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Computer Specifications
10 Answers
Hi, my parents are looking to buy a new computer which will mainly be used by my 2 teenage brothers. I have been looking on Dell but am totally confused as to what components will be suitable and the difference between components. They will use it for general internet use, perhaps digital photo storage, being teenage boys they may want to also use it for gaming. We want it to accommodate Vista too and general technology upgrades in the future. Can someone help me out with what will be sufficient and compatible with each other from the following. Many thanks in advance.
PROCESSOR
Intel Pentium D 820 Dual Core procesor 2.80ghz, 800mhz, 2x1mb.
Intel Pentium D 915 Dual Core procesor 2.80ghz, 800mhz, 2x2mb.
Intel Viiv Pentium D 915 Dual Core procesor 2.80ghz, 800mhz, 2x2mb.
As per Dell wesbite etc etc........
MEMORY
512mb DDR2 533 mhz
1024mb dual channel DDR2 533 mhz 2x512
2048mb dual channel DDR2 533 mhz 4x512
2048mb dual channel DDR2 533 mhz 2x1024
HARD DRIVE
160GB (7200rpm) serial ATA hard drive 8mb databurst cache
250GB (7200rpm) serial ATA hard drive 8mb databurst cache
320GB (7200rpm) serial ATA hard drive 8mb databurst cache
320GB dual hard drive non RAID 2x160GB (7200rpm)
GRAPHICS CARD
Integrated intel graphics media accelerator 3000
256MB nVidia GeForce 7300 turbocache
PROCESSOR
Intel Pentium D 820 Dual Core procesor 2.80ghz, 800mhz, 2x1mb.
Intel Pentium D 915 Dual Core procesor 2.80ghz, 800mhz, 2x2mb.
Intel Viiv Pentium D 915 Dual Core procesor 2.80ghz, 800mhz, 2x2mb.
As per Dell wesbite etc etc........
MEMORY
512mb DDR2 533 mhz
1024mb dual channel DDR2 533 mhz 2x512
2048mb dual channel DDR2 533 mhz 4x512
2048mb dual channel DDR2 533 mhz 2x1024
HARD DRIVE
160GB (7200rpm) serial ATA hard drive 8mb databurst cache
250GB (7200rpm) serial ATA hard drive 8mb databurst cache
320GB (7200rpm) serial ATA hard drive 8mb databurst cache
320GB dual hard drive non RAID 2x160GB (7200rpm)
GRAPHICS CARD
Integrated intel graphics media accelerator 3000
256MB nVidia GeForce 7300 turbocache
Answers
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I agree buying a PC and knowing what all the things mean is a nightmare, and i have worked in computers for 30 years.
I will answer in a number of appends, to keep it simple.
First graphics.
If the boys may want to play games the most important thing is the graphics.
Intergrated or on-board graphics as you have first in the list above is NOT suitable for games. These are basic graphics built into the motherboard and are good enough for general windows use but not good enough for games.
So you need a separate graphics card, as shown in the second option above. But that card has only 256Mb of memory which may not be enough.
I do not play games so cannot help on the graphics card, I will leave that to others to answer, but just make sure you get a graphics card suitable for playing games.
Another append to follow
I will answer in a number of appends, to keep it simple.
First graphics.
If the boys may want to play games the most important thing is the graphics.
Intergrated or on-board graphics as you have first in the list above is NOT suitable for games. These are basic graphics built into the motherboard and are good enough for general windows use but not good enough for games.
So you need a separate graphics card, as shown in the second option above. But that card has only 256Mb of memory which may not be enough.
I do not play games so cannot help on the graphics card, I will leave that to others to answer, but just make sure you get a graphics card suitable for playing games.
Another append to follow
Memory
Windows XP could work with 512Mb, although some people put 1Gb in to be on the safe side.
With Windows Vista Microsoft have really put the boat out and the hardware requirements have increased in all departments.
1Gb will be the minimum for Vista, although I think next year more machines will have 2Gb in them.
