Computer Dilemna

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1124

Looking to potentially upgrade my current computer or buy a new one soon.

First off, I am totally confused about the benefits of Vista. Are there any?

Second, how easy would it be for me to upgrade my RAM on my emachines? Is that hard to do?

And last but not least, man, I am looking at two different computers.

One is only $300!!! Best part? It is stil running Windows XP and therefore its ram and everything would run really smoothly. Basically, it is an emachines just like mine except it has a faster running speed and 1 gb ram instead of 512. Obviously, with XP, that gb ram is pretty good compared to if I had vista.

On the other hand, for $650 I could get a 500 GB, 3 GB RAM, fast processing gateway from best buy. But do I need to spend that much? My current computer is not dead. I Could upgrade the ram and probably be happy (though I am running out of hard drive space.)

LEt me know what you all think, PLEASE

Segep · Joined: 10 Nov 2007 Posts: 222

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1124

Thanks for the help Segep! I am thinking that going without vista for now-- and updating my RAM on my current computer-- is going to be the smartest way to go right now. That, and I may get that cheaper computer and customize the shit out of it Smile

Kizzume · Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:40 pm Post subject:

I recommend NOT going with vista unless you have two hard drives and want to dual boot between XP and Vista.

As far as the computers you mentioned looking into--what is the speed of the processor?

Another thing--I recommend you going to a store that makes computers themselves and have them build you one, OR, if you want, I can build you one and we can just go to some parts stores and get them that way.

Hard drives--most of the time the ones that come with name-brand machines are bottom of the barrel in quality--they'll usually go out in 2 years. Even though Seagate and Maxtor are owned by the same company, the seagates still seem to be pretty decent.

Memory--get the cheap brands--unless you're going for a high-end mega-gaming machine, it's not going to matter.

Motherboards--do NOT get ASROCK brand. Do NOT get that brand--just save yourself some headaches.

Cases--make sure it can have a fan installed on the side and that it has enough metal weight in it--the ligher ones don't seem to absorb the heat as well and tend to overheat easier--I don't know if there's any science to that or anything, but that's just been my experience.

Sound/audio--if you're going for recording, get a cheap M-Audio brand card--they seem to have a number of cards at a reasonable price. If you're going for general, the sound that comes with the motherboard is usually just fine.

Video--I personally recommend ATI over nVidia--they seem to be focused more on efficiency than nVidia--to me, nVidia seems to focus more on bells and whistles than just sheer power, but that's just my opinion.

This is if you're wanting to have someone put it together.

But seriously--I DON'T recommend getting a name-brand computer. If you get it at one of those stores that makes them, you can get a warranty on it that allows you to bring it right to the store and they'll fix it there instead of having to ship it off.

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1124

WEll ironically I was thinking about getting another emachines since mine has held up so well. Emachines wouldn't be a name brand...more like a really cheap brand...lol......but in all seriousness it has held up for quite a while now. But then, I am not sure if what I would be getting for $300 would really be worth it.

I can't remember the processising speed. But it was 160 gb (just like the one I have now, but obviously I could use it for different stuff) 1 GB ram, but it runs off of XP! Meaning that 1 GB is actually going to be pretty good. It would be double what I have now anyway. And for processising speed, I can't remember. But it was like the one I have except not as fast if I remember right. AMD.

I have no idea what a motherboard even is.....lol......

but I like the idea you are talking about, about having someone build a computer for me and all that. The only thing is...do you know of any around here? Are they expensive?

I should clarify: I want to spend the least amount possible. And I would prefer using the XP operating system still..

Kizzume · Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 11:33 pm Post subject:

I'm trying to remember the one that's actually near that Wendy's---infotec, or infotech or something like that. That's one place. If you can find a PCClub or Compucare in your area, those are good places. I would just call around to see what place is closest to your area that builds them there.

The nice thing is that usually those places don't install a bunch of extra crap that you REALLY don't want on the computer like you get with most name brands.

If you can get something that's at least 3ghz (for a single core processor), I think you'd be sitting pretty. Some of the things that is making things confusing right now is the multiple-core processors. Right now, there isn't much out there that can actually take advantage of multiple cores, so it's actually somewhat a waste of money. I'm running a Pentium 4 processor 3.2 ghz, and it has treated me VERY well, and I think those statistics, you could get a machine for pretty cheap.

Another thing to consider is if you can find a place that sells used computer parts. It sounds like the things you really need it for don't really require everything new--you might be able to put together a $300 machine that does EXACTLY what you need, and have a decent amount of ram too. Smile