What kind of computer should I be looking for?

[BlueViolet]

So my laptop completely died on me and I need a new computer this month. I know a lot of you guys are really computer knowledgeable so I figured I'd ask on here about what kind I should get or be looking for.

I need a powerful computer that can handle intensive video editing and tablet line art and colouring with the programs associated with it. My daily programs are Cyberlink PowerDirector, Photoshop, and SAI/GIMP and they caused my old laptop to skip, lag, or stop working for a few minutes a lot if using more than one at a time which was really frustrating.

I don't really want to spend more than $600 - $700 if possible and I don't care if it's a laptop or desktop, though I might prefer a desktop. Any recommendations?

Also, I don't really need it for camming. We use my girlfriend's new computer to cam off of.

 

[LacieLaPlante]

I use my Asus laptop with a wacom intuos 3, photoshop cs6.. Does me quite well.

Iused to use a Macbook Pro with the same things but there isn't really a big difference, other than my mac being super slow now.

 

[BlueViolet]

I use my Asus laptop with a wacom intuos 3, photoshop cs6.. Does me quite well.

Iused to use a Macbook Pro with the same things but there isn't really a big difference, other than my mac being super slow now.

My laptop was a Toshiba and my girlfriend's is a Lenovo, though I've had an Asus before as well. I'm just wondering what kind of specs I should be looking at that are the best for my price range. I have an Intuos 4 and use CS6 as well, but my worst program is Cyberlink. That thing was so laggy it would take forever to edit just a 5 minute video for YouTube.

 

[bawksy]

For that budget, you can't even get a starter model Mac, so rule those out.

Your dollars will absolutely go further on a desktop computer than a laptop computer of equal specs. Plus you can get a bigger monitor (or monitors) for cheaper, which will be useful for doing any kind of visual work. Finally, it's a better investment for the future; desktop computers don't usually just "die", since it's much easier to replace failed parts.

The best website I've found for getting tech bargains is http://bensbargains.net and specifically the desktop computers section http://bensbargains.net/categories/desktops-5/

Take a look at that and see what they have. Often times there will be coupons for like $350 off a new Dell desktop and crazy shit like that.

Since it sounds like you're looking for a good workhorse computer, you might need to push your budget up a bit, but see what you can find. For intense processing, I'd recommend at least an Intel processor, and at least the i5 at that. Some of the programs you listed will get a benefit out of you having a discrete graphics card, meaning not just the Intel "HD Graphics 4000" and such.

If it's not sold out by the time you read this, look at this badass listed for $130 cheaper than you can get it from Amazon.com: http://bensbargains.net/bargain/hp-envy-hpe-h8-1520t-3rd-gen-core-i7-1tb-desktop-630-at-hp-98927/ - it looks like it has everything you need, except monitors. Massive amount of RAM is great for video editing. Awesome i7 CPU. Very decent AMD graphics card.

 

[BlueViolet]

For that budget, you can't even get a starter model Mac, so rule those out.

Your dollars will absolutely go further on a desktop computer than a laptop computer of equal specs. Plus you can get a bigger monitor (or monitors) for cheaper, which will be useful for doing any kind of visual work. Finally, it's a better investment for the future; desktop computers don't usually just "die", since it's much easier to replace failed parts.

The best website I've found for getting tech bargains is http://bensbargains.net and specifically the desktop computers section http://bensbargains.net/categories/desktops-5/

Take a look at that and see what they have. Often times there will be coupons for like $350 off a new Dell desktop and crazy shit like that.

Since it sounds like you're looking for a good workhorse computer, you might need to push your budget up a bit, but see what you can find. For intense processing, I'd recommend at least an Intel processor, and at least the i5 at that. Some of the programs you listed will get a benefit out of you having a discrete graphics card, meaning not just the Intel "HD Graphics 4000" and such.

If it's not sold out by the time you read this, look at this badass listed for $130 cheaper than you can get it from Amazon.com: http://bensbargains.net/bargain/hp-envy-hpe-h8-1520t-3rd-gen-core-i7-1tb-desktop-630-at-hp-98927/ - it looks like it has everything you need, except monitors. Massive amount of RAM is great for video editing. Awesome i7 CPU. Very decent AMD graphics card.

