Fed up of mac - Getting custom made gaming PC

[Bouncing]

Well don't get me wrong mac's are fast computers, but I just am a PC guy I guess. I've had my imac for just under a year now, and its been great for msn music and kind of movies. I'm really into gaming but the only game I've been able to play is COD4 multiplayer and like can't get xfire and stuff so kind of ruins the whole PC multiplayer experience. I thought I'd get in to web designing and graphic designing but I really havent and there's no stopping you doing that on a PC just macs are good for multitasking but then just build or get a really sweet PC and you can do the same???

Cutting to the chase, my dad actually offered for a custom built PC for my upcoming birthday. This store we know very well would do a very good price for an amazing gaming based PC custom made, latest nvidia graphics card, intel quad processor the lot. Now I would get it really cheap so seems a decent idea. But I'd love to learn to build a PC but it sounds odd but it would cost me more but I don't want to get in to it. Also I aim for A*'s in ICT were I'm studying and I'm acheiving that grade but my mac doesnt make it any easier for me because I have to use a crap laptop to do my work which takes forever. I just feel bad spending all that money on this imac and don't really want to let it go to waste, and no I'm not going to waste money on parallels and run vista because you can only update an imac's ram the rest is an absolute pain in the backside to do.

Anyway just thought I'd tell you guys xD so you could share your views or advice I guess.

[HotelUser]

If you're into gaming hardcore then a PC is a good choice. The only games I play, really, are Age of Empires and Flight Simulator. AoE is fine with Parallels and Flight Simulator is easy with BootCamp. If I played games any more I would probably have to buy a PC and stick it beside the iMac:P (as opposed to the Netbook currently setup beside my iMac).

[Bouncing]

mhm, i play fps though except gears of war is immense, soo I'd get the latest call of duty gears of war and some more, what I mean is that you cant update the graphics card or the processor on a mac unless you send it in soo I won't be getting the best graphics or speed tbh.

[Agnostic Bear]

If you're into gaming hardcore then a PC is a good choice. The only games I play, really, are Age of Empires and Flight Simulator. AoE is fine with Parallels and Flight Simulator is easy with BootCamp. If I played games any more I would probably have to buy a PC and stick it beside the iMac:P (as opposed to the Netbook currently setup beside my iMac).

What AOE do you play?

also

"but it would cost me more but I don't want to get in to it"
No, it wouldn't. Tell me how much they'll charge you and what they'll charge you for.

[HotelUser]

What AOE do you play?

also

"but it would cost me more but I don't want to get in to it"
No, it wouldn't. Tell me how much they'll charge you and what they'll charge you for.

AOE3 original with TaD and Warchiefs expansions. Been getting boring though because once you get upto beating expert there's not much to do. I use a VPN to play with a few friends I know in real life sometimes. I like rts games, wish there was more good ones other than AOE and RoN.

Not sure what you're talking about there with that quote, or who it's directed at really. But if you mean Macs cost more than yes they do....for me OS X was worth the extra pennies;).

[IDontKnow]

Good man.

Mac's are over-priced garbage :)

[HotelUser]

Good man.

Mac's are over-priced garbage :)

Well in my opinion Windows Vista is over-priced garbage :)

But to each his own...

[Recursion]

Good man.

Mac's are over-priced garbage :)

They're overpriced, but they aren't garbage.

[Agnostic Bear]

They're overpriced, but they aren't garbage.

If you want to get down to hardware; LOL FOXCONN.

[Flisker]

If you want to get down to hardware; LOL FOXCONN.
Oh god, is that what they use in Macs?!? :eusa_wall

[Recursion]

Oh god, is that what they use in Macs?!? :eusa_wall

Foxconn is used in just about all Apple hardware, they are also popular amongst mobile devices and games consoles like the PS3.

[MrPinkPanther]

I like rts games, wish there was more good ones other than AOE and RoN.
Warcraft III, Dungeon Keeper, Red alert 2 <3

[N!ck]

Yes, get a custom PC. I would only ever get an Apple laptop (like I have), never an Apple PC.

It will be cheaper doing it yourself and it will have better components in, not the cheap generic ones that computer shops usually put in.

[Flisker]

Foxconn is used in just about all Apple hardware, they are also popular amongst mobile devices and games consoles like the PS3.
I had Foxconn in my Dell, hated it ever since then. It's popular because it's cheap to buy.

[N!ck]

What are people complaining about. Higher end Foxconn stuff is generally pretty good. It's the cheap stuff you want to watch out for.

Edit: See Stephen's post below - very good board.

[Stephen!]

