New computer itch

[Matt34]

I just got my wife a new desktop and now have the bug to get myself one. I'm currently using my Dell XPS 1210 as a desktop replacement with a 20" monitor so it is constantly on and I've ran into some overheating issues playing games. I'd like to go back to using it just for travel.

Web browsing, multi-media storage and playback and the ability to play WOW are my top priorities.....but I want to do it on the cheap. Between $400-500 is what I'm looking at. I don't need any accessories as I have all of that, just the computer.

 

[GlocksRock]

If you like Dell, go to their site, select small business, and at the top of the page under where it says desktops, select desktop dell deals, from there you can customize a nice PC, and select no monitor during the process, and that will get you a pc cheaper than you would get from the home side, and the only difference is the color of the case. You can always get one with a monitor and then sell it, that will be better for you in the long run, as you can easily sell a new in box dell flat panel monitor on craigslist or ebay, or wherever for around $150, and when you spend $499 or more you get free shipping.

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/topic.aspx/us/segments/bsd/dell-deals-desktops?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd&~tab=1&redirect=1

 

[alexwakelin]

You may want to consider building your own computer, a quick look on newegg and I came up with this system:

Nvidia 9600GT video card: 74.99 (after MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162007

ASRock motherboard: 79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157139

AMD 2.9 GHz dual core processor: 69.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103234

*4GB of DDR2 1066 RAM: 46.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231226

Wester Digital 640GB hard drive: 69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136298

Rosewill computer case with 400watt power supply: 57.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147001

Samsung CD/DVD drive: 23.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171

Total: $422.94

A similarly priced computer from dell will get you a computer with only 2GB of ram, a much smaller hard drive, a slower processor and no video card. This system does not include an operating system, but Dell charges $99 extra for windows XP anyway. The cheap computers from Dell come with Vista for free, but will run terrible with only 2GB of ram and no video card. For under $600 total you could add in windows XP and a blu-ray drive.

*Note: windows xp will only recognize 3.5GB of ram.

 

[alexwakelin]

I configured this system on the dell website, which came out to $853:

PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E7400 (2.8GHz, 3M, L2Cache, 1066FSB) edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista® Business Bonus-Windows XP Professional downgrade edit
WARRANTY & SERVICE 1 Year Basic Limited Warranty and 1 Year NBD On-Site Service edit
MEMORY 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz - 2DIMMs edit
PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE No Pre-installed Productivity Software edit
Dell Recommends
Microsoft Office Basic Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook PREINSTALLED!
Upgrade to Microsoft® Office Basic 2007 (Word, Excel, Outlook) [add $149]


MONITOR No Monitor edit
SECURITY McAfee Total Protection for Small Business 30-day Subscription edit
OPTICAL DRIVE Single Drive: 16X (DVD+/-RW) Burner Drive edit
HARD DRIVE 750GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™ edit
VIDEO CARD 256MB ATI Radeon HD 3650 -supports DVI,DP,HDMI Connections edit
MEDIA READER No Media Reader edit
MODEM & WIRELESS No Modem Option edit
SOUND Integrated 5.1 Channel Audio

You could just get a basic $400 computer from Dell, but if you want to do anything more then browse the web it just won't cut it. Also, Dell does not offer 1066 RAM, or anything better then the Radeon 3650, so you will still have lower performance from the Dell.

 

[lsiberian]

You may want to consider building your own computer, a quick look on newegg and I came up with this system:

Nvidia 9600GT video card: 74.99 (after MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162007

ASRock motherboard: 79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157139

AMD 2.9 GHz dual core processor: 69.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103234

*4GB of DDR2 1066 RAM: 46.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231226

Wester Digital 640GB hard drive: 69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136298

Rosewill computer case with 400watt power supply: 57.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147001

Samsung CD/DVD drive: 23.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171

Total: $422.94

A similarly priced computer from dell will get you a computer with only 2GB of ram, a much smaller hard drive, a slower processor and no video card. This system does not include an operating system, but Dell charges $99 extra for windows XP anyway. The cheap computers from Dell come with Vista for free, but will run terrible with only 2GB of ram and no video card. For under $600 total you could add in windows XP and a blu-ray drive.

*Note: windows xp will only recognize 3.5GB of ram.

Why did you go so cheap on the cache?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103244 This chip would be much nicer IMO. Also I would use an Asus motherboard and an Antec case. But maybe he's had good experiences with that brand.

The nice thing is with a desktop upgrading stuff is easy.

 

[lsiberian]

*Note: windows xp will only recognize 3.5GB of ram.

This would be a 32 bit OS limitation, but I'm wondering if the 64 bit would have the same issues.

 

[alexwakelin]

Why did you go so cheap on the cache?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103244 This chip would be much nicer IMO. Also I would use an Asus motherboard and an Antec case. But maybe he's had good experiences with that brand.

The nice thing is with a desktop upgrading stuff is easy.

2 x 512 is all you can get in an AMD X2 cpu. I have that same processor in my HTPC, and blu-ray playback is flawless using the nvidia 9600GT video card. It runs wow fine also, which is also something Matt34 said was a priority. The quad core is also a 95 watt cpu, which combined with a video card might push the psu, upgrading the psu would blow the budget. I've also read some things that suggest for most common tasks a faster dual core outperforms a slower triple or quad core. I pieced this together in just a few minutes, and I think it's a decent build for the money. With a $400 - $500 budget, you have to compromise somewhere. Antec cases are nice, but more expensive. I have a rosewill case which I think it very nice for the money. Yes, I use ASUS boards in all my builds, but the ASRock gets good reviews and seems to be a good budget board.

 

[alexwakelin]

This would be a 32 bit OS limitation, but I'm wondering if the 64 bit would have the same issues.

No, 64 bit OS's are not limited to 3.5 Gb of ram, I was just letting the OP know that XP would not utilize 4Gb of RAM if he went that route. Even with this limitation, IMO, unless you have a powerful computer, XP beats Vista for performance. Selling budget computers with 2 Gb of RAM and integrated graphics loaded with Vista should be a crime.

 

[GlocksRock]

I have Vista Home Premium 32 bit and 4 gigs of ram, and Vista only recognizes 3.25 gigs of ram. I originally intended to put Vista Ultimate 64 bit on it to take full advantage of all my ram, but once I installed it, it didn't work properly since for some odd reason, Dell doesn't make 64 bit drives for my particular pc. So I had to go back to 32 bit, but even with only 3.25 gigs of ram, it still runs great and I've yet to have any hiccups with vista.

 

[Ito]

Why the hell would you pay for a downgrade from vista to XP? Don't answer that, lol.

you should really consider building your own. It's pretty easy and cheap. Unless you really arn't a computer person, you should build it yourself.