Because Vista is not out yet there is still some confusion about how much memory it will require.
You could buy a PC with 1Gb and it may be OK with Vista.
If I were buying a PC now I would wait for Vista and see how it ran with 1Gb on it. If it was slow go for 2Gb.
I know some people will think that 2Gb is overkill but I think it may become the norm next year.
Windows XP could work with 512Mb, although some people put 1Gb in to be on the safe side.
With Windows Vista Microsoft have really put the boat out and the hardware requirements have increased in all departments.
1Gb will be the minimum for Vista, although I think next year more machines will have 2Gb in them.
Because Vista is not out yet there is still some confusion about how much memory it will require.
You could buy a PC with 1Gb and it may be OK with Vista.
If I were buying a PC now I would wait for Vista and see how it ran with 1Gb on it. If it was slow go for 2Gb.
I know some people will think that 2Gb is overkill but I think it may become the norm next year.
Hard disk
Well all the ones you list are MASSIVE. A few years ago people were happy with 10Gb disks so 160gb or 320Gb is huge.
I have three computers as home, one with 10Gb (an old laptop), one with 40Gb and one with 80Gb, and I have never filled any of them up.
The last in your list RAID, is mainly used by business people, It is where the same data is stored on two disks in case one crashes. Not needed in a home environment.
I would think the 160Gb would be plenty.
Well all the ones you list are MASSIVE. A few years ago people were happy with 10Gb disks so 160gb or 320Gb is huge.
I have three computers as home, one with 10Gb (an old laptop), one with 40Gb and one with 80Gb, and I have never filled any of them up.
The last in your list RAID, is mainly used by business people, It is where the same data is stored on two disks in case one crashes. Not needed in a home environment.
I would think the 160Gb would be plenty.
Processor.
Like many people, I get confused by the ever changing numbers for processors, so cannot say which is best.
The PC press seems to think Intel Dual Core is the best at the moment, so any of the three in your list are fine.
Intel Viiv is a new technology from Intel. It is not so much about the processor but other components in the PC.
I think it helps with home entertainment PCs.
Road more here:
http://www.intel.com/personal/our-technology/v iiv/index.htm
I think Vista will require a Dual Core processor so you are probably right going for that.
Like many people, I get confused by the ever changing numbers for processors, so cannot say which is best.
The PC press seems to think Intel Dual Core is the best at the moment, so any of the three in your list are fine.
Intel Viiv is a new technology from Intel. It is not so much about the processor but other components in the PC.
I think it helps with home entertainment PCs.
Road more here:
http://www.intel.com/personal/our-technology/v iiv/index.htm
I think Vista will require a Dual Core processor so you are probably right going for that.
Windows Vista
The current operating system of choice is Windws XP.
This will be replaced by Windows Vista at the end of January and by then all home PCs will probably have Vista on them.
If you buy a PC at the moment they will probably offer you a Vista upgrade.
This is where you buy the PC now with XP on it, then upgrade to Vista for free when it comes out.
I THINK THIS IS A BAD IDEA.
Upgrading from one version of Windows to another is NOT without its problems. It CAN go wrong, and then you may not have a working PC.
Then you will finish up spending hours on the phone to Dell, or taking it back to Dell.
It is not worth the hassle, you only have 5 weeks wait.
Wait till the end of January and buy a PC with Vista already on it. Then you do not have to worry about upgrading.
The current operating system of choice is Windws XP.
This will be replaced by Windows Vista at the end of January and by then all home PCs will probably have Vista on them.
If you buy a PC at the moment they will probably offer you a Vista upgrade.
This is where you buy the PC now with XP on it, then upgrade to Vista for free when it comes out.
I THINK THIS IS A BAD IDEA.
Upgrading from one version of Windows to another is NOT without its problems. It CAN go wrong, and then you may not have a working PC.
Then you will finish up spending hours on the phone to Dell, or taking it back to Dell.
It is not worth the hassle, you only have 5 weeks wait.
