21 replies to this topic

[Quikfix]

Hello again folks! I'm thinking about buying another computer with at least 16 GB RAM and at least an i7 processor. Any suggestions as to your favorite companies? Please consider reliablility (I want the product to last at least 2 years), quality, and a fairly appealing design (I don't really mind the appearance if the quality is fine). A very nice harddrive and Windows 7 Ultimate would be great as well. Personal experience is great too especially with Customer Support! Price is of no consequence so no need to limit your suggestions on that. All answers are welcome! Please post as freely and as much as you like! Thanks!

PS: I'm buying a laptop, so no desktop references please, thanks!!

[exile360]

I bought the laptop I'm using now from a company called Eurocom. They basically make laptops that are replacements for desktops.

I spent about $3000~$3500 total on this laptop (the Eurocom Racer) and it's the fastest computer I've ever laid my hands on. High-end GPU, i7 quad core CPU, 16GB of RAM, super fast OCZ SSD (though I bought the SSD on Newegg and installed it myself).

It's only 15.6" but sports a full 1920x1080 screen resolution (I wanted high-res but didn't want a huge 17" or larger laptop).

That company was recommended to me by one of our Research team members, Bruce Harrison (AKA Nosirrah).

[Quikfix]

Ahh, very nice. Thanks very much for the link, I'm certainly going to look into it. They sell 17"? I like big screens

[exile360]

Yep, they sell bigger laptops (17"+) too .

[Quikfix]

I was checking out their Neptune 2.0. That thing is a monster. Fully upgraded it coses $13,195. But I'm willing to pay that price, if the quality is as good. Which is better section for me to shop in, high performance or gaming? I'm an allrounder, I like gaming, research, and just generally a super fast comp. I want a computer that can do it all, no sweat.

[exile360]

I don't think you can go wrong either way really. It's all about the actual components and whether or not you do overclocking. If you overclock, you'll want a gaming rig, but if you get hardware that's powerful enough (like I did with mine), then no overclocking is necessary.

[Quikfix]

My personal favorite PC company is Sony. I love Sony and never had any issues with there PC's, in fact all the electronics in my house are all Sony.

I currently have two Sony Vaio Laptops in my house and one Sony Vaio desktop and never had any issues, All are running Windows 7 Ultimate x64.

The Sony Vaio's are very reliable and durable, the one Laptop was dropped once by accident from about 3 feet and not a scratch and it is still running great.

Sony has been my personal choice for PC's and electronics for about 5 years now and I absolutely love there products.

Here is a link to there online store if you are interested in checking them out.


http://store.sony.co...4c-0000720cb08c


I hope this helps.

Thanks Seagull, I've never used a SONY laptop before though I've heard they're very high-end. The only complaint I seem to be finding from multiple people on different websites is that their screen breaks/scratches too easily. Have you had any issues with that?

[Quikfix]

I don't think you can go wrong either way really. It's all about the actual components and whether or not you do overclocking. If you overclock, you'll want a gaming rig, but if you get hardware that's powerful enough (like I did with mine), then no overclocking is necessary.

So a Neptune 2.0 upgraded all the way (and I mean all the way) would need no overclocking? I've heard something about "shared memory" where the video adapter has no RAM so it steals from the "system memory". That's not present in the Neptune 2.0 right? Also, I want to avoid anything that is "shared" like above. Every component should have it's own RAM and space and should not disrupt or steal from another to function. I'm pretty sure that Neptune 2.0 is great and doesn't have that, but just need some clarification.

[David H. Lipman]

Sony should stick with Audio and Video equipment.

They don 't provide good support on computing platforms and their quality is sub-par.

[exile360]

So a Neptune 2.0 upgraded all the way (and I mean all the way) would need no overclocking? I've heard something about "shared memory" where the video adapter has no RAM so it steals from the "system memory". That's not present in the Neptune 2.0 right? Also, I want to avoid anything that is "shared" like above. Every component should have it's own RAM and space and should not disrupt or steal from another to function. I'm pretty sure that Neptune 2.0 is great and doesn't have that, but just need some clarification.

