Q9450 vs E8500

[Peppermint]

Well seeing as my original plan for a computer fell through (vr concepts down graded theirs), I've been looking around on trademe for parts, and have come to the conclusion it's cheaper to buy all the parts seperate and get it built or build it myself...don't know why I didn't listen to you guys before

Anyway...before I bite the bullet and go with a custom build, I still have my eye on 2 systems offered on another site. The only problem is, they both have Q9450 quad cores, opposed to the E8500 I was hoping to have in my next computer. I had a quick search on google, and it looks like the E8500 is better. But I want your opinions on it.

Are there any NZ computer sites that have a 'combo builder' type thing? Like you'll select what mobo you want, then it'll update with the graphics cards, ram etc that is compatible with it, and prices? http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/ has the sort of thing I'm talking about, but only for a mb ram and cpu upgrade.


Also, any ideas on what I should do with my current PC when I upgrade?(AMD 3800+ dual core 2ghz, 2gb ram, 7600gt 256mb vid card, 200gb hdd, 17in viewsonic lcd) I'm thinking of giving it to one of my brothers. I don't think it's worth that much anyway, at least not enough to go through the hassle of selling it...and I don't think it would sell with a broken cpu fan either that hasn't been working for over a year now..believe it or not I reckon my computer's been going faster with it not going anyway!!

Anyway, thanks for any help...just keeping my options open until I get the money I need for a new computer anyway.

[HardCorePawn]

ETC Computers have one... they might not necessarily be the cheapest tho...

I would recommend going to PriceSpy and getting your pricing there... but whether or not you can be bothered buying bits from different suppliers to get the cheapest price is up to you!

[Ian Warren]

Peppermint ... I use - http://www.dragonpc.co.nz/c.aspx - Christchurch based ... 3 shops , great backup service .. and cheapest in town ! ... SERIOUS!

[Peppermint]

Dragonpc...that's where I got my current pc. Don't think I would go back to them though, the hard drive died only 2 months after I had the computer, still under warrenty, but DragonPC was refusing to fix it for free, eventually got them to fix it, took 3 months to get a harddrive sent down from Auckland though, then it turned out to be the wrong one. We found out that dragonpc never tested all the hardware before handing the computer over, even though we payed for it to be overclocked and left running for a night.

[Anthony]

Couldn't you use the builder at Computer Lounge but only select RAM, motherboard and CPU?
As for retailers, Computer Lounge and Playtech have a good reputation.
So does Ascent but they can be slightly more expensive. Probably best to stay away from the cheapest of the cheap.

You could put your old computer on TradeMe, but as you said it might not be worth it. If your brother needs a computer then just give it to him, or maybe sell it to him for a reasonable amount like a couple of hundred or so.

[Yak52aholic]

You could always check out dell.com and their prices on gaming computers, although they make the computers as well.

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (Peppermint @ Aug 15 2008, 12:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Dragonpc...that's where I got my current pc. Don't think I would go back to them though, the hard drive died only 2 months after I had the computer, still under warrenty, but DragonPC was refusing to fix it for free, eventually got them to fix it, took 3 months to get a harddrive sent down from Auckland though, then it turned out to be the wrong one. We found out that dragonpc never tested all the hardware before handing the computer over, even though we payed for it to be overclocked and left running for a night.

Sure is hell better than brand named (dell , acer, hp , from the big stores) and companies like PCsolutions and PCunlimted ... as for never testing and broken parts crashing .... they phoned me with fix's and recommendations , hardware dying ... thats PCs in general ... overclocking .. well never do , like bying a car put it on jacks .. start it up and keep ya foot on the pedal till ya run outta gas .. fill it again and do it .. till pop ! ooooo bugger !