Given 1000 USD
By McCreeper
@McCreeper (777)
United States
June 26, 2012 12:01am CST
You are given 1000 USD ($1000) and you are told to purchase a computer. Would you purchase a high-end computer and try to use your computer as efficiently and cautiously as possible before your next computer, (or) purchase a medium-priced computer and upgrade its various components given time, (or) wait for another year for an even better piece of equipment?
Every year computer engineering companies seem to have more improvements to their electronics, and it gets to the point where I question whether to put my money in a jar and with for that rainy day, or to spend eagerly on a good high-end computer.
8 responses
@McCreeper (777)
• United States
26 Jun 12
A few years ago I got a custom computer that cost about $1000 in total, and it ran perfectly. I had Crysis at high settings and adjusted a few quality differences inside the game to make it more realistic; It's a great game, but when Battlefield 3 came out, I was a bit surprised that it had to be on Windows 7. (Not really worth pushing myself to update to a Vista, then to 7.)
@YinYang1st (55)
• San Leandro, California
27 Jun 12
With how much high-end gaming computers cost right now, I wouldn't be able to get much with just $1000, it's ridiculous really how much it costs. Having built my computer several years ago I still spent at least a couple hundred dollars more than 1000 and the computer could still use better parts. In truth, I would jsut buy parts for my current computer and even then that'd probably only get me like 2 or 3.
@McCreeper (777)
• United States
27 Jun 12
A few years ago, my brother got a pretty decent laptop that is meant for his education. He's using it efficiently, yet he says he could run most games on full graphics and have very high FPS. I was a little bit confused by why it only cost $500, because money at the time wasn't such a large problem to him.
It's been three years and after this year I'm nearing my Laptop. I'm not going to get one that's going to make me waste my time, but also not one that I can't work with efficiently.
Would you say the computer that you have currently is a super-computer? I'm just looking for a decent one from Samsung, but I'd like to hear your opinion. :D
@YinYang1st (55)
• San Leandro, California
27 Jun 12
When I built the computer it was supposed to be pretty close to a super-computer but there was some hardware compatibility issues that cause it some problems. It would be cheaper to build your computer but it is a bit of a hassle so if you buy a computer then it's just paying more money for the convenience of not having to build it.
@o0jopak0o (6394)
• Philippines
27 Jun 12
Depends on how badly you would need a new computer. Computers/gadgets are regularly update for every 3 months which means that the computer you have bought today will be fairly outdated after 3 months. What I suggest is to buy a high-end motherboard that has room for improvement(upgrading for video card, ram, processor/etc) than buy a medium spec computer today that has no room for upgrading. My suggestion would mean that you will be stuck with a computer that is a little bit underpowered but at least you can buy better video cards/rams at a cheap price.
@nadrolski (220)
• Philippines
27 Jun 12
if i were given one grand to purchase a computer, i would go and buy individual parts rather than buying a complete/bundled set. first of all, by doing so, i could freely choose the kind and brands of hardware i wanted to use. this means i am not completely limiting what i can use. secondly, assembling a desktop computer by myself could save me money, and that means: more money to buy extra peripherals!
i won't choose the high-end brands, nor the lower-end and cheaper ones, but rather the equivalent brands of the high-end but with affordable prices, like AMD for processors, etc.
actually, the strength and stamina of our desktops depend on how we use them.
@McCreeper (777)
• United States
27 Jun 12
I built my first custom desktop five years ago and it still runs well. I don't suppose most games require the desktop to be a Windows 7, but Battlefield 3 caught me. I'd love to try it, but updating seems such a hassle, especially since there are so many errors in Windows Vista.
Would you say it's worth the time + effort of purchasing the hardware separately then building it? I would say it's the money, but I don't think the time would be worth its while.
@McCreeper (777)
• United States
27 Jun 12
Was it because of faulty computer parts or a virus? I've been using a custom-built desktop for quite some time and it's been speeding fairly well for the past five years, but from previous experience, there are some brands that do have poor-quality equipment, one like Toshiba.
@doroffee (4222)
• Hungary
26 Jun 12
I'd purchase a good enough laptop/computer, but not the most high-tech one. I just don't need those. The most important thing is that it should be fast, should be compatible with the latest softwares/applications/installations of the most important programs, should have a large storage and should have a lous enough built-in speaker. Other than that, I'm not a big computer person, I don't need it for big things, either. I think I'd spend a part of the money on other things or put in in the bank lol :D.
@McCreeper (777)
• United States
27 Jun 12
The reality is however, most computers that are as cheap as $299 today reach the requirements; they are fast, it's compatible with the latest applications / software you could see, and (could) have an external hard drive with the extension of $79. (500GB) Built-in Speakers aren't exactly necessary, as there are $50 external speakers that are also high-quality.
I guess when you add all that up, it'd be about half the amount of the given amount, whereas a high-end computer would do that and remain to have the latest applications / software for quite some time, being that it is top-notch quality.
@Harold_ks (1673)
•
26 Jun 12
I will buy a decent laptop which able enough to make photo and video editing and some gaming at ease. I will not go for the latest coz it will surely price too expensive. I hope I can really find that someone who can give me that US$1000. 
@sleepincot (31)
• United States
26 Jun 12
I would use the money to purchase a cheap second hand last generation computer, and save the rest. Computer technology is changing so rapidly it is wise to only spend for what you need now, and save the rest to use a few years later for a better computer than now.