Thanks! I don't have a hard budget or anything and I'm willing to go up to $800 - $900 if I absolutely have to, but would obviously prefer to stay lower.

Unfortunately I can't get it for another two weeks or so, but if it's no longer on sale/sold out by the time I'm ready to buy it, should I still look into getting that one or looking for something else? That does look perfect for what I need and I'm willing to pay full price for something that will last and work well for me.

I do plan on getting more than one monitor for tablet art and I'm okay with buying separately.

 

[bawksy]

HP and Dell have been pretty close to each other in terms of quality recently, so it doesn't really matter. I'm sure in a couple of weeks there will still be good sales. Plus, you're headed into the back-to-school shopping season, which is when amazing sales start.

 

[SoTxBob]

I've always had great luck @ TigerDirect for my computer stuff..
I scored an HP-Intel I-5 processor unit that was off lease and had an upgraded graphics card for dual monitors and tons of memory for $425. I've yet to bog it down even while editing on one screen and screening 2 others on the other monitor. Can't speak to intensive gaming on it from personal exp, but my oldest did try it out when it first arrived with WoW and one other he plays. Said it was very close to his home built gaming computer [$1100+].
I'm a fan of desktops simply for the ease of swapping out/upgrading/adding things like vid cards, memory and additional hard drives. I don't need any portability tho. I've yet to find a laptop or notebook that has enough external ports for the goodies and invariably end up using spiders.
:twocents-02cents:

 

[Bocefish]

Another good place to find deals...

http://www.geek.com/deals/

 

[BlueViolet]

My guy friend that took a look at my laptop offered to build me a new desktop so hopefully I'll be able to have a new laptop sometime this month.

 

[Rose]

I figure since technology updates so quickly, might as well give this thread a bump. I'll be in the market for a new tower before too long and have no idea what to look for.

Ideally it would be under $850, but it NEEDS to be able to broadcast on streamate really well, definitely needs to be able to handle editing and uploading videos and it would be a bonus if it could also run WOW and a couple other games. The monitor I have now is an Acer something or other (I can't remember the specs off the top of my head) and I'd like to keep using it instead of buying a new one if that would be cheaper. Any recommendations on what's the best right now? If I need to go fish up the specs for my monitor I can. Pretty please and thank you!

 

[Red7227]

I figure since technology updates so quickly, might as well give this thread a bump. I'll be in the market for a new tower before too long and have no idea what to look for.

Ideally it would be under $850, but it NEEDS to be able to broadcast on streamate really well, definitely needs to be able to handle editing and uploading videos and it would be a bonus if it could also run WOW and a couple other games. The monitor I have now is an Acer something or other (I can't remember the specs off the top of my head) and I'd like to keep using it instead of buying a new one if that would be cheaper. Any recommendations on what's the best right now? If I need to go fish up the specs for my monitor I can. Pretty please and thank you!

I'm about to do the same thing, but I will just sponge of you as the boys here won't do much for a sighting of my sad old moboobs.

 

[Rose]

I figure since technology updates so quickly, might as well give this thread a bump. I'll be in the market for a new tower before too long and have no idea what to look for.

Ideally it would be under $850, but it NEEDS to be able to broadcast on streamate really well, definitely needs to be able to handle editing and uploading videos and it would be a bonus if it could also run WOW and a couple other games. The monitor I have now is an Acer something or other (I can't remember the specs off the top of my head) and I'd like to keep using it instead of buying a new one if that would be cheaper. Any recommendations on what's the best right now? If I need to go fish up the specs for my monitor I can. Pretty please and thank you!

I'm about to do the same thing, but I will just sponge of you as the boys here won't do much for a sighting of my sad old moboobs.

Then I hope we get lucky! :lol:

 

[JerryBoBerry]

I figure since technology updates so quickly, might as well give this thread a bump. I'll be in the market for a new tower before too long and have no idea what to look for.

