Dell computers

[MSTRS:Me]

I'd agree with those on here who say go custom. You decide what you need/can afford - THEN get it built with one step up in all the important bits. That way you will probably spend more than you budgeted, but you get a machine that won't need upgrading for a very long time & will perform beyond expectation.
Note - you never know just what to expect in the way of requirements until you really get into it. Hence I have had two custom builds in the last 8 years. My current one is 4/5 years old & I have added RAM, a second HDD, USB2, soundcard (to do LP conversion to CD), Video card (for the cameras I have since purchased), A single- and a double-layer DVD writers, Ethernet card for Broadband.
See what I mean....Try doing that with your average off-the-shelf Dell etc.
Try these guys cw2002@paradise.net.nz They are in Napier & their prices are quite good.

[Mooch]

Has anyone actually checked the spec of the Dell , Looks good for the price

19 inch LCD monitor
3.0 Ghz 5150 intel
512 mb ram , (1 gig for extra $99)
USB Keyboard / Mouse
250gb Sata 7200 rpm drive
48x DVD/CDRw Combo (Dual layer DVD writer option $32)
Modem
128 meg shared video card (could be better but option for 256 meg video card for another $32)
7.1 Audio
Speakers
Ethernet card


This spec looks good to me for the price

[Antallica]

The spec is fine, but I can see the mobo dying fairly soonish, same with the PSU. Intel boards tend to crap out more often than AMD's, specially the cheap ones.

[Brian d marge]

ok
If i was to build a computer, most bang for bucks , what would I do?
my current is a Amd chip odf around 1.1 ghz 80 gig hdd, usb2 etc ....

The chip needs upgrading as skype and video tv ,,,dont like each other ,,

but for arguments sake ,,,(not 1800 nz for a chip ) ,,,but what would be the ulitmate computer???

Stephen

[Indiana_Jones]

me and computers don't get along, example

Computer..........................Me



"I must break you"

-Indy

[Racey Rider]

Come my Birthday, I might put the money into a bit of a upgrade of m.. our computer. (aways thinking of the family I is!)

Is it worth me spending up to $200 on mine old thing? or replace with a newer secondhand unit?

I use a 6 years old Macrocom PC
64MB PC-lOO SDRAM (shared or something - acually makes it 56 Mb Ram.)
WINDOWS 98 sec Ed.
INTEL CELERON 500MHZ processer.
10.2 GB SEAGATE HARD DRIVE (Thats all I need)
JETWAY BX 100 SLOT37O VGA/SND (????)


I would like more RAM. + bigger processer. Plus 'Firewire'? to run vid from my camera to store on computer. At some stage later I will want Broadband internet.

Upgrade or buy another secondhand one?
Cheers.
Racey.

Pic shown my computer inturnals. dailup card on the bottom. USb card in middle. spare on top. + a Big spare right at top of Mother board.

[geoffm]

Come my Birthday, I might put the money into a bit of a upgrade of m.. our computer. (aways thinking of the family I is!)

Is it worth me spending up to $200 on mine old thing? or replace with a newer secondhand unit?
.

You won't get much for $200 - the SDram is expensive these days becaue it is so old. Depending on your budget and needs, you should be able to swap-a-box fairly cheaply, giving you a new computer with modern parts for not to much money
Geoff

[Mooch]

You'll need at least 4 gig of disk for one DV tape from the video camera , another 12 -15 gig to rendor it to a DVD. You'll need at least a 1.7 ghz plus machine to run a video package such as MS movie maker. 512 ram is also minimuim without swapping out to disk so go for 768 or 1024 meg of ram. If you don't you'll get extra pops and clicks and bad video jitter.
If you want good sound then look past AC97 sound , go for 24bit 96khz sound chipsets which has been around since early 2005.

[bungbung]

You'll need at least 4 gig of disk for one DV tape from the video camera

Uncompressed DV takes 17gig per 60min of tape

[Mooch]

Checks ..... Your right about that , sorry was thinking Mpeg2

[motobob]

budget around 1500 max at 1800

im so confusedddd now lol but its givin me a good idear on what to look for, im not letting my olds go alone on this they will stuff up

yeah it will be used for photo software mostly.

Hey Tad what I suggest is that you tell the geeks here on the thread exactly what you want to use the PC for. They can then give you the spec that you require and then you can shop around or compare with the Dell. So far everyone appears to tell you what not to buy. Going to get a custom build when you don't know what you need is difficult.

So good luck.

[TraD_MaN]

Hey Tad what I suggest is that you tell the geeks here on the thread exactly what you want to use the PC for. They can then give you the spec that you require and then you can shop around or compare with the Dell. So far everyone appears to tell you what not to buy. Going to get a custom build when you don't know what you need is difficult.

So good luck.

ok geeks this is what i want (well my olds aswell) to use it for

photo storage, photoshop and all other photo programs eg what comes with the camera... also im loooking to get a digi video camera so i want the computer to be able to handle the programs to run that an play around with the films etc... also want to be able to use word/writting programs and CAD aswell. also want to burn cds\dvds play dvds and etc...

sweet ?

[Wonko]

My 2 cents worth

you need a spec sheet, and then go down to local computer shop and see what they can offer you.

If you/your dad is goiong to be using photoshop and are wanting a decent pc then I recomend something like dell spec.

19 inch LCD monitor
3.0 Ghz chip(amd or intel. At the end of day no real difference)
300gb Sata 7200 rpm drive
1 gig of ram
Dual layer DVD writer
256 meg video card
Modem/network card

300 hard drive might not be big enough if you plan on doing a lot of video editing

Go in and talk with a couple of different shops.

[Pathos]

I'd get something based on a AMD Athlon 64 3000+ 1.8GHz Socket 939.

Its cheaper than the intel chip and would be easily upgraded when the prices for the fx57 drop.

get a good ASUS motherboard so it won't blow up on you.

i'd recommend an nvidia card you won't need anything special, my Fx5200 is about as cheap as you can get and wouldn't have a problem with what you need it for. If you want something better a legend 6600GT is a good deal.

[N4CR]

Pathos has chosen a decent cheap CPU (3000+).

A brand new article I have just located: Build Your Own computer... some good info outlining the choices that you can make and how to build the computer itself.
http://www.overclockers.com/tips1219/

Good luck!