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Help me decide which computer is best for me.

A

AmyFlorida

New member
I am clueless about computer stuff, but here is what I want to use my computer for:

Internet browsing
Running SQL 2000 (learning it on my own)
DreamWeaver
Photoshop
MP3 / Videos
maybe some gaming

The systems I am looking at are: (I am trying to stay under $1000)

Compaq 6020US $799
1.6GH ATHLON
256MB DDR DRAM
80GB HARDDRIVE
24X CD-RW
16X DVD ROM
V.90 ITU MODEM 10/100 ETHERNET

HP 521N $699
1.4GHZ ATHLON
256MD SDRAM
60GB DMA HARD DRIVE
16X CD-RW
16X DVD
V.90 ITU MODEM 10/100 ETHERNET

Or...

Dell 4500
Pentium 4 processor 1.8GHz
40GB1 Hard Drive
128MB DDR SDRAM
64MB NVIDIA GeForce2 MX 4X AGP Graphics Card with TV-Out
56K2 Telephony Modem for Windows
Cd-rw or DVD drive

here are more Dells...

http://www.dell.com/us/en/dhs/products/series_dimen_desktops.htm


I am confused about the SDRAM and DDRAM stuff in the memory.

Thanks
 
if your look to spend minimum the hp will work fine for those applications, let me check something real quick for ya though, i know a smaller company on the net who usually has killer deals on systems
 
http://www.econopc.com/applications/search/itemdetails.asp?sku=CSXP2000

EconoSwift Deluxe ATX Mid-Tower Case
PC Chips 830LR Socket-A Motherboard
AMD Athlon XP-2000+ 1.67GHz Speed
WD 120GB EIDE 7200RPM Hard Drive
512MB DDR RAM Memory
Toshiba 16X DVD-ROM Drive
Lite-On 32X12X40X CDRW
56K v.90 Internal Fax/Modem
ATI Xpert-2000 32MB AGP Video Card
Mitsumi 1.44MB 3 1/2" Floppy Drive
Built-In 10/100 Lan Card
Built-In 3D Sound Card
EconoSwift SP-1500 Speakers w/Super Woofer
Mitsumi Enh. Win98 Keyboard
Logitech 3 Button PS/2 Mouse
Microsoft Windows XP Home
1 Year EconoPC limited warranty

$999.95

they have cheaper systems available that in my opinion are better then the compaq or hp...check out there site
 
Is this company very reputable? If I have problems, will they give me phone support or will I have to mail it back in?

And what does the SDRAM and DDRAM mean in the memory description?

I thought Pentium were the best, or does it really matter at all?
 
AmyFlorida said:
I am clueless about computer stuff, but here is what I want to use my computer for:

Internet browsing
Running SQL 2000 (learning it on my own)
DreamWeaver
Photoshop
MP3 / Videos
maybe some gaming
Click to expand...
get 512 MB for the SQL Server, that thing sucks up memory like nothing. I am running this on W2K and it eats up 300 MB just to start it up. Moving to .NET Server will cost even more RAM. Are you studying towards the Microsoft Exam on SQL?

DDRAM is faster than SDRAM, DDR stands for double data rate. Go for DDRAM because you will be able to use it for some years to come while systems with SDRAM will soon no longer be available. Make sure you get one 512 MB block and not 2 256 MB.

if you have to decide between a faster CPU or more RAM, choose the RAM. I would take a 512 MB 1GHz over a 256 MB 1.6 GHz anytime. I will not even mention 128MB anymore, not useful for anything to go that low.

If gaming is a neccessity, get at least a Geforce 2 without the MX, 2 MX is very slow. Geforce3 is of course better, but also more expensive. Geforce2 will be sufficient though for most games.

if your CD-Burner is 12x, 16x or 24x makes no noticeable difference in my view.
 
naturally anabolic said:
AMD Athlon XP-2000+ 1.67GHz Speed
WD 120GB EIDE 7200RPM Hard Drive
512MB DDR RAM Memory

ATI Xpert-2000 32MB AGP Video Card
Click to expand...
sounds like a good deal, fat HD, fast CPU, big memory! only the graphics cards is not good for gaming, but thats not your priority anyway.

