Feedback: ZT systems desktop PC's

[Signals]

So I am scouting around looking to spent about $600 on a desktop PC this week and I ran across a PC called ZT black affinity at Walmart.

Well, I have never heard of this brand or company before and was wondering if anyone here has ever hear of them or even better, used or had any experience with their desktops.

This unit caught my eye because it comes with 12GB RAM and is expandable to 32GB.

Eventually in the next few months I plan on getting a subscription to Adobe's CS6 cloud and will have access to all of their design products and didn't want to have ant issues when it comes time to start learning how to use Adobe's video editing software.

So what do you have for me?

 

[Yeagermeister]

Never heard of them but it has two strikes against it. Wal-Mart and it's an I3. I would never buy a pc from a big box store like Wal-Mart or BestBuy because the machines are cheap in both price and quality.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I've heard of them only because I've seen them in Linux magazines. I know nothing else about them.

I still advocate building a PC yourself since it is actually quite easy. It's like a jigsaw puzzle that only has around 10 pieces. This way you get the exact parts you want and you have full control over the price you pay to build it.

 

[Signals]

I found this system built by ZT for $599.00. This is almost identical to a bare-bones kit from TigerDirect that sells for $755.00. My question is; does this 12V 350W power supply seem a little cheesy for a system like this? I looked around and found plenty of favorable reviews for ZT's desktops and in fact they won a peoples choice award from PCmag.com 2012 and garnered a 8.3 on it's satisfaction rating. Although it doesn't have any WiFi, it kinda doen't matter since I will be hard, or direct wiring it to my FiOS.

Sounds like I am trying to talk myself into it, doesn't it?

Processor

Intel® Core™ i5-3470 Processor (3.2GHz)​

Operating System

Windows® 8, 64-bit; Recovery Disk Included​

Memory

16GB DDR3 Memory (4 slots, 32GB Max)​

Hard Drive(s)

1TB SATA Hard Drive (5900RPM)​

Optical Drive

24X DVD±R/RW​

Graphics

Integrated Intel® HD Graphics (dual monitor capable)​

Audio

High Definition audio​

Card Reader

19-in-1 Multiformat Card Reader​

Networking

10/100/1000 Mb/s LAN​

Input

Wireless Keyboard & mouse
​

Ports

• 6 x USB 2.0 ports (2x front, 4x rear) • 2x USB 3.0 ports • 3x Audio​

ports

• 1 x DVI-D port • 1 x D-SUB port • 1 x HDMI port • 1 x RJ45 port • 1x PS/2 port​

Expansion Slots (Total)

• 1 x PCIe x16 • 1 x PCIe x4 • 2 x PCI​

Expansion Bays (Total)

• 1 x PCIe x16 • 1 x PCIe x4 • 2 x PCI
​

Dimensions (HxWxD) 13.9" x 7.1" x 16.9"
Weight 30lbs
Warranty 2 Year Limited Parts & Labor Warranty
Support Lifetime Toll Free 24/7 Technical Support for Hardware
Power Supply ATX 12V 350W​

 

[Joshmil53]

I found this system built by ZT for $599.00. This is almost identical to a bare-bones kit from TigerDirect that sells for $755.00. My question is; does this 12V 350W power supply seem a little cheesy for a system like this? I looked around and found plenty of favorable reviews for ZT's desktops and in fact they won a peoples choice award from PCmag.com 2012 and garnered a 8.3 on it's satisfaction rating. Although it doesn't have any WiFi, it kinda doen't matter since I will be hard, or direct wiring it to my FiOS.

Sounds like I am trying to talk myself into it, doesn't it?

Processor

Intel® Core™ i5-3470 Processor (3.2GHz)​

Operating System

Windows® 8, 64-bit; Recovery Disk Included​

Memory

16GB DDR3 Memory (4 slots, 32GB Max)​

Hard Drive(s)

1TB SATA Hard Drive (5900RPM)​

Optical Drive

24X DVD±R/RW​

Graphics

Integrated Intel® HD Graphics (dual monitor capable)​

Audio

High Definition audio​

Card Reader

19-in-1 Multiformat Card Reader​

Networking

10/100/1000 Mb/s LAN​

Input

Wireless Keyboard & mouse
​

Ports

• 6 x USB 2.0 ports (2x front, 4x rear) • 2x USB 3.0 ports • 3x Audio​

ports

• 1 x DVI-D port • 1 x D-SUB port • 1 x HDMI port • 1 x RJ45 port • 1x PS/2 port​

Expansion Slots (Total)

• 1 x PCIe x16 • 1 x PCIe x4 • 2 x PCI​

Expansion Bays (Total)

• 1 x PCIe x16 • 1 x PCIe x4 • 2 x PCI
​

Dimensions (HxWxD) 13.9" x 7.1" x 16.9"
Weight 30lbs
Warranty 2 Year Limited Parts & Labor Warranty
Support Lifetime Toll Free 24/7 Technical Support for Hardware
Power Supply ATX 12V 350W​

Well you said you're going to be using video editing software, and a default Intel HD won't cut it. It's not a bad price really, but you need a graphics card for those kinds of things. I'm not sure if you can really fit one in the case though because a lot of makers like Dell/Gateway don't have the room in the tower for adding parts to it.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I don't know what the motherboard is, so I don't know what the video card is. Intel doesn't really make high end cards, but if you're not playing games, it really won't matter all that much as long as it's not total crap.

Windows 8 blows. Ask for a downgrade to Windows 7 Pro. (or at least Windows 7 home) Get the 64bit version of Windows.

I absolutely HATE Wireless keyboards and mice. If you can't switch that out, just take them and buy some cheap ones. I pay $15 for both the basic USB mouse and keyboard from Dell. They work great.

As for PCMag, everything they do is sold so you can't trust it. Same with Car magazines.

As for the other reviewer. I really don't have an answer.

 

[67CowboysFan]

ASUS, the only 4 letters you need to remember when buying a PC. I bought one a few months ago and there is no way I'd ever go back to HP or Compaq.