Desktop Computers

been wanting to get my parents a new PC since theirs is a few years old now, but don't want to build it since I'm lazy as fuck. Dell has a great deal right now, ~$500 gets you a i7, 2TB hd, 12GB RAM, W8, etc. Click here for the PC:

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...81_4kyO3_0_0_0

apply code G61JKGMC5$7RWX at checkout.

HOWEVER, the code is for a bundle of PC + 24" monitor, total $999+tax. They are seperate line items though, I was able to call today morning and cancel the monitor so I got the PC for $450, some people have reported the CSR will cancel the entire order if you try to cancel the monitor, so you need some luck I guess. If you can get the PC by itself its a steal, since its at least $800 in parts. Yeah, its a shitty 620 Nvidia and no SSD and W8 (not Pro or W7) and PSU is only 450W, so don't even try to buy it as a gaming PC. But its a great PC for older relatives, and they get 1 year Dell support.

joeboo_sl said:

The 2GB card has a slightly faster memory clock speed. You really won't see any noticeable difference, and both can be overclocked well past their default speeds anyways if you want to mess with that. I'm showing a $60($499 and $559) difference to get the 4GB card, which still isn't huge compared to the overall prices.

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Thanx for the info, and the 2gb was 547 when i posted this morning, I swear! Why I thought it was odd.

And now I am seeing the 680 SC Signature 2 for only $479 and specs say it has faster clock speeds. Too many different models anymore, so hard to tell which is the best.

What's the best 24" monitor I can get for sub ~$250?

A Dell U2412M but I'd throw another 50$ and get a 27" korean from ebay.

edit : wow, that dell is still close to 300$, so I'd say an ASUS VS239H-P or there was an LG I can't find right now. The idea is to get an IPS panel and preferably a 1920x1200 resolution.

I'd go with the Dell so you don't end up with a 27" paperweight in a year.

Diamyr_sl said:

What's the best 24" monitor I can get for sub ~$250?

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Dell 2312HM or 2412M. 2412M is close to $300 (on sale) though. Both very nice for the price. Entry-level IPS on 'em both, but they look awesome and have kick-ass stands. Also, 3 year warranty and fast Dell service.

If Dell ran the rest of their company like they ran their display division, they wouldn't be in the shit.

Further:

Dell 2312HM. 1920x1080. 6-bit e-IPS panel, but vastly better than any 6-bit TN panel. My screen came spot-on in terms of color calibration. No custom ICC profile needed, no fiddling with the monitor's own color settings, and no tweaking of image values needed in the Nvidia control panel. Perfect whites, excellent colors. Really good blacks. I use it on my second PC, primarily to watch Blu-ray movies as I work. Startlingly excellent picture. Only downside is the aggressive Anti-Glare coating, but I only notice it on pure white spreads like web pages. Not a problem for me, but some people *really* hate it. 3-year warranty, responsive service from Dell.

Dell 2412M. 1920x1200. 6-bit e-IPS panel, but vastly better than any 6-bit TN panel. This unit was a basket case in terms of Out Of the Box color calibration. Had to use custom ICC profile+Lots of tweaking in the monitor itself+tweaking in Nvidia control panel. Pretty "meh" in some areas ... still can't get the color calibration spot on like my 2312HM, but on the fence for a return to Dell because it's excellent for photo editing and awesome for games. Despite all this, it's a good monitor, but it doesn't bring out "Holy Jesus" remarks like my 2312HM does when I fire up a really good Blu-ray like the new Star Trek movie. It has much less aggressive AG coating than my 2312HM. It has a 3-year warranty, and responsive service from Dell.


There can be a lot of variation between screens, even on the same revision. There's a lot of bitching on the webs about 2412M's, but much less so with the 2312HM's. Your results can and will vary. I didn't send the 2412M back to the retailer that I bought it from (headache of return ship+restock fees) and it isn't that bad, but I still may kick it back to Dell for another round of Panel Lotto. Order from Dell if at all possible.