Ideally it would be under $850, but it NEEDS to be able to broadcast on streamate really well, definitely needs to be able to handle editing and uploading videos and it would be a bonus if it could also run WOW and a couple other games. The monitor I have now is an Acer something or other (I can't remember the specs off the top of my head) and I'd like to keep using it instead of buying a new one if that would be cheaper. Any recommendations on what's the best right now? If I need to go fish up the specs for my monitor I can. Pretty please and thank you!

Few questions. Use your old keyboard and mouse or want new one? Hard drive, want large storage or do you have externals for video storage? Do you want to be able to add in extra internal hard drives later? (goes to if you want atx or micro-atx format for motherboard. Micro doesn't have as much future expandability). Operating system preference, Win 8 or Win 7? By tower, do you want a regular tower or would a mini tower be okay - does this have to fit in somewhere small or do you have space to put a full sized tower?

Also, just to make sure. You're current monitor you want to keep using...it's HDMI connection right? Just making sure it's not VGA or Display Port.

 

[Rose]

Few questions. Use your old keyboard and mouse or want new one? Hard drive, want large storage or do you have externals for video storage? Do you want to be able to add in extra internal hard drives later? (goes to if you want atx or micro-atx format for motherboard. Micro doesn't have as much future expandability). Operating system preference, Win 8 or Win 7? By tower, do you want a regular tower or would a mini tower be okay - does this have to fit in somewhere small or do you have space to put a full sized tower?

Also, just to make sure. You're current monitor you want to keep using...it's HDMI connection right? Just making sure it's not VGA or Display Port.

Keyboard and old mouse are fine, though getting a keyboard with a totally flat interface would be dandy as it would prevent dog hair getting stuck under the keys (that shit sticks to everything! *mini rage*).

I do not have any hard drives, but buying external ones is definitely an option, though they'd need to be factored into the computer budget. I have absolutely no idea how to install new internal ones. Best to stick with something I can plug and play (unless that's not right, then please tell me how to do it properly.)

I'm a fast learner so it doesn't matter if it's windows 7 or 8. As long as the computer isn't totally massive, then it should fit the space I have, but I could always rearrange my desk as there are several different spaces for possible computer storage. Space is a non-issue.

BJ says my monitor is a VGA. The cord that connects has blue ends with two prongs and pokey part thingies in the middle. Hopefully that description is colorful enough.

If need be, and especially if it would be cheaper, I'm not opposed to getting a new monitor.

 

[JerryBoBerry]

Keyboard and old mouse are fine, though getting a keyboard with a totally flat interface would be dandy as it would prevent dog hair getting stuck under the keys (that shit sticks to everything! *mini rage*).

I do not have any hard drives, but buying external ones is definitely an option, though they'd need to be factored into the computer budget. I have absolutely no idea how to install new internal ones. Best to stick with something I can plug and play (unless that's not right, then please tell me how to do it properly.)

I'm a fast learner so it doesn't matter if it's windows 7 or 8. As long as the computer isn't totally massive, then it should fit the space I have, but I could always rearrange my desk as there are several different spaces for possible computer storage. Space is a non-issue.

BJ says my monitor is a VGA. The cord that connects has blue ends with two prongs and pokey part thingies in the middle. Hopefully that description is colorful enough.

If need be, and especially if it would be cheaper, I'm not opposed to getting a new monitor.

This list is narrowed down to 32 choices that seem to be pretty good. I limited the search to 6GB of ram or better. 500GB of hard drive or better. Either AMD FX series or Intel i5 or i7 chips. Tower to mini tower sizing. And all between $530 and $860, sorted by price least to highest.

http://tinyurl.com/lqnbs4r

Most use on board video and not a video card. But if you do want a video card as well just choose one toward the lower price and you could still afford a video card while being under the $850 you mentioned. If you're not planning on using this for gaming I don't really think it's worth it for you. Just for camming your webcam wouldn't really use a video card anyway to send out your video.

I didn't really see any that didn't have VGA connection but i didn't check all of them. Some of them ONLY have a single VGA connection. Newegg doesn't have a way of narrowing that part down. So take a look through and see if any catch your fancy. It should list monitor connections under the specifications of each. If you do have any questions on some in particular feel free to shoot me a PM with the link.