Wait till the end of January and buy a PC with Vista already on it. Then you do not have to worry about upgrading.
Upgrading
I have a Dell PC myself, and bought two for family members, so do think they are good.
But I have never upgraded one, and I understand they are not easy to upgrade (they do not always use standard components).
If you buy the right PC at the start you should not need to upgrade.
If you DO want to upgrade, find a small local PC builder who can build one for you out of standard parts.
Then if you do want to upgrade it should be easier.
I have a Dell PC myself, and bought two for family members, so do think they are good.
But I have never upgraded one, and I understand they are not easy to upgrade (they do not always use standard components).
If you buy the right PC at the start you should not need to upgrade.
If you DO want to upgrade, find a small local PC builder who can build one for you out of standard parts.
Then if you do want to upgrade it should be easier.
Price.
With the items you are listing you seem to be going for a very high spec machine.
My guess it is going to cost between �800 and �1000.
You can get a reasonable PC for between �450 and �500 from Dell, you do not need to pay that much.
I bought 2 PCs from Dell recently that cost about �425 each.
They were not top-of-the-range but were fine for general web browsing, email, office etc.
I could have added a better graphics card for about �50 pushing them to nearly �500, but they would have been fine for what you want.
If you wait for Vista you may have to pay more because the hardware requirments will be more, but a general purpose Windows XP machine should only cost you between �450 and �500.
Couple of other things:
Try to get a 19" TFT monitor.
Most PCs come with 17" as standard, but Dell often offer a 19" upgrqde for free, so look out for them.
In fact it should be said that Dell are ALWAYS offering special deals like more memory, larger hard disk, bigger screen etc so look out for good Dell deals.
They do offer a regular e-mail service.
Why not sign up for that and see what offers come out over the next few weeks.
I think that is about all for my marathon append, let me know if you need more help.
(I will probably think of something else in a minute)
With the items you are listing you seem to be going for a very high spec machine.
My guess it is going to cost between �800 and �1000.
You can get a reasonable PC for between �450 and �500 from Dell, you do not need to pay that much.
I bought 2 PCs from Dell recently that cost about �425 each.
They were not top-of-the-range but were fine for general web browsing, email, office etc.
I could have added a better graphics card for about �50 pushing them to nearly �500, but they would have been fine for what you want.
If you wait for Vista you may have to pay more because the hardware requirments will be more, but a general purpose Windows XP machine should only cost you between �450 and �500.
Couple of other things:
Try to get a 19" TFT monitor.
Most PCs come with 17" as standard, but Dell often offer a 19" upgrqde for free, so look out for them.
In fact it should be said that Dell are ALWAYS offering special deals like more memory, larger hard disk, bigger screen etc so look out for good Dell deals.
They do offer a regular e-mail service.
Why not sign up for that and see what offers come out over the next few weeks.
I think that is about all for my marathon append, let me know if you need more help.
(I will probably think of something else in a minute)
I knew I would think of something.
If the boys are intereted in gaming I think a better bet than using the PC is to use a dedicated games machine.
You can get a PS2 for under �100, and there are loads of games for the playstation, and loads availabe second hand.
Then you can buy a basic PC in the �450 to �500 range, and with the money you save buy a games machine.
Using a games machine is so much easier than using a Windows PC. You just put the CD in the games machine and off you go.
With games on a PC you need to install it, then you may have problems with drivers etc. plus if they somehow corrrupt the PC you may lose files on the PC.
Just a thought.
If the boys are intereted in gaming I think a better bet than using the PC is to use a dedicated games machine.
You can get a PS2 for under �100, and there are loads of games for the playstation, and loads availabe second hand.
Then you can buy a basic PC in the �450 to �500 range, and with the money you save buy a games machine.
Using a games machine is so much easier than using a Windows PC. You just put the CD in the games machine and off you go.
With games on a PC you need to install it, then you may have problems with drivers etc. plus if they somehow corrrupt the PC you may lose files on the PC.
Just a thought.
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