Commonalities between the two:
-Responsive Dell support (USA). Dell takes usually a week or less to turn around defective displays (Ultrasharps), and usually with few questions asked. Asus is a 4-6 week wait...LG is about the same (though I've never used them).
-Excellent stands. Tilt/swivel and excellent height adjustment. Landscape and portrait modes. Sturdy as all hell. US Military uses them as jack stands for M1 Abrams tanks.
-Both come with 2 USB 2.0 ports on the left bezel of the monitor. Kind of handy if you have a huge desk like me and don't feel like crawling under a desk to plug in a thumb drive or whatever.
-Really good OSD controls.

Diamyr_sl said:

What's the best 24" monitor I can get for sub ~$250?

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i just bought this 27" korean IPS last week
http://www.ebay.com/itm/320775268567

for $350, no fucking clue if I am going to get a piece of shit or a winner. Its for the kids new school desktop so even if it sucks they can use the old 21" dell. I picked this one because it had some great reviews from a few gamer websites, you do need dual DVI-D connector on your video card since it won't work with anything else. heres a pic I used to see the differences



It already shipped and should be here late next week, will update. There are a number of other 27" korean IPS panels that all sell for $350-400, including ones from Monoprice (OOs till april I think), microcenter, etc. Some people have set them up as 3x eyefinity and love em, if this one looks good I am thinking about that.

So I'm pretty good at dem shooter games right, I heard that 120 hrtz is the bees knees for them right? So what's better them new fangled IPS thing-a-majjigers or the 120 hrtz-to stop peeps from just popping in?

Voyce_sl said:

So I'm pretty good at dem shooter games right, I heard that 120 hrtz is the bees knees for them right? So what's better them new fangled IPS thing-a-majjigers or the 120 hrtz-to stop peeps from just popping in?

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Well, depends on how many fps games you play compared to other genres. If you're gonna play mostly fps games, take a look at thishttp://www.overclock.net/t/1339384/z...oks-like-480hz. If you're not a fps god, go for a 27" korean or if you have the cash, get a 120hz korean fromhttp://www.overlordcomputer.com/orhttp://120hz.net/.

Dell U2312HM for $224.25 @ Dell. Don't see myself getting away from this.

Meh. Now thinking I should wait on U2413HM. Or go U2412HM. Seems all reviews touting U2312HM and not so much U24

Was looking into building a PC for a friend, and I can't believe how much higher prices are on parts right now than back around the Black Friday/Cyber monday timeframe.

The computer that I built for about $1000 back in late November is now about $1300 in parts just 2 months later. The price history graph on pcpartpicker.com is interesting

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Ajfo



Guess I shouldn't be surprised that the best prices of the year are around black friday, I just didn't think the discrepency was THAT drastic(30% higher now)

So word to the wise, if you upgrade/buy on any sort of regular basis, do it around Black Friday in the future.

Jasker_sl said:

Dell U2312HM for $224.25 @ Dell. Don't see myself getting away from this.

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Amazon has it for $216, also U2412 for $271, both through the same 3rd party seller.

I still haven't picked up anything though i'm hovering. Still trucking with my old 22" TN at 1680x1050 which really is doing the hardware inside my PC an injustice.

I just find it hard to justify to myself dropping basically the cost of a fucking console on 2" and a monitor I just know i'd immediately get pissed about the first time I pulled up a white web page.. which is like 80% of them. Going to 27" would be easier to justify the cost but I just don't want one that big i'd rather dual the 22 and a 24 and not have to alt-tab constantly in games anymore.

The IPS panel in the Dell will have you kicking yourself in the ass for using an old TN panel for so long.

Diamyr_sl said:

Amazon has it for $216, also U2412 for $271, both through the same 3rd party seller.

I still haven't picked up anything though i'm hovering. Still trucking with my old 22" TN at 1680x1050 which really is doing the hardware inside my PC an injustice.

I just find it hard to justify to myself dropping basically the cost of a fucking console on 2" and a monitor I just know i'd immediately get pissed about the first time I pulled up a white web page.. which is like 80% of them. Going to 27" would be easier to justify the cost but I just don't want one that big i'd rather dual the 22 and a 24 and not have to alt-tab constantly in games anymore.

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Shipping from that merchant costs $20. Dell is cheaper with free shipping. Non third party as well (obviously).