Time for a new xomputer

oldwiring

My computer is seven years old and creaking: more and more hangs, odd boot troubles etc, so I am puzzling what to replace it with..BTW I've done the usual suspects!;)
The old one's spec is
Processor 2.00 gigahertz AMD Athlon XP2400+
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
BIOS: Phoenix Technologies, LTD 6.00 PG 10/03/2003
Hard Drive WDC 80.02 GB (70% full)
SONY CD-RW CRX320E [CD-ROM drive]
SONY DVD RW DW-G120A [CD-ROM drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]
1024 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory (2x512)
Controllers Display
Standard floppy disk controller
NVIDIA NForce 2(tm) SPP/IGP ATA Controller
Tul Corporation, RADEON 9200SE [Display adapter]
LG L1710B [Monitor] (17.1"vis, January 2004)
Bus Adapters Multimedia
Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller (2x)
NVIDIA(R) nForce(TM) Audio
NVIDIA(R) nForce(TM) Audio Codec Interface
Unimodem Half-Duplex Audio Device
1394 Net Adapter
NVIDIA nForce MCP Networking Controller
USB 6 (4 rear 2 front)

Use of the computer is 85% general with15% photo editing and slide show making.
For the photo and slide show side the current machine can be very slow.
I'd like friends' views on what I should look for in a replacement.(no skill or interest in making my own:eek:).

For instance would the £399 one at
http://www1.euro.dell.com/uk/en/home/inspiron-560_headless_rec/fs.aspx?refid=inspiron-560_headless_rec&s=dhs&cs=ukdhs1 or the £429 at

http://www1.euro.dell.com/uk/en/home/Desktops/inspiron-560s/pd.aspx?refid=inspiron-560s&s=dhs&cs=ukdhs1

be adequate for my use which overall is moderate?

.

debitcardmayhem

I think the 399 is fine assuming you are happy with your existing monitor, also be aware that both are W7 64 , most programs should be happy some may be a problem. I have a studio 540 since July and very happy with it. The 4gb memory will be a fine for your picture editing

oldwiring

Some say that a separate graphixs card is better; but I wonder if that is a counci of perfection for near professionals.

What of the slim version? There is an attraction in having all on the desk,:

debitcardmayhem

The slim is fine it will probably have less spare ports etc being short of room for expansion, it will also lie horizontally too, I said the other because the value was more or less better. Graphics card should not be a problem if you are not using Latest games and not wanting video processing. Be aware dell charge too much for their own grafix cards , and alos the skinny one will probably only have room for a half height card.
I would like a slim one on my desk but the wife gets upset

oldwiring

a half height card.

I'm quite short myself and some think me a card:D Seriously, what's the significance, given it's integrated?

debitcardmayhem

Integrated cards typically are not great for new latest games , and some can be less than ideal for HD replay, however assuming the PC you buy has a spare port then you can always buy a better card later if you find the integrated one is not up to your needs. I personally have no problems with mine but then again I dont play the newer style of games anyway.

Basil1234

for £399 have you considered aldi thursday special e.g. today but they will be gone fast

http://aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/2827_12858.htm
in more detail below
http://aldi.medion.com/md8341/uk/?refPage=aldi
Multimedia PC MEDION® AKOYA®

£399. 99 each *





To find out more about this product please click here

• Powerful Intel® Core® i3-530 processor (2.93 GHz, 4 MB Intel® Smart cache, Intel® Hyper-Threading-Technology)
• Powerful NVIDIA® GeForce® G210 DirectX® 10 graphics card with 512 MB graphic memory and D-Sub VGA, DVI-I and HDMI interface (HDCP support)
• Massive 3 GB DDR3 SDRAM
• Large 1 TB (1000 GB) S-ATA hard disk for more than 200,000 music title or photos1.
• Multiformat DVD/CD burner2 supports all the usual DVD/CD standards, incl. dual layer DVD-R and DVD+R
• High speed Wireless LAN 802.11 n-Standard with up to 300 Mbit/s. 802.11 b/g compatible3.
• Network Controller Gigabit LAN (10/100/1000 Mbit/s.)
• IEEE1394 FireWire on board
• eSATA connection for connecting external SATA devices
• 8 channel high definition audio4
• Multi Card Reader reads and writes all current flash memory cards5
• PS/2 keyboard and optical USB mouse
• Connections:
  Front: Multi Card Reader, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x Microphone, 1 x Headphone, 1 x eSATA
  Rear: 2 x PS/2, 6 x USB 2.0, 1 x FireWire, 1 x LAN (RJ-45), 1 x Front line out, 1 x Rear line out, 1 x Subwoofer/Centre out 1 x Surround out, 1 x Line in, 1 x SPDIF optical out
• Comprehensive software package with original Windows® 7 Home Premium (OEM versions)
  

oldwiring

@Basil1234 :)Thanks.
Spec looks OK, but I've found some reviews on their products to male me put it a way dwon my list

@all Who are the reliable established makers these days. Most of the names from seven years back have vanished, and few seem to give, if at all, a first year on site warranty at a reasonable price.

kwikbreaks

"..found some reviews on their products to male me put it a way dwon my list"

Make sure whatever you buy includes a new keyboard

Marty_J

You really should consider a Mac Mini.

Macs are excellent for both photo editing and slideshow making right out of the box, as they come with the iLife suite of applications (which is a million times better than anything you'll get with a PC).

oldwiring

kwikbreaks wrote: »

"..found some reviews on their products to male me put it a way dwon my list"

Make sure whatever you buy includes a new keyboard

You should see how I type" full":D After all I am a first class trypist.:rotfl: