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hey guy rate this system - 3/10/2010 7:09:14 PM

bean5671

Posts: 90
Joined: 5/12/2009
Status: offline

i just bought a new system
HP Pavilion Elite HPE-180t PC
� Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
� Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-950 quad-core processor [3.00GHz, 1MB L2 + 8MB shared L3 cache]
� 12GB DDR3-1066MHz SDRAM [6 DIMMs]
� 1.5TB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive
� 1GB ATI Radeon HD 4850 [2 DVI, HDMI and VGA adapters]
� LightScribe 16X max. DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive
� Integrated 10/100/1000 (Gigabit) Ethernet, No wireless LAN
� 15-in-1 memory card reader, 1 USB, 1394, audio
� No TV Tuner
� Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio
� No speakers
� HP multimedia keyboard and HP optical mouse
� Microsoft(R) Works 9.0
� Norton Internet Security(TM) 2010 - 15 month
� HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope
it was $1800
I had quotes from a few custom builders (digitalstrom Falconnorthwest ibuypower cyberpower avadirect) for the same type of system all came in over $2200. i have trust issues with all the online retailers. A few have many BBB complaints , ibuypower,cyberpower and Velocitymirco, of the ones I choose to contact only two answered the phone on my first call Falcon and AVA they both where priced over $3000 of the ones I left a messages for only one called me back after 3 days Ballisticgaming. Ballistics quote was only $2200 but the guy sounded rushed and young and he did not know anymore about the hardware then I did.

I went with HP even though the system is not as configurable and I know i will have to replace the PSU asap(hp only ships 450W I think i will need at least 700W) and because I trust that the system will work upon reciept

did I make a mistake

Post #: 1

RE: hey guy rate this system - 3/10/2010 7:50:57 PM

GoodGuy

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From: Cologne, Germany
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quote:

ORIGINAL: bean5671

did I make a mistake

Yes, you pasted the info here.

JUST KIDDING !!!!

quote:

ORIGINAL: bean5671

i have trust issues with all the online retailers. A few have many BBB complaints , ibuypower,cyberpower and Velocitymirco, of the ones I choose to contact only two answered the phone on my first call Falcon and AVA they both where priced over $3000 of the ones I left a messages for only one called me back after 3 days....

Seriously now, some of the online retailers that are working with Amazon, for example, are quite reliable and trustworthy. It also helps to check the customer feedback on their Amazon pages. Amazon employs some system that tracks complaints, and I think they kick retailers with a certain amount of complaints.

In general, you win if you choose to get a custom PC. You save money (not necessarily hassle :P), and you can avoid that weak/cheap parts (say a rather bad mainboard) makes it into your PC build. On the other hand, if you pick a retail brand PC, you get some advantages, like 48 hrs replacement support, etc. I, for one, never bought a brand PC and never will.

Regarding the price for your set, you can google the individual components, or the HP model to get an idea whether you got a good price or not.

< Message edited by GoodGuy -- 3/10/2010 8:01:16 PM >

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Post #: 2

RE: hey guy rate this system - 3/10/2010 8:00:20 PM

Prince of Eckm�hl

Posts: 2459
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From: Texas
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quote:

ORIGINAL: bean5671

� Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio

I'd have passed on that item. It's not a controller-based solution, and really isn't any better than the "integrated audio" that folks are always bad-mouthing. In fact, it may not even be an add-in card, which is to say that the CODEC is welded onto the motherboard. In that kind of setup, your CPU is doing the audio-processing.

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Post #: 3

RE: hey guy rate this system - 3/10/2010 8:13:07 PM

GoodGuy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Prince of Eckm�hl

I'd have passed on that item. It's not a controller-based solution,

Hi POE

What do you mean by saying controller-based solution????
Whuzzat?

quote:

In fact, it may not even be an add-in card, which is to say that the CODEC is welded onto the motherboard. In that kind of setup, your CPU is doing the audio-processing.

I just checked HP's site, you can pick the integrated 7.1 (onboard) solution or choose between 2 types of Soundblaster cards. I wouldn't be surprised if they'd just add the soundblasters, so that you get in fact 2 sound solutions (I doubt they provide different mainboards for the HPE-180t series).

If so, this may be even a good thing, as some mobos are equipped with excellent (!) Realtek High Definition audio chips these days, which are even sufficient to run audio software (like Ableton Live or Steinberg's Cubase) nowadays. You never know with what Realtek chip you end up with, but quite some of them beat the Soundblaster chips regarding quality and processing speed. Onboard sound is the most underrated device these days.

I dumped my old soundcard and use the integrated Realtek HD now.

< Message edited by GoodGuy -- 3/10/2010 8:14:39 PM >

_____________________________

"Aw Nuts"
General Anthony McAuliffe
December 22nd, 1944
Bastogne
---
"I've always felt that the AA (Alied Assault engine) had the potential to be [....] big."
Tim Stone
8th of August, 2006

(in reply to Prince of Eckm�hl)

Post #: 4

RE: hey guy rate this system - 3/10/2010 9:18:54 PM

Prince of Eckm�hl

Posts: 2459
Joined: 6/25/2006
From: Texas
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quote:

ORIGINAL: GoodGuy

What do you mean by saying controller-based solution????
Whuzzat?

Hi GG,

It means that the X-Fi chip (the controller) isn't part of the solution. The CPU does the work instead. This can be problematic in that CPU-cycles that could be devoted to some other application are eaten up outputting sound. You can read customer reviews of the part here:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16829102007

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Post #: 5

RE: hey guy rate this system - 3/10/2010 10:34:32 PM

freeboy

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From: Colorado
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please tell me it was not $1800?

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Post #: 6

RE: hey guy rate this system - 3/10/2010 11:29:15 PM

Phatguy

Posts: 1348
Joined: 3/1/2006
From: Buffalo,ny
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I paid 540 for my craptastic cyberpower system....plus 35 bucks for them to ups it....

intel e8400 3.00ghz
3.25 ram
32 bit vista
ATI radeon hd3870

nearly two years old now.......

(in reply to freeboy)

Post #: 7

RE: hey guy rate this system - 3/10/2010 11:49:33 PM

bean5671

Posts: 90
Joined: 5/12/2009
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thank you guys
so the sound card was a waste
i would have bought from maingear or digitalstorm if they would have called me back i just can not spend over 2000 dollars with out talking to someone from the company

most of the games i play are matrix paradox hps and the like i am going to try lotro on the new system maybe startrek online as well
I wonder if steel panthers enh will work in win 7 hahah

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Post #: 8

RE: hey guy rate this system - 3/10/2010 11:56:12 PM

Gem35

Posts: 3420
Joined: 9/12/2004
From: Dallas, Texas
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I wouldn't buy any HP PC, their products are very poor.

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Post #: 9

RE: hey guy rate this system - 3/11/2010 12:02:58 AM

GoodGuy

Posts: 1506
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From: Cologne, Germany
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Prince of Eckm�hl

It means that the X-Fi chip (the controller) isn't part of the solution. The CPU does the work instead. This can be problematic in that CPU-cycles that could be devoted to some other application are eaten up outputting sound. You can read customer reviews of the part here:

Is that what "interface soundcard" means? If so, I'm kinda shocked, that's like ripping off customers. If I'd just want to buy a card with slots (and not the audio chip on it) in a store I'd say so, but it's like the vast majority of cards on neweeg are just "interface cards".... what the heck?

The card on the pic - on the particular page you linked - seems to have a sound processor though, the size matches the EMU chips that used to be on soundblaster Live cards. Hmm..

_____________________________

"Aw Nuts"
General Anthony McAuliffe
December 22nd, 1944
Bastogne
---
"I've always felt that the AA (Alied Assault engine) had the potential to be [....] big."
Tim Stone
8th of August, 2006

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Post #: 10

RE: hey guy rate this system - 3/11/2010 12:27:31 AM

bartholimew

Posts: 86
Joined: 2/23/2004
From: Swastika Ontario Seriously I am
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The i7 950 is commercially a new CPU and only just now becoming available in retail box store systems in large quantities. So ofcourse its going to cost more in terms of bang for the buck. But its an absolutely fantastic CPU. So you did good there. lots of processing power for time to come.

12 GB ddr 1066 is lots, that type is not medicore, not the fastest but splitting hairs with ram anyways. HP uses Kingston ram so name brand.
1.5TB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive, again there are better cached drives but hey at 1.5TB you got the biggest on the block.

Only thing with that system its only a 1 gb graphic card, and I think in a system sporting an i7 950 it should be 2gb ATI 5870 or something like that. But i know these HP systems, they use the same foot print. You can always add a new graphic card in a couple years. And there is room for a double wide card with a cooling fan. HP systems are better now than a few years ago. And if you have to reinstall or recover your C drive its really easy from that little HP partition.

You did OK

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Post #: 11

RE: hey guy rate this system - 3/11/2010 12:28:40 AM

Gem35

Posts: 3420
Joined: 9/12/2004
From: Dallas, Texas
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Any sound card you have installed will have a processor on it that handles the sound instead of your CPU processing the sound, not sure what Mr Prince is referring to.

As far as customer reviews from newegg, you need to take them with a grain of salt(meaning they are unreliable to say the least)

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Post #: 12

RE: hey guy rate this system - 3/11/2010 12:45:55 AM

wodin

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From: England
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I'd go for an ATI 5 series card as its direct x 11 ready...though if you cant afford it get a 4870 1 gig not much more and a fair bit faster..its what I have...I had a 4850 in one machine and I notice a big difference between that and the 4870

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Post #: 13

RE: hey guy rate this system - 3/11/2010 1:11:21 AM

Prince of Eckm�hl

Posts: 2459
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From: Texas
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Gem35

Any sound card you have installed will have a processor on it that handles the sound instead of your CPU processing the sound, not sure what Mr Prince is referring to.

