EggXpert

I thought of a great idea for a sticky.

Why not have a thread that has recommended builds that we (eggxpert) believe is the best for your money ATM? We could update it every other month (or so).

I was thinking three different builds:

1. Unlimited - Unlimited amount of money available
   
2. 1k - 1,000$ is your max
   
3. Budget - Under 700$

 Rules:

1. Have to use Newegg
2. Have to have the following items:
1. Motherboard
2. Processor
3. Memory
4. Power Supply
5. Case
6. Videocard(s)
7. Hard drive(s) - RAID is OK.
   

After all the eggxperts have submitted their builds then we could have a vote for which one is best.

Any thoughts on this? I've seen a lot of people that have come in here and said "I have x amount of money, what's the best build for me?" and I'd think this would benefit a lot of people. Plus it'd be a fun competition.... possibly a "winner of blank build" badge for the month (or so) that you won the contest.

 

 

I like the idea. We should do a few further refinements to it. Break the builds into AMD and Intel and do a few more prices. $700, $1000, $1200, $1500, and then unlimited. We also should be given a leeway of 30$ over max.

I most assuredly agree that all the builds should be from newegg. That is what the purpose of the whole forum is to help folks decide what to get from the EGG.

Yeah, I was thinking about more budget ranges and the intel/amd (and even nvidia/ati) but that would be a lot of lists...

I figured keeping it simple was the best bet, but maybe you have a point.

I do like the 30$ leeway. And I'd say this number is before shipping (since shipping is different for everyone).

 

 

I like the idea, it would need to have some sort of moderator so that people are not just posting lots of builds... Techreport.com releases a system guide but does not update it that often... hardware doesn't change much but prices do. any way maybe coming up with some builds sending them to a panel (the new Ubers??) who can pick which builds to post. then eggxperts can vote on what build they like in each category.  then after a few weeks of voting we will have our eggxpertly built and approved systems.

At the beginning and end of the money categories, you should have the "Word Processor" and the "Supercomputer", which would be the cheapest and the most expensive computers. Unlike the other categories, the "Word Processor" shouldn't have both an Intel and AMD model, just the one that's the cheapest.

Supercomputer may be like $5000+, and I have a lil word processor cooked up right here for $337.91 : https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.asp?ID=4756685

It's $199.93 without keyboard, mouse, and speakers. This should run XP and MS office. (But nothing else, unless you have Sim Farm or Red Alert or something like that.)

There should be a sticky post at the top of this page with the grid of wish lists on it.

Also, I think there should be money categories above $1500, because I would definitely use this to get a computer, except my budget was $2500. I think you should have

| Comps | Word Processor | $500 | $700 | $1000 | $1200 | $1500 | $1700 | $2000 | $2200 | $2500 | Super Computer |
| AMD     |     
| Intel     |            The grid of wish lists goes in here, maybe as little "X"s or something that link to the shared list.

| Monitors | Economy pick | Mid-Range | High-End |
| LCD       |
| CRT       |

| Keybd/mouse | Economy pick | Mid-Range | High-End |
On this one, you could have the speaker/keybd./mouse pack under "economy", and individual gaming parts under "high end".

| Speakers | Economy pick | Mid-Range | High-End |

That makes a total of 21 computer wish lists, plus three monthly picks for monitors, input devices, and speakers. I hope that grid comes out OK. I should have used HTML...

Not trying to steal your thunder, but just throwing the idea out there...

-BlueFlame

mmm I don't think software should be included, especially word processing solutions. there are many options out there from free programs to discounted microsoft products. I can get the full version of office 2007 for $60 at school sorry newegg but you just cant compete with that. as far as naming the levels it could be a decent idea, but at the same time if we were to compile a guide there should be a page for every build describing what you should and should not expect from each build.

People don't read prepared advice that often. It would be handy if they did. Mostly they come here in a time of crisis and don't think their problem is common. So they start a new thread. I have only seen one forum that forced you to do a search before posting.

Blueflame that is getting way to involved. We need to keep it simple so that it can be moderated to keep things going smoothly.

freezy you do have a point in that people don't bother to look through posts they just start another thread. Searching does help. Though post hijacking can occur but then a mod should step in and split the post out. 

I know I kinda hijacked a post when I first got here working on some ones build but actually we just were batting things back and forth and I ended up buying very similar stuff. 

