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[ParadigmDawg]

So I have about had it with my CPU. It got "sick" about a year ago and is very slow now. I tried to dump everything and then reload (I don't have a clue when it comes to computers) but it only helped a little.

I think I would like to just buy a laptop and get rid of this thing. What should I be looking for?

Criteria:

Would prefer to just buy it from a local B&M store
Windows 7?
Need the basic MS work programs
Need a good amount of memory (3 or 4 GB?)
Need it to be fast

What else is important?

Keep in mind that I stream all my music to my AVR using WAV files from WMP11.

I would like to keep it under $500 if possible.

 

[Adam]

You might get some useful info from Matt's thread here. He had a different set of priorities, but some of the comments might be useful.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Stop it, that thread has too much computer talk on it. I want you to just post a Best Buy link and say "this is the perfect one for you, it is awesome and will do everything you need it to".

You might get some useful info from Matt's thread here. He had a different set of priorities, but some of the comments might be useful.

 

[Adam]

Here is a Best Buy link and "this is the perfect one for you, it is awesome and will do everything you need it to."

Nah, sorry. I just went to the $500 laptops and picked the brand that I trust the most (HP). I believe that it has everything that you asked for, except I don't know how speedy that Pentium processor will be. I'm more of a Core processor fan.

 

[highfigh]

So I have about had it with my CPU. It got "sick" about a year ago and is very slow now. I tried to dump everything and then reload (I don't have a clue when it comes to computers) but it only helped a little.

I think I would like to just buy a laptop and get rid of this thing. What should I be looking for?

Criteria:

Would prefer to just buy it from a local B&M store
Windows 7?
Need the basic MS work programs
Need a good amount of memory (3 or 4 GB?)
Need it to be fast

What else is important?

Keep in mind that I stream all my music to my AVR using WAV files from WMP11.

I would like to keep it under $500 if possible.

How old is the computer? Have you tried reformatting it? It might not be a CPU issue at all.

 

[Alex2507]

In Matt's thread somebody linked an Asus for ~ $1,000. It looks like an upgraded version of mine which you have seen. I don't know anything about computers either but I would be cool with that one. The cNet reviews helped me out as pzaur suggested and then I ran into some kind of crazy sale.

Personally I think you should get the Mac in order to satisfy that 'more brains than money' contention that Jamie is struggling to establish.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

It is 2 or 3 years old. I don't really know what "reformatting it" is or how to do that.

How old is the computer? Have you tried reformatting it? It might not be a CPU issue at all.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I think 1k is more than 500.....

In Matt's thread somebody linked an Asus for ~ $1,000. It looks like an upgraded version of mine which you have seen. I don't know anything about computers either but I would be cool with that one. The cNet reviews helped me out as pzaur suggested and then I ran into some kind of crazy sale.

Personally I think you should get the Mac in order to satisfy that 'more brains than money' contention that Jamie is struggling to establish.

 

[Alex2507]

I think 1k is more than 500.....

Whoops! Not with it at all this AM.

 

[Adam]

Personally I think you should get the Mac in order to satisfy that 'more brains than money' contention that Jamie is struggling to establish.

I thought that I was trying to establish that. Jamie's all about instinct, my man. Pure instinct.

 

[BMXTRIX]

You know, I've looked at any number of PCs over the years and the one thing that I've come to the conclusion on is this:

If you don't spend at least enough for a midline PC or laptop, you will be pretty unhappy in the long run.

I would STRONGLY recommend that you spend a bit more to get a PC which has a decent build quality and doesn't fall into the middle of the road cheapest on the block variety, which there are plenty of, but all are of pretty low/cheap quality off the line in China.

I've used both expensive and cheap laptops - and the cheap ones didn't survive, while the expensive ones have not failed.

My $1,000+ desktop from 5 years ago we replaced last year with a $400 model. I will NOT use that desktop anymore and went back to my 5 year old model because it is simply a better product.

I think all manufacturers make good and cheap product, but at the end of the day, a cheap laptop just won't hold up for you long term.

As is typically the case - Best Buy isn't going to really offer much in the way of deals for you and you will be spending a bit more than you need to compared to buying directly from Dell or going to a place like Microcenter.