If you upgrade it all the way you should be fine. If you upgrade it, you'll have a discreet graphics card with its own memory, so no, losing memory to your GPU will not be an issue.

[Quikfix]

Great, thanks. And did you buy your laptop directly from their website? I'm not doubting you, but their website looks kind of "fishy". It is perfectly safe to buy from, right? I trust you which is why I am asking you for clarification. Thanks

[David H. Lipman]

@David H. Lipman, I disagree, the quality of the Sony PC's and electronics in this house are most definitely better then most, the keys feel solid, the mouse touch pads are nice and smooth on the Laptops, and all the other electronics in my house are solid and reliable, and the two big screen Sony LCD LED TV's I own the picture is crystal clear and beautiful.

Also, like I said, one Laptop was dropped about 3 feet and there was no damage and the computer is stilling running to date. I can't vouch for there support as I never needed to contact support.

You had one. I had to manage ~2 dozen varying models and they left a bad taste in my mouth (figuratively).

[craigb]

I recommend for you to check out the Asus gaming notebooks if your after a top system ( such as the G74Sx ) with excellent support, they can also be custom built to order and with a more reasonable price tag than what you mentioned earlyer

There are newer models now than the one i mentioned but when i bought this system 6 months ago but the testing at the time rated this version as the best gaming notebook in the world topping out the alienware MX17.

$3500 should get you in the area of 32Gb ram, the latest highend 3rd gen intel I7 factory overclocked to 4.5 Gz, dual 500Gb Seagate SSD's and the new Nvidia GTX 680m card on a 17 inch 1920x1080 screen

[Quikfix]

Thanks for the advice craighb. Can you order ASUS gaming notebooks directly from their website? I'd like not for websites to link to Best Buy or Buy.com, or Amazon, as I'd only like to order from the official website. Yes, 32GB RAM is essentially what I'm looking for. Thanks for commenting!

[exile360]

I'm not going to say that Sony PC's are bad, however I doubt you can get anything as high-end as you can from the more customizable options (like Eurocom as I suggested or Asus like craigb suggested).

Sony is considered a 'high-end' OEM, but they're still very much like HP, Acer and other OEM's who only provide limited options on the components/system configuration so if money is no object, I'd definitely go with one of the system builders that lets you really spec out the PC you want (like Alienware used to be, unfortunately now they're owned by Dell and don't offer what they used to).

[Quikfix]

I bought the laptop I'm using now from a company called Eurocom. They basically make laptops that are replacements for desktops.

I spent about $3000~$3500 total on this laptop (the Eurocom Racer) and it's the fastest computer I've ever laid my hands on. High-end GPU, i7 quad core CPU, 16GB of RAM, super fast OCZ SSD (though I bought the SSD on Newegg and installed it myself).

It's only 15.6" but sports a full 1920x1080 screen resolution (I wanted high-res but didn't want a huge 17" or larger laptop).

That company was recommended to me by one of our Research team members, Bruce Harrison (AKA Nosirrah).

So, Eurocom is a respectable company and it's safe to buy from them? It's just that I've never heard of them, so I'm kinda paranoid. Their website looks cool and the options they give to customize are amazing, I just need assurance that it is safe to give my personal credentials to them. Thanks!

[exile360]

Well, I bought from them and so did Bruce (he got his long before I got mine) and we've had no problems.

I did have to contact their support at one point due to what I thought was an overheating video card (turned out to simply need a BIOS upgrade which their support provided). Their support staff was very kind, responsive and helpful, as were their sales people who contacted me via email AND phone to verify my transaction (to make certain I was who I said I was and that I wasn't attempting fraud etc.). You don't see a lot of companies like that these days unfortunately, so yes, I highly recommend them and believe it is perfectly safe to purchase from them.

[David H. Lipman]

Quikfix, I would trust and give a high reliability factor to Samuel's advice.

For the type of market product you seek you will not find it in the normal retail market and thus the solution provider would not be a well known or household name. If you have the discretionary funds to spend on this above normal market type of product that Eurocom products fulfill, take Samuel's advice.