New PC - Recommend?

Suzkin

Hello Everyone,

I'm keen to purchase a new computer with the requirements/features below. If anyone could identify something that is similar or exact to this, please let me know - I do not know much about computers, and like yourselves, need to conserve funds. Desktop (not laptop).

- 3-4 GB RAM (the higher, the better)
- 1 disk drive, floppy drive?, USB ports
- internal modem etc.

Much appreciated.

Conor_3

What are you using it for? If you're not doing a lot of photo/music/video editing or gaming, 1GB is more than enough.

CloudRuler

Conor wrote: »

What are you using it for? If you're not doing a lot of photo/music/video editing or gaming, 1GB is more than enough.

2GB is preferable if using vista but I agree that any more than that isn't necessary unless gaming. If you're doing video rendering you may need to go up to 8gb.

Suzkin

Hello - thanks for your replies.

I want as much RAM as possible so I can create webpages etc, and I may be doing a pg IT course in the near future, so I wish to future-proof my PC as much as I can.

I'm currently in the horrible postion of having Windows XP but the RAM is only 0.5Gb, which means a slow speed, and potential problems loading new programs etc. The desktop I have cannot support anything more than this - I've tried adding more RAM, but it doesn't respond and this is the full capacity of the spec of the machine.

penrhyn

Have a look here: https://www.dmxdimension.com

BillScarab

Why do you want a floppy drive and do you need a modem, are you still on dialup?

APart from dmxdimension and the dells have a look at https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk you can spec up what you want there.

For doing web design i wouldn't think you need more than 2Gb. Most motherboards nowadays support 4Gb of RAM so you could always get one with 2Gb and upgrade later if you need to.

Also remember unless you get a 64 bit OS you won't ever see more than about 3.5 Gb as the maximum addressable space with a 32 bit OS is 4Gb and some is reserved for the graphics and BIOS etc.

darkfibre

I've done a spec for you based on your requirements...

http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&oc=D055S12&dgc=AF&cid=5212&lid=122756

Summary:

Intel Core 2 Duo (2.83GHz)
Vista Home Premium
20in Widescreen TFT
4GB RAM
320GB Hard Disk
Card Reader
DVD +/- Writer

£519.99 inc VAT and Delivery (inc £99 off)

darkfibre

I've done a spec for you based on your requirements...

http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&oc=D055S12&dgc=AF&cid=5212&lid=122756

Summary:

Intel Core 2 Duo (2.83GHz)
Vista Home Premium
20in Widescreen TFT
4GB RAM
320GB Hard Disk
Card Reader
DVD +/- Writer

£519.99 inc VAT and Delivery (inc £99 off)

mdbarber

BillScarab wrote: »

Why do you want a floppy drive and do you need a modem, are you still on dialup?

APart from dmxdimension and the dells have a look at www.pcspecialist.co.uk you can spec up what you want there.

For doing web design i wouldn't think you need more than 2Gb. Most motherboards nowadays support 4Gb of RAM so you could always get one with 2Gb and upgrade later if you need to.

Also remember unless you get a 64 bit OS you won't ever see more than about 3.5 Gb as the maximum addressable space with a 32 bit OS is 4Gb and some is reserved for the graphics and BIOS etc.

Surely this is not the maximum address space of a 32 system, this is purely a limitation of windows, else how would a fat32 120gb drive be addressed?

badbunny42

4GB is the maximum memory/RAM, including any on the graphics card.

Hard drives, flash drives and other storage are not included in this, since they just store data.

In brain terms, the RAM holds the thoughts in your head, while the hard drive is a book shelf full of stuff you can go and look at or write.

Conor_3

Suzkin wrote: »

Hello - thanks for your replies.

I want as much RAM as possible so I can create webpages etc, and I may be doing a pg IT course in the near future, so I wish to future-proof my PC as much as I can.

I'm currently in the horrible postion of having Windows XP but the RAM is only 0.5Gb, which means a slow speed, and potential problems loading new programs etc. The desktop I have cannot support anything more than this - I've tried adding more RAM, but it doesn't respond and this is the full capacity of the spec of the machine.

1GB is more than enough for doing webpages and an IT course.