Need puter advise (very long)

[Crazyredhead]

I am in the market for a new computer. But not just any computer, a powerfull computer. One that can leap tall building in a single boot. Faster than a speeding bullet and that comes with a big strong buff dude. http://www.vocinelweb.it/faccine/cartelli/28.gif

Just kidding!! But I do need a powerfull computer. I have alot of games for the kids. I use it for business programs (data entry, typing, secretarial duties, etc) and I would like to download music and burn CD's with it. I also have a cable modem that uses a NIC card for networking.

I have word processing, data base and lotus programs and I am a Mah Jhong fanatic, and other programs that worked with Win98SE. I also have a medical dictionary, typing programs and antivirus, firewall, anti pop ups, the works installed in this puter. I am not a highly experienced computer user so I am not very computer literate.

I included the spec off of two computer. I am not asking about the name brand but just the specs and to see if I am going in the right direction.

Here they are:

Gateway Media Center Desktop with Intel® Pentium® D Processor 805
Model: GT4026E

With a 9-in-1 digital media manager and a dual-core Intel® Pentium® D processor, you can easily transfer your photos, videos and music to and from this powerful desktop computer.

* Learn more about the dual-core Intel® Pentium® D processor. (Flash demo)
* Maximize Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 so you can watch and record live TV! Check out a PC for Home Entertainment with a TV tuner built-in! (Learn more about Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005.)
* What is the Intel processor number? Learn more about this 3-digit number with our Resource Guide, or check out Intel's introduction for all the details.

* Intel® Pentium® D processor 805 with 2 processing cores, 533MHz frontside bus, 2 x 1MB L2 cache and 2.66GHz processor speed
* 2GB PC4200 DDR2 memory for multitasking power
* Multiformat DVD±RW/CD-RW drive with double-layer support records up to 8.5GB of data or 4 hours of video using compatible DVD+R DL media

Product Features

Intel® EM64T (Extended Memory 64 Technology) enhancement allows the platform to access larger amounts of memory, providing flexibility for future OS and software that support 64-bit computing

250GB hard drive (7200 rpm)

ATI RADEON XPRESS 200 chipset with integrated ATI RADEON X300-based graphics with up to 128MB shared video memory; available PCI-Express slot; high-definition audio (7.1-channel support)

7 total USB 2.0 ports, including one in the integrated 9-in-1 digital media manager; also supports CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Secure Digital, MultiMediaCard, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, xD-Picture Card and Microdrive

2 IEEE 1394 (FireWire) interfaces, front and rear accessible, for fast digital data transfer and easy peripheral connectivity

Built-in 10/100 Mbps Ethernet LAN with RJ-45 connector; V.92 high-speed data/fax modem

Multimedia keyboard, USB optical 2-button wheel mouse and external stereo speakers

Micro-BTX cooling technology for improved reliability and quieter operation

Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 with Update Rollup 2 operating system preinstalled; software package included with Microsoft Digital Image Starter Edition 2006, CyberLink PowerDVD, RealNetworks RealPlayer and more

