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help me choose a computer please.


madmatty1110

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I am looking for a new computer my mum won't let me use hers any more Iâââ‰â¢ll list what I need and maybe you could post some links and ideas my price range is around Ãâã300 to Ãâã400 thanks for helping.

 

 

 

by the way I can't post any off the like speed internet things I only understand gigabytes and mega bytes

 

 

 

requirements:

 

CPU: only thing that I need with this would be it not being enormous and cant look weird like my old windows 95.

 

 

 

screen: flat screen as my desk is small.

 

 

 

USB ports: I will need a few of these maybe like two at the front and two or three at back.

 

 

 

graphic cards: I need one of these but don't want to spend tons of money on.

 

 

 

speakers: maybe some of these but only if the cheep as I can nick my mums or my brothers or just use my mine.

 

 

 

internet: I need to connect to the internet some how I do not have anything in my room like telephone plugs and stuff so those router things and the wireless connection things.

 

 

 

key board: I need one of these as the computer I got at the moment is a laptop.

 

 

 

Mouse: need one of these and can I have it with a scroll thing.

 

 

 

programs: off coarse all the Microsoft programs like office or something I would also like to have paint shop pro[Photoshop is out my price range]

 

 

 

I can't really think of anything else but I got a lot of time to add more stuff because Iâââ‰â¢m not getting the computer until I clean my room and thatâââ‰â¢s gonno take a long time.

 

by the way it's got to be windows not Mac.

 

thanks for reading.

 

 

 

ps: if you gonno post and you see any miss spellings and grammar please tell as I got a end of module test in English in a week and this is how I study.

 

edit:cheated copy and pasted into microsoft word and spell checked all well.

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sorry about the rubish sig^ makeing a new might let you have my old one if your nice.

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programs: off coarse all the Microsoft programs like office or something I would also like to have paint shop pro[Photoshop is out my price range]

 

 

 

 

Photoshop is out of your range, but MS Office isn't!? :?

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I just posted something! ^_^ to the terrorist...er... kirbybeam.
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programs: off coarse all the Microsoft programs like office or something I would also like to have paint shop pro[Photoshop is out my price range]

 

 

 

 

Photoshop is out of your range, but MS Office isn't!? :?

 

 

 

MS Office isnt that much.

 

 

 

Some recommendations:

 

 

 

CPU - AMD Athlon. 3400+ should be enough for your needs, but if you wish you could go to 4000+

 

 

 

Graphics card - 256MB 128Bit should be sufficient. Get an ATi, not an nVidia. ATi is better.

 

 

 

Speakers - Dolby 2.1 might be good for you.

 

 

 

Internet - You'll need a ADSL router. 2mbps is a good speed.

 

 

 

RAM - 1GB, maybe 1.5GB.

 

 

 

Hard drive - 120GB, maybe 160GB.

 

 

 

Hope this helps.

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Firstly, ive got a couple of questions.

 

 

 

How good is your knowlege of computers and would you feel comfortable building one from scratch?

 

 

 

If so, are there any parts you would be able to re-use from your current computer?

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Internet - You'll need a ADSL router. 2mbps is a good speed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

He already has an internet connection, it looks like he wants to set up a wireless network.

 

 

 

 

Graphics card - 256MB 128Bit should be sufficient. Get an ATi, not an nVidia. ATi is better.

 

 

 

 

That's quite the biased claim, I've always found nVidia to have better drivers and support.

 

 

 

@Stuart_G: Based on some lines like "CPU: only thing that I need with this would be it not being enormous and cant look weird like my old windows 95. " I'd say he wouldn't be that comfortable building from scratch :P

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, and also...

 

 

 

Photoshop Elements 4.0 : $90

 

Microsoft Office 2003 Student Edition: $149

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I just posted something! ^_^ to the terrorist...er... kirbybeam.
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@Stuart_G: Based on some lines like "CPU: only thing that I need with this would be it not being enormous and cant look weird like my old windows 95. " I'd say he wouldn't be that comfortable building from scratch :P

 

 

 

Yea, not quite the best question to ask when you look at his choice of words.

