BleepingComputer.com: New Computer Advice

Hi all! Ok, so i'm looking for a new computer--my price limit is around $4000 (including monitor--22", keyboard, mouse etc.) Can give or take, flexible, but i don't really want to "build" one myself--so i was looking at the HP Blackbird and wondered what all of you experts thought about it? I've read mixed reviews about it --expense mostly--but i like how i can configure it myself and stuff. Just for the record too--i've been looking around and for the price of getting one built seems to me i can get this one with everything i want for less. Anyway, opinions/advice would be appreciated! Thanks ;)

Oh, here's a link-- http://h20435.www2.hp.com/

Cheers!

Hello,

The link provided takes a very long time to load. The blackbird is quite a powerfull system and can give most systems a good run for their money and should be able to handle most things that you give it.

I've heard many good things about the blackbird.

You should probably just get the air cooled one. Liquid cooling is very expensive and is only necessary if you want to do some serious overclocking.

I would go with the Intel quad core Q6600 for the processor.

You might want 4gb of ram (get at least the 800mhz kind), but if the price gets too high 2gb might be enough. It would be much cheaper to buy your own ram from Newegg and put it in yourself too.

The 8800GT 512mb is very nice card for gaming. If you want to do some serious gaming, I would select the dual set up of them.

The 900Watt power supply should be fine

A sound card isn't really necessary unless you're a big sound freak.

Pick the hard drives for how much space you think you will need.

These are just some of my suggestions. Other people might have some better ones .

Hi guys,

nigglesnush85--yeah, i know it takes forever to load--sorry about that--but i figured you'd want a peak at what i was talking about I see you're from Wales--one of my best friends here in Canada is from Cardiff--his mom sends me pics of the castles all the time--very cool!

Sterling14--yep, wasn't to sure about the LC because i've heard mixed things about possible problems with that--i mean i want to go "zoom" but i doubt i'd be going kaboomazoom if you know what i mean....
The Ram is absolutely 4GB--there's no sense in going lower if you ask me!

One question though--about the drives, how should i set that up? Any thoughts? I want the best not necessarily the biggest...hehe...friends are saying to get the primary and two secondary --do i really need all that? I already have a 500GB WD external...i know you can never have toooo much storage but seriously....

Anyway, i appreciate the comments!

beccajane, on Feb 5 2008, 04:05 AM, said:

They are very cool, but its cold and rainy most of the time so you can never get out to see them.

You are right that you can never have too much storage, I would keep it simple and go for an average size inside the system and keep important files and backups on the external.

$4000.00?? Do you want to adopt a friendly old uncle ?
Nice computer, by the way
Mark

I can't really tell you how much storage you'll need, but I don't think its really necessary to have more then two hard drives, and if you aren't planning on backing up your files or doing RAID, it might be better to just get one big hard drive.

Also, if you want 4gb's of ram, you'll need a 64-bit OS. 32 bit will only detect about 3.25gb max.

Ya and with the liquid cooling again, I've heard stories of them breaking down and of course water on running electronic parts isn't a good combo.