Posted on 01/03/2006 7:10:43 PM PST by Sally'sConcerns
I am looking at buying the computer linked below and need some feedback. I'm not very computer savy.
I only use the computer for browsing the web and email. My son took a look at this computer and he stated it had enough power for him to play his online games when he comes to visit.
I would appreciate any feedback or information. Thanks!
I don't know where you get that statement unless you've been in a cave for the last few years... The AMD54 chips are outstanding....beat Intel by Miles....
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Expansion
| External Bays | 4 External 5.25" Drive Bays 2 External 3.5" Drive Bays |
| Internal Bays | 4 Internal 3.5" Drive Bays |
| PCI Slots (Available/Total) | PCI Express x16 1 PCI Express x1 1 PCI 2 |
| Storage Controller | 4 x SATA 150 2 x PATA |
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*************************** Has decent expansion.... Can add a higher power video card....however it will need to be a PCI-Express video card.....which is the latest technology..... ABS has a good reputation.....newegg is the BEST Online computer retailer....have dealt with them several times.....never a problem... |
Should be AMD64....
ABS has a good reputation.....newegg is the BEST Online computer retailer....have dealt with them several times.....never a problem...
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Bought a digital camera there and didn't notice I was entitled to a free 256mb card. I merely had to check off that option - but didn't do it
So I called them after the camera arrived and played dumb. I said (over the phone) that I never got the 256mb card. They shipped me one with zero protest. Thanks New Egg! I've bought refurbished motherboards, AMD Athlons and other fun stuff from them. It's a no brainer to do business with them. Chiefvalue.com is really New Egg. They have great deals daily. http://chiefvalue.com/app/index.asp?linkid=1&store=7
I believe you are misinformed about that. According to numerous reports - Mac OS X and Windows XP will both run in native mode on the new Intel-based Macs. No emulation will be required to run Windows. The Windows games should run at full hardware-speed on dual-core Intel processors on the new Macs.
An emulator called "Rosetta" will be used to run PowerPC-based Mac OS X applications on the Intel hardware, and it is reported to have very good performance.
PC World article: Intel-Based Macs May Run Windows
Now that is getting interesting.,....course I want to see the prices....
I suspect that Apple is attempting to have hardware that will run both MAC OS X and Windows, but have MAC OS X only run on Apple hardware, not clone PC's.
So, yeah, I suppose you could dual boot Windows and run Windows based games.
But since clone, or even Dell/HP/... PC hardware will provide more raw power per dollar than Apple hardware, I would not expect the ability of Apple hardware to run Windows games to be a big selling point.
My house is really bad about heat in the summer. My ex-sister-in-law replaced the outside a/c unit two years ago and the unit isn't quite big enough for the square footage. I normally set my thermostat on 80 degrees where it turns off and on every 15-20 minutes or so. If I set it any lower the unit runs nonstop. I'm seriously considering upgrading the a/c unit to a larger size as my fiance can install it and can also probably get me the unit at cost.
Sounds like I should go with AMD anyway.
I'm starting to lean towards allowing him to build me a system instead of buying a preloaded box thingy. He built his and he tells me its fast.
(Thinking out loud) I think the main problem would be shipping but if he took the box to one of those postal/UPS places they might could pack it with lots of TLC. I mean, after all I should be able to get a much better system if I have the whipper-snapper build it for me, right? Heck, he's been involved with computers almost all of his life. I sent him to college where he could prove to employers he knew all about computers and he works in the field now even though it's keeping mainframes (or servers or whatever they call it) up and running. Decisions, decisions.
AMD64 with windows XP is immune from the recent image file exploit, even without the patch.
Frys bottom of the line home machines do the job and are dirt cheap.
As long as you are not gaming you would be fine.
On cheaper boxes you would probably have to add a DVD recordable drive for $39. Outside of that, I would not recommend ever spending over $350 for a home PC.
All run business and Internet applications just fine.
I ordered parts, son put together one whale of an Athlon-based system for The Lovely Wife for Christmas (many parts from Newegg, as a matter of fact). Hell of a processor; touchy. I've had some interesting blue-screening issues, apparently over a 'drive problem' of some sort......but what a screamer. That's a fine system, but do not buy it with less than 1 gigabyte of memory. Trust me.
A computer is a computer these days. Although you may have your die hards out there, my only suggestion would be to find a company with American speaking tech support. Your wiasting your time calling India for help. Fining your wat around a computer is tough enough...let alone having to speak with someone who does not speak the language is twice the task...
Fining your wat = Finding your way...
All the tech support goes to India.
I believe you buy a computer, then run it for a straight week without shutting it off to see that everything works.
Local stores are better, because if you find a glitch, you have a place to return it and get another.
You can't do that if you build your own computer. That has the most potential for disasters.
Well yeah.......but, um, we're at least a tad more advanced than that. :)
I just wiped the C: drive clean, reloaded a clean load of XP Pro SP2, updated it, then went to the ABIT site (makers of the motherboard) and downloaded latest BIOS and chip-level drivers, then flashed / installed them. Not for the average Joe, I agree. Her system is running an Athlon 3800 (dual core, 64-bit), just over a terrabyte of storage, 2GB of memory, Radeon X800 graphics card, yada yada.....you get the idea......plus hooking up digital still and video cameras, pen drive, USB hub, HP all-in-one USB printer/fax/copier, external drive (300GB), running Premiere 6.5 and dozens of other high-end apps.......yeah, it gets a workout. Only seen one blue screen since I did the reload and I'll eventually figure out the 'driver' problem (thank you, Microsoft Corp., for giving us users SO much usable, specific information on such crashes when they occur..........a 'driver'.........sheesh.............hundreds of 'em on this damned thing.......).
Flakey, dies young, can't be upgraded w/o overloading the power supply or overheating, ...
Everyone of those boxes that I've put in service has thankfully been retired. When I retire better built equipment, I strip them down for parts. I usually can't find much more than the screws and nuts worth salvaging off these junkers.
It's the difference between a Yugo and a Corolla.
Most people who aren't tolerant of flakey crap have no business getting one of these machines. Someone who is tolerant of techie things, and has more time than money can do just fine with them.
If I were recommending equipment for a man who liked to tinker with stuff, and needed to pinch every last penny, then I would not object too much, so long as he didn't plan on calling me when things got flakey.
But put the combination of unreliable, oddly behaving hardware with a Windows operating system (more stable than they used to be, but nothing like the server operating systems that I personally run for literally years w/o rebooting), in the brave new world of the web with aggressively increasing amounts of spam/virus/trojan/malware crap, and the average person has no more chance of figuring out what's wrong than they do of repairing the landing gear on the next airplane they fly in - while in flight.
For a lady who, like the majority of ladies has no particular talent for or patience with for or expertise in technical stuff, I say no way !! .
What's worse, with something from Fry's or Best Buy, you will get no useful help whatsoever with anything that doesn't go just right, and at Best Buy especially, if you look vulnerable, as most people do who aren't all of (1) big, (2) male, (3) old, (4) cranky, (5) skeptical, and (6) technical geeks, then you will get the run around and sold something you don't need.
For those who aren't all of (1) through (6), deal with reputable merchants who will provide honest, competent service.
The following system, from Monarch Computer is almost as cheap, but appears to have a sensible parts selection, including a name-brand power supply (one of the things that causes the biggest head aches in cheap PC's): Monarch Solia Value Desktop Special (AGP). By the time you add Windows XP and shipping, it will cost you perhaps $550.
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