 

 

 

This Dell computer might be worth looking at.

 

 

 

Its not the greatest thing out there, but considering your apparant lack of experience with computers and your rather small budget, it might be the best you can get.

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If you are still looking, Dell has some great basic entry level PC's for $299.

 

 

 

B110

 

 

 

http://www.dell.com

 

 

 

If you want Microsoft Office, it'll cost you $300 so you aren't gunna get it that cheap with an LCD monitor. Hopefully you can find one cheaper :S.

 

 

 

PS Dont resort to eBay. Buy one new or don't buy one at all.

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programs: off coarse all the Microsoft programs like office or something I would also like to have paint shop pro[Photoshop is out my price range]

 

 

 

 

Photoshop is out of your range, but MS Office isn't!? :?

 

 

 

MS Office isnt that much.

 

 

 

Some recommendations:

 

 

 

CPU - AMD Athlon. 3400+ should be enough for your needs, but if you wish you could go to 4000+

 

 

 

Graphics card - 256MB 128Bit should be sufficient. Get an ATi, not an nVidia. ATi is better.

 

 

 

Speakers - Dolby 2.1 might be good for you.

 

 

 

Internet - You'll need a ADSL router. 2mbps is a good speed.

 

 

 

RAM - 1GB, maybe 1.5GB.

 

 

 

Hard drive - 120GB, maybe 160GB.

 

 

 

Hope this helps.

If you can find a computer that good for 3-4 hundred, you have to be super human or something.

 

 

 

But yea, the Dell B110 looks pretty good for you range. Integrated graphics and sound, but based on your bugdet there's no way you'll be playing any games anyway. Unless you find another dell with similar specs and you can include a ATI x300. If you somehow managed that (it would probably be a little more than youre price range) then you might actually be able to play some modern games. Just don't bet on it running Oblivion or something.

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Internet - You'll need a ADSL router. 2mbps is a good speed.

 

 

 

 

That's good? I just checked my connection (wireless) and it's 54 mbps...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If your price range in only $300-$400 then you're not going to get a whole lot...

 

 

 

Here's and Emachine for $365... It's not too bad but not something I'd personally buy. I used to use Emachines until I got into the high end MMO's and I can say they hold up for a decent amount of time.

 

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp ... 0392808086

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Dell is a good solid brand if you are looking for something pre-packaged. My first PC was a Dell and I was extremely happy with it. The Dell site is great in that you can key in your system tag and it will tell generate a list of the compatible upgrades they have available. I'd go there, to see what I could handle...then go find the most affordable. Over time, I upgraded what I could and then eventually farmed the new parts into a new build.

 

 

 

Good luck!

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I've heard Dell has horrible (and slow) customer service (I own an Alienware laptop and Dell just bought Alienware). I know a guy who ordered a laptop from Dell and when he got it, it was smashed and Dell wouldn't replace it... I never asked him how that turned out cause he was pretty pissed...

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I've heard Dell has horrible (and slow) customer service (I own an Alienware laptop and Dell just bought Alienware). I know a guy who ordered a laptop from Dell and when he got it, it was smashed and Dell wouldn't replace it... I never asked him how that turned out cause he was pretty pissed...

 

I'm sorry to hear that about that guy's bad experience. I'd imagine there are horror stories with just about any manufacturer though. There is always risk. My experience was great with them when I had a packaged PC.

 

 

 

As for e-Bay...I'd be comfortable buying parts there, but not so much when wanted a pre-configured system. In most cases, going with the manufacturer provides added service and warranty benefits that going through a third-party might not. Now that I'm comfortable assembling the parts, e-Bay isn't out of the question.

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I wouldn't go with a Dell. It's annoying to upgrade them. If there is a computer place around you, ask them to custom build you one. And get an nVidia GeForce graphics card. They own.

I really wouldn't call it an era. It was more of a definitive time period during which dinstinctive characteristics were expressed in similar ways.

