Need new PC recommendations under $1000

by tmursch

Posted: 14 years ago 10 replies

PRODUCT REVIEWS

I am in the market for a new desktop PC and I have a budget of $1000 or less.

I need to be able to run:

Dreamveaver CS4
Photoshop CS4
Flash CS4

I am currently monitoring Best Buy and Frys for deals, but haven't found anything too appealing yet. I am not interested in building my own and am good on laptops and Macs. I welcome all advice as I have not bought a new desktop PC in 6 years. Tell me about your awesome new computer and/or where to score the best deal.

Thanks in advance.

#recommendations

Anthony J Namata 14 years ago

Hi,

I once tried to Google "refurbished computers" and I was surprised at the great deals they had going. Well, if you're concerned about price, then there you may find yourself a bargain.

Anthony
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KenThompson 14 years ago

Here ya go... tons of selections. Have fun. (not an aff link)

Newegg.com - Desktop PCs, Desktop PC Computers, Cheap Desktop PCs, HP Desktop PC, Cheap Desktop Computer
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Tyler Jonsson 14 years ago

On the budget you're setting... Building your own truly is your best bet, but since you don't seem interested in that, Newegg is your friend.

Most pre-built computers will have flaws or a "bad egg" piece of hardware in there somewhere, which is why I would never recommend anyone to buy a Dell, Gateway, Compaq, etc... The specifications may LOOK impressive... But that is almost always because the actual quality of the parts is lacking. So the specs appear to be stellar, but you really get what you pay for (not much!)

Proprietary hardware = bad IMO... Being able to control which hardware is in your rig, from which manufacturer is CRUCIAL to having a lasting rig that runs well. You don't really get that option with pre-built computers unfortunately... Especially with a low budget. You instead get stuck with "dell brand" motherboards, memory, hard drives, etc... These are a pain in the rear to replace and almost never live up to the quality of brand name components.

I've been building my own rigs for years, and yes it is quite daunting at first. However, it is a skill that I would recommend heartily to anyone who relies on computing as a source of income.
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- NicholasX 14 years ago
  
  just take a look at www.cnet.com
  
  Thanks
  
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  pascal van baal 14 years ago
  
  Hi there,
  I have made a setup for you(at newegg.com) that i can recommend,it's a bit over your budget(now),but i would highly recommend to safe some more and buy this hardware because it's superfast and futureproof(it has a dx11 GPU).
  You want to use photoshop cs4 etc,this setup has a quadcore CPU,this is perfect for heavy apllication use and multitasking.
  photoshop also can use your GPU card to accelerate CS4 functions.(watch video here: YouTube - Learn Photoshop CS4 - Using OpenGL optimization ),the card i picked is very powerfull for today but also for tomorrow,DX11 acelerated aplication's are around the corner(gpgpu) and this card has 1GB of memory on a 256-bit memory bus allowing high bandwith.
  The motherbord also has USB 3.0 and 6gb sata so you can later upgrade to the fastest SSD disk's for insane transfer rate's!
  It also suports the upcoming six core CPU from AMD!!
  
  The PC:
  
  Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price select item 1 quantity of item 1
  
  Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail Item #: N82E16811129066Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy
  
  $69.99 select item 2 quantity of item 2
  
  ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 AM3 AMD 890GX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 AMD Motherboard - Retail Item #: N82E16813131631Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
  $149.99 select item 3 quantity of item 3
  
  POWERCOLOR PCS+ AX5830 1GBD5-PPDH Radeon HD 5830 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video ... - Retail Item #: N82E16814131344Return Policy: VGA Standard Return Policy
  Protect Your Investment (expand for options14-131-344|hide options14-131-344)
  
  Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info14-131-344.0.18)
  
  1 year: $25.99
  
  2 year: $42.99
  
  -$10.00 Instant
  $249.99$239.99 select item 4 quantity of item 4
  
  CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power ... - Retail Item #: N82E16817139006Return Policy: Standard Return Policy -$30.00 Instant
  $10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card17-139-006 $139.99$109.99 select item 5 quantity of item 5
  
  OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model OCZ3P1333LV4GK - Retail Item #: N82E16820227478Return Policy: Standard Return Policy -$5.00 Instant
  $20.00 Mail-in Rebate Card20-227-478 $115.99$110.99 select item 6 quantity of item 6
  
  AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HDZ965FBGMBOX - Retail Item #: N82E16819103727Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
  $184.99 select item 7 quantity of item 7
  
  Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM Item #: N82E16832116758Return Policy: Software Return Policy
  $139.99 select item 8 quantity of item 8
  
  COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-G1 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long ... - Retail Item #: N82E16835103065Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
  $34.99
  
  you still need a harddrive,i can recommend the samsung Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ($89.99),i have one myself and it's the fastest drive i ever owned!
  It's not in stock at the moment at newegg but give them a call.
  
  i think they can build this PC for you,i dont know(i live in the netherlands and dont buy from them)
  
  this system is over $1100 but it's insanly powerfull!!
  
  Hope this helps you!!
  
  ps ,sorry for my wrong spelling,i am Dutch..
  
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PowerWealth247 14 years ago

Both www.TigerDirect.com and www.Geeks.com have good prices and fast shipping. I've had nothing but great customer service from them both.
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- bgmacaw 14 years ago
  
  I also highly recommend TigerDirect. I've bought 3 PC's from them. All have been good except a Lenovo but Lenovo's tech support replaced the failed hard drive quickly. No problems with it since.
  
  For under $1000, assuming you don't need a monitor too, I'd go for an Intel based quad with 4+ GB RAM and 1TB of disk storage.
  
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digidoodles 14 years ago

Normally I am big on building my own computers.. but.. I was in a hurry last year and.. well, I bought one from Sam's club... HP with the following specs: (yes it had a monitor)

Intel® Core™2 Quad Processor Q8200
2.33GHz processor speed
4MB L2 Cache
1333MHz Front Side Bus
8GB PC2-6400 DDR2 SDRAM memory (4x2048MB for ultimate performance)
Intel® G33 Express Chipset Hard Drive and Multimedia Drives:
1 Terabyte GB Serial ATA hard drive
SuperMulti DVD Burner with LightScribe Technology
Write: 16x max DVD±R, 12x max DVD±R DL, 8x max DVD+RW, 6x max DVD-RW, 12x max DVD-RAM, 40x max CD-R, 32x max CD-RW
Read: 16x max DVD-ROM, 40x CD-ROM Audio, Video, and Graphics:
High Definition Audio, 8 speaker configurable
Intel® GMA 3100 integrated graphics with 128MB dedicated graphics memory and up to 287MB Total Available Graphics memory --the graphics features you crave are built right into the Intel chipset Ports/Slots:
Front panel 15-in-1 memory card reader: supports SmartMedia, xD, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital (SD), Mini Secure Digital, Compact Flash I, Compact Flash II, IBM Microdrive, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro Duo, RSMMC, MMC Mobile, MMC+
6 USB 2.0 port(s) (2 FRONT, 4 back)
Headphone; Microphone (Front)
2 PS/2; Digital Audio Out; LAN; Microphone/Line-in/Line-out; Rear speaker-out; Side speaker out; Center (subwoofer) (Back)
VGA-out (Back)
1 FireWire® (IEEE 1394) port (Back)
10/100/1000Base-T network interface
2 external 5.25" (one available)
1 external 3.5" (one available)
2 internal 3.5" (one available)
1 PCI (one available)
2 PCI Express x1 (one available)
1 PCI-Express slot x16 (available)
Keyboard, Mouse and Monitor:
HP USB keyboard and optical mouse
HP w2338h 23" diagonal Vivid Color 23-inch Full HD 1080p widescreen flat panel computer monitor with BrightView panel with adjustable tilt and integrated speakers

Price? $799

Best thing with sam's.. 90 days, no questions asked return policy on computers.

And, their extended warranty for $20 (I think that was the price) is a no-brainer for 2-3 years. Anything, including liquid damage, auto replacement.

Warmly,

Brandi
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- tmursch 14 years ago
  
  Thanks for the input. Handing out thanks to above posters now.
  
  Thanks
  
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luvtrees 14 years ago

For the past few years I have gotten my computers from the Dell Outlet. They have amazing prices on computers with really great specs. I bought a dent/scratch unit as well as multiple refurbished units, and never had any problems with them.
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