posted
I need some assistance in clarifing what the different names that are given to the PC processors mean. I have been looking for several weeks now, and with so many choices I am completely befuddled. Also which are troublesome? Which come highly recommended for stability? I am considering getting a new PC for my wife as a suprise gift, and need to know what is the best bang for the buck currently. Please though, nothing North of $800.00 US. Thanks
-------------------- Bob Cole American Sign Company 14163 Akron Canfield Rd. Berlin Center, Ohio 44401
A.K.A. Vinylman® Posts: 575 | From: Berlin Center, Ohio, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
I'd take the one that is $649... bump the processor up to the Pentium D 2.8ghz with the 800 mhz FSB.. bump the memory up to 1 gb... bump the Hard Drive up to a 160gb.. that should still be under $800 since they have free shipping and free upgrade to 17" flat panel going on right now.
The other option is to find one pre-built at Costco, Sam's Wholesale, etc. There was a link here a few weeks ago with some killer systems listed for pretty good prices... you might do a search for that thread.
If you can, stay away from the HP's, Compaqs, and Toshiba desktops from the large retailers. These companies have quality products available, but the machines they sell at these stores are usually made as cheap as possible. Simple things like power supplies are proprietary and hard to get. MPITA.
As long as you go with a fairly speedy processor, make sure it is a dual core and a 800 mhz FSB you should be fine. In my opinion, lots of memory and a decent hard drive are more important than a few clicks on the processor speed.
Hey, you'll get lots of opinions. Just giving you my 2 cents. Good luck!
-------------------- Jon Jantz Snappysign.com jjantz21@gmail.com http://www.allcw.com Posts: 3395 | From: Atmore, AL | Registered: Nov 2005
| IP: Logged |
As Jon said buy into the Intel Pentium D 2.8ghz with the 800 mhz with the dual core. Power supply is 450.
I got one about 2 months ago but I have a 3.Gb board with 2.Gb ram on board with 280.Gb hard drive. 3 drives "DVD and CD"...and even the little old 3.5 floppy 8 USB ports... 2 front and 6 back.
What a sweet system. Wireless mouse and keyboard. (Logictech) 19" (ViewSonic)LCD monitor. also 100 watt (Logictech) surround sound speakers
Now mind you I use my system more for animation and video work. (Director/Flash/Premiere/Swift/3D Max) programs I still need to bump it up in Ram.
I find that the Pentium "D" is on of the nices processors Intel has made so far.
This was a local home built system for around $2000.00 Canadian
Sign programs and plotter drives work like a breeze on it as you are doing other things as well...
Good luck!
[ August 05, 2006, 05:49 PM: Message edited by: Stephen Deveau ]
-------------------- Stephen Deveau RavenGraphics Insinx Digital Displays
Letting Your Imagination Run Wild! Posts: 4327 | From: Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000
| IP: Logged |
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I just went thru buying a PC for my daughter who's leaving for college. Being out of the computer field for three years it was almost daunting the changes that have taken place. Anyway the same rules still apply as follows:
Processor, Hard drive, Screen resolution/size, RAM.
Those get you in the drivers seat and then you can pick / choose the rest. I went with DELL and a duo core processor (not solo), 120GB HD, 1GB RAM and a 15.4 ultra wide screen. The other stuff was adequate for the job (CD/DVD etc.)
-------------------- Denis de Leon Creative Signcrafters 125 Railroad Avenue, suite 4 Hightstown, NJ 08520 Posts: 128 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
![[Applause]](graemlins/applause.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic