ive tried google but maybe you can help me faster. im looking at getting a new computer and i want the best for my money. thing is either a lot of the stuff about a computer I have forgotten or never knew so Im going to bullet some things I am not sure about and im sure you can tell me what it means.

Processor/Display: how what are the GHz for, whats a good number of GHz and what about the FSBs?
Hard Drive: is 80GB a good number?

Sorry for the pathetic question. I deffinitely appreciate the advice though.

9/26/2005 7:26:39 PM

you are a hazard to the internet.

please buy a mac.

9/26/2005 7:32:17 PM

make it easy on urself and buy a dell. with that said, what will u use the computer for? internet, word processing, AIM?

9/26/2005 7:34:18 PM

no need to be mean to me. i only use a computer to check email, type papers, play hearts, look at TWW, some AIM, some music downloading, i scan pics rarely and thats about it.

right now my computer doesnt have enough memory but when i get a new one i will also use print shop occasionally.

^yeah thanks im looking at dells now... thats the reason for my question... the ones within my price range are a little bit different and i dont want to get more computer than i need but i would like a nice one



[Edited on September 26, 2005 at 7:37 PM. Reason : g]

9/26/2005 7:35:23 PM

i hope ur bein mean comment wasnt too me..lol. but anyway, sounds like u just need a basic computer with a lil extra bite to it for print shop. at this juncture, what is ur range and the absolute most u'd spend?

9/26/2005 7:39:03 PM

you should be able to get a decent new computer with what you are looking for, for under $1000 easy...

9/26/2005 7:48:14 PM

WAY under 1000.

250 tops.

9/26/2005 7:50:30 PM

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/cto_dimen2400?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

this is what im looking at... basically im trying to decide if i want the 1st one or the 3rd one... the big differences being the extra GB of Hard Drive, the flat screen, and the free shipping.

advice?

[Edited on September 26, 2005 at 8:05 PM. Reason : s]

9/26/2005 8:05:14 PM

well since Dell is a ripoff when it comes to upgrades i would get the basic system and then upgrade the RAM later on through another site like newegg when they run good deals on memory.

9/26/2005 8:22:29 PM

resisting urge to going on long diatribe here

9/26/2005 8:26:14 PM

resisting urge to going on long diatribe here

9/26/2005 8:30:56 PM

let's not turn this into a fuckfest. just tryin to help the girl out. christ.

9/26/2005 8:40:44 PM

Alright, let's see if I can clear things up a bit for you. I welcome others to correct me.

GHz is a measure of how quick a processor is(billions of cycles per second). The fastest Pentium 4 currently out runs at about 3.8 GHz. I have a 3.0 GHz and it works just fine even for my heavy use. You could probably get by with much less, but don't drop below 2.0 GHz. The systems you were interested in at Dell all have Celeron processors, which is basically a stripped-down budget line of Pentium 4's(a true Pentium 4 at the same GHz will almost always give better performance). Again, a Celeron processor will probably be fine for your light use.

FSB is Front Side Bus, and is the speed the memory operates at. This is important because the memory feeds the processor data. Faster is better, but the Dell's you listed all have 400 memory so it's moot. In other words don't worry about it.

Get the bigger(120GB) hard drive. The price difference is negligible and you'll fill it up eventually. Same thing with memory, definitely get 512MB.(more memory means less time waiting for programs to load)

If you don't have your heart set on an LCD flatpanel, regular CRT monitors are cheap used. Heck I'll sell you a great 17" CRT for $15.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A note about Dell. They are not the cheapest(watch the options, they add up), but they use good parts. They also take a long time to ship(order today, get your system a month from now). You can get a Compaq/HP etc cheaper locally, but they will probably use a slightly slower hard drive.(look for a hard drive that spins at 7200rpm)

ALSO If you decide on Dell, use coupons. Dell always has lots of specials going on. Just search google and deal websites for them. I think there's a 3% discount just for being a ncsu student.

[Edited on September 26, 2005 at 9:24 PM. Reason : .]

