New Computer

from WinCustomize Forums
Here's the deal:

I am currently using WIN98SE which is not good for downloading too much. The main problem is DesktopX which (although I love it) kills me! Not to mention I can only do 800x600!

What do I want in a new computer? Memory, RAM, Disk Space, etc. Moniter size? I want it all so I can have it all! (Example:
"Warehouse" is beautiful but I can't use it because of the resolution.)

Thanks.
1,113 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Depends on what you can afford. I was recently forced to build a new system and I was only able to scrape up about $800 for it. I went with an AMD 2200XP and an ASUS MB, 1G of RAM which runs in dual-channel mode (do this if you can), and a nVidia FX5600 w/128Mb.

It's been great with everything I do on it so far. I was coming from a PIII-450 so the increase in performance is quite noticable. I decided to buy a good case and power supply this time and I think that was a really good decision. I got the Antec Sonata (piano black with front panel connectors and blue headlights) because it came with a really good quality pwr supply and wasn't that much more than the supply by itself. ($96 on sale) With a DVD burner, floppy, SCSI card and DVD player (had to get a black one ) it was right around $800.

I have a 21" monitor and wouldn't consider anything smaller but I do graphics for a living and the extra size makes a huge difference when you're working with files that are several square feet at 600dpi (the processor and memory make a huge difference too).

I haven't played with any of the flat screens because they don't calibrate well for CMYK. I'm stuck with a CRT until they make plasma screens more available (and affordable). But I'd recommend you get as big a monitor as you can fit on your desk. The 22" flat screen CRT's are awesome (View Sonic and NEC) or a 21" Sony. Then you can run at 1600x1200 and still see the text...

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks, DavidK, that's exactly what I wanted to know!

Any pros/cons on just going to (for example) Dell and ordering one?
Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Dell machines are good and their customer service is good.  Generally you can get a monitor thrown in for about the same cost as building a comparable system yourself without a monitor. The trade-off is in the quality of the components like OEM video cards that don't perform as well as the boxed versions. The advantage is you get the whole thing ready to fly right out of the box.

They can be a good value and the bottom line is, any new system is going to dazzle you with its performance and it will come with XP so your experience is bound to be a positive one.

Try to get a processor of 2Ghz and 1Gig of RAM (PC2700 at least) and a good video card with at least 128Mb of RAM. Hard drive depends on what you store on your machine but 120Gig seems like a good size for most people. 

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I would also check out Best Buy. They always have something on sale. There service is A-1.



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Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If Gregory2001 is your regular comupter user, and is not going to be into playing Breed or UT2, or using graphics programs such as Lightwave,I personally dont see the need for a 128mb graphics card. Ive been livin' my entire 'computer life' without anything bigger than 4mb of dedicated vram and I still get by without hardly any trouble. Also, 120gb of hdd? That sounds like overkill to me also...Unless he/she is going to be saving hours worth of movies/1000's of mp3s, he/she wont need that much. 60gb is more reasonable in my book. But, I do agree on the processor and ram. 2+Ghz is good and 1gb ddr ram wont hurt either. 1600x1200 is good also, but I find I can easily live with 1240x1024.
(Just my two cents worth )