P4 is the best because they clock up to 2.53 GHz and will reach 3 GHz in 2003. But for mid range, AMD is good to go. They do need a bit more power because they get hotter, but AMD are much cheaper and both do the same thing. I don't think there is any program on the market which does not run on AMD.
 
Last edited:
I will check back here after lunch.

Thanks in advance.

P.S. the games I play are not really all that often. I do play DOOM every now and then. I play WORMS2 with my neighbor's kid when I babysit. That is about it.
 
i have noticed there isn't much of a difference between the AMD and intel chips besides cost, intel chips can sometimes be 2x what the AMD's are and you're just paying for the name. Some people will argue that the AMD's run hotter but truthfully the degree margin is very small between the pentium and the amd.
 
There is nothing wrong with Pentiums, it's just a matter of rooting for the underdog! :)

Got An AMD AThlon, an AMD Thunderbird and a PIII system at home. All of them run fine.
 
That Dell 8200 looks sweet...... Pentium 4 up to 2.53GHz with 533MHz Bus 2 Gig of RDram

What I like about the Dell is you can pick and choose what you need a lot of and what you don't need at all..

Custom build it right online and it's built and delivered in days.

Add craploads of Ram and leave off the Modem or go with a 2.x gig CPU or a High end video card.

Or if you aren't gonna need it, leave it out...

Spend as much as ou can afford because the Mid range machines will be out of date in a year..
 
naturally anabolic said:
http://www.econopc.com/applications/search/itemdetails.asp?sku=CSXP2000

EconoSwift Deluxe ATX Mid-Tower Case
PC Chips 830LR Socket-A Motherboard
AMD Athlon XP-2000+ 1.67GHz Speed
WD 120GB EIDE 7200RPM Hard Drive
512MB DDR RAM Memory
Toshiba 16X DVD-ROM Drive
Lite-On 32X12X40X CDRW
56K v.90 Internal Fax/Modem
ATI Xpert-2000 32MB AGP Video Card
Mitsumi 1.44MB 3 1/2" Floppy Drive
Built-In 10/100 Lan Card
Built-In 3D Sound Card
EconoSwift SP-1500 Speakers w/Super Woofer
Mitsumi Enh. Win98 Keyboard
Logitech 3 Button PS/2 Mouse
Microsoft Windows XP Home
1 Year EconoPC limited warranty

$999.95

they have cheaper systems available that in my opinion are better then the compaq or hp...check out there site
Click to expand...

No good. PCChips is an economy board and the video card isn't exactly the best way to go.

Amy, personally, from what you posted, I'd go with the dell and bump up the ram to at least 512MB. The HP and Compaq didn't have video cards so it's hard to compare from that angle.

Your really better off building your own but if you don't know someone who can help you out, go with the Dell.
 
daemon said:


No good. PCChips is an economy board and the video card isn't exactly the best way to go.

Amy, personally, from what you posted, I'd go with the dell and bump up the ram to at least 512MB. The HP and Compaq didn't have video cards so it's hard to compare from that angle.

Your really better off building your own but if you don't know someone who can help you out, go with the Dell.
Click to expand...

I agree. If she's looking to save a few bucks, that's one thing, but if she wants support, it's better to go with a brand name.
 
Go here http://www.cyberpowersystem.com/athlon_sys.htm

$475 for the 1.8 basic system, it also allows you to add/upgrade to whatever you want. I put in the things you said you'd like and came up with this system. (everything will run better with the increased ram, FYI)

1.8GHZ AMD
512 ddr ram
80g HD
50x cd
16x DVD
geforce2 64mb
5 speaker surround
pci v90..10/100 ethernet
keyboard/wheel ms mouse
3 year parts and labor warranty
$603

I don't think you can go wrong with this and it still leaves ya with some extra money for say a new monitor?? NEC 19" .22mm $229
 
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