The audio card that I linked our readers to has no hardware acceleration capability (as do the real Audigy or X-Fi APU):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_Blaster_X-Fi

All that the "X-Fi Audio" part does is convert a digital signal for play over analog speakers, which is the exact same thing that a Realtek part welded onto a motherboard does. Because of that, the system processor has to do the work and hardware-accelerated apps take a hit. Everything else associated with sound output, the DX DirectSound API, for instance, is done in software.

No doubt, that's why it's priced under $30.

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Post #: 14

RE: hey guy rate this system - 3/11/2010 1:11:31 AM

GoodGuy

Posts: 1506
Joined: 5/17/2006
From: Cologne, Germany
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Gem35

Any sound card you have installed will have a processor on it that handles the sound instead of your CPU processing the sound, not sure what Mr Prince is referring to.

Check the pictures, some just seem to have a controller/handler chip and not a sound processor chip. There are some cards that look like they'd just have capacitors and slots. Check it out.

quote:

All that the "X-Fi Audio" part does is convert a digital signal for play over analog speakers, which is the exact same thing that a Realtek part welded onto a motherboard does.

That's what I understood when I read your preceding post.
But, a Realtek is not necessarily an interface card. My realtek "card" has a "full size" HD Audio chip. I wouldn't be able to run Audio software with the stripped version. There are different versions. Retail PC manufacturers usually obtain boards with the realtek budget version.

< Message edited by GoodGuy -- 3/11/2010 1:16:45 AM >

_____________________________

"Aw Nuts"
General Anthony McAuliffe
December 22nd, 1944
Bastogne
---
"I've always felt that the AA (Alied Assault engine) had the potential to be [....] big."
Tim Stone
8th of August, 2006

(in reply to Gem35)

Post #: 15

RE: hey guy rate this system - 3/11/2010 1:50:12 AM

bean5671

Posts: 90
Joined: 5/12/2009
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: bartholimew

The i7 950 is commercially a new CPU and only just now becoming available in retail box store systems in large quantities. So ofcourse its going to cost more in terms of bang for the buck. But its an absolutely fantastic CPU. So you did good there. lots of processing power for time to come.

12 GB ddr 1066 is lots, that type is not medicore, not the fastest but splitting hairs with ram anyways. HP uses Kingston ram so name brand.
1.5TB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive, again there are better cached drives but hey at 1.5TB you got the biggest on the block.

Only thing with that system its only a 1 gb graphic card, and I think in a system sporting an i7 950 it should be 2gb ATI 5870 or something like that. But i know these HP systems, they use the same foot print. You can always add a new graphic card in a couple years. And there is room for a double wide card with a cooling fan. HP systems are better now than a few years ago. And if you have to reinstall or recover your C drive its really easy from that little HP partition.

You did OK

thanks i wanted to get 12 gigs ddr3 1600 or 1333 but HP does not offer it as for the card that is the best hp offered on this system other than a 1.8 gb geforce and I am an ATI guy
the other issue with the bigger better card and this system say the 5770 is the PSU on this is only 450 w
i know i will have to add a bigger psu soon but i got this to replace my last pc which i had for wait for it .... 11 years
it was a
p 3 933 overclocked to 1.6
started with 256 reflash the bios so i could add another 512 to that, added a couple video cards and 3 hds it lasted a long time never had a hd crash or virus intil last friday

so i bought this one to last about the same amount of time has enough space to add a raid 1 later but i will have to swap cards no room for crossfire in this box

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Post #: 16

RE: hey guy rate this system - 3/11/2010 10:29:41 AM

wodin

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From: England
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bean5671...take some advice dont get a new PC with a PSU of only 450...the main thing to upgrade on a PC is the graphics card...getting a 450 watt PSU is limiting the upgrade potential and prob knocking of two or more years upgrade potential so in effect your losing two years of the life of your new PC. Get one with at least 700 or 750 watts...then next year or the year after you just need a new gra[phics card and you have a great system again....otherwise you will end up having to buy a new PSU or a new PC.

I seriously wouldnt buy this system with only a 450watt PSU...Ive had to upgrade twice now because of a lack of fore thought and getting a low powered PSU. I wouldnt do that again.

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Post #: 17

RE: hey guy rate this system - 3/11/2010 3:45:33 PM

Phatguy

Posts: 1348
Joined: 3/1/2006
From: Buffalo,ny
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quote:

ORIGINAL: bean5671

thank you guys
so the sound card was a waste
i would have bought from maingear or digitalstorm if they would have called me back i just can not spend over 2000 dollars with out talking to someone from the company

most of the games i play are matrix paradox hps and the like i am going to try lotro on the new system maybe startrek online as well
I wonder if steel panthers enh will work in win 7 hahah

ummm..you really do not need such a system for matrix,hps and paradox games....my craptastic system plays LOTRO on nearly full setting in DX10 without any hiccups.......

you might have been better off researching a bit and buying a older model,buying some better individual things and either installing yourself or having someone do it for you..then spending the leftover cash on games .......

< Message edited by apathetic lurker -- 3/11/2010 3:51:08 PM >

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Post #: 18