[Edited on September 26, 2005 at 9:25 PM. Reason : .]

9/26/2005 9:21:19 PM

DELL SUCKS

9/26/2005 9:28:33 PM

^^ Dell can be hell of a lot cheaper and much better than hp/compaq. they do use quality parts and for her purposes i think Dell would be best. and also, the delivery dates are always over-estimated. they never take a month to build and ship out ur system, never!

^ if u have nutin to contribute to help the girl out then STFU and GTFO

9/26/2005 9:34:37 PM

i appreciate your help very much... i still havent decided yet... im wondering what the single drive 48x vs. 16x means?

Quote :

"Single Drive: 16X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/double layer write capability"

Quote :

"Single Drive: 48x CD-RW / DVD-ROM Combo Drive"

9/26/2005 9:51:01 PM

ONE SPINS 24,000 ROTATIONS PER MINUTE, THE OTHER ONLY 6,000

the dvd burner spins slower, but the same burner with a cd in it will go the faster.

get the dvd burner.

[Edited on September 26, 2005 at 9:53 PM. Reason : *]

9/26/2005 9:52:37 PM

^^ Do you want to burn dvd's? The 16x drive will and the other won't.

Both will read cd's and dvd's. Both will burn cd's.

9/26/2005 9:56:03 PM

try this configuration, or go to dell.com/ncstate and browse from there. you get a slight discount in general, but you can't use coupon codes on the bundles.

anyways, it's through dell university, and their support is much much better than the support you get with dell home.

for ABOUT 1000 bucks, this is a nice system

http://premierconfig.dell.com/config/config.aspx?cs=RC809300&ci=rcRC809300-572607

9/26/2005 10:00:05 PM

yeah i mean i havent burned a DVD before but i guess i might. i just didnt know what the numbers meant but i get it now that it turns faster.

im so nervous. when you dont have any money spending over $100 is a big deal

9/26/2005 10:01:24 PM

just pay somebody on here to build a sytem for you. I'm sure that you can get something that is way more than you need for dirt.

9/26/2005 10:09:47 PM

well im taking a loan out from my parents to buy one and they are huge dell fans so im sorta limited in my options.

9/26/2005 10:40:08 PM

Dells are not bad computers at all. i've never had any problems with any Dell i have ever owned. some people say they suck and are terrible machines but i dont agree and lots of people dont agree.

9/26/2005 10:43:12 PM

thanks for all your help... i just ordered a new computer! im soooooooo excited!!!

10/1/2005 10:08:52 PM

i could build you a 2.66ghz pentium 4 for pretty cheap

[Edited on October 1, 2005 at 11:12 PM. Reason : .]

[Edited on October 1, 2005 at 11:12 PM. Reason : haha damnit i just read the post above me pwnt>,<]

10/1/2005 11:12:04 PM

what did you end up getting?

10/2/2005 2:26:11 AM

It is a Dell Dimensin E510
im fairly satisfied with it. I got:
Intel Pentium 4 with 3.0 GHz, 800 FSB
512 MB at 400 MHz
80 GB Hard Drive ( I wanted 160 but my boyfriend said he could make it 160 without it costing the extra $)
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center 2005 Edition
Single Drive: 48x CD-RW / DVD-ROM Combo Drive
and a 17" analog flat panel monitor

overall i think it is wonderful. i wish it had dual drives but that wasn't and option and i would have like the 160 GB but hopefully my bf is telling the truth.

but yeah, YaY new computer!

10/2/2005 7:17:48 PM

Quote :

"80 GB Hard Drive ( I wanted 160 but my boyfriend said he could make it 160 without it costing the extra $)"

?

10/3/2005 12:53:52 PM

hopefully that just means he has an extra drive laying around that he'd swap out...

10/3/2005 1:43:02 PM

that's what i'm assuming he meant. or that he can get a larger drive for less than what it would cost through Dell for the upgrade.

10/3/2005 1:47:09 PM

her bf isnt dumb guys, jesus christ. real nice guy in fact. good luck with the computer.

10/3/2005 4:35:10 PM