I need a new computer!!! :-( .............and some advice

[Lefta Dissenter]

Mine is on its last leg, and with 56MB RAM and Windows 98, apparently it's not worth investing more time/money.

Anyway, I have to go today to buy a new one. I don't need anything fancy, but I don't want to get a piece of junk that will always cause me problems, either.

I was thinking of going with an HP, because my printer and monitor are both relatively new HP's (not that it probably matters). Also, I've seen the eMachine ones around. Are those any good, or just bottom-end crapola?

So, my question is, what should I look for, and what should I avoid? I don't know anything about the processors these days, so I don't know if Pentium is worth the additional $$, or if the other brands, like AMD, are ok, as well. What other questions should I ask? I don't need top of the line, because anything will be a drastic improvement from what I have. On the other hand, I don't want something that is going to be marginal, and have great limitations in the next couple of years.

I basically use my computer for record-keeping for a small business, home office stuff, and, of course, DU!!! :D

Thanks!

[Deja Q]

1. AMD is awesome. 3 of my 4 PCs are AMD.

My 4th is an old Pentium 3 @ 700MHz.

Soon to be replaced with an athlon 2600+ or athlon 64, if I can afford the extra dough for RAM and mobo. (I have a spare mobo but need RAM and a CPU, though my old Athlon 1.0GHz CPU would work just as well...)

Home-building is cheaper, in terms of power-per-dollar.

[Lefta Dissenter]

2. Oh, good

that's good to know, because it broadens the choices!

and no, I can't do home-building, because I need something I can plug in today and load my income tax program and get to work!!! (and play) Though it makes so much sense to be able to just replace and add parts, rather than the whole damned machine...

[papau]

3. I also have an old Pent that needs upgrading - where does one find

compatible parts lists for a fast athlon 64 set up?

[Deja Q]

6. But hardware online... I generally use mwave.com

They sell mobo/cpu combos at a good price and can build and test the components for $10. This is good as if you damage the cpu when installing the fan, you won't get a refund. (they also allow a ram purchase at the same time with the combo. But get Crucial/Micron. That is cheaper than Kingston, almost as cheap as mwave's no-name ram, and can be used in dual-DDR systems (which is common today!)

[papau]

8. thanks :-)

:-)

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

4. Here's what I suggest:

1) AMD. Best value extent.

2) Speak to small computer shops in the area. I assure you that they can assemble a machine that will be AS GOOD OR BETTER that anything you can buy from an HP or Compaq, for a very competitive price. Advantage of a local builder? Local service, when and if you need it.

3) Suggested configuration for you: Minimum AMD AthlonXP 2000+, more if you can afford it. 512 megs RAM(RAM is inexpensive and the best performance feature in any computer). 120 Gb, 7200 RPM, 8mb Cache HD. 2 HDs will give you more room and the ability to build in more speed of operation by allowing you to move the swap file to the second drive, thus seeping up the operation of the first drive by minimizing head transits on reads. A trick that really works well.

4) If you get any processor at all, make sure it has at least a 333 megahertz bus, and perhaps a 400 mhz bus. Faster is better here. IDE should be DMA 5, 133 mhz bus speed.

5) Graphics should be either an Nvidia FX 5200(If you like to play games) or a Matrox Millenium, if you want the clearest graphics on the planet.

6) Go here(http://www.azatek.com) and save on a new monitor in a larger screen size. Azatek sells refurbs. Their prices are great. Smart geeks love refurb.

Any questions?

[Lefta Dissenter]

7. yeay

Thank you for the specs to look for. :hi:

No fair telling me about the monitors, though! I just bought a monitor a few months ago, and don't want to be tempted with new toys! This is definitely coming at a bad time - just had to pay for surgery for the horse, and tuition for my son! No money left to play with :cry:

[scubadude]

5. Go to ABS comupers, they've got great deals.

See www.abscomputers.com

I've had great luck with a couple of computers ordered there.