PDA

View Full Version : looking to buy a new desktop, advice needed


billhuelsman
01-28-2010, 10:04 PM
Just to let you all know, when it comes to PC's im not sharp at all when it comes to the internals which make it tick.

Having said that I have a built system that is 6 years old, with a KD 7 Raid motherboard, 1500 processor chip, old style 7200 rpm hardrive, and I think 2 gigs of DDR 333 ram. It has windows XP Home as a OS.

Cant tell you much more than that, other than its acting up more and more, running slow, locking up, and other things. Personally I think I will be much better off with a new desktop PC. Microcenter said to avoid Dell and Gateway to buy because of the hardware would need to be there brand to upgrade or fix when needs came up. They advised there house brand because everything in those units is off of there store shelf and easier to do things with if need be.

So, what should I be looking for as far as hardware is concerned? Need help with the motherboard, processor, ram, video card, and anyting else that would be considered vital. I want to last 4-6 years. What brands would you avoid? or lean too?

I found this on the pc:

Windows XP version 2002, SP3, AMD athlon XP 1800+, 1.53gz, 1.5 G of ram
Raedon 9200, Asus DRW 1608P2, standard floppy, Pri & Sec IDE controller, Via Bus IDE Controller, PCtel platinum modem, ACPI
Uniprocessor PC, LNE100TX v4 Ethernet, Com port 1 & 2, ECP Printer port, Rim virtual S port 2 com 4 & Com 5,
HPT372 UDMA /ATA 133 Raid controller,

Thats the best I can do to describe what I have.

123456
01-28-2010, 10:41 PM
What are you using it for, do you need a monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, and what's your budget?

billhuelsman
01-29-2010, 08:29 AM
I do have auto cad on this machine, but rarely use it. Do alot of word documents, internet, not much more with this machine because of the age and the limitations of it.

Budget wise I'm ok with $800ish. Have a moniter, mouse and keyboard. Wouldnt mind a new web cam, mine is way old.

123456
01-29-2010, 09:15 AM
Case/PSU combo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147117

Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130235

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103675

Heatsink: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185096

Thermal Paste: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211409

HD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145215

DVD Burner: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136168

SATA cables (2x): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812123188

GFX: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102869

Windows 7: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

Webcam: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104316

Total is $797 w/o shipping

billhuelsman
01-29-2010, 01:43 PM
You Rock! I'll be looking into that when my tax refund comes in.