Advice needed for new computer (1 Viewer)

[Jim Mcc]

We need to upgrade our desktop computer, and are not sure what to buy. Which are the most reliable brands to buy? I was reading at CNet about budget desktops, and 3 out of the 4 recommended ones were Gateway. Are they reliable? Any brands to avoid? We're hoping to spend $500 max(Just computer tower). We already have monitor, printer and keyboard. We want a desktop for:

1) Internet use

2) E-mail

3) We keep a lot of photos on computer

4) Backing up DVD's with DVD Decrypter/DVD Shrink

We will not use it for watching movies or playing games. A friend of ours said to try to get one with a front bus speed of at least 1200. Is that necessary? I was thinking of the HP P6212 on Office Max' website, for $469, but it says 800 mhz bus speed. How much memory and size hard drive should we get? Thanks.

 

[Sam Posten]

Lots of good advice in this thread:
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/forum/thread/295706/recommendations-for-general-use-desktop-computer#post_3638285

Personally I recommend the Dell Studio XPS for most people (well I REALLY recommend the iMac but that's another story). It's more computer than most people think they need but comes with enough power that you wont be cursing it 12 months down the road. You CAN get a cheap computer today. That doesn't mean you should!

If you don't need a new PC as a Holiday gift there will be a LOT of exciting announcements at CES in 2 weeks. Of course those products will take weeks or months to get into the retail supply but at least you will be able to make a more informed decision.

 

[Jim Mcc]

Thanks Sam. I did read that thread. What do we need for memory and hard drive size? Is the 800 mhz front bus too slow? Are there any brands to avoid?

 

[Jim Mcc]

WOW. I was expecting more than 1 reply.

 

[Bryan X]

Originally Posted by Jim Mcc

What do we need for memory and hard drive size?

I would second a Dell. As for memory, since you're not playing games, if you get a computer with Windows 7 64bit installed, go with anywhere from 4 to 6 GB. If you get a computer with Windows 7 32bit installed, get 3 or 4 GB. Don't bother with more than 4GB on a 32bit system. In fact even 4GB won't totally be used on a 32bit system (roughly 3.5 GB). Hard drive size really depends on what you plan on keeping on the computer. If you have tons of pictures and video, you may want to consider up to 1TB. Otherwise, 500GB should be plenty. You can always easily add another internal drive down the road if you want.

 

[drobbins]

I have always just bought the cheapest computer I can find. For internet, e-mail, MS word & excell, Quicken and downloading and looking at pictures, just about any computer will do the trick. With that being said, I agree with Brian X on the memory recommendations. Now if you are going to get into editing home videos, heavy picture editing or games, then I would get a more powerful machine. My first computer was a Gateway (hit by lightening) and I currently have a HP, an e-machine and a custom built tower. I also have Dell, Acer and Compaq laptops. In my opinion, anyone is just as good as the other from a quality and reliability point of view.

 

[don monteith]

I just got a really nice HP desktop for a customer just a week ago for $579. It was a quad core, 6 or 8 gigs of ram and I think it had a terabyte drive @7200 RPM. It included Windows 7 64 Bit. Plus all the other normal amenities. We got it from office max.

Hope this helps.

Don

 

[Jim Mcc]

Thanks everyone. We do want to buy a Windows 7, 64 bit system. We will store pics on it, but not movies or videos. Is there any problem having a 800 mhz. front bus? It's not too slow?

 

[don monteith]

800 mhz would be just fine for what you will use the computer for. However, I would suggest getting a little more computer than you think you may need so you can grow into it. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. You may decide later to do video etc. Then you may end up wishing you had a more powerful system.

Don

 

[Al.Anderson]

All of your stated uses are low memory throughput applications, and therefore would not be significantly affected by FSB speed. (e.g., if you're only watching VHS, you don't need to worry about the connection type.)

 

[Jim Mcc]

Thanks everyone. If I want to add a Blu-ray burner down the road, would that work with VGA? Or would the tower have to have HDMI? Thanks.

 

[Parker Clack]

Are you going to just be burning Blu-rays and then playing them back on a stand alone Blu-ray player or are you going to be using your PC as an HTPC and playing the Blu-rays from your PC to your monitor/TV?

 

[Sam Posten]

Will need to be HDCP compliant like DVI, HDMI or Display Port to get the full size direct digital output. DRM sucks. Parker's question is led to give you options for RIPping to your own files but those are not full quality.

 

[Jim Mcc]

Yes, we just want to burn Blu-rays and watch them on a stand alone Blu-ray player. The computer we're looking at buying does not have HDMI. It only has VGA and USB, of course. Can we burn Blu-rays with VGA or USB? Thanks.

 

[Sam Posten]

Not legally. There is no way for you to legally copy full rez BluRays. There's plenty of ways for you to rip DVDs, not so much on Blu yet.

And you won't be able to even view full rez movies out to VGA. You will need an HDMI, DVI or Display Port solution.

 

[Jim Mcc]

Like I said above, I don't care about viewing them on the computer. They would be viewed on a stand alone Blu-ray player. A friend told me if I use an internal Blu-ray burner, the rear tower inputs aren't even used. That it gets the connection internally. Is that right? Thanks.

Originally Posted by Sam Posten

Not legally. There is no way for you to legally copy full rez BluRays. There's plenty of ways for you to rip DVDs, not so much on Blu yet.

And you won't be able to even view full rez movies out to VGA. You will need an HDMI, DVI or Display Port solution.

 

[Eric_L]

I would say you should build your own. You may or may not save money - but you will likely get a better product and have more control of what is in it.
For your use you really don't need a whole lot of power. 4 gig ram ought do it.

If you are storing lots of family photos I would recommend the following;

1) Internal hard drive #1 - OS (Win7) drive. I bought a 150 gig raptor 10,000 rpm. A bit pricey but faster starting on the computer (and I do games)
2) Internal HD #2 - photo storage. 1Terabite. Keep this seperate from your OS.
3) EXTERNAL backup drive. 1Terabite. Backup your photos and other files OFTEN. Leave the drive connected and let it do it automatically. Your hard drive WILL crash. Count on it.
4) UPS (battery backup) Not only does it protect you from power failures but they tend to 'filter' your opwer and act wonderfully as surge suppressors..

When I build a PC I like to have a video card separate from the mobo. Even if it is a budget system. Knowing you can upgrade the video is nice and it does not cost a whole lot more. Get the cheapest mobo and processor using the most current chipset. That way you can upgrade either for a long long time as prices decline. You will get alot more bang for your buck in the future.

The Bluray player really does not fit into your target. Not sure why you want to burn bluray movies - and the data you are storing is better for an external drive. If you plan on doing movies you will need a better system or alot of patience...

 

[Sam Posten]

Telling a computer neophyte these days to build their own is like suggesting that I might enjoy building a kit car. Sure we might learn a ton but it's going to be a nail biting experience that has a lot of money tied up in something that could go wrong at any point with nobody to help us fix it when it blows up in our faces. It's a fun idea but there are a lot more reasonable solutions on the market.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

Originally Posted by don monteith

800 mhz would be just fine for what you will use the computer for. However, I would suggest getting a little more computer than you think you may need so you can grow into it. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it

I have to second Don on this. When budgeting a computer, consider the long term cost of the machine. Better to spend $800-900 now on a computer that will last you six or seven years than spend $400-500 on a computer that will last you two or three years.

 

[Jim Mcc]

Thanks guys. We went with a HP with 6 GB memory, 640 GB hard drive.