Which desktop you suggest?

[boyboy400]

Hello people,
So I finally decided to buy a desktop . I'm not a gamer but am into video and music editing so I was thinking about either of these two:

http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/...233993ad27en02

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/produ...2daa92f6aben02

Do you think any of them is superior to the other one? Please let me know what you think. Any comment is appreciated.
Thanks

[nihil]

The Gateway is rubbish.............they usually are.

5,400rpm HDD???? what is it? a netbook?

Cramped mini-tower case......"looks pretty" and "does the job" are generally contradictory. Gateway go for the former.

Both have previous generation processors, the FX4100 isn't the best, and isn't a true 4 core, but it is adequate for your needs, and I doubt if you would notice any difference in use. I have an FX4100 myself, and would consider it to be a good buy for general computing and home entertainment purposes. It will handle games but not like a more specialist gaming rig. The Intel processor is the same, as it isn't top of the range by any means, but it will quite easily outperform the AMD by as much as 25~50%.

I guess they are both using stock cooling solutions? I which case AMD is far superior to Intel, particularly in a cramped "mini" ATX case. The bestbuy product has a full ATX case BTW.

I would go for the AMD.



Neither of them have a true "gaming" graphics card in them, but are way above general computing, and certainly meet home entertainment requirements. The Gateway has an HD 7350, which is an OEM only card, whereas the other one is a retail HD 6450. Both are at the bottom of the AMD heap, but better than the integrated graphics that Intel second generation processors have, apart from the Core-i7 2600K and 2700K.

So you are effectively paying twice with Intel, as the card does not integrate with the onboard/CPU graphics.

Naturally the AMD videocard integrates with the motherboard and AMD FX4100 processor, so it will share graphics memory.

The nastiest AMD/ATI graphics card that I have is an HD 5570 with 1GB of DDR3, and it would slaughter either of those cards and Intel's HD3000 integrated graphics, if that Core-i5 even has that.............my Core-i7 2600K does. EDIT: I have just checked, and it has HD2000, which explains why the video card Gateway have chosen would be an improvement.

I notice that the Gateway has a 16x DVD burner as opposed to 24x............ that says a lot as 16x is well obsolete!........... along with 1000GB 5400rpm hard drives?

I suspect that the Gateway has cheap proprietary components, and the AMD box certainly seems to have more room for future expansion.

A lot depends on what your software uses. Modern games will use more than two cores whilst most other software will not. The FX4100 is interesting because although it claims to have 4 cores and 4MB level 2 cache it is actually two pairs of cores and cache.

Unfortunately, Windows 7 doesn't support AMD FX architecture as well as it does Intel's Sandy/Ivybridge or the older Phenom IIs.

I would still go for the AMD as it seems to be a much better balanced build, although it isn't a gaming rig, as described

The Gateway would be better with a core-i3 and a lower price IMO, or substantially upgrade the video card?

[boyboy400]

What does it matter? Its a computer... just pick one then use it.

hahaha you should know my history in buying computers to feel why I asked this question

[nihil]

What does it matter? Its a computer... just pick one then use it.

That may well work with laptops, netbooks, and fondle slabs, but isn't appropriate for desktops. With the others the price point will pretty much tell you what you are getting, but desktops are much more varied as the case in point shows?

In the case of the Gateway the Intel Core-i5 processor is way over specification for the rest of the components, also it is in a microATX tower.

The other one has a microATX MoBo, but in the regular ATX case. I would say that it is an Asrock N68-VS3 FX

Against the Gateway:

300W power supply
5400rpm HDD
16x DVD
Micro ATX case
RAM speed not specified

For the Gateway:

Multi card reader
2x USB3 ports
Core i-5 processor
2 vacant memory slots (it already has 8GB)
WiFi

For the AMD:

480W power supply
7,200rpm HDD
24x DVD
Regular ATX case
HDMI
1333MHz DDR3 RAM

Against:

USB2
No card reader
Slower processor (in doing benchmarks)
No vacant memory slots (8GB isn't enough?)
No WiFi

Well, a USB card reader will cost me £1 and a USB 300Mbps WiFi adapter £6.

There is a fair difference in what you get for your money

The Gateway would be better with a Celeron or Pentium processor, a 7,200rpm HDD and $200 trimmed off the price.

I built them myself of course, but I do have an FX4100BE, Core-i5 3570K, and Core-i7 2600K. If BoyBoy points me in the right direction I am quite willing to test specific software for him................also a Phenom II x4 965BE. All those are Windows 8 release preview, for Windows 7 Ultimate it will have to be a Phenom II x6 1090T(BE).

It's all about balance................

[boyboy400]

If BoyBoy points me in the right direction I am quite willing to test specific software for him......

You're awesome Nihil ... many of my computer problems in recent years have been solved by you ... thank you so much ... I already bought the AMD one ...

But anyways, the main software that I will be working with is Sibelius but then I decide to start some film score compositions so would probably need some other softwares as well but considering the price, I guess it can handle all of these .. you know, I usually have so many applications open!!!!!!!!!

Plus I'm thinking to start gaming as well it's good for concentration and gives you the "flow experience" hahaha

Thanks a lot

[Sherinfriedler]

Go with Gateway 2nd Gen Intel Core i5-2320
The Intel Core i5-2320 processor with it's 8GB system memory provides amazingly-fast, efficient performance for a wide range of demanding tasks, It stores all your music, videos, games, pictures, documents and more on the incredibly spacious 2TB hard drive.