On the search for a good computer....

BarginHunter1985

Hello there

I am looking to purchase a Destop PC for the family. However I have no idea where to start. So if i give you guys a couple of questions maybe you could help.

Where should I buy from...a PC Store like PC World or from the web or somewhere else?

What brands should I avoid?- i need a computer that will last

What specifications should i look for...bear in mind it will have to be a fast computer.

Should i get a AMD or Intel one..if so which version?

What does the cache mean? does it have any significance.

My budget is about £700

I ask these questions based on what I have been told by ma mates, if anyone has any advice, please help, because I dont really understand computer language, but I am in desperate need of a good, fast and nice looking PC.

Hope to hear from you soon..

Cheers

BH

CAT-THE-FIFTH

This is got to be best desktop deal about:

http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?null_errmsg=Please%20enter%20the%20entire%20E-value%20code&space_errmsg=The%20E-value%20code%20may%20not%20contain%20spaces&cs=ukdhs1&c=uk&l=en&s=dhs&kc=UKDHSONL&oc=D05915r&x=12&y=11

You will struggle to get something even near this for the price!!
Add a usb tv tuner and away you go!
However there are the following caveats which apply to most current systems on sale:


This computer will run Vista OK(Vista will be the new MS operating system next year)

However Vista has been shown to need about 2gb for games and also all current graphics cards will not support directx10 which will come out on Vista
Also you will not be able to play Blu-ray or HD DVD on all current pcs as they lack most of the proper hardware to enable playback of these media properly, as these need graphics cards and monitors which support HDCP encrption.
Basically no graphics cards and less then 10 monitors in existance support this even though this has been a consumer standard for years!!

However if these points are not important this PC is brilliant value for money!!

CAT-THE-FIFTH

Whether you buy AMD or Intel really does not make a difference.What it will do is start flame wars among CPU hobbyists from both camps.

AMD generally has a performance edge in desktop processors and Intel has the edge in mobile processors but in reality you will need to be doing VERY processor intensive operations to notice any real difference.

Cache is a buffer between the processor and the rest of the system
Think of it as a recptionist.

More cache basically means a more capable receptionist and less the opposite

Reduced cache is seen in value edition processors to reduce costs.

Do not go for Intel celerons as these are Intel's value processor and is soundly beaten by the Sempron if itis Athlon 64 based.

I would advice that at least a 1gb of memory is good as I found a good performance increase over 512mb as this means that the computer will need to access the hard disk less often since it will use hard disk space if the the memory is not enough.The hard disk is slower than the RAM.

BarginHunter1985

Hey thanks for that....CAT-THE-FIFTH

I am not too concerned about what games the computer can play as long as it can play basic games and runs good..


Although the link you sent me looks wayyyyy too complicated...

Cheers tho..:T

letsbehonest

Hi BH.
You sound as like you don't have a clue about computers.
The first thing to consider is "what do you want to do with a PC", if you want to play games ect, then go for a high spec system, ie fast processor, good graphics card, big ram, large hard drive. If just internet surfing, emails, photo,s word processing. Then you don't need to spend loadsa money. Asda, Tesco's, PC World sell E machines PC's complete £399, or if you don't fancy that go and have a look at this site, https://www.savastore.com and click on desktop computers, and look at the Aries range,they have a good reputation.
Finally I personally would not want the new Vista operating system yet as it is still teething and will be for at least a year after release
hope this helps

CAT-THE-FIFTH

Look through a magazine like PC pro and look at the deals there.You will see why I think this is a very good Deal

Dell do make decent computers though and they do supply many universities and businesses too. They are one of the biggest PC manufacterers in the world

Regards

CAT-THE-FIFTH

I only mentioned Vista as BarginHunter1985 wanted a computer that would last and this machine would run Vista OK even in two years time.

T4i

I'm in the process of pricing a 'cheap as possible' pc up at the moment.

£172 for a skimpy system.

£217 for a better system.

Thats for everything apart from Monitor (already got a TFT), mouse and keyboard.

Both AMD64 systems, cheapy one with 256MB 400Mhz RAM and the other one with 512MB 400Mhz Crucial RAM.

They have a P3 500Mhz, 128MB PC100 system at mo, just put XP on it and it's not 3-bad. Writing CD's at x2 is awful though......lol

BarginHunter1985

T4i...u have just got me really baffed...!

CAT-THE-FIFTH

If you really want cheap the BT shop does do computers for £129 without a monitor.

However I do not consider them futureproof!

The specs of the £599 Dell system are

Pentium 2.8ghz dual core
1024mb ran
160gb Hard disk
256mb Nvidia 7900GS Graphics card
Integrated Soundblaster Audigy 5.1 sound
DVD writer
13 in 1 card reader
Microsoft Works 7.0
Microsoft Windows XP home edition
17" TFT monitor
Stereo speakers with subwoofer
Keyboard and mouse
1-Year Collect and Return service

T4i

BarginHunter1985 wrote:

T4i...u have just got me really baffed...!

Why?


Thats buying parts and building it myself. Expect to take me 1-2hrs before I can sit back and watch XP getting loaded.

I'm biulding a PC for a family who play card games.....write the occasional CD.........use Word/Excel mostly for buisiness purposes and want to browse the interweb.

So basically I've gone for a motherboard with onboard sound and graphics. A bottom end 64bit CPU, 256 or 512MB DDR400 RAM. Small SATA HDD as they don't download huge files. A NEC combi drive. Plain Jane case with 400W PSU.

and I doubt they will ever use it to its full potential.