[alex]

Whilst I kind of agree with both Brucie and Insomnia on some points I'm still rather dubious about the whole unit to be frank, and the seller.

Taking the card as an example, the 8500GT.

This is a low-end gpu, because of that it can't hope to game above 1280x1024. As it can't hope to game above that resolution (and even then I'm being generous) it doesn't need any more than 256mb ram. 512mb of ram is only needed at 1680x1050 and higher, resolutions which this card can't hope to game at. So it's wasted ram that the buyer will be paying for that will never see use.

Granted the seller didn't make the card, but he did spec it. And there's 2 reasons why he spec'd it in the build:

1) He doesn't have a clue about graphics cards. Which ain't so good.

2) He does have a clue but is trying to blind a prospective buyer with the '512mb' as bigger numbers (hard drive, cpu etc) are usually better. And that ain't so good either.

[BrucieBonus]

2) He does have a clue but is trying to blind a prospective with the '512mb' as bigger numbers (hard drive, cpu etc) are usually better. And that ain't so good either.


I get the feeling this is what he is trying to do. While i feel hes finding the best specs for the lowest prices. I also think well he is for the most part accurately listing what hes selling and people have an option to look at the specs and decide if they want to buy it.

See the problem is like you said people (including buyers) see bigger numbers and think better pc. So you have to look at it from the sellers point of view.

if someone is advertising the exaxt same pc as his only they have a Inno3D 8600GT 256MB 128bit DDR3 card. Which is £22 more expensive. People who think bigger numbers mean better pcs are going to look at both pcs and say hey there the exact same only this one which is cheaper has a 512mb graphics card, whereas the other is £22 dearer and only as a 256mb graphics card.

So he has to take that into account!

[jameslee07]

I would build my own computer and prefer to (It's so easy know any idiot can do it) but the parts are too expensive unless someone can show me it is cheaper

[Insomnia]

Building a computer isn't that easy, at least I don't think so :P.

Brucie, point taken, I guess I didn't really take into thought the taxes/customs that are in place in Britain.

It's just that one single piece of shoddy (bad) equipment can ruin a whole computer. I'd rather pay more for good quality components then less for things that look flashy. Too many time have I heard of cases where peoples PSU's fried their mobo etc.

If you think you want to get it, then go with it. But if you take my advice don't. Save up for a while, do some hard research and get the facts, then build your own PC. Thats what I'd do.

[alex]

Originally Posted by BrucieBonus

See the problem is like you said people (including buyers) see bigger numbers and think better pc. So you have to look at it from the sellers point of view.

Bit why should a builder (and seller) of pc's not know what they're talking about? Or if they do, why should they, as your statement seems to say, try to con buyers?

If you quote a pc you're building as a 'gaming' pc then it should be able to game sufficiently well at, at least, the most common resolution of 1280x1024 (4:3) or 1440x900 (w/s).

If it can't perform at this resolution, adequately, across a large spectrum of games then the buyer has been mislead in my opinion.

But regardless of that, actively seeking to con buyers by quoting a 512mb card so they'll see the bigger number and assume it's better, means the builder/seller is not to be trusted.

But should they not know about cards (again using this purely as an example) would you really want to buy a 'gaming' pc from them anyway?

I do know about cards, it's my favourite pc subject, aside from psu's. I have nothing invested in this and I'm saying that that build spec is lousy for gaming at anything above 1024x768.

[alex]

Jameslee, whats your budget for a gaming pc?

Don't forget you'll need to add the cost of an o.s onto this as the builder of said pc didn't quote one included in the price.

Do you need screen/keyboard/speakers?

What games will you be playing?

I'll happily have a look, should you want to go the build route, for components that will give you a good, balanced gaming spec. Least this way you'll be able to spec the exact components that go into the build.

And you're right, taking the time and effort with a build can make it easy. You've just got to have a little patience. And when your first build is all said and done its a good feeling knowing you spec'd it, you built it and it does what you want.

[jameslee07]

Would anybody have any good places to build a computer like that/better for about the same price

[alex]

see my post above.

[BrucieBonus]

Alex i dont thing you understood my post. I never said it was ok to con people. I just dont see a major problem with what he is doing regarding his build.

Firstly, he clearly states the components.
He makes you aware of the price.

Now i dont know as much about pcs as you, but from a business perspective he is well within his rights.

Why should he be responsible for people who think the be all and end all of Graphics cards is how many MB it is? As a pc builder he has the rights to put any parts into a pc as long as its compatable and works.

I would take issue if he made promises about performance which the pc couldnt achieve. However as far as i can see he dosent do this. I recognise as a hardcore computer enthusiast that you might take issue with machices that dont operate as well as they could, because a substandard part was used, However you have to remember he isnt responsible for the knowledge of the people buying the pc and as long as he lists the parts used correctly and produces a working computer, then he is well within his rights.

Also there is a big market for people who see big numbers at a low price and get drawn in. Again its not his fault people are like this and its good business to capatilise on this market.

I dont want to defend him too much though, because in some parts of his business i think hes very suspect (clever wording to fool people into thinking Vista is installed, premium rate support number, sometimes lists cards falsely)

But i still feel its better value for money than you get in Pc world or currys etc.

[alex]

Nope, all fair points Bruce. But his business acumen leaves a lot to be desired. And hiding behind "its legal" doesn't make it morally correct.

And that's where my point lies.

I still believe he's actively trying to mislead people into thinking the p.c is capable of more, games wise, than it is.

And whether or not that's a correct assumption, it's still an assumption the seller has created through his ad.

Don't want to get into a tif over this, that is not my intention. I just think we're seeing this from different perspectives; you, the seller. Me, the buyer. And considering the initial post content from James I have to suggest the 'buyer' view is the one he should be looking at.