Microsoft Windows Vista Capable — learn more

Product Details

Warranty Terms - Parts 1 year
Warranty Terms - Labor 1 year
Product Height 15.4"
Product Width 7.3"
Product Weight 23 lbs.
Product Depth 17.9"
Processor Brand Intel® Pentium® D
Processor Speed 2.66GHz
System Bus 533MHz
Cache Memory 2 x 1MB L2 cache
System Memory (RAM) 2GB
System Memory (RAM) Expandable To 2GB
Type of Memory (RAM) PC4200 DDR2
Hard Drive Size 250GB
Graphics ATI RADEON XPRESS 200 chipset with integrated ATI RADEON X300-based graphics
Video Memory Up to 128MB (shared)
Personal Video Recorder (PVR) No
TV Tuner No
MPEG Yes
Audio High-definition audio (7.1-channel support)
Speakers External stereo
Modem 56 Kbps* ITU V.92-ready PCI internal fax modem *Capable of receiving 56 Kbps downloads. However, current regulations limit download speed to 53 Kbps.
Network Card Built-in 10/100 Mbps Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector)
Wireless Networking None
Recordable DVD Drive Yes, double-layer DVD±RW/CD-RW
Recordable DVD Drive Speeds 4x DVD+R DL; 16x8x16 DVD+RW; 16x6x16 DVD-RW; 40x24x40 CD-RW
LightScribe Compatibility No
Digital Media Reader or Slots Yes, digital media card reader
Total Expansion Bays 4 (3.5"), 2 (5.25")
Available Expansion Bays 2 (3.5"), 1 (5.25")
Total Expansion Slots 2 PCI, 1 PCI-E, 1 PCI-E x16
Available Expansion Slots 1 PCI, 1 PCI-E, 1 PCI-E x16
USB 2.0 Ports 7 (3 front, 4 rear)
IEEE 1394 Ports 2 (front)
S-Video Outputs None
Additional Audio/Video Connectors 1 SPDIF, 7 audio ports (2 front, 5 rear)
Serial Ports 1
Parallel Ports 1
Game Ports None
Keyboard Description Multimedia
Other Control Devices (mouse, etc.) USB optical 2-button wheel mouse
Operating System Windows XP Media Center 2005
Software Included Microsoft Works 8.5, Money 2006, Digital Image Starter Edition 2006, Windows Media Player 10; CyberLink PowerDVD, Power2Go; Adobe Acrobat 7; RealNetworks RealPlayer; QuickTime; Gateway BigFix and more

Or this one:

* AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 dual-core processor 3800+* for increased multitasking performance; improved security with Enhanced Virus Protection**; Cool'n'Quiet™ Technology to minimize heat and noise
* 2GB PC3200 DDR memory for multitasking power, expandable to 4GB
* Multiformat DVD±RW/CD-RW drive with double-layer support records up to 8.5GB of data or 4 hours of video using compatible DVD+R DL media

More Options

* Protect your investment with a Service Plan.
* Do you have all the accessories you need?
* Compare with products in this price range.

Product Features

AMD dual-core technology enables you to work or play with multiple programs without impacting performance

512KB + 512KB L2 cache for efficient system processing; dual-core optimized drivers get more data to the graphics card; supports dual graphics solutions for forthcoming dual-core optimized games

250GB hard drive with 2MB cache (7200 rpm)

NVIDIA GeForce 6100 graphics with PCI Express x16 expansion slot and up to 128MB shared video memory; 5.1-channel audio support (6-speaker sound)

7 total USB 2.0 ports, including one in the integrated 9-in-1 digital media manager; also supports CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Secure Digital, MultiMediaCard, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, xD-Picture Card and Microdrive

3 IEEE 1394 (FireWire) interfaces, front and rear accessible, for fast digital data transfer and easy peripheral connectivity


Built-in 10/100 Mbps Ethernet networking interface with RJ-45 connector; V.92 high-speed data/fax modem

Multimedia keyboard, USB optical 2-button mouse and external stereo speakers

Micro-BTX cooling technology for improved reliability and quieter operation

Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 with Update Rollup 2 operating system preinstalled; software package included with Microsoft Digital Image Starter Edition 2006, RealNetworks RealPlayer, CyberLink PowerDVD and more

Microsoft Windows Vista Capable — learn more

AMD, AMD Arrow logo, AMD Athlon, Cool'n'Quiet, HyperTransport and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

*This model number indicates relative software performance among this AMD processor family.


**AMD's Enhanced Virus Protection provides additional protection against buffer overflow viruses. AMD and its partners strongly recommend you continue to use third-party anti-virus software as part of your total security solution.

Product Details

Warranty Terms - Parts 1 year
Warranty Terms - Labor 1 year
Product Height 15.4"
Product Width 7.3"
Product Weight 23 lbs.
Product Depth 17.9"
Processor Brand AMD AthlonTM 64 X2
Processor Speed 2.0GHz
System Bus 2000MHz
Cache Memory 512KB + 512KB on die Level 2
System Memory (RAM) 2GB
System Memory (RAM) Expandable To 4GB
Type of Memory (RAM) PC3200 DDR
Hard Drive Size 250GB
Graphics NVIDIA GeForce 6100
Video Memory Up to 128MB (shared)
Personal Video Recorder (PVR) No
TV Tuner No
MPEG Yes
Audio AC '97; 5.1-channel support (6-speaker sound)
Speakers External stereo
Modem 56 Kbps* ITU V.92 *Capable of receiving 56 Kbps downloads. However, current regulations limit download speed to 53 Kbps.
Network Card Built-in 10/100 Mbps Ethernet networking interface (RJ-45 connector)
Wireless Networking None
Recordable DVD Drive Yes, double-layer DVD±RW/CD-RW
Recordable DVD Drive Speeds 4x DVD+R DL; 16x8x16 DVD+RW; 16x6x16 DVD-RW; 40x24x40 CD-RW
LightScribe Compatibility No
Digital Media Reader or Slots Yes, digital media card reader
Total Expansion Bays 4 (3.5"), 2 (5.25")
Available Expansion Bays 2 (3.5"), 1 (5.25")
Total Expansion Slots 2 PCI, 1 PCI-E x1, 1 PCI-E x16
Available Expansion Slots 1 PCI, 1 PCI-E x1, 1 PCI-E x16
USB 2.0 Ports 7 (3 front, 4 rear)
IEEE 1394 Ports 3 (2 front, 1 rear)
S-Video Outputs None
Additional Audio/Video Connectors Audio (2 front, 3 rear)
Serial Ports None
Parallel Ports 1
Game Ports None
Keyboard Description Multimedia
Other Control Devices (mouse, etc.) USB optical 2-button wheel mouse
Operating System Windows XP Media Center 2005
Software Included Microsoft Works 8.5, Money 2006, Digital Image Starter Edition 2006, Windows Media Player 10; Adobe Acrobat Reader 7; CyberLink PowerDVD, Power2Go; RealNetworks RealPlayer; QuickTime; Gateway BigFix and more

Also, what is the difference between Intel and AMD??

I hope I didn't overload someone. I just want to make sure I get a good compuer and don't want to deal with a salesman who is only interested in trying to sell me the most expensive computer they have and that is not what I need.

[lordlundar]

I'd say go for the AMD one and upgrade the video card to a 7900 or higher. AMD processors and Nvidia cards are usually what games are optimzed for, so performance is usually improved.

Oh, and if you get one that is SLI capable, Get a second video card and link them. You shouldn't need to upgrade for a while then.:)

[Crazyredhead]

What is good in a montior. I want a 19" but I don't know which is better, LCD or CRT. I want it as a non glare flat screen. I think it is the LCD but I am not sure. What about the details on what to look for in a monitor?

Sorry about the silly questions, but I am learning as I go.

I don't like the widescreen look.

[ShockQueen]

Well, I'm not sure how to advise you since I love widescreen anything, but LCD monitors are very nice things to go for, since they're lighter, thinner, and have a smaller "footprint" on your desk.

I'd go for the 2nd computer myself just because of the AMD and Nvidia factors, since Nvidia makes better video cards, and the computer overall seems very well rounded - AND it'll be Vista compatable when that hulk comes out on the shelves.

[HawaiianShirts]

I'd go with the AMD processor as well. Intel and AMD are different companies that produce computer processors. Intel advertises more and often charges more for their chips. Their stuff is faster on the clock speed, but other measurements make the AMD chips higher capacity, which makes them often feel faster and perform more smoothly. Either way, though, it looks like you're getting a good system.

LCD monitors are the thin flat-panels. You can get them with the non-glare or with the "bright screen" look that does cause a strong reflective glare. And if you're shopping where I think you're shopping, you should just be able to pick out any monitor from their selection and have it work with the computer.

