[Potato]

I'll have around $800 for a new computer, so I already have a laptop that works pretty well, so keep that in mind.

Option 1. Buy a new windows 7 laptop, Nothing apple.

Option 2. Build a desktop, I don't have a large understanding of building computers, But I could do it.

Which one do you think? I'm 14 and using it for some school work and TF2.
And could you give me some suggestions on what to buy? Especially for the desktop build.

[Stix]

If you're just playing TF2, and doing school work, you could spend 600 or 500 and still get a decent computer.

[Steephill]

Seriously if TF2 is the most intensive game you play you get get away with a fairly cheap build.

[Sin_Ister611]

Do some research and definitely build over buy. With an $800 build limit you can easily get $1k-1,200 worth of performance.

Note: I am in no way a computer wiz, but I have sponged up quite a bit of info in a very short amount of time.


Ask around on some message boards and if you have a best buy around, their geek squad can give you really nice advice on what to look for compatibility.

Main things to look for are:
Making sure your motherboard will fit in the case
Motherboard - ram compatability DDR2,3,4 etc.
A good performing power source

If you're going to be playing TF2 and doing multiple things at once I suggest getting at least a dual core processor
I use the same I think it is 512MB video card in mine (same as the xbox 360 has) and I play TF2, Blacklight retribution, browser games, vindictus, etc. just fine with no issues
Hard drive shouldn't really matter anything over 4-500 GB, I got a 1Tb on sale for dirt cheap, same with my cd/dvd burner.

Brands I and a few of my friends that game are asus, pentium, asrock, and Gskill. Others will have different opinions and can go into much more detail.

Computers are a lot like a Bob Long Alias. There are millions of different possibilities. Getting familiar with them might take a bit, but when you do they can are amazing machines.