OK, the final decision comes to these two.

It's basically the same system (except for the GFX card) from two different manifacturers... so basically the question is: HP or Compaq?

Compaq Presario $670
http://hpshopping.speedera.net/www.shopping.hp.com/shopping/images/products/dc475a_400.jpg

Processor FREE UPGRADE from AMD Athlon(TM) XP 2400+ to 2600+ edit
Operating System Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Home Edition edit
Memory 512MB DDR / PC2100 (1 DIMM) edit
Hard Drive SAVE $40 80GB 7200 rpm Ultra DMA Hard Drive edit
Primary CD/DVD Drive 48x max hp CD-Writer Drive (48x24x48x) edit
Removable Storage 3.5 in. 1.44MB Floppy Drive edit
Graphics Card 128MB DDR ATI Radeon(R) 9200 with TV-out

HP Pavilion $675
http://hpshopping.speedera.net/www.shopping.hp.com/shopping/images/category/a350e_store_400.jpg
Processor AMD Athlon(TM) XP 2600+ operating at 2.08GHz edit
Operating System Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Home Edition edit
Memory 512 MB DDR / PC2700 (1 DIMM) edit
Hard Drive FREE rpm UPGRADE from 80GB 5400 to 80 GB 7200 ! edit
Primary CD/DVD Drive 48x max hp CD-Writer Drive (48x24x48x) edit
Front Productivity Ports 1 USB 2.0, 1 IEEE 1394, 7-in-1 reader, ArcSoft edit
Removable Storage 3.5 in. 1.44MB Floppy Drive edit
Graphics Card 128MB NVIDIA GeForce FX(TM) 5200 edit

=======

Is there anything significantly better about one over the other? Or does it pretty much not matter? What about in terms of motherboard and upgrading in the future?

If you need more info, you can find it here:
http://www.shopping.hp.com/cgi-bin/hpdirect/shopping/scripts/computer_store/computer_landing_view.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1154340 053.1071339063@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccedadckegedgjkcfngcfkmdflldfjk.0&landing=desktops

Thanks for any help.

I don't really see much difference between the two, although Compaq is now more of a budget brand. Also, its not really two different brands, because they are both owned by the same company. As for the prices, there really isn't much of a difference between the two, so I would go with the hp, unless the gfx card is inferior to what you have w/ the Compaq.

Hope this helps. :)

Thanks... any particular reason why you would go with the HP?

I don't really have a specific reason, because like I said, both Compaq and hp are owned by the same company, and there really isn't a difference between the two, although Compaq is now more of a budget brand sold in big box stores like Circuit City and Best Buy. I also think that you should go with the computer that will fit the best with what you do while on the computer (gfx work, homework, etc.). Lastly, there really isn't any difference between the two, with the exception of the gfx card.

In other words: go with the one that you feel will fit your life better, whether it be the Compaq or the hp.

Alright...

Is it true that CD-RW/DVD combo drives are ****e? Why?

What's a 7-in-1 card reader? Would you choose that over an extra USB slot? Can you plug a USB into the card reader, or is it really card, memory stick, etc. only?

1) the 9200 doesn't have directx9 capability, and i think 5200 is a slightly better card

2) the hp has faster ram - that makes a pretty big difference

3) the 7-in-1 card reader could be quite usefull in the future if/when u buy peripherals

4) i doubt that the 1 front usb is the only one on the computer, there would generally be either 2 or 4 more on the back, depending on the motherboard...

id go for the hp ;)

Originally posted by Parra Power
1) the 9200 doesn't have directx9 capability, and i think 5200 is a slightly better card


That sucks! Doesn't that mean I wouldn't be able to play some of the newer games :(

And yes, the PC has 4 USBs on the back I think... but the ones at the front are more convinient. I dunno what I could use card reader for? I also have a hub with 4 extra USBs but It just looks ugly with all the cables :$

Thanks for all the help Yaro (C)

Go with the Compaq :f***:


When i had my HP it was all ****ed and had bad customer service




STUPID HP!!! :f***:

Either one I will be getting, it will be from http://www.shopping.hp.com/ so the customer service will be the same. And as it was already mentioned, HP owns Compaq.

What exactly was wrong with your HP? And how long ago was it? Was it from the Pavilion series?

Originally posted by MastaLFC
Either one I will be getting, it will be from http://www.shopping.hp.com/ so the customer service will be the same. And as it was already mentioned, HP owns Compaq.

What exactly was wrong with your HP? And how long ago was it? Was it from the Pavilion series?


Yea, i had a Pavilion Pentium II processor like 4 yrs ago.

And my ***in monitor turned colors and **** and the damn HP repair dude ****ed by PC and didn't want a give us a refund so i had to go buy myself a new monitor and bought myself a new graphics card cuz the dude ****ed it up also.


HP!! :f***:

my cousin has an HP, and its pretty old... really garbage

hope that helps (H)

wat r the monitors like, and what are the speakers lyk on the hp

the compaq monitor looks like a fatass crt....... is the hp one lcd or summin? :confused:

as for the card reader....... u never know when u will buy a sony digital camera or something :crazyboy:

It doesnt come with a monitor :( So I'll have to use my old, ugly monitor :| Kinda spoils it, but meh! Don't have the $$$ :p

I'm gonna go to a :drevil: real store tomorrow and see if they let me customize a Pavilion... upgrade it here and there for the same price as on the website. Coz if I buy it in a store theyll prolly give me some good rebates both for the PC and a monitor, but last time I checked at Circuit City they didn't let you customize them :( It was either buy a ready-made one, or pay $700 and customize it from there :| I'll try Compusa and Best Buy tomorrow but doubt it :confused:

Well I have a digital camera, but I always recharge the battery in my camera dock so my camera stays in there, and the dock is connected to the PC through a USB so i can access my pics no problem. So should I go for 2 front USB's instead?