iBuyPower Desktop 8GB Memory 500GB Hard Drive GAMER POWER BB742i - Best Buy
Are the parts compatible with each other?
The ATX form factor is highly standardized, most hardware are compatible with each other if you do your homework beforehand. From what I can tell going over the spec sheet, the computer itself would appear to work well enough, but I noticed a few things that you may want to take note of before you decide to purchase that computer or not.
The first and most noticable thing I noticed is that the motherboard in the computer only has one vacant PCI-E V2.0 slot available; I'm not aware if you intend on expanding or upgrading this computer sometime down the road, but you won't have much options available to you if you plan to do so.
The second thing I'd like you to be aware of is that the on-board NIC (network interface controller) only supports transfer speeds up to 10/100Mbits. The industry standard for NIC transfer speeds today is 1Gbit, more popularly known as gigabit ethernet. If you intend on connecting this computer to a LAN that has gigabit-capable devices, transfer speeds will be limited when transferring any data to/from this computer.
You'll also have to realize the catch that comes with any pre-assembled, off-the-shelf computers: The parts used may not be of good quality in order to cut down on costs. PC manufacturers will readily cut corners in things like the motherboard and power supply (among other parts!) to cut down on production costs, and this may or may not be of concern to you since this can affect the lifespan and reliability of a computer in the long-term.
And if you want my personal opinion on whether I'd buy that computer: I'd personally not buy it. Even putting aside the questionable quality of most off-the-shelf computers for the moment, if I'm paying in the vicinity of $800 bucks then I'd definitely want something as basic as gigabit ethernet and a bit more expansion capabilities.
I don't plan on upgrading it if it will play League of Legends and other low end games at good fps. And I plan to use ATT U-verse internet so I'm not sure whether or not the NIC of 1Gbit is necessary. And are you refering to PCI-E slot as the graphics card slot? If so, I do not plan to add or replace the current graphics card.
It's decent, if you ever plan on upgrading you will have to change the power supply. I've a computer that I motfied once I learned more about hardware in computers , that was a ibuypower when I bought it when I knew nothing about computers, the current one in my sig. Though I changed the power supply,video card, couple other modifcations like the heat sink, some better fans ect. The motherboard is differnt though since I upgraded it. Anyways computers from them are reliable but their power supplies are low end. Anyways only thing I would change is the power supply, the other parts are pretty good quallity.
Though you could get much better building but there prebuilts are alright at least from my expernince, also the windows key is not tied to the mobo at least for mine which is another plus and didn't have any bloatware on it when I bought it.
Two things I noticed. No listing for the power supply. Which means it the cheapest junk they can find at that time.
It says it comes with Windows 8, which Windows 8??
Last but not least their is no room for growth.
M1GU31 has mentioned all the things he has changed in his ibuypower computer if I understand correctly. Basically he just built a computer.
You might think on that option. Make your own.
I and others on another thread on this site are helping a member to gather parts for a budget gamer. The tower and everything in it should come out about #1000.00 to $1300.00. Quality parts, no junk. If I can remember I will post here the results when done. Don't get in a hurry and buy the wrong computer.
Gigabit ethernet has more to do with your internal network, your LAN, rather than the internet. If you have any gigabit-capable devices in your network, such as routers, computers, gaming consoles, and so forth, this computer will become a bottleneck for any data going into, out of, and through it because this computer's onboard NIC only goes up to 10/100Mbit.
PCI-E, formally known as PCI Express, is the type of expansion slot interface that is used in today's computers. PCI-E slots are used to accomodate video cards, sound cards, NIC cards, USB expansion cards, and a myriad of other goodies much like the PCI interface did several years ago. If you ever intend on upgrading or expanding this computer in any way down the road, including but not limited to the video card, you will be extremely limited in what you can do because of having only one vacant PCI-E slot.
As for low-end gaming, this computer as it stands shouldn't have any trouble playing those in theory.
I thank you guys for all the information. Thank you VistaKing for clarifying the ports between my computer and my internet provider. I do not plan to add or change any parts to the computer. As long as the computer works efficiently and cleanly as possible. I plan to use this computer for some minor gaming (League of Legends), no high end games, and school work. Thank you very much for all the information.
Looks to me like the mobo uses a H61 chipset. That would mean that it doesn't support Sata III.
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