I'm buying a computer, need advice!

[Phoenix Dark]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4016612&Sku=P450-9110%20A

Does barebone kit=something I'll have to put together? Also what do you guys think about that computer? I'm on a $400 or so budget. Basically I just need something for school work, internet/porn, and casual gaming (WoW, etc). That computer comes with a GeForce 8600 which seems pretty good to me

[Phoenix Dark]

bump

[TVC15]

On a cursory glance, it looks good for its price.  No idea what barebones kit means.  Do you have somebody that can assemble it if there's need?  Also, it doesn't come with an OS, but we could help you with that.

[laesperanzapaz]

Also, it doesn't come with an OS, but we could help you with that.

certianly...

[Phoenix Dark]

On a cursory glance, it looks good for its price.  No idea what barebones kit means.  Do you have somebody that can assemble it if there's need?  Also, it doesn't come with an OS, but we could help you with that.

I'm pretty sure I can assemble it, and if I have problems I'll get a friend or tech to do it.

It doesn't come with an OS? wtf it's not listed but I kinda assumed it would come with one.

[MyNameIsMethodis]

Get one with a fingerprint scanner so that no one can get into your pc but you

[TVC15]

On a cursory glance, it looks good for its price.  No idea what barebones kit means.  Do you have somebody that can assemble it if there's need?  Also, it doesn't come with an OS, but we could help you with that.

I'm pretty sure I can assemble it, and if I have problems I'll get a friend or tech to do it.

It doesn't come with an OS? wtf it's not listed but I kinda assumed it would come with one.

The customer review says it doesn't come with an OS.  I dunno, I don't see one mentioned on the page anywhere.

[Phoenix Dark]

Ah I see. So I'd have to buy XP or something and install it?

[Flannel Boy]

The CPU and graphics card are weak.

And who thought that barebones systems came with operating systems?

[TVC15]

The CPU and graphics card are weak.

And who thought that barebones systems came with operating systems?

The CPU is a 2.2Ghz Core processor.  It's fine.  It's not like he'll be playing Crysis.  And an 8600 is fine for WoW.  He'll max WoW out, actually.

[Phoenix Dark]

Yea I won't be playing heavy games, just mainly WoW. I'm gonna get the Orange Box this year. Maybe Gears of War if it works

[TVC15]

You could probably max most of Orange Box (or come close to it).  Gears will run (probably well, as it is really scalable), but I can't say exactly what perf will be like.  It might run great, it might run good, it might run kinda good.  It would definitely be very playable.

Looks like people are playing it on 8600 GTs with the graphics on high, so I'd say you're good.

[Phoenix Dark]

Another quick question: looks like this does not include a sound card or a network card from what I see. I have sound and network cards available from my old computer, which I took apart. Are sound cards and network cards fairly interchangeable between computers or would I have to buy specific ones?

my old computer
http://www.emachines.com/products/products.html?prod=T6534

[max_cool]

Barebones usually means it's in some way lacking parts that would come with, say, a Dell. In this case there does not appear to be any DVD/floppy drives and as TVC pointed out, no OS.

As for networking and sound, the LAN and soundcard are built into the motherboard, you won't need those from your old computer

[Rman]

Ah I see. So I'd have to buy XP or something and install it?

You can pick up an OEM copy at NewEgg, which is much cheaper than a retail full version.

[TVC15]

Another quick question: looks like this does not include a sound card or a network card from what I see. I have sound and network cards available from my old computer, which I took apart. Are sound cards and network cards fairly interchangeable between computers or would I have to buy specific ones?

my old computer
http://www.emachines.com/products/products.html?prod=T6534

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=3517183&sku=P450-9110&srkey=P450-9110

The mobo has sound and a LAN adapter built in.  If there's an issue, yes, network cards are typically very interchangeable.

[Phoenix Dark]

No DVD drive wtf? If that's the case, would I be able to just take the DVD drive out of my old computer and put it onto this one?

looks like I'll have a tech build it for me now lol

[laesperanzapaz]

c'mon learn to build yerself

use YOUTUBE.

also forums @ bunch of great popular tech sites