With the options out there, you want to consider that you probably want a current generation Intel/AMD processor of good speed, sitting on a good motherboards. RAM is cheap now, so memory is easy. Yet, a slow processor can't be overcome, so make sure that it is good.

If I had to go to BB and buy at $500, this is what I would get...
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dell+-+Inspiron+Laptop+with+Intel®+Pentium®+Processor+-+Pacific+Blue/9528825.p?id=1218119756637&skuId=9528825

If I was just going to buy a laptop I would shoot to keep it closer to $1,000 and would likely be looking here...
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=dndwda3&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&kc=laptop-inspiron-17

Actually, I would likely go through the Dell Outlet store which can save you $200 or so off of 'new' pricing.

Yet, if this is for your home, and you intend to leave it installed at your home, the best value still is going to come from getting a desktop PC - especially if you are on a limited budget for this operation.

There's a LOT of compromise when spending $500 on a computer, just as there would be on an A/V system for that much money.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Here is a Best Buy link and "this is the perfect one for you, it is awesome and will do everything you need it to."

I'm a Bored [sometimes] System Administrator (in large fund-of-funds) and I approve this message

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Is there a place where I can just take my CPU and they can find out what's wrong with it and fix it?

I would love to not spend any money but I don't want to dump 200 bucks into a $400 cpu. (just guessing what it may cost to fix this one).

-or- am I just better off getting a new one?

I need to use my money to pay off everything(I do that at the end of each year) but my computer is driving me crazy.

I did kind-of find $3,000 the other day so I can spend a little of it if I have to.

 

[Adam]

Greg, the first thing that came to my mind after reading your first post was that it's a software problem. That's been mentioned by highfigh, as well. When you said that you tried to dump everything and reload, I figured that you did a complete reinstall. Once you said that you don't know what reformatting is, I realized that I probably assumed too much.

I'm not a computer expert, but here are my thoughts. Your CPU shouldn't be slower now because of physical damage. It's either in your software or firmware. It's less common (as far as I know) to get malware embedded into firmware (like your BIOS). It's more likely that you have some resident program that is using up your CPU or slowing it down somehow.

Tell you what - try this. I'm assuming that you have Windows. With the laptop up and running, bring up the Task Manager (hit CTRL-ALT-DELETE). Then, look at the Performance tab and check your CPU usage. Try not to be running any programs, and see what the CPU usage is. If it's running high, then something is running that you aren't expecting. Why don't you try that and let us know, then we'll move from there.

 

[Adam]

Oh, another note. Reformatting, or simply reinstalling Windows, is certainly another option that is less costly. If you can get all the files off of the laptop that you care about (financial, photos, whatever), then that is the option that I'd pick if we can't fix this an easier way.

 

[adwilk]

Just pick something out thats on this page. You're welcome.

-Alex.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

The CPU Usage is reading between 1 and 4%.

I did a complete uninstall and reinstall last time, it seemed a tad faster after that but not much.

Greg, the first thing that came to my mind after reading your first post was that it's a software problem. That's been mentioned by highfigh, as well. When you said that you tried to dump everything and reload, I figured that you did a complete reinstall. Once you said that you don't know what reformatting is, I realized that I probably assumed too much.

I'm not a computer expert, but here are my thoughts. Your CPU shouldn't be slower now because of physical damage. It's either in your software or firmware. It's less common (as far as I know) to get malware embedded into firmware (like your BIOS). It's more likely that you have some resident program that is using up your CPU or slowing it down somehow.

Tell you what - try this. I'm assuming that you have Windows. With the laptop up and running, bring up the Task Manager (hit CTRL-ALT-DELETE). Then, look at the Performance tab and check your CPU usage. Try not to be running any programs, and see what the CPU usage is. If it's running high, then something is running that you aren't expecting. Why don't you try that and let us know, then we'll move from there.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Why would I want to know what the Top 5 most expensive laptops are?

Just pick something out thats on this page. You're welcome.

-Alex.

 

[adwilk]

Why would I want to know what the Top 5 most expensive laptops are?

Geez, just poking a little fun at the monkey. Sorry I sent that one over your head. Alex got it I think...

 

[Alex2507]

I did kind-of find $3,000 the other day

Odd ... I misplaced that exact amount recently.
Is it in U.S. currency?