Keep in mind if you do have like one of the less expensive ones that might also leave enough in your budget for an additional monitor as well, if it has capability for dual connections. If it doesn't there's still the option of going with an inexpensive video card that would allow for two monitors (not a gaming card, but will show webcam related video and bluray's just fine). Between $120 and $180 will get you a 24" to 26" monitor on Tigerdirect right now.

 

[Rose]

You are the bomb!! Thank you so much for helping me. :dance:

 

[strangerdanger87]

I just want to say that you should do a little research before you buy a pre-built tower. They seem like a fairly good deal but you can get way more performance for your money if you buy the parts individually and build them yourself.

I built my tower early last year for about $1000 including 2 26" monitors. So take those out of the overall cost and you are around $600. Mine is mainly used for protools, photoshop, and premiere but I also play some newer games on there as well.

I bought most of my stuff from newegg and did a little bargain shopping on places like amazon and ebay. Another benefit is if you already have a tower some of the things you currently have in there may transfer over. ie. case, powersupply, memory (if your current setup isn't old) etc.

 

[Red7227]

I just want to say that you should do a little research before you buy a pre-built tower. They seem like a fairly good deal but you can get way more performance for your money if you buy the parts individually and build them yourself.

I built my tower early last year for about $1000 including 2 26" monitors. So take those out of the overall cost and you are around $600. Mine is mainly used for protools, photoshop, and premiere but I also play some newer games on there as well.

I bought most of my stuff from newegg and did a little bargain shopping on places like amazon and ebay. Another benefit is if you already have a tower some of the things you currently have in there may transfer over. ie. case, powersupply, memory (if your current setup isn't old) etc.

Yeah, that is what I usually do. I also have a legal copy of windows 7 and there is noting wrong with the case DVD dives or the had drive, so I just need to look at mother board and graphics card really. So sad to lose my widows XP though. It only has a couple months of support left.

 

[JerryBoBerry]

I just want to say that you should do a little research before you buy a pre-built tower. They seem like a fairly good deal but you can get way more performance for your money if you buy the parts individually and build them yourself.

I built my tower early last year for about $1000 including 2 26" monitors. So take those out of the overall cost and you are around $600. Mine is mainly used for protools, photoshop, and premiere but I also play some newer games on there as well.

I bought most of my stuff from newegg and did a little bargain shopping on places like amazon and ebay. Another benefit is if you already have a tower some of the things you currently have in there may transfer over. ie. case, powersupply, memory (if your current setup isn't old) etc.

I asked Rose about that in PM too. She doesn't have anyone that she knows that would be able to help put together components.

 

[Rose]

I just want to say that you should do a little research before you buy a pre-built tower. They seem like a fairly good deal but you can get way more performance for your money if you buy the parts individually and build them yourself.

I built my tower early last year for about $1000 including 2 26" monitors. So take those out of the overall cost and you are around $600. Mine is mainly used for protools, photoshop, and premiere but I also play some newer games on there as well.

I bought most of my stuff from newegg and did a little bargain shopping on places like amazon and ebay. Another benefit is if you already have a tower some of the things you currently have in there may transfer over. ie. case, powersupply, memory (if your current setup isn't old) etc.

I asked Rose about that in PM too. She doesn't have anyone that she knows that would be able to help put together components.

Yup! That would be like asking me to walk on one hand while diddling myself, while doing a kegger and juggling and simultaneously shooting ping pong balls out of my cooter. Impossible. In my case, best to definitely just buy something ready to go so I don't royally screw it up.

 

[Bocefish]

In my case, best to definitely just buy something ready to go so I don't royally screw it up.

After deciding what you're looking for, you may also want to see if your local Costco or costco.com carries anything comparable. Their return policy is awesome (just in case you don't like it for whatever reason) as are most of their extended warranty policies. Their annual membership fee may be worth it for just one high end tech purchase alone if you're not already a member. As always, read the fine print.

 

[Tristyn]

Do you guys and gals think that a Mac Mini would be a decent back-up camming computer, specifically for use on SM?

I'm looking at the i5 with 4gigs of RAM.

My Macbook pro is more powerful than that, but I don't want to spend as much on a backup computer.

Thoughts?