On the search for a good computer....

CAT-THE-FIFTH

256mb is not really that great if you are running XP especially if you have shared graphics and if you are running a software firewall,antivirus,and anti spyware and anti-trojan software!

Then run firefox and open a media files and you have not enough memory!

512Mb is more realistic especially considering that 512mb DIMMS are very cheap at the moment!

T4i

CAT-THE-FIFTH wrote:

256mb is not really that great if you are running XP especially if you have shared graphics and if you are running a software firewall,antivirus,and anti spyware and anti-trojan software!

512Mb is more realistic especially considering that 512mb DIMMS are very cheap at the moment!

256MB is not great no, but there current machine is now running XP with 128MB of RAM with onboard Voodoo3 shared GPU. It's done everything I've asked of it so far......slowly granted but it works 100times faster now than with a 4year old install of 98SE.

CAT-THE-FIFTH

I remember installing XP on a P3 450mhz with 64mb RAM for fun(I know I am very sad)!

I was suprised it even installed....but man it was slow!!

BarginHunter1985

Is this computer..the same one on the link you sent earlier?

CAT-THE-FIFTH wrote:

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

CAT-THE-FIFTH

Yes its is!

David_B_2

Personally I build my own but as a second choice Dell are very good machines (as recommend above) they have really come down in price to meet the 'home computer market' and for less than £499 you can get a machine that will suit your needs for the next few years.

BarginHunter1985

Thanks guys...

Lob_Rockster

if you're not gaming and not doing graphics/movie work then ANY decent spec will be OK for you, like the Dells etc listed above.

you can't tell me that you'll be emailing and surfing differently in two years' time, can you?

The only reason I'd not buy a Dell bargain desktop is if I wanted to overclock. I use a Dimension 4300 1.7Ghz as my HTPC and process all of my .TS files produced from my Dreambox into MPEG files on that without a problem.

So if you get a nice PC that's quite, comes with a nice screen, printer etc and has some reasonable software bundled, I'd say you'll have plenty of beer tokens left from £500

CAT-THE-FIFTH

BTW,if you happen to buy a Dell use Quidco which I think gives a 5% cashback or Pigsback which will give points which you can eventually get vouchers with. I think that Quidco will be the better deal though!!

other

CAT-THE-FIFTH wrote:

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

and the NHS
whether thats a good thing or not:p