Holiday Buyers' Guide 2006, Part 1: PC Components

it is getting very tiring having links that we in the UK (and I imagine the rest of europe) cannot see until 6-8 hours after they are posted, sometimes even the next day...

Any chance you can resolve this, you appear to have fixed the .com.com thing though..

404 error.

It seems that it re-directs me to the UK version, but they have yet to post it. There's no URL that I can modify... so I can't read it, happens with about 60-70% of new stories, and most of the links posted in forumz by the staff.

They must update overnight or something, even now I still can't access it.

We're American, it's just you. LOL!!! J/K man. I hear your healthcare is crap, but at least you get some. I'll be passing on my next 60 years of upgrades so I can afford to die of a cancer in a hospital. Right now I'm paying for all the smokers to die...

Yes, best DDR and DDR2 budget ram would be a GREAT article.

well, I am paying for my healthcare, it's just coming out of my taxes. Part of the problem is, a lot of people take advantage and visit hospitals for scraped knees and headcolds. Now that wait times in the emergency room are frequently 6hrs + though, that seems to be less of an issue, we're just having a hard time keeping doctors from moving south of the border for more salary.

How stupid of us not to mention Sarah yet. What a wonderful choice, she's doing a great job! Keep it up Sarah! I love that semi-sitting pose, very nice product display.

happy to hear about more articles coming with different focus considered. very good idea.

there was hardware too?
I just saw the chick...

This is guide is stupid.
How can they recommand the Athlon 64 X2 4200+ when u can get the E6300 and overclock it to an X6800??

Obviously Core 2 Duo is FAR more price/performance efficient.
Dont trust this guide.

The E6300 is still better than any Athlon 64 X2, especially the 4200+.
And u cannot rule out overclocking, it is very important. It is what makes a 125$ CPU, an 800$ or more CPU, especially with the Core 2 Duo CPUs.

I doubt ppl would buy a dual-core CPU for gaming and not overclock.

And also, they are telling ppl to buy an X6800! That is crazy. The E6600 can overclock past 3.6Ghz and costs 1/3 of the X6800's price. The only reason to ever buy an X6800 is if u want a 4.0Ghz+ CPU wich wont get u much.

So yeh, that sucks. These "guides" seem to be just what these ppl read in the news.. they dont actually think or give an informed opinion from their personal experience.

Sarah is so nice . If we start a fan club here on the forum will she join in ?
I don't know what you pay her for now and no offense to the guys but can't you get her in the Videos ? I saw Patrick Schmid in the latest and I'm sure he knows his hardware and all but Sarah should star in the next one.
I don't really have an opinion about the components , I was too distracted by the pics .
Keep that exploitation going .

..but where do I buy elves?

Yeah, all those things were hella expensive. If I could afford to lay out that kind of $$$ I wouldn't wait until christmas to do it.

Hardware Smardware - I forgot to even look at it with Sarah there - she is babalicious. Anyway keep it clean - this is a family forum

Tell them a little about yourself, Sarah. Like your pet pumpkin, Lady Di.

Whaddaya know, a beauty with brains, just my type Now what was that number again?

Seriously though, you are very hot. Looking forward to that video soon.

Just what we need, another California bimbo showing herself off. My neighbor girl is just as good looking. Who cares? Show the f'n hardware. When I want cute girls in little outfits I'll visit a porn site. You nerds go goo-goo eyed over any woman. Get a life.

I really love the buyer's guide each year... lots of things I can't afford but lots to think about.

Thanks for the smile Sarah

Decent article. I don't know why people are always ragging on AMD chips for overclocking. I have a 3700+ (2.2ghz) and have managed to get it up to 2.98ghz (prime stable for 6 hours).

And yes, we all agree that Sarah is beautiful. Of course more importantly she is a beautiful AND (presumably) intelligent woman who likes computer stuff!! Now that is a true rarity. You guys at THG are lucky to work with her (shameless compliment).

Other than that I like the looks of the OCZ ram, too bad I am still stuck with my S939 platform and my slow DDR1 .

What a touching story. I'm so sorry to hear about your accident, but your optimism is enough to give anyone hope. I'm flattered by your comments and very pleased that the website as well as the pictures have served such a purpose.

hmm, tbh itsd best to leave these things as guides and not take them as scripture. some people go way ver the top in their quest to bash toms(track the.. well, i can't say what i think of him)

still, it at least show people some of the things that are out there in a nice rounded up kinda way. some people, most likely people who don't use the forums and don't have that much time.

one thing that struck me was the size of that amanda cooler i think it was called. that thing was huge. i hope it cools like a beast.

oh and on the subject of sweet little sarah, my slave to be, i have to say why so much clothes. you had plenty of hardware to cover you software as someone else put it. perhaps if you weren't wearing that elf costume it would distract less. that is my reason for wanting you naked anyway

And this is, as you can see, only Part 1 of a 4 part Guide. There are more sections to come that may please those who critique this edition. There will also be a separate Holiday Buyer's Guide for MobilityGuru.

I created an account just so I could tell some of you how shameless you are. THG probably brought a lot of this on themselves by having an attractive "model" in the article, but have a little class and keep the comments PG.

Thanks for the guide. As others have stated, it's kind of all over the place, but some good information there. You went from a budget processor to a processor cooler that won't fit in my house. Still looking forward to seeing what else is out there, even if it isn't grouped in a way that makes sense to me.

gettem sarah!

I'm gay? Micah is my middle name. You shouldn't assume that I'm gay. As far as being with women, I have bragging rights. You shouldn't assume things, nor take other's sexuality and use it as an insult. Shows your narrow-mindedness. Sarah, I could give a crap about your looks. I'm here for hardware, and I think that having old creeps like this guy goo-goo over your physicality should be an insult to women everywhere. Women's suffrage takes a hit everytime a woman dons a skimpy outfit and allows men to "compliment" them. The truth is these horny bastards are just desperate for attention. Maybe if they had some respect for women and some dignity women would pay more attention to them. Read the next quotes, I rest my case.

PLEASE.

Sarah, if you do a good job - then great. If Tom's wants to let readers know what it's people look like, post a "work family" photo. Not some pics that are going to get replies from guys with hard-ons. Have more self respect, or maybe you need to further your education with a lesson on how men see women.

Darn neighbor, no need to go Mormon on us.....
some of like girls, try not to let your insecurity show so much.

Actually I'm more of an agnostic/atheist. Raised conservative though. I see myself as a humanitarian having a world perspective. I'm not anti-american. I'm anti-ignorance. I think people need to have a better understanding of human nature and of cultural differences.

Edited to add comment -

You guys don't honestly think I'm not aware that I may be largely unpopular? "Crazy unpopular people" are often the ones that open doors, invent things, and shape the world in which we live. I could sit around smoking pot, wacking it to porn, or being a political puppet. I may not be popular or famous, but at least I'm genuine.

i don't think she needs your advice as your an idiot. was your name formaly AUjackripper or something, you guys have alot in common.

i am allowed to have some fun and if she don't like it i get the feeling she would say so and i would apologise. i think she has the confidence to not worry what we think while you don't or at least have some messed up views of women and how they should act, i.e how you tell them.

I wouldn't have volunteered to pose for the Buyers' Guide if this kind of attention bothered me. Any woman, regardless of looks, has to put up with a good deal of unwanted attention from men. That's life. In this situation, I don't take the comments to heart, and I'm not offended by some of these Rated R comments. If I was, they'd be gone. I know I have more to offer than just looks. It's all in good fun, guys.