New PC sugesstion?

[Test]

Hi all
i know this is not specific with windows XP,but just wanted a suggestion
from u guys.
I am considering buying a new PC with XP installed
i saw that the cheap ones have Intel Celeron Processors in them.
u can get one in less than $400
the guys i talked with in BestBuy or CompUSA don't have a idea as what is
the major diffrenece in this processors and why the Celeron ones are cheap

are they worth it? or should i stick with Intel Pentium or AMD Athalon?

any suggestions are welcome

Thanks

 

[purplehaz]

This is all relative. It really depends on what you use the system for.
Pentiums have more code/instructions in them for higher processing speeds
especially with graphics and games. If your doing games or graphic intense
stuff get a pentium. If not the celeron should work fine. My personal choice
is stay with pentium.
Just remember with computers, you really do get what you pay for. A 400
dollar computer is going to have low end hardware and all on board stuff
making upgrading more difficult and the whole computing experience just not
as good, but it will work fine. IMHO, I would spend $1000 and build your own
or have one built. Don't get a $400 compusa oem special.

 

[test]

Thanks for the reply.i don't intend to use it for games or high end
graphics
so if i have to order a custom built computer,what all do i have to look
for in terms of future upgrades?
any specific motherboard suggestions?

 

[Dave]

As for motherboards go with ASUS. They are great!
Sound card: SoundBlaster (pick the one you like)
Video card: An AGP card with at least 32MB of RAM onboard the card itself
(NOT shared video RAM) however 64MB of RAM is better (onboard the card
itself of course)
Be sure there are extra PCI slots after completed
Be sure you get USB 2.0
You should have AT LEAST 256MB of RAM, but 512 is better
DVD burners are getting pretty cheap these days, so you should consder
having on of those as well.
Be sure you have an ethernet card as well for broadband internet
connectivity (even if you do not have broadband at this point, you might
choose to get it in the future and you will not have to add it)
As for a processor, I would not go below a Pentium 3 at this point or it
will become out dated sooner


Hope that helps a bit

 

[Gary R.]

Thanks for the reply.i don't intend to use it for games or high end
graphics
so if i have to order a custom built computer,what all do i have to look
for in terms of future upgrades?
any specific motherboard suggestions?

I'm just jumping to agree with purplehaz, if you want something decent, a
custom built is a better way to go.

Graphics, games, or not, you still want a motherboard without built-in
video; there are plenty of decent AGP video cards for $50 or so; no need to
have onboard video bogging things down. If you think you might get a
digital video camera, now is the time to allow for it by making sure it has
video in and out. Sound and network built in is another thing; I like them
being on the board, but some may prefer a sound card, depends on your
priorities.

Get a single stick of RAM so you can add more easily if you want. I like
512MB for XP, less seems to bog it down even if you don't work it too hard.
A fast hard drive, 7200 rpm with an 8MB cache is worth paying extra for,
though it's not much extra. A 400W or so power supply, and a CD/and/or DVD
burner are useful. There are many good motherboard brands, just stay away
from the low end. The old standby names like Asus, Tyan, Abit, etc. cost
more and it's hard to say if they're really worth that much more...I've used
Soyo, Shuttle, Biostar and others with fine results. You don't need to get
the latest fastest processor, but it's a good idea that the motherboard will
accept them. Most will have 4 or 5 expansion slots, which is plenty
especially if you have networking and sound on board. 3 or 4 memory slots
is nice, but not such a big deal if you use the larger sticks...many
manufacturers fill the slots with the cheaper, smaller DIMMs, so if you want
to add you have to buy the whole amount in larger sticks.

I was pricing a machine for someone, and out of curiosity I went to Dell to
see what it would cost. The $500 machine wouldn't do, so I had to go a step
up, and by the time I added what should make a reasonably solid machine, it
was about $1500, but you should be able to get one built by a good shop for
about $1000 that you won't regret buying in a year or two, and is
generically upgradeable.

