Buying A New Computer

[DaveP]

Are these any good(from that earlier overclockers link)



Viewsonic VX912 19" LCD Monitor - Black/Silver (MO-014-VS) [size=-1]
This large format LCD monitor is for all those who enjoy a clear aesthetic design. But it doesn’t only impress with its CLASSIC, TIMELESS STYLING and ELEGANT SIMPLICITY. Its inner values are every bit as attractive, with HIGH BRIGHTNESS AND CONTRAST providing EXCELLENT IMAGE QUALITY. Thanks to the VERY FAST RESPONSE TIME of 8 MILLISECONDS, the VX912 ensures even films, games or DVDs are shown fluidly. This model is additionally equipped with both an analogue and digital input.

- 1280x1024 Optimum Resolution
- 550:1 Contrast Ratio
- Viewing Angle 160° horizontal, 160° vertical
- 8ms Response Time
- 270 cd/m2 Brightness
- One Analog Inputs
- One DVI-D Input
- DVI Cable Included
- 3 Years Manufacturer On-Site Warranty -[/size]
Price: £214.95 [size=-2] (£252.57 Including VAT at 17.5%)[/size]

Not sure if Widescreen would be any good or not but

Viewsonic VA1912W 19" Widescreen LCD Monitor - Black/Silver (MO-047-VS) [size=-1]
The ViewSonic® VA1912w 19" LCD will impress you with its generous feature set and its budget-friendly price. The 16:10 WIDE-SCREEN ASPECT RATIO PROVIDES MORE PRODUCTIVE SPACE for multiple windows, HD-format video and immersive gaming action. ViewSonic’s innovative Dynamic Structure™ technology ACCELERATES VIDEO RESPONSE FOR BROADCAST-QUALITY, seamless video. The ClearMotiv™ fast 8ms video response, 300 cd/m2 of brightness (typ.), 500:1 contrast ratio (typ.), and 1440 x 900 optimum resolution deliver crystal-clear images, crisp text and intense graphics. OSD lock and AutoTune® functions ensure your view is always optimal. Furnish your workplace in style with the feature-rich, wall-mountable, value-priced VA1912w.

- 1440 x 900 (WXGA) Optimum Resolution
- 16.2 Million Colours
- 500:1 Contrast Ratio
- 8ms Response Time
- 300 cd/m2 Brightness
- One DVI-D Input
- One Analogue Input
- 3 Years Manufacturer On-Site Warranty [/size]


<STRONG><FONT face=Arial>Price: £189.95 [size=-2] (£223.19 Including VAT at 17.5%)[/size]

 

[DaveP]

The other one is



Viewsonic VX924 19" LCD Monitor (MO-040-VS) [size=-1]
ViewSonic's 19" VX924 LCD delivers XTREME PERFORMANCE WITH AN INDUSTRY-LEADING 4MS LIQUID CRYSTAL RESPONSE TIME, ensuring the smoothest , most fluid motion around. Coupled with high brightness, an excellent contrast ratio, wide viewing angles and classic styling, this LIGHTNING FAST monitor, will get the heartbeat of every gamer and action movie fan racing. OptiSync® technology further enhances this display's appeal by enabling connections to digital and analogue video sources.

- 1280x1024 Optimum Resolution
- 550:1 Contrast Ratio
- Viewing Angle 160° horizontal, 160° vertical
- 3ms G2G Response Time
- 270 cd/m2 Brightness
- One Analog Input
- One DVI-D Input
- DVI Cable Included
- 3 Years Manufacturer On-Site Warranty[/size]
Price: £239.95 [size=-2] (£281.94 Including VAT at 17.5%)[/size]

 

[Anon_F]

I bought from Mesh Computers and have regretted it from day 1

Plenty to look at, see what people suggest on this forum & buy some pc mag’s to look at specs etc. Online companies: Dell & Acer ok, but Dell sometimes seems to be under spec for price.

Could try www.novatech.co.uk who seem to offer good value for money. Hope this and other views help.

 

[Anon_F]

ViewSonic VX910

I use a ViewSonic 19" TFT VX910 and have it on for 12+ hours a day.
Works well and fine for games, but i'm not a great gamer though.

 

[V_R]

Are these any good(from that earlier overclockers link)

The first one on post 21 looks good. (VX912)

If you wanted the widescreen one then its a bit cheaper.....

I'd have the VX912.

 

[DaveP]

When using the internet what would be the practical difference between widescreen monitor and the normal monitor be?

 

[PotGuy]

its wider

fit more on the screen

 

[DaveP]

Ok,is this any good.From Novatech website.
Matrix Pro 64 3200


Processor
AMD Athlon 64 3200

Memory
512MB PC3200 400Mhz DDR Ram

Hard Drive
250GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive

Graphics
128MB nVidia 6100 Integrated Graphics

Sound
Integrated, 5.1 channel AC97 (Realtek)

Optical Drive
16x Dual Format +/- DVD burner

LAN
1 x RJ45 Network Port (10/100)

Features

<LI>ATX Midi Tower Case

<LI>3 x 5.25" Drive Bays

<LI>4 x 3.5" (2xInt, 2xExt) Bays

<LI>2 x 184-pin DIMM sockets slots (2GB max)

<LI>1 x Parallel Port, 1 x Serial Port

<LI>6 x USB2 Ports (2 Front, 4 Back)

1 x RJ45 Network Port (10/100)

Integrated, 5.1 channel AC97 (Realtek) Sound

1.44MB Floppy Drive

Dimensions (mm)-
192 (W) x 432 (H) x 445 (D) Microsoft xp home preinstalled
NTECH MINI 2.1 Speaker System In Black 16W RMS Output £10
Delivery about £9
<LI>Total cost with vat included £489.26

 

[V_R]

Ok,is this any good.From Novatech website.

That all depends on the motherboard. They dont mention it at all.

Link to Matrix Pro 64 3200

Wait and see what mucks says...

But for what you say you need it to do, it aint that bad i guess.

 

[TriplexDread]

That actually dont look too bad for the money. I'd still rather build my own though!

 

[muckshifter]

That all depends on the motherboard. They dont mention it at all.

Link to Matrix Pro 64 3200

Wait and see what mucks says...

But for what you say you need it to do, it aint that bad i guess.

haha ... someone is paying attention.

They never tell you what the MB is ... and "128MB nVidia 6100 Integrated Graphics" caught my eye straight away although it also has a PCI-Ex slot ... I would phone them and ask what is the motherboard are they using.

Insist on 1Gb RAM min and also ask how much extra for a PCI-Ex 6600 graphics card would be to the price.

Overall the PC is a good "entry level" system, and for your needs, is be more than adequate.

 

[DaveP]

The Matrix Elite 3200

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/pcrange.html?MTE
is pretty much the same as the other machine but has

Graphics
GeForce 6600 256Mb PCI Express

Sound
7.1 8-Channel Capable Sound

Optical Drive
16x Dual Layer +/- DVD Burner

LAN
1 x RJ45 Network Port (10/100/1000)

Features

<LI>ATX Midi Tower Case

<LI>3 x 5.25" Drive Bays

<LI>4 x 3.5" (2xInt, 2xExt) Bays

<LI>4 x DDR slots (4GB max)

<LI>1 x Parallel Port, 1 x Serial Port

<LI>6 x USB2 (2 Front, 4 Back)

<LI>1 x RJ45 Network Port (10/100/1000)

<LI>7.1 8-Channel Capable Sound

<LI>1.44MB Floppy Drive

<LI>Front Mounted Audio

<LI>Dimensions (mm)-
192 (W) x 432 (H) x 445 (D) With Windows home xp preinstalled and those cheap speakers and delivery it comes to £583.26 after vat paid.


I've sent them an email with those questions,not sure about giving them a phone call as i'm clueless with computers and when i ask them the questions if they come back to me with anything even slightly technical i won't have a clue what they/i'm talking about,although thanks to you guys i know alot more about this than i did a couple of days ago when i first came to this messageboard.

 

[V_R]

Just ask then what motherboard they use in the systems. Make and model.

If they dont tell you dont buy it.

But on the flip side the spec aint too shabby.....

 

[DaveP]

I sent them an email yesterday,here are the questions and answers.



1, There is no mention of the motherboard you are using,can you tell me
please.
ANSWER : The motherboards we are using are currently Foxconn.

2,I would insist on 1Gb Ram min.
ANSWER : if you wanted extra ram just purchase this on top and fit yourself.

3,How much extra to have the PCI-Ex 6600 graphics card would be to the price
instead of 128MB nVidia 6100 Integrated Graphics.
ANSWER : With the graphics card we do not change the products.


As posted earlier the The Matrix Elite 3200 does have GeForce 6600 256Mb PCI Express but is obviously more expensive than the Matrix Pro 64 3200 ,i'm not sure if the difference in prices between the 2 packages is the right price gap for the cost of the better graphics card or not.

 

[muckshifter]

I sent them an email yesterday,here are the questions and answers.
1, There is no mention of the motherboard you are using,can you tell me
please.
ANSWER : The motherboards we are using are currently Foxconn.

Hmmm, no thanks you keep ... looks like it's the 6100K8MA-RS motherboard. Pass.

2,I would insist on 1Gb Ram min.
ANSWER : if you wanted extra ram just purchase this on top and fit yourself.

Silly answer, it would cost them nothing to "fit" an extra stick of ram for you and gain some Brownie points.

3,How much extra to have the PCI-Ex 6600 graphics card would be to the price
instead of 128MB nVidia 6100 Integrated Graphics.
ANSWER : With the graphics card we do not change the products.

No, you can't rip out the "Integrated" graphics ... but again, they could have offered to fit an aditional 6600 ... more points lost here.

As posted earlier the The Matrix Elite 3200 does have GeForce 6600 256Mb PCI Express but is obviously more expensive than the Matrix Pro 64 3200 ,i'm not sure if the difference in prices between the 2 packages is the right price gap for the cost of the better graphics card or not.

Sorry to say but I would look elsewhere ... but that is up to you ... for what you want to do the "pro" would do ... for the extra "longativity" (sic?) the Elite would be better. Price is a tad high, but then ain't they all.

Me, I would keep looking.

 

[DaveP]

It looks like i'm back to square 1,i pretty much know the monitor i'll get but after many hours searching i haven't found the right computer.
Any extra help in finding the right computer would be appreciated.

 

[V_R]

Just a thought i've had.

Have you looked at the Overclockers full systems? HERE

The Primo Plus Complete is ok for what you want... i think. But they still dont tell you what the MB is.

Worth a look.

 

[muckshifter]

Just a thought i've had.

Have you looked at the Overclockers full systems? HERE

The Primo Plus Complete is ok for what you want... i think. But they still dont tell you what the MB is.

Worth a look.

They do say what MB ... and it's Asus Vintage socket 754 ... and at those prices you can keep 'em.

What part of the country do you live Dave?

 

[V_R]

They do say what MB ... and it's Asus Vintage socket 754 ... and at those prices you can keep 'em.

What part of the country do you live Dave?

Ops....My bad, Sorry

I must

more carefully......

 

[DaveP]

They do say what MB ... and it's Asus Vintage socket 754 ... and at those prices you can keep 'em.

What part of the country do you live Dave?

Derby