Consoles - are they still where it's at?

[MRU]

cheap pc

Where did you get those prices ? They are very good in fairness - are they including VAT ?

Quad CPU for €61.99 😱

Also does that system come with a 550/600w PSU ?

Also what memory on the 8800 ? I was matching Zap's specs as close as I could.

 

[takao]

Where did you get those prices ? They are very good in fairness - are they including VAT ?

Quad CPU for €61.99 😱

Also does that system come with a 550/600w PSU ?

Also what memory on the 8800 ? I was matching Zap's specs as close as I could.

i used www.alternate.at.. they are reliable but not the cheapest webstore around here (but have insane shipping speed for germany/austria.. ordered there at 8pm and got it 10am the next day)
yeah all prices include vat ... 20% of it

the Chieftec GPS-550AB550 Watt, is the powersupply i configured with it ... in general they are reliable in my expierence without charging the insane prices of enermax

the e2140-2180 is only dual core but is massivly overclockable and thus can hold it's own (already on it's way to become a legend)
4 core is still too expensive right now and hardly used by games at the moment so it's cheaper to get a 2160 now and a cheap peyrn with 4 cores end next year
for the case Sharkoon is currently really popular.. since that case offers a huge 25 cm fan which runs at really slow RPm and thus makes even overclocked PCs rather silent

the good graphics cards for 220euro like 8800GT(lots of price gouging going on) and the 3870 are sadly completly out of stock currently
in the last week even the 3850 sold out around here completely

in general i would look at 700 to 800 for a decently configured PC in the lower end .. less will be crippled and everything above is luxery 😉

looks like they are europewide already ... might be worth a look for some ...(personally i mostly use it for configuration since they got a web tool on their on german/austrian site which automatically only displays compatible hardware and then order from another store who offers lower prices but has a crappy website 😉 )
http://www.alternate.eu/indexEu.html

 

[MRU]

^ i'm tempted (blowing money is my strong point 😀 - just bought a leather sofa suit today for over €2k) 🙂 but I'm more tempted to hold off for the 'super laptop' at macworld.

 

[takao]

^ i'm tempted (blowing money is my strong point 😀 - just bought a leather sofa suit today for over €2k) 🙂 but I'm more tempted to hold off for the 'super laptop' at macworld.

well i'm holding myself as well not only for macworld but since the new intel chips will come in spring and new graphics chips from nvidia 😉

on the german/austrian site you can literally waste days in that configuration page ... it's so fricking addicting just like macrumors before keynotes 😉

 

[zero2dash]

Certainly not here you couldn't.

I guess you guys get the uber-shaft on PC pricing. 😱

http://www.newegg.com
(not the best place for rock bottom prices, but close. and more reputable)
[I'll steal a few items off my Jan/Feb budget build list]

- Intel E2160 cpu 1.8ghz $82 (overclocks to 3gig on stock cooling by upping FSB from 800mhz to 1333mhz...can go higher if you want...I'm aiming for 3.2-3.4ghz on minimal voltage increase. hopefully lower the multi to 8x and run at 400fsb is my goal otherwise I'll shoot for 350+ fsb on default 9x multi)

- Gigabyte P35-DS3L mobo $92

- 4 gigs G.Skill DDR2 800 (2x2gig kit) $139 ($109 after MIR)

- XFX 8800GT 512meg card $269

- Corsair VX550w psu $99 ($84 after MIR)

- Seagate 320gig SATA 7200rpm 16meg cache $84

- Sony NEC Optiarc 20x dvd burner SATA $29

- Cooler Master Centurion 5 case $49

- XP Home oem $89

Total $932 ($887 after MIR)

That system would run any games (Crysis, CoD4, HL2, UT3, Quake Wars etc) beautifully. (pretty much exactly what I'm getting, with a few areas where I spent a little more on better stuff, like HD size (bought a refurb Seagate 750gig 7200.10 SATA for $139 to go with my Seagate 320gig 7200.10 SATA) and case (Lian-Li PC-A05B - $89).

I'm sure Dell/Alienware will sell you a quad system with 8800GTs in SLi for $2g's but it's unnecessary. 😀
I doubt games will take advantage of quads for awhile...a few do (SupCom and Crysis) but it's not worth the price $$ to me. 8800GT is a fabulous card already even at 1900x1200, no need for 2 of 'em. 😉

 

[Tom B.]

As far as I am concerned, handhelds are where it's at.

The DS is excellent as ever, and the PSP is just starting to show signs of major improvement. I play a lot of DS and PSP games, even GBA games fairly often, but I hardly ever play consoles, despite the fact that my younger brother always buys the latest and greatest games for them. I played Bioshock for half an hour. I never even touched Twilight Princess or Mario Galaxy. Why? 🙁

As for PCs, give me StarCraft I, II and WarCraft III and I need nothing else.

 

[Mackilroy]

<PC tech prices>

I may have to build a gaming PC myself at prices like that.

 

[Shacklebolt]

I played Bioshock for half an hour. I never even touched Twilight Princess or Mario Galaxy. Why? 🙁.

Why indeed? Tell us why?

 

[Tom B.]

Why indeed? Tell us why?

A mixture of many reasons:

- I started college in September
- My brother is constantly using either the Wii or the 360. (he got all 120 stars in Mario Galaxy in a week and a half, and now he's moved onto Mass Effect
- If he isn't playing either of them, it's because someone is using the TV for something else
- I don't want to start these games because I don't want them to take up all my time (even though I know they won't)

Anyway, despite all that, my Christmas holiday starts on the 14th, which is almost a week before my brother breaks up, meaning I might finally get my big chance! 😀

 

[iEdd]

Man how I envy the cheapness of everything in USA. We're pretty much on par with UK prices here in Aus. 🙁