling out of the box. I replaced it with a thermal grizzly carbonaut "pad" which has been totally fine since, even re used the pad when he upgraded the cooler.

They also put in the cheapest low profile aluminum heatsink they could get their hands on for a Ryzen 7 CPU which certainly wasn't helping.

 

[goingplacesanddoingstuff]

No way I’d ever spend $1000 on any laptop that isn’t a Macbook at this point. Never thought I’d say that, but here we are.

 

[rekit]

I'm still on W 10, fighting all the way. That Mac Mini caught my eye, I'm going to start reading about the switch. It's either that or Linux. Just for simple everyday stuff like BITOG, shopping, Fidelity, email, pics, banking it should be fine? Probably get the one w/512 storage.

 

[mjk1967]

The other day, I looked up a 8gb ram upgrade for my Dell. Well, there's a reason memory stocks have gone parabolic... LOL

 

[Skippy722]

No way I’d ever spend $1000 on any laptop that isn’t a Macbook at this point. Never thought I’d say that, but here we are.

I was under explicit instructions (moreso under threat) to not buy another MacBook At least the Lenovo I got is 98% of the way there in terms of build quality.... Apple is still #1 for trackpads, the Lenovo has a physical click but man you gotta PRESS. At least the tracking and feel is otherwise good.

 

[Pablo]

The other day, I looked up a 8gb ram upgrade for my Dell. Well, there's a reason memory stocks have gone parabolic... LOL

Wow I believe that but when I went 64 Gig over 32 G several years ago it just wasn’t that much money. It was overkill sure but now kinda glad I did