I do like the idea of pre made builds. I was actually talking with someone from the forum and we were going to do something similar on my personal site and use a blog to format it. Not sure if it would be cool to toss people that way or not. Though everythig would have been from the EGG. 

heh.. Wasper has been doing this for months if nobody has noticed.. Delivering custom builds right into their threads for people who ask for it.. He's really good at it, and probably the best at matching budgets to the penny with good quality parts..

Sidicas:

heh.. Wasper has been doing this for months if nobody has noticed.. Delivering custom builds right into their threads for people who ask for it.. He's really good at it, and probably the best at matching budgets to the penny with good quality parts..

That's actually who I got the idea from. I know one of the PC magazines that I use to read had an "Editor's pick" section.

I was going to ask Wasper for something similar but thought this would be more fun--a competition.

I like the panel of judges (Uber) idea.

 

Do we have to make a competition out of it? Can't we just do what we normally do is put something up and then refine it till its the best it can get in each price point.

This would take 2 threads a working thread and then the sticky with the finished build in each category.

I know waspers got this nailed down but maybe he could put some pointers up for us to help. If it was a competition he would win it out right IMO.

I also like the idea of a build of the month post where work on a build for a while and then post it for the next month. We can do one for Intel and one for AMD and put a few low price points like 1000 and 1200.

Maximum PC did a 500$ build in a recent issue and one of the writers literally used a box for a case to make the budget.
 

well sidicas is a moderator now... maybe he can do something about our idea...

I guess we don't have to make it a competition. I just thought it'd be fun. We don't have many contests on here, only trivia and scavenger hunt (unless I'm missing something).

Wasper probably would win most of the time, but who knows |o.O|

It would only add another thing to our community. Something else to peek the community's interest. Nothing beats a good bragging rights badge, IMO. Maybe have Wasper as the judge...?

 

sparker366:

Do we have to make a competition out of it? Can't we just do what we normally do is put something up and then refine it till its the best it can get in each price point.

This would take 2 threads a working thread and then the sticky with the finished build in each category.

I know waspers got this nailed down but maybe he could put some pointers up for us to help. If it was a competition he would win it out right IMO.

I also like the idea of a build of the month post where work on a build for a while and then post it for the next month. We can do one for Intel and one for AMD and put a few low price points like 1000 and 1200.

Maximum PC did a 500$ build in a recent issue and one of the writers literally used a box for a case to make the budget.
 

 

I didn't mean to make it into a competition. the idea was more to make an eggxpert approved build something we can all collectively support. anyone who is interested can check out techreport's July 2007 system guide

you, know with the help of newegg they might even offer a discount if people buy the whole build... enter the promo code eggxpert... free shipping on all parts.... maybe 10% off.... just an idea....

My only concern with this is that we'd need somebody to actually test the hardware and software combinations for compatibility.. right? I mean, you wouldn't want somebody to come here and lay down a couple grand on a build that perhaps doesn't work well in Vista because of a buggy driver or two..  It's kinda hard to do things like this without actually owning the hardware or at the very least be capable of doing solid tests with it..  That being said, should it be restricted to only recommending hardware that you own and have tested personally? If so, then wouldn't that be similar to the "What's in your rig?" thread? 

 

tesla120:

well sidicas is a moderator now... maybe he can do something about our idea...

Not officially.. Edit: I'm still an uber for at least a few more weeks. In other words, I don't yet have the godly powers of Moderator just yet.    But that doesn't mean we can't come up with some great ideas here..  I'm sure the admins will stop by and comment once we get the kinks and details straightened out for this idea..

 

Sidicas:

My only concern with this is that we'd need somebody to actually test the hardware and software combinations for compatibility.. right? I mean, you wouldn't want somebody to come here and lay down a couple grand on a build that perhaps doesn't work well in Vista because of a buggy driver or two..  It's kinda hard to do things like this without actually owning the hardware or at the very least be capable of doing solid tests with it..  That being said, should it be restricted to only recommending hardware that you own and have tested personally? If so, then wouldn't that be similar to the "What's in your rig?" thread? 

 

 

well if newegg sends me the stuff ill throw it together run some tests... and ill even send all the parts back cuz I'm sure they wouldn't let me keep them....

It would be great for a core group of people to collectively build systems and refine them till we get what we want.