And just a tip from me on the monitor: When it comes time to clean them, Windex and paper towels are VERY BAD ideas. I use the same stuff on the LCD screen as I use on my camera lenses, and that works very well.

Lundar's recommendation on the graphics card upgrade is good, but, depending on your games, it may not be necessary. Pre-installed graphic processors (built-in or "integrated") share the computer memory, which means it will borrow from the memory your other programs use. A card upgrade would allow you to eliminate the memory sharing because the new card would have its own "dedicated" graphic memory. If money's an issue, use the integrated stuff first, then worry about upgrading.

From my experience, service contracts on desktop systems are very useful, but I wouldn't say they're necessary. Read the terms of it and judge for yourself.

And, again, if you're shopping where I think you are, they offer some good set-up services to get you going with security and get rid of all the advertising crap the manufacturer installs. Whether you take them up on that or not is your own call, but, as you probably know already, you must have some form of security on your computer.

New compy. Fun stuff!

[Moirae]

AMD processor 3800+ or higher. Pentium D is meant for business computers and can't handle the power that most games require. As for the video card, if you want top end, go for a Geforce 7900 GTX. But that will run your computer very hot so look for a water coolant system. Most places don't know what those are though so you'll probably want to order that in specially. 16x DVD-RW/CD-RW with lightscribe and dual layer. At least 1 GB RAM with expandable to 4GB (you may like to consider 2 GB RAM).

Now mind you, we're talking a top end machine here. Figure between $1500 and $2500.

Everything else you're looking at is good. With the system I just talked about, you can run any game and business programs like a snap of your fingers. It's top of the line.

[LostMyMind]

As stated by most already, the second computer is more geared to what you need. And I'm not just saying that just because I hate ATI video :lol:

The difference between AMD and Intel. Well on the surface, not much. Down deep inside the chip, there are slight differences. Most software for windows don't care if it's Intel or AMD. Personally, I like Intel but AMD is just as good (sometimes better).

2G of memory is just about perfect. You wouldn't need more unless you were doing major 3d artwork.

Since both computers had dual processors, if you plan to use alot of older games with either computers. You'll have to learn a bit of "CPU" management. Some games hate computers with 2 processors and you'll never find out until you play the games. Don't worry, CPU management is not that hard to do.

[Mr. Rude]

I prefer AMD also. I'd recommend the X2 4400 processor though. 1 Mb L2 Cache is the way to go. Also on a side note. if you get a custom build your warranties will be by part so...

AMD processor: 3 years
Asus Mobo: 3 years ( I recommend the A8N32-SLI Deluxe http://usa.asus.com/products4.aspx?l1=3&l2=15&l3=226&model=744&modelmenu=1 )
Corsair ram ( 2 x 512 will do for now): Lifetime
Seagate HDD: 5 years
BFG Nvidia card: Lifetime

Better than getting a prebuilt machine with a stock 1 year warranty ;) & having some guy try to sell you an extended warranty for it.

Media readers that install in a bay are about $30
DVD burners about $60-$80
Onboard sound is usually not bad now
Get a nice case with about a 450 w power supply
XP home costs about $100.

Sad part about the 939 socket is AMD has the AM2 socket out now.
For more info goto http://www.tomshardware.com/

P.S. Custom builds may take a bit longer, but in the end are better. You know what your getting instead of the "flavour of the day" in the pre builds. If you have any questions, just PM :). I'll be more than happy to help.

[lordlundar]

Lundar's recommendation on the graphics card upgrade is good, but, depending on your games, it may not be necessary. Pre-installed graphic processors (built-in or "integrated") share the computer memory, which means it will borrow from the memory your other programs use. A card upgrade would allow you to eliminate the memory sharing because the new card would have its own "dedicated" graphic memory. If money's an issue, use the integrated stuff first, then worry about upgrading.

Hey HS, The 6100 isn't integrated. It's just pretty far behind on Nvidia's lineup right now, so it's going to bottleneck. That's why I suggested the 7900.

If money is an issue, then go for a 7600. The price on that plummetted when the 7900 came out.