Advice on getting a new PC

E

Exeec

New Member
Hi. Could someone please give me a bit of advice with buying a new computer...

At the moment I have a 1.2Ghz, 384Mb, on-board graphics and nowdays its just too slow. Its been formatted a few times, but as I need the comp for Image editing quite often nowadays and my sister is using it a lot, its pretty slow. I would also like to get Windows Vista at some time in the future but my comp doesn't the requirements. I play a few PC Games but not loads so I wouldn't need a super graphics card.

I've got about £400-£450 to spend (could go a bit over) and I was hoping that would get me a 17"/19" flat, 1Gb Ram, 80GB HD and maybe a half-decent 64bit processor. I might be buying a comp which is a bit too good for me but I need it to last. My questions are....


1. Shall I get a 64-bit processor? (I do want this comp to be future proof for a while if I can)

2. I've seen the AMD 64-bit processors being Sempron or Athlon64. Is the Sempron 64-bit good enough for me or shall I pay extra and go for the Athlon64?

3. Would a fast 3Ghz+ P4 (32-bit) be better for me than a 64-bit?

4. Vista has requirements of 128MB graphics. Will this do or do I really need to go for 256MB?

5. Have any of you gone from 17" to 19"? (only because the 19" is not too much more than the 17" for me to buy)


Thanks in advance :)
 
1. Yes if you want it to be future proof, 64 bit is definitely the way to go.
2. Yeah.
3. No
4. You want a future proof PC; get the most you can, even if you have to slightly stretch your budget.
5. If it's only a bit more, and that it's not less good specs-wise, than go for it.
 
Exeec said:
1. Shall I get a 64-bit processor? (I do want this comp to be future proof for a while if I can)

2. I've seen the AMD 64-bit processors being Sempron or Athlon64. Is the Sempron 64-bit good enough for me or shall I pay extra and go for the Athlon64?

3. Would a fast 3Ghz+ P4 (32-bit) be better for me than a 64-bit?

4. Vista has requirements of 128MB graphics. Will this do or do I really need to go for 256MB?

5. Have any of you gone from 17" to 19"? (only because the 19" is not too much more than the 17" for me to buy)
Click to expand...

1.) If it's not much more, than yes. But almost every new processor is 64-Bit.

2.) The Sempron is the budget version of an Athlon 64, if you cant afford it then it's pretty good, otherwise get the Athlon 64.

3.) Depends on the CPU, and the speed of the 64-Bit. Right now there really isnt any noticable difference between 32Bit and 64Bit, but when we have more complicated programs you will start noticing a difference.

4.) It will do, but i would recommend getting a 256MB.

5.) I used to have a 17" CRT, and went to a 19" LCD. It's much bigger, brighter, and looks alot better.
 
mostly agree with everyone else, but when looking at graphics card, memory isn't everything. A 128megs onboard graphics card would be much worse than a dedicated 128megs card, say the 6600gt or something. So just watch out when buying the graphics card, even if you just need a basic one.
 
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