Posts by Emily Wilson92

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crimsonstag84, I need some assistance... while I was finalizing my selections, both the RAM and the hard drive disappeared from the list. I'm not sure if you can see what happened via this link, but it looks like those items you recommended are gone today. Is this new version of the hard drive actually slower than the previous one? 😵

1000 GB Western Digital Blue Hard Drive, WD10EZEX, SATA3, 64MB cache, 7200 RPM, 3.5", for desktop
051.510.218

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DDR3 RAM, 8GB, NVIDIA Radeon R5, Entertainment series R538G1601U2S, DDR3 1600MHz
051.210.369

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https://www.links.com/us/cart

👍 I really appreciate how Bryan Taylor6 recognizes that I'm completely out of my element and tailors everything to fit my needs.

Meanwhile, crimsonstag84 clearly put together an excellent configuration,
the speakers don't matter, and $167 there are very solid reasons for the price differences...

I was just questioning whether this setup actually suits me—as a very basic user—but I've concluded that it does, so I decided to order it from Best Buy...

And why on earth are people claiming that the listed power supply is too large for that case??? 🤔
It is absolutely vital to me that the computer is quiet—quieter, the quietest possible—so I am more than open to more expensive suggestions.

Also... the folks at Best Buy suggested a pre-built Intel Core i3 configuration that would cost me about $100 more than crimsonstag84's build. Since I'm using my credit card anyway, I can afford the extra cost... though I assume crimsonstag84's build is just as good, if not better?

Here is what they are offering: "I would suggest one of our pre-built computers. It offers great potential for future upgrades in every regard; specifically, this model:"

https://www.bestbuy.com/example-computer-link

One thing that's bothering me is the 3+2 setup; if something fails, I'll have to call them just to figure out what's going on...🙂

fadedorca66 said:In Miami, your only option is Links, and their prices are pretty steep. You'll end up with a much weaker PC for the same amount of money.

So think about it—if you have the cash ready, ordering online for home delivery is definitely the smarter move.

I listened to the more experienced folks because I wanted to save some money, but it turns out that when I put this second suggestion in my cart at Futura, it’s actually marginally more expensive for cash payments. If I use a credit card, $183 the price at Futura jumps even higher...

You guys are awesome, thank you... I'm still learning the ropes here...

While the latest option is definitely higher quality, the second suggestion actually ends up being $167 more expensive because the first one includes speakers from $100, whereas the second doesn't include any speakers at all.

That’s what led me to this pre-built bundle found in the Links.
Motherboard: Intel Socket 1150, DDR3, audio, SATA, Gigabit LAN, PCI-E
Processor: Intel Pentium G3250 (3.2 GHz)
Memory: 4 GB DDR3, 1333MHz
Graphics Card: Intel HD Graphics
Hard Drive: 500.0 GB, SATA 7200 RPM
Optical Drive: DVD±RW, SATA
Case: LC POWER, Midi Tower
Power Supply: 420W
Operating System: No OS included
Antivirus Protection

Price: $2,100 + $1,100 (monitor, mouse, keyboard) = $3,200

Ultimately, this might be my best value, since I really just need it for basic everyday tasks.

I'll let you experts compare them.
So, we have the setup above for $3,200, then there's mclovin1's option for the same price (if I subtract $350 for the speakers), and finally, there's the high-quality build suggested by crimsonstag84 for $3,700. Thank you!

crimsonstag84, I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around this. And sorry if this sounds silly... for an extra $30, it feels like I'd be getting a better, faster processor and more memory. I assume the sound quality will stay the same? And I won't need separate speakers? For the TV, I can just plug in an antenna somewhere, right?

Is this going to hold up over the long haul? I'm not looking to buy something that only lasts three or four years. Is that what you guys mean by "upgrade potential"?

I've never actually used an AMD processor before... I've always stuck with Intel Celeron on my old desktops and laptops...

I was thinking about San Francisco because of the warranty and potential issues—not wanting to have to ship things back up north or deal with installation headaches if I need to swap something out... or am I missing something here?

Hi everyone. I’ve learned quite a bit from reading through this forum, which has led me to abandon the idea of an all-in-one system, and even the idea of buying a big-name brand machine...
Now, I am looking for some specific configuration advice—I need recommendations for everything.

The computer will be based in San Francisco, so I’m wondering who I should reach out to locally. Micro Center has a location nearby, but since others don't, should I look into LinkedIn for leads?

One thing is absolutely critical: the system needs to be quiet. Specifically, I'm worried about the cooling fan.
I suffer from tinnitus, and whenever I have an older laptop running in front of me, the noise starts driving me insane within thirty minutes.

It also needs to look good. Now, I’m sure you experts 🤦 have thoughts on this, but since it’s going in the living room, I don't want something bulky or industrial. It will sit on a standard desk, so the monitor doesn't need to be massive either.

We mainly need it for web browsing (with wireless connectivity), viewing photos, and listening to CDs (so, not just cheap little desktop speakers). The TV antenna cable is close by, so I'd like to connect that to the PC as well. We do have a satellite cable too, but we probably won't bother with an extra receiver since we rarely watch satellite TV.

The setup is for my home office. I don't play games myself, though someone else might start playing soon—nothing heavy, though, so I don't think I need to blow the budget on a high-end graphics card.

Price is always a factor. It doesn't have to be the absolute cheapest option available, but I don't want to pay for premium features I'll never use.

I look forward to your suggestions. Thanks, everyone!🙂

Based on the rate sheets I personally have access to, State Farm’s current pricing isn't competitive. At least four other major insurers offer better rates than they do, and I know exactly how those companies apply their premiums.

That is absolutely correct. When you look at State Farm's advertising, 🙂...there is zero evidence of any actual loyalty rewards. The math simply doesn't support their claims.

Quincy:

I have to say, there’s a massive irony in hearing this from an employee of an insurance firm that barely functions under the rule of law. If they actually respected legal standards, she wouldn't even have a job because the company wouldn't exist. Here is a link that addresses this issue directly. This data is from 2012. I've also included the specific 2012 data regarding State Farm for your reference.

I second this. 🙂Exactly, thanks for providing those links...

Up until now, I’ve been with State Farm, and I probably would have stayed there too if I hadn't needed to pay my premium online. When I called them, they gave me an estimate that was very close to what I paid last year, but they told me I could only settle the bill in person at a local branch. We're supposed to touch base tomorrow to confirm the final amount.

So, here I am, scouring Google to find a way to pay without having to leave my house.

I stumbled upon a site called Kompass, which acts as a sort of broker—but one that doesn't charge any commission (which sounded impossible to me). On their site, I saw that I could actually get a policy for $133 less through GEICO if I used the Kompass platform.

However, going directly through GEICO, the discount is only $33 less...

I reached out to GEICO to see if this was some kind of scam, and they insisted it isn't. They claimed that sites like Kompass don't carry the same overhead costs that a major insurer does. I suppose that's possible, but I'm naturally skeptical.

Then, I spoke with a representative from State Farm, and she suggested that those other companies offering lower rates often sell policies with insufficient coverage. She warned that I might end up having to pay out of pocket for certain claims because the policy doesn't fully protect me. 😕

Honestly, I told her, "Come on, we have regulations here; we aren't in Ghana."

Now I'm left wondering... maybe the insurance market in Ghana is actually better regulated than ours is? 🤷