Foxconn Bloodrage :eusa_droo

[Recursion]

Foxconn Bloodrage :eusa_droo

Don't every let those words hit this forum again in the same sentence :boozed

[Bouncing]

err I'll go in to it then, well he knows us well so we will get discount, my dad thinks he would do it for like 400 which is ridiculously cheap but we'll see. Also my dad want's me to build a really cheap pc if i'd like to learn how like some parts from maplins just so I know how it all goes together.

[N!ck]

Custom building it yourself should be cheaper that any shop will do it (again, shops will use generic components to maximise profits). And buy the parts online, not from places like Maplin as it's a rip off in comparison.

[IDontKnow]

Err, the moment you add a 250GB drive to a Mac when configuring it, it adds like $300 :P

[HotelUser]

If you want to get down to hardware; LOL FOXCONN.

Can't really argue with you there. The hardware is rediculously overpriced. But OS X makes it worth it for most of us. Plus Macs just look so nice:P.



Warcraft III, Dungeon Keeper, Red alert 2 <3

Thanks for that, I'll check those games out:D.


Err, the moment you add a 250GB drive to a Mac when configuring it, it adds like $300 :P

Yeah thats why you just buy your own HHD and put it in your Mac later? I got a 1TB HHD for my iMac and just swapped it out, then used Time Machine to restore my data. If you want to see the biggest ripoff check out Apple's monitors. Seriously, they can't sell many of those.

What Apple needs to do is make better syncing features with iPhoneOS and OS X, than what currently exists with Windows. Maybe a workaround on tethering so it's free, faster syncing, better syncing whatever. Then make their cheapest macbook starting at around $699-799 on the USA market. I truly don't understand why Apple doesn't do this. Don't they understand if they actually had competitive prices that they could probably take out Windows in like, a year? Then again, nobody wants Apple to have a monopoly:P.

[Coding]

Well in my opinion Windows Vista is over-priced garbage :)

But to each his own...

seriously you act like you are the official spokesperson for apple, you have no need to defend them all the time like it's a child of yours.

how do you even know the guy runs vista and what the hell does vista have to do with anything and why did you bring it up?

[HotelUser]

seriously you act like you are the official spokesperson for apple, you have no need to defend them all the time like it's a child of yours.

how do you even know the guy runs vista and what the hell does vista have to do with anything and why did you bring it up?

I don't know/care if he runs Vista. He's entitled to say he thinks Macs are overpriced ripoffs just as much as I am allowed to say Vista is an overpriced ripoff.

[Coding]

but why bring it into the situation? you had no need to..

[HotelUser]

but why bring it into the situation? you had no need to..

Well he didn't have to insult all Macs by saying they're overpriced now did he? But he's just expressing his opinion too.

As I said before, to each his own. I might not like Vista but I'll respect that some people do. I don't see the problem?

[Coding]

Well he didn't have to insult all Macs by saying they're overpriced now did he? But he's just expressing his opinion too.

As I said before, to each his own. I might not like Vista but I'll respect that some people do. I don't see the problem?
but the topic was about macs, not specifically about vista and you thrown vista into the fire because you have some kind of childish hatred for it.

[HotelUser]

but the topic was about macs, not specifically about vista and you thrown vista into the fire because you have some kind of childish hatred for it.

Ah, but nothing much was said about Macs being "overpriced garbage" until IDK said it. Plus, I was just taking a part of Mac's opposite and using it in a sentence in the same way as he did. I could have said Windows is overpriced, but I like most versions of Windows :)

[Bouncing]

Wowowo haha stop arguing, the topic can be about vista well a sub-topic if you like, and err the new mac os will be at £25 if I'm correct? But even still never thought I would but I miss a windows pc haha

[Chippiewill]

Well he didn't have to insult all Macs by saying they're overpriced now did he?

You get what you pay for :).


Even as a Windows/PC Fan, I do have to admit that the new mac pro looks awesome inside.
http://images.apple.com/euro/macpro/images/design_expansion_hero20090303.png

[Bouncing]

You get what you pay for :).


Even as a Windows/PC Fan, I do have to admit that the new mac pro looks awesome inside.
http://images.apple.com/euro/macpro/images/design_expansion_hero20090303.png


Looks nice yeh...but i mean unless your a big mac fan or use powerful programs etc you don't really need it

[Recursion]

You get what you pay for :).


Even as a Windows/PC Fan, I do have to admit that the new mac pro looks awesome inside.
http://images.apple.com/euro/macpro/images/design_expansion_hero20090303.png

1. Why the hell does the inside need to look nice?
2. When I open up my computer I want to see all the bits and bobs in their full glory, I can't see any of that without dissassembling half of that Mac Pro!