Gary

 

[R. McCarty]

For a standard/3-yr life cycle PC, I would get/Build the following:

$125 - Intel MB 865GBFL Video/Nic/Sound (Built-In) 8 USB 2 Ports
$320 - Intel Pentium 4-3.0 800 Mhz Bus
$100 - 512 MB DDR-400
$100 - Seagate 80Gig SATA
$200 - Plextor 8X DVD **Brand new, may not be in supply chain yet
$ 20 - Add Intake/Exhaust Fans Variable Speed
$ 60 - Antec Case
$ 15 - Front Panel USB Bracket **If not supplied with Case
** - No Conventional Floppy
__________________________
$940 Total

 

[Dave]

That sounds like a decent system, but I would not go with the onboard video.
I would get an AGP video card with a bare minimum of 32MB of RAM on the card
itself (do not share with system memory/RAM) but is better to have 64MB of
onboard RAM for the video card.

 

[R. McCarty]

That's probably a good suggestion. But, since he said he wasn't
interested in games/high-end graphics I spent his money elsewhere.
The on-board video is O.K., but with AGP card prices it probably
wouldn't increase the cost but perhaps $40.

Of course the quote is just hardware, so you would have to add
O/S, Anti-Virus and a Office suite (If he doesn't have them already)

 

[DILIP]

Thanks for the reply.i don't intend to use it for games or high end
graphics

If you really don't need it for games, go for a Celeron. But get the extra
RAM- 512MB is perfect. DDR 333 will do.

so if i have to order a custom built computer,what all do i have to look
for in terms of future upgrades?

Make the RAM one stick, as the others have mentioned. Try to get a
motherboard with an 8X AGP support. And be careful with assembled
computers-especially the people you buy them from. Check the RAM, processor
etc. as soons as you get the PC. Use a s/w like Aida32 www.aida32.hu

any specific motherboard suggestions?

Asus is rock stable. Intel and MSI are also good value.

 

[purplehaz]

Looks like everyones got you covered here. I agree with it all. P3 or P4
intel, asus, msi motherboards, get agp video card, sound on or off board,
dvd or cd burners, 512 ddr ram, 7200 ide harddrive, nic,.......

 

[CWatters]

I am considering buying a new PC with XP installed

I would think carefully about the details of that.

If you go to a small retailer you might be able to get them to do you a very
good deal on a _retail_ version of Windows XP, have them install it and give
you the Microsoft CD. The next best option might be to tell them you want
the "real Microsoft OEM CD" that use to install the OS supplied with the
computer. (Note This is a microsoft branded CD not a home made CDR). These
CD are easier to use when it comes to doing a repair install.

Many/most big retailers don't give you the OS on CD on it's own - instead
they give you a "Recovery Disc" or put a "Recovery Program" on a "hidden
partition". Usually this is a copy of the Microsoft OEM OS together with a
bundle of programs that may or may not be worth much to you. Some even
charge you a lot for a copy of the Recovery Disc when you hit a problem and
find you don't have it.

The OEM version of Windows is supported by the retailer who sells you the
system NOT Microsoft. The quality of support varies wildly. Some retailers
won't even bother to try and help you. They just tell you to re-format and
re-install everything from the Recovery Disc. This typically returns your
system to the way it was when they sold it to you - not a lot of help if you
have installed a lot of new programs and updates (you would have to repeat
all of that). If you have the OEM or Retail OS on CD then you stand more
chance of being able to fix it yourself or get someone else to help.

 

[test]

Thank you all for your great suggestions

i appreciate it..

Happy holidays !!!!!

 

[Frank]

At this stage of the game I would not go below an Intel 875 chipset,
with a Intel processor with hyperthreading. I would also use matched
512 + 512 duel channel DDR. The only addition one would need is a
quality AGP 8x card. Anything less and one will be dissatisfied after about
1 or 2 months.

: Looks like everyones got you covered here. I agree with it all. P3 or P4
: intel, asus, msi motherboards, get agp video card, sound on or off board,
: dvd or cd burners, 512 ddr ram, 7200 ide harddrive, nic,.......
:
: : > Thanks for the reply.i don't intend to use it for games or high end
: > graphics
: > so if i have to order a custom built computer,what all do i have to look
: > for in terms of future upgrades?
: > any specific motherboard suggestions?
:
: