Anyone know anything about computers?

[Aeryn_Sun99]

I'm in the market for a new computer, and I'm not really sure what I should be looking for, so I was wondering if you guys might have any input. I'm looking to spend no more then $700 dollars, and i'm looking at buying a whole package (computer, printer, monitor, etc. all together) so that I don't get stuck with parts that arent compadable (that's happened before, and it was expensive). Any Ideas on what's good and what's bad, and why?

Thanks a bunch

A_S99

[BillFrugge]

Do you have any idea how you intend to use the computer? If you just intend to surf the web, your requirements are low.

Beware the off-brand computers, though. Some of them may be cheap, but there is a reason for that.

[IMC]

try this: DELL Pentium 4 512 MB RAM with printer & speakers & 17" CRT (http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&oc=D30PF1&s=dhs)

The price is $732 - that is probably only for today - you could
cut out the speakers or go down to 256MB Ram and it would be under
the $700. I think they offer free shipping also.


I build my own computers but I usually recommend Dell as people seem
to have the least problems with them out of the box.....

[witchdoctor]

You might check out Dell online. They have packages and deals with free printers (low end of course) or free shipping or free upgrades or money off available to on-line purchasers. They run the specials and periodically change them. To keep it under $700 total, you would need to get a desk top with celeron processor, minimum RAM (256MB), small HD (30-40 GB?), CD-ROM or DVD read only drive vs DVD/CD-RW combo drive, 15" or 17" CRT monitor and minimal software (WinXP home, MS works or Wordperfect word processor). Having the right specials would also help and might allow upgrade of one of the components.

Currently, the Dell 2400 or 3000 have entry prices of $403 and $449 each, respectively. You will typically need to add shipping costs and maybe sales tax to that. The current specials are free 3-5 day shipping, 10% off the price (already taken out of the above $403 and $449 prices) and free optical drive upgrades, but today is the last day for those. Tomorrow there will be different on-line specials. Check out the site because it is easy to customize the computer configuration and check the cost. If all you want to do is use the computer for e-mail, surfing and word processing, the computer will be fine. Most will come with a modem, but if you have DSL or cable modem at home, you will need to pay some extra to get an ethernet port; most entry level desk tops don't come with them.

[Aeryn_Sun99]

I'm thinking that I'm gonna need something with good graphics capabilities because I have a lot of games and other programs that reguire the use of graphics

[witchdoctor]

Then it is likely going to run you more than $700. Most sub $1000 computers have the intel graphics chip integrated into the mother board and share RAM with the system memory. If you are wanting to play games and have really good graphics, then you are going to have to get a computer with an AGP slot and separate graphics card with its own RAM on board. You will want a good CPU too, because a slow CPU can slow down a fast graphics card. You might also want more system memory, 512MB to 1000 MB of RAM probably. A fast hard drive and optical drive (for better load times) would also be helpful.

What kind of games? First person shooters and flight simulations typically are the types that push the graphics processing requirements, particularly the newer ones. Role playing and action/adventure are not so bad. Strategy are not so bad.

I play Role Playing (Baldur's Gate series, Icewind Dale series, Neverwinter Nights, Arcanum) and Strategy (Civ II, III, Call To Power, Master of Orien II etc) and these don't put as much stress on the system resources.

[MrVesham]

So, is building an absolute impossiblity? It really isn't that difficult - especially when you con a good-natured geek into helping. =]

Since you're looking to game, you should really consider both building the thing and saving money until you can afford what's is currently the best price-to-performance deals that can handle the latest best versions of the various technologies (for video cards, you're looking for DirectX level and shader versions - ask a geek to help [meaning a friend - store clerks are trained not to give you good advice]). This is to ensure that this PC will last for quite a while. I consider that to mean running games at good/great performance for at least two years and be adequate for at least two more.

[B Sharp]

or you can try this.

http://www.shopping.hp.com/cgi-bin/hpdirect/shopping/scripts/home/start_home.jsp

the a700y model starts at $669, and you can decide what you want to include; there's rebates for monitor, printer, etc..

[Sallow]

I concur with the "get-a-geek" people.

If you have no intention of selling your old computer then there are some things that can be salvaged. Diskdrive, keyboard, and mouse for sure, Screen if you or your geek don't think you need a new and possibly the CD/DVD-drive. If your geek lives nearby it can be worth salvaging those things and replace them when you get more funds. That way you can spend more towards a better system for gaming.

[witchdoctor]

Yeah, upgrading your current system may be the way to go if you want to keep it under $700. The main problem with upgrading is that the older the computer system, the more bottlenecks in speed it is going to have. For example, you may get the latest graphics card, but can't take advantage of it because it needs an 8X AGP slot, but you only have an 2X AGP slot or even just a PCI slot if your system is really old. Or maybe you have the 8X AGP slot, but then your system bus is too slow or the CPU chip is too slow and can't feed enough data quickly enough to the graphics card to take advantage of its speed. Fixing the graphics card slot necessitates getting a whole new mother board. Upgrading the CPU chip can require a new motherboard too, since often the newer CPU chips will have different voltage requirements or even different pin arrangements. The point of all this is that up grading is only really practical on systems that aren't too out of date. You reach a point in time where it is cheaper to just get a new system than to try and upgrade one that is too old.

If you know someone that can help you build, then that may be the best option, since it would let you salvage many of the components of your present system, as has been pointed out in other posts above. Check out PC Gamer magazine to get an idea of costs of building your own machine. Each month they have a column with components costs for three configurations of build your own computer: dream machine, average machine and budget.

[Aeryn_Sun99]

Unfortunately my geek lives 3000 miles away, but he did offer to build one for me...i may have to take him up on that...

Also, I don't think upgrading is an option as the computer I have is 5 years old and the hard drive is basically shot (i'm afraid that one day it's not gonna turn on), so it will prolly be cheaper in the long run to get a new system altogether....

[ctheokas]

My only advice on the subject is this (because all the others are giving great advice for all I know): I have a Gateway, and it's fine enough, because I use it to write and surf, and nothing else. However, the hard-drive is slow. So when I want to open something, it seems to take it's time.

[AgentSun]

blaaah gateway. if you're going to use your computer for gaming, and that is the main focus of the cpu, not like...email checking or microsoft word, i would suggest building a computer or buying a slightly higher end computer, probably 700-1000.