[Turbocom]

1. Why the hell does the inside need to look nice?
2. When I open up my computer I want to see all the bits and bobs in their full glory, I can't see any of that without dissassembling half of that Mac Pro!
I agree with that.

[Black_Apalachi]

My dad bought me a Macbook but it wasn't right for me really, but I felt bad for wasting the money as well :(.

[Chippiewill]

1. Why the hell does the inside need to look nice?
2. When I open up my computer I want to see all the bits and bobs in their full glory, I can't see any of that without dissassembling half of that Mac Pro!

1. It doesn't have too, but it's a bonus
2. It's easy, you undo a latch and then you can see the motherboard and the sister board, another latch will allow you to slide out the sister board. Far easier than 101 screws. Far shorter than getting into a PC...

[Recursion]

1. It doesn't have too, but it's a bonus
2. It's easy, you undo a latch and then you can see the motherboard and the sister board, another latch will allow you to slide out the sister board. Far easier than 101 screws. Far shorter than getting into a PC...

I don't have to undo any screws to get at my PC, I just pull the side back and im in and have full access, at most all I have is a couple of thumbscrews to take the side off, which I don't normally use anyway.

What's a sister board? :S

That sounds so dirty LOL.

[Chippiewill]

I don't have to undo any screws to get at my PC, I just pull the side back and im in and have full access, at most all I have is a couple of thumbscrews to take the side off, which I don't normally use anyway.

What's a sister board? :S

That sounds so dirty LOL.

Fine you need to do some thumbscrews where as the mac needs 1 latch

A sister board is basically a separate board from the mother board. It can carry anything but in the case of the mac it carries the two nehalem processors and the RAM. It is for cooling reasons, there is a fan at the front of the sister board and one at the back so that air passes right over it.

[Agnostic Bear]

Fine you need to do some thumbscrews where as the mac needs 1 latch

A sister board is basically a separate board from the mother board. It can carry anything but in the case of the mac it carries the two nehalem processors and the RAM. It is for cooling reasons, there is a fan at the front of the sister board and one at the back so that air passes right over it.

What are you talking about? *board isn't a family term, it's Mother or Main board, not sister, brother, uncle and aunty boards :S

[Recursion]

Fine you need to do some thumbscrews where as the mac needs 1 latch

A sister board is basically a separate board from the mother board. It can carry anything but in the case of the mac it carries the two nehalem processors and the RAM. It is for cooling reasons, there is a fan at the front of the sister board and one at the back so that air passes right over it.

I don't though, all I have to do is pull the side back, I never put the thumbscrews on durrr

So you say it's better for cooling, I wonder how it fairs up to having them on the motherboard with heatsinks and air passing over them.

[Chippiewill]

What are you talking about? *board isn't a family term, it's Mother or Main board, not sister, brother, uncle and aunty boards :S

It's just motherboard and sisterboard...

If you want to see a video of the inside of the mac pro
http://odtv.me/2009/03/mac-pro-unboxing/



So you say it's better for cooling, I wonder how it fairs up to having them on the motherboard with heatsinks and air passing over them.

It's used for spacing, also this way it divides up the system, the hard drive trays at the top, the PCI cards on the motherboard in the middle and the CPU and RAM at the bottom.

[Oleh]

Well the thing what matters is the money your willing to spend on each part if doing it seperatley (sometimes cheaper due to no build cost) such as i had a limit of £500 but i went for the arbico way and ordered a custom pc, spent £285 on one £40 on mouse £60 on keyboard £70 on monitor and £45 on a corner desk off ebay

Go with arbico and get a performance pc, they are relativley cheap for what you get and work brilliantly, dont go for the x-blade case though if you want to go to arbico, they are huge and very tacky, go with one without many leds or a coolermaster, my pc when i last checked topped out at 65 degrees celcius

[Agnostic Bear]

It's just motherboard and sisterboard...

If you want to see a video of the inside of the mac pro
http://odtv.me/2009/03/mac-pro-unboxing/



It's used for spacing, also this way it divides up the system, the hard drive trays at the top, the PCI cards on the motherboard in the middle and the CPU and RAM at the bottom.

Well done, you didn't pay attention to the video you're linking, it's a daughterboard, not a sisterboard.

Notice how I didn't mention daughter when I posted?

[Chippiewill]

Well done, you didn't pay attention to the video you're linking, it's a daughterboard, not a sisterboard.

Notice how I didn't mention daughter when I posted?


Ahh, I had watched it a few weeks ago, similar though...