# Looking at getting a new desktop - which brand? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 30, 2015, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-at-getting-a-new-desktop-which-brand/723894 "2015-06-30T19:08:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-at-getting-a-new-desktop-which-brand/723894/21 "2015-11-03T19:04:52Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > Pardon the bump, but I didn’t think this needed a new thread. > > Anyway, Cyberpower PC is offering one for a decent price, but it has some available upgrades that I am not sure if I should get or not. > > First, the motherboard is an MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX, but I can get an ASUS Z-97C or Z-97K instead. Are any of these much better, or much worse, than the other two? The Z97C and K are ATX motherboards, so they are physically bigger and have more slots. If you are thinking of adding a second video card at a later date, you should go with one or the other. Beyond that I’d have to delve. But it does mean that the whole box will be bigger. This can be advantageous for cooling, but the disadvantage is the increased size. > [@](#): > > Second, it comes with a “stock” NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 4GB video card, but it can be upgraded to an EVGA FTW or Superclocked Edition of the 970. EVGA have a superlative replacement and maintenance policy. You do pay for it, though. > [@](#): > > Third, the power supply is a “generic” (brand name not mentioned) 80 Plus, but I can get a Thermaltake Toughpower 80 Plus Gold in its place. Absolutely do NOT go for the generic PSU. The Thermaltake Toughpower Gold 550W PSU has been well-reviewed. Do note that 550W will be enough should you decide to add a second GTX 970. > [@](#): > > Also, while this isn’t exactly an upgrade, is it worth paying for a “mouse mat” as opposed to putting the mouse directly on my computer desk’s top (which is from IKEA, so I assume it’s particle board)? Sorry, I can’t help you there as I use a trackball. ---
**Author:** ![pidgeon92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/50afbb/32.png) [@pidgeon92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pidgeon92)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-at-getting-a-new-desktop-which-brand/723894/22 "2015-11-03T23:44:53Z")
In response to the OP’s problem of the machines just shutting down: I have a friend who has had this problem twice now on her laptop. Both times she insisted it was a problem with the OS, or a virus. Both times I opened up the machine, and blew all of the cat hair off the heatsink with compressed air. This might not be what the OP’s machines are suffering from, but it’s worth having a look. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-at-getting-a-new-desktop-which-brand/723894/23 "2015-11-04T17:30:37Z")
> [@pidgeon92](#): > > In response to the OP’s problem of the machines just shutting down: I have a friend who has had this problem twice now on her laptop. Both times she insisted it was a problem with the OS, or a virus. Both times I opened up the machine, and blew all of the cat hair off the heatsink with compressed air. This might not be what the OP’s machines are suffering from, but it’s worth having a look. Overheating was my first thought as well (I had an earlier computer that had this problem, only instead of locking up, it shut the computer down as if somebody had pulled the plug), but after cleaning out the inside and the fans, it still had the problem. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-at-getting-a-new-desktop-which-brand/723894/24 "2015-11-25T14:16:20Z")
Update: I got one from Cyberpower - only to discover that the 970 video card only has a DVI port, and my monitor only supports HDMI and VGA. Looks like I’m off to Fry’s this Saturday (and failing that, Monoprice on Cyber Monday) to get an HDMI to DVI cable. (Do these things work, or am I much better off shelling out for a new monitor? My current one is a 27" Samsung, and I don’t have room on my computer desk for a larger one.) ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-at-getting-a-new-desktop-which-brand/723894/25 "2015-11-25T14:54:15Z")
HDMI to DVI adapters work fine. Don’t let them charge you an arm & a leg for it. You can buy them for well under $10. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-at-getting-a-new-desktop-which-brand/723894/26 "2015-11-25T16:03:32Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > HDMI to DVI adapters work fine. Don’t let them charge you an arm & a leg for it. You can buy them for well under $10. I checked the online prices at Fry’s, and discovered that, even after shipping is added, I can get it cheaper through Monoprice, especially as I could use another cable as well. That’s one less store I need to go to. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-at-getting-a-new-desktop-which-brand/723894.md?page=1)