Inexpensive Computers

[Pepper]

I would like to buy a second computer. I purchased a new one last year with all the bell and whistles. Now I would like a second one, and have been looking at some of the basic/no frills models.

I would be using that computer to go online, pay bills, and use ms money and excel to track my finances. I would not play videos, download music, or anything along those lines. Would it be OK to purchase one of these low end brands? Is the AMD processor any good?

[Diplomat]

Re: Inexpensive Computers

The AMD is excellent, though I would not suggest anything lower than the Sempron 3200 which is the approximate equivalent of a Intel Pentium 2Ghz. PC prices continue to fall so you should be able to get a good deal with at least 512MB of RAM.

[j-kid]

Re: Inexpensive Computers

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products...&~pbar=true

http://www.microcenter.com/search_result...b019d7c361d792a

[Rebycman]

Re: Inexpensive Computers

First thing you need to decide is what Operating System you want to run. I'd suggest XP home for what you want the PC to do. You can go with Win2k or even Win98 but these OS's are getting quite dated hence the XP suggestion.

You don't have to buy a dell/gateway type system, for what you need you can probably buy used or even off the discount rack. Anyway here's what I'd suggest:

P4 1.4 ghz or comparable AMD
Motherboard should have onboard video/lan/sound (quality isnt great but for what you are doing its fine)
512mb RAM
40-100gb hard drive (depending on how much data you want to store)
CD (although I'd suggest a cd burner, they come in handy)
floppy

This setup should be fairly cheap...it may even be hard to find a processor this slow (locally in a store) but you can try ebay or buy the parts off a site like pricewatch.com and build it yourself or have a local shop build it for ya.

Anyway...that's the route I'd take.

Regards,

-Reby

[Pepper]

Re: Inexpensive Computers

Thanks Gentlemen.

You have given me very valuable information. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

[voyeurman2]

Re: Inexpensive Computers

Don't forget emachines. I bought one a year ago for $300. AMD 3000+ processor. 160GB hard drive. CD/DVD/RW lightscribe burner. 5 usb ports. Media card slot. Windows XP. Not one problem in 1 year.

[Diplomat]

Re: Inexpensive Computers

Agreed...bought the Sempron 3200+ with all the bells and whistles for about Canadian $700 over a year ago. Works like a charm...

[dahjah]

Re: Inexpensive Computers

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks Gentlemen.

You have given me very valuable information. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

hope yuh kno wah fe duh widee [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

[Leonie]

Re: Inexpensive Computers

[ QUOTE ]
First thing you need to decide is what Operating System you want to run. I'd suggest XP home for what you want the PC to do. You can go with Win2k or even Win98 but these OS's are getting quite dated hence the XP suggestion.

You don't have to buy a dell/gateway type system, for what you need you can probably buy used or even off the discount rack. Anyway here's what I'd suggest:

P4 1.4 ghz or comparable AMD
Motherboard should have onboard video/lan/sound (quality isnt great but for what you are doing its fine)
512mb RAM
40-100gb hard drive (depending on how much data you want to store)
CD (although I'd suggest a cd burner, they come in handy)
floppy

This setup should be fairly cheap...it may even be hard to find a processor this slow (locally in a store) but you can try ebay or buy the parts off a site like pricewatch.com and build it yourself or have a local shop build it for ya.

Anyway...that's the route I'd take.

Regards,

-Reby

[/ QUOTE ]
all pc's comewith ethernet (sp)

[Rebycman]

Re: Inexpensive Computers

Hmm? Ethernet aka Lan aka Nic card is fairly standard now days but I still find PC's without them. Most newer pc's have them built right onto the motherboard with the sound/vid (as stated above).

But I wouldnt say that ALL pc's have ethernet, because they don't. In the old days you actually had to get another PCI card and plug it in and load drivers. lol man that takes me back...

You'd probably be suprised to see how many systems you can buy that don't have an ethernet built in or included. There are times where you want a stand alone machine that cant connect to the net but that's not really on topic so I'll save that for another day
[img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Regards,

-Reby

[Diplomat]

Re: Inexpensive Computers

A PC with an ethernet card can still be used as a stand alone. In the past 3-5 years, if not longer, there is hardly a manufactured PC out there without a built-in NIC. One would have to be building it or have it built from scratch and so choose a different board.

[Rebycman]

Re: Inexpensive Computers

Yeah I'm guilty there CEW, I build my own computers. Fairly simple stuff really, the hardest part is figuring out what hardware I want to use.

Anyway I think we've about covered the whole ethernet thing...

[img]/forums/images/graemlins/70392-silly.gif[/img]

Regards,

-Reby