Computer Replacement, help me choose.

adt · 08 Jan 2010

Hi guys,

I got my computer from PC World last year and it stopped working the other day so I took it back to them and they offered me a replacement. I'm not really a hardware person but if you guys could help me decide if the following PC is going to be good/better than my old one.

My faulty PC Specs are in my profile.

PC specs of offered replacement:
Packard Bell iXtreme I8819uk

full details on the PC ---> Information and Instructions - IXTREME I8819 UK - PT.U300X.010 - iXtreme - platform_ixtreme2009 - Desktop

640GB hard drive
1.5GB NVIDIA GeForce GT230 graphics
DVD Rewriter
8x USB ports
Intel Core i7 920 processor
(2.66GHz, 8MB Cache)
6GB memory
Bulldog Plus Motherboard (more about the mobo http://support.packardbell.com/uk/it...n=PT.U300X.010 )

The thing that's pulling me away from that PC is the motherboard. I've never heard of the make and I don't want my motherboard to fry again. As for the power supply and graphics I already have an 800w PSU and a GTX 285 ready.

I will be using the PC to play the latest games, word processing and surfing the web.

So do you think I should go for the replacement or not? All replies appreciated.

Frostmourne · 08 Jan 2010

Get a refund and a build a better PC - that graphics card is rubbish and laptops have bigger hard drives. What about the PSU? Is it 80+ Certified Bronze? As for the motherboard it might be propietrary - stick with name brands like Gigabyte.

Extensa · 08 Jan 2010

I think the first thing that needs to be asked is what you are using the computer for.

Are you a gamer? If so, what games need to be able to run?
Do you run intensive rendering apps such as Photoshop, 3dCAD, etc.

After that, we can make a better attempt at helping you.

adt · 08 Jan 2010

Frostmourne said:

Get a refund and a build a better PC - that graphics card is rubbish and laptops have bigger hard drives. What about the PSU? Is it 80+ Certified Bronze? As for the motherboard it might be propietrary - stick with name brands like Gigabyte.

They don't do refunds only replacements otherwise I would have done that already and built my own. I also forgot to add that I have a 800w power supply and a GTX 285 graphics card ready in order to replace the ones that they have in there. Is everything else okay? As I usually use my computer for games and surfing the web.

adt · 08 Jan 2010

Extensa said:

I think the first thing that needs to be asked is what you are using the computer for.

Are you a gamer? If so, what games need to be able to run?
Do you run intensive rendering apps such as Photoshop, 3dCAD, etc.

After that, we can make a better attempt at helping you.

Sorry about that, edited my post.

Frostmourne · 08 Jan 2010

Build a new PC - although that 285 is getting old.

SIW2 · 08 Jan 2010

I think you'll find they don't like to do refunds. They probably will if you press them .

Mention the Sale of Goods Act.

Wishmaster · 08 Jan 2010

MOBO is the backbone of everything.

i don't blame you. I wouldn't trust a unheard of brand. not saying its bad, it may be good, but I shy away from things that aren't very well known know for PC builds.

MOBOs Id stick with better known, trusted, reliable brands like:
DFI, Gigabyte, ASUS

i would see what others they will offer for a replacement, with similar specs, yet diff. MOBO. Such as 1 of the 3 listed above.

my 2C for what its worth.

Hard drives, graphics etc etc can easily be added or upgraded.

Search around see if you can find anything about that brand.

adt · 08 Jan 2010

SIW2 said:

I think you'll find they don't like to do refunds. They probably will if you press them .

Mention the Sale of Goods Act.

I will try asking for a refund, but I doubt that they will actually refund me.

Wishmaster said:

MOBO is the backbone of everything.

i don't blame you. I wouldn't trust a unheard of brand. not saying its bad, it may be good, but I shy away from things that aren't very well known know for PC builds.

MOBOs Id stick with better known, trusted, reliable brands like:
DFI, Gigabyte, ASUS

my 2C for what its worth.

Hard drives, graphics etc etc can easily be added or upgraded.

Search around see if you can find anything about that brand.

I've been trying to find out information about the mobo but I can't find any information about it. I have only found out that Packard Bell uses it with most of it's PC's.

Frostmourne · 08 Jan 2010

Wishmaster said:

MOBO is the backbone of everything.

i don't blame you. I wouldn't trust a unheard of brand. not saying its bad, it may be good, but I shy away from things that aren't very well known know for PC builds.

MOBOs Id stick with better known, trusted, reliable brands like:
DFI, Gigabyte, ASUS

i would see what others they will offer for a replacement, with similar specs, yet diff. MOBO. Such as 1 of the 3 listed above.

my 2C for what its worth.

Hard drives, graphics etc etc can easily be added or upgraded.

Search around see if you can find anything about that brand.

Technically the chipset is everything - the motherboard is nothing but a physical conduit for it and the parts you stick into it. For AMD you would want 790GX as a standard board - 8x/8x Crossfire or an FX for 16x/16x. New chipsets are coming too from AMD.