I have the opinion that sometimes we spoon feed these people to much and like wasper he tells them why he's choosing the parts and educates them.

I got to where I am by asking tons of questions and reading tons of websites and mag articles. I started this in the days of Byte Magazine. So I have seen this industry evolve to where it is today. I am by no ways on the level of Root or Sidicus or Wasper or Lowboy but I learn from them each day and try to add what I learn to each post that I make.

sparker366:

It would be great for a core group of people to collectively build systems and refine them till we get what we want.

I have the opinion that sometimes we spoon feed these people to much and like wasper he tells them why he's choosing the parts and educates them.

I got to where I am by asking tons of questions and reading tons of websites and mag articles. I started this in the days of Byte Magazine. So I have seen this industry evolve to where it is today. I am by no ways on the level of Root or Sidicus or Wasper or Lowboy but I learn from them each day and try to add what I learn to each post that I make.

I agree but part of me would rather dispense free advice rather than let someone who isn't educated make a rather expensive mistake... I think that was the whole reason for the birth of eggxpert in the first place.

haha, that would be nice if you could.  Free computer parts.

What if you were to put it together and some people comb over the reviews and internet to find out how it all plays together and make something like a chart to show compatibility. 

|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                          XP   |  Vista U |  Vista Bus.|  Vista Home |  Vista Basic |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  Video |                32  |      32   |         64     |          32       |        32        |
|  RAM  |               nt    |     nt     |   
|  Mobo |
|  drives |
|  Sound |
|  PSU  |               64            64             64                 64            64
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 

Just something along those lines. 

Sidicas:

My only concern with this is that we'd need somebody to actually test the hardware and software combinations for compatibility.. right? I mean, you wouldn't want somebody to come here and lay down a couple grand on a build that perhaps doesn't work well in Vista because of a buggy driver or two..  It's kinda hard to do things like this without actually owning the hardware or at the very least be capable of doing solid tests with it..  That being said, should it be restricted to only recommending hardware that you own and have tested personally? If so, then wouldn't that be similar to the "What's in your rig?" thread?
 

Do we test things now. No but we do the recommendations based on what we instinctively know that is compatible. We can read tech reviews and see what they test the products with and then base our builds on similar things like that. I think we can do this but it will take a good bit of structure and guidelines to make it work right and not make it a mishmash of stuff. 

The biggest thing I see going to be a problem is the case. Those are really personal preference so more then likely we may have to offer multiple choices for that in each price point. 

Ha. I'm almost regretting this |o.O|

OS compatibility would be a big issue, especially with Vista (since most people here are gamers, Linux isn't in my mind when I think of these builds--except budget maybe).

My suggestion is that we build it for XP, which we pretty much know every good part is XP compliant, and only after do we look at it from a Vista standpoint and say "yes/no" on it, giving it a Vista Approved stamp. Or make a Vista Gaming machine it's own category.

I'd like to think that there are enough people in this community that could say from their own personal experiences which parts are good with Vista and which aren't.

Then again, I was only looking at this from a hardware standpoint, not from a software.

EDIT:

And I'd have to agree with Sparker on this one. Especially the case :-(

 

I do agree that we have to build for xp and then look at vista as a secondary approval stamp. 

We can use the reviews that people leave on the respective parts page as a guide to see if they had problems with vista or not. I don't hold alot of weight with those reviews but it could be a source of information.

Again we can search for reviews on the motherboards and make sure that they have used them with vista and see what they have to say. 

Drivers are the biggest issue right now with vista. I know my rig works just fine in vista as I dual boot xp 64bit and vista 64bit. The only thing I don't have yet is a 64 bit firewall for vista I do have one for XP 64bit but we are not concerned about the software compatibility as that is up to the buyer. 

 
EDIT:  I do have say we should try and concentrate on lower priced systems and try and eek out the performance. Those seem to be the most requested type of systems. 

Also I had another thought. We could just put together a list of parts that we feel are some of the better choices in each category and then we can let the people work from there and post there builds and then we can comment on them. This would be similar to building a full rig but it does put more of the decisions on the people looking to build.

There's an idea too (sparker's edit).

*Accepts 'gifts' from G.SKILL*

I definitely think we should push for G.SKILL memory

 

*grin* 

heh I think thats one of the reasons why we would be more apt to being honest... I don't pass out my address and I'm pretty sure newegg won't give it to them either...