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I wouldn't go with a Dell. It's annoying to upgrade them. If there is a computer place around you, ask them to custom build you one. And get an nVidia GeForce graphics card. They own.

 

 

 

ATI cards are just as fast, if not faster.

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heres what i'd suggest.

 

get a sempron, one of the very cheap amd semperons, probably 1.6ghz: 70 bucks

 

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... No=2207295

 

 

 

unfortunately expensive mobo, 100$

 

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=2320

 

 

 

nice little radeon graphics card, 45$

 

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... 79&CatId=0

 

 

 

512 of crappy ram: 45 bucks

 

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=1716

 

 

 

maxtor hardrive, 50 bucks

 

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... No=1892385

 

 

 

horribly ugly, basic case, 20 bucks

 

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=1844

 

 

 

flatscreen 17", not cheap, 100 bucks

 

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... 84&CatId=0

 

 

 

standard keyboard with mouse, probably around 20 bucks.

 

 

 

all together, taht adds up to 350 i do believe. now, that is EXCLUDING windows, which is atleast another 100 bucks. the question you have to ask yourself is this, are you going to be doing some hardcore gaming, or just surfing and rs. if the answer to that is gaming, save up ATLEAST 600 bucks to get a decent computer for gaming. if its for rs and surfing the internet, a basic crappy dell is all you'll need. they're usually problem free, and come with the warranty's and all that jazz.

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ATI cards are just as fast, if not faster.

 

 

 

I think you'll find that the fastest card available is made by NVidia. GeForce 7950 GX2.

 

 

 

I didn't say that ATI had the fastest avalible card. I said ATI is just as fast if not faster. Example would be the x1800XT(256mb) for $240 to the 7900($280), the x1800 wins alot of benchmarks over the nvidia card at a lower price.

 

 

 

The 7950GX2 is 2 7900GTs on 1 board so it's realy 2 cards. If you compare just single cards you will get a different story.

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It is ONE card with TWO cores. It has one price, occupies one slot, and can be used with another of them to create a quad-SLI system (only in OEM machines). An FX60 has two cores but I don't hear you calling that two individual processors.

Some people are changed by being a moderator. I wouldn't be.

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  • 2 weeks later...
I've heard Dell has horrible (and slow) customer service (I own an Alienware laptop and Dell just bought Alienware). I know a guy who ordered a laptop from Dell and when he got it, it was smashed and Dell wouldn't replace it... I never asked him how that turned out cause he was pretty pissed...

 

 

 

If anybody is still looking at this, as a nice little guide for buyers on a tight budget,

 

 

 

Dell is terrible, and I agree. I hate Dell, but on a budget, that's your only choice.

 

 

 

 

 

For what Bubsa wanted,

 

 

 

Half the stuff from eBay either breaks or you never receive it.

 

 

 

Example

 

 

 

My friend, buys an Xbox 360 off of eBay. Only $220!!! I guess he was caught up in the excitement because $220 on a $300 (core) system that easily sells for $500 before they came out on eBay is a scam.

 

 

 

 

 

July 05'. Ordered, money sent, Xbox should be received right when it comes out.

 

December 05'. It will try to be there by Christmas for 7 of you (there were 12 buyers total). the other 5 will get a free game of their choice.

 

Later in December. My friend was "one" of the 5 others that would get a free game. pfft..

 

January 05'. "It will be at your house in less than 2 weeks".

 

February 05'. "My shipments came a little late. Sorry should be there in a month or so."

 

March 05'. "Haha suckers! Thanks for the money. I am a kid that just got out of college needing to pay for rent for my apartment. Just be happy it wasn't a ton of money, like 1000 dollars or something. And it's past the "90 day" refund period so you can't get your money back. Don't even try to get the cops after me because everything I did was legal (?)."

 

 

 

Yes, that's what I mean by eBay is terrible.

 

 

 

All of those, quotes from the seller. 220*20=$4400 for an easy scammer. :notalk:

 

 

 

I do use eBay, but I don't buy anything over 10 or 15 dollars.

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