help me build or decide: QUAD CORE or IMAC

[GlennSter]

ok...i have 1,000$ Canadian. around 43-45k petots.

I was thinking of buying an imac for 1500$ with 20'' 2.4ghz 320gig variant. the better of the 2 20''s.

but i am also thinking of just building a quad core that will cost much less than that.

I already have a 22" lcd, and the keyboard and mouse will be around less than 80$ anyway...

i was thinking...

QUAD CORE (what are the variants? quad core 2...extreme...etc?)

4gig ram

WHAT VIDEO CARD? (i watch alot of dvd's..dowloaded movies...photoshop cs2...not really into games but i play sometimes. i want to connect my standalone tv tuner to the monitor too. i was thinking...the dvi connection to the computer and the normal pin to the standalone tv (is that possible?))

what dvd drive?

500gig HD

sound card (kinda important to me too.)

motherboard

I'm looking for proven parts and brands..not necessarily the newest one in the market.

Vista home? what are the variants?

OR....

JUST BUY AN IMAC and be happy with it.herhehrerh

thanks a lot!!!!!!

[Jun aka Pekto]

ok...i have 1,000$ Canadian. around 43-45k petots. I was thinking of buying an imac for 1500$ with 20'' 2.4ghz 320gig variant. the better of the 2 20''s.

Hmmm. If you have C$1k, how can you buy a C$1.5k iMac? Sounds contradictory to me.

I'd opt for a DIY quadcore pc with Vista Home Premium. Make sure you buy a mobo with the built-in Intel X3100. You can add a better video card later if you so choose. Plus, you'll be able to use all that extra components you have lying around.

Sound.... Most built-in sound are fine unless you're an audio technician/specialist.

iMacs are ok I suppose. But, it's very nature makes it a dead-end product. I rather have a Mini, esp when games aren't considered.

the dvi connection to the computer and the normal pin to the standalone tv (is that possible?))

Yes. In fact, most up to date pc video drivers consider an HDTV as a second monitor option. You may have to get a dedicated video card with two monitor ports.

[GlennSter]

jun..i was hoping you would reply asap.

I can still squeeze in 500$ for an imac.

but im not spending more than 1k$ for a pc.

thats what i meant.

[Jun aka Pekto]

jun..i was hoping you would reply asap.

I can still squeeze in 500$ for an imac.

but im not spending more than 1k$ for a pc.

thats what i meant.

Well, I'm not your Pop. So, I'm not going to dissuade you from the iMac. They're nice too. I'm just not a fan of All-In-Ones which I regard as dead-ends. That's why I like the Mini better for a Mac desktop.

But, Old Blue likes iMacs. So, maybe you'll hear more positive stuff from him which may swing you towards the iMac.

The quadcore would seem the logical choice to me because you have a lot of pc stuff lying around that can still be used. Hate to see them go to waste if you opted for an iMac. But, the hard choice is yours.

Add: If you need something pressing on the Mac like Final Cut Pro or even just the iApps, then the iMac would be the best choice. Bootcamp will allow you Windows access should you need it.

If your needs are more generalized, then the quadcore pc will do fine.

For aesthetics, it's not even close. The iMac wins running away. For me, aesthetics is secondary although I appreciate it if it's there. Others may value it a lot more. Again, your call on that.

[bladerunner]

Imac syempre!

[GlennSter]

hmm..i think ima go for quad...then vista home premium...hmmmm

can you guys suggest exact specs and names? i have no clue..im researching, though.

[RedHorse]

gamit ko now, imac 20" 2.4GHz, 1Mb ram, 256 video ram, leopard OS, pwede din lagyan MS vista OS.

pag pc, di pwede lagyan leopard OS partition

problem ko now, wala scanner support (o di ko alam?) HP 5610

[RedHorse]

ok na scanner suppport sa imac... me new 2007 driver pala.

solved!

[Jun aka Pekto]

hmm..i think ima go for quad...then vista home premium...hmmmm
can you guys suggest specs and names? i have no clue..im researching, though.

Researching is 90% of the work. I normally make suggestions only if I have hands-on experience. With quadcores, I have none since they're new and I'm not in the market for one yet. That puts me in the same spot as you are.

Checking around........my first stop is normally Tom's Hardware Guide and this is what he had to say about quadcores:

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/10/...ing/page8.html

[wildthing]

interesting comments/advise jun.... I'm into the quadcore market too.

Make sure you buy a mobo with the built-in Intel X3100.

It is not that I don't like mac... I think it is just too expensive (for me) ... considering I can do almost all things (i need) in my pc that a mac can claim to do. And I like DIY....

Aesthetics... when I shifted to the 22" LCD of Acer, I think it is enough aesthetics for me...hehehe... besides, I also prefer black and not white.

Glennster, update this thread when you do your upgrade and all the decisions you'll be doing....para maguide din kami. Baka early next year magpush through ang plan ko na upgrade (after I justify my RFA - request for approval/appropriations - from my wifey)

[GlennSter]

jun..thanks for the link.i was just reading about the 8800gt and 3870 GPU's in that site...

whildthing: will do! i also have the acer 22" lcd..im using it as my tv with standalone tv tuner.

[wildthing]

OT Glennster what brand ng stand alone TV tuner brand did you use?

[pakupakupaku]

Clone pc all the way. FTW : open architecture pc's.

[GlennSter]

OT Glennster what brand ng stand alone TV tuner brand did you use?

sir, im using geniatech lcd tv box that i got in ebay...=)

[GlennSter]

ok update...after several days of sleepless nights of researching..here is my set up that i started using yesterday:

CPU Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz FSB 1066, 8MB Quad Core
CPU Cooling Zalman CNPS9700NT CPU Fan
Memory 2GB DDR II 800 nVidia SLI RAM (1GB x 2) (OCZ)
Mother Board ASUS P5K-E WIFI-AP Motherboard
Hard Drive Western Digital 250GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA II
Optical Drive LG 20X DVD RW w/ Lightscribe +- Dual Layer Serial ATA
Video nVidia Chaintech 8800 GT 512MB DDR3, HDTV & Dual DVI
Card Reader 7 in 1 Card Reader
Case Antec Nine Hundred Mid Tower Case
Neon Light Neon Light Package - 2 Neon Light (blue)
Power Supply 650W Cooler Master Real Power Pro ATX Supply
Speakers Logitech Z4 2.1 Speaker w/ Sub 970175
OS Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit
Warranty 1 Years Parts & 3 Years Labor Warranty
Monitor Acer 22"
keyboard logitech mx5000
mouse mx1000

I had the keyboard, mouse, speakers and monitor before pa so mejo naka bawas sa presyo.herherher.

thanks for all who helped...im struggling with vista though. still have a lot to learn about this os. lots of annoying things.

crysis, anyone!? =p

[Jun aka Pekto]

What's the total damage for the purchased stuff? Less than $1k?

[GlennSter]

What's the total damage for the purchased stuff? Less than $1k?

ahihihihihi

i wish.

Total is 1,300++ plus 14% tax

[wildthing]

pictures naman...

[Jun aka Pekto]

ahihihihihi

i wish.

Total is 1,300++ plus 14% tax

That's not too bad. I configured a pc similar to yours at www.cyberpowerpc.com and came out at US $1438.00 not including shipping. The mobo was an ASUS P5N-E, ram Corsair XMS2 Extreme, the 8800GT was from EVGA, and with this case:

[GlennSter]

pictures naman...

nothing to see, really...im just amazed by how big 9700NT cooler is...soo cool =p

and I need to fix my wiiiirrreeesssss