old dog looking for a new trick

J

jayceeboy

New Member
My first computer was the IBM PC with only 64K of memory. I was a techy back then and progressed throught the XT, AT, into pentiums. I was even a network engineer. Back then, it was easy to tell the relative power/speed of a computer with only the Intel platform to worry about. Now, it is a myriad of names and no relative easy comparison.

I want to buy something bigger/faster etc than what i have now. My needs are pretty modest and i don't want to spend more than I have to. Here is where i am at:

I have a Compaq PIII - 800 that runs Windows 2000. It has 512 mg of memory and an 80 mb hard drive.

My use doesn't include any kind of fancy graphics or transfering music, video or other stuff like that. I do run a kodak program for printing digital pictures of grandkids, etc.

I use Explorer for my browser and Office 97 of which I only use MS word and Excell. I use Outlook express for my mail client and have a couple throw-away online email accounts. I don't play games.

The business software I used includes several programs to specify windows (the glass type for use in houses, not computer windows) Programs are slow and have large data bases. I am not sure of the languages they use.

The latest program i am trying to run needs MS SQL Server which does load, but the program itselfs doesn't like W-2000. So, I have to upgrade to XP. I'm told my machine is too pathetic for XP.

So can somebody give me advice and suggestions on what I should buy? I can't imagine I need the latest and greatest machine and maybe something used would work for me, but I don't want to buy without some assurance I won't get burned.
 
i think he's after a mid-range pc as cheap as possible, asking US to give him a budget.
you should be fine with:
AMDXP 2600+ and motherboard for around £50
ATI radeon 9600 for around £30
your harddrive should still be fine
and assuming your ram is ddr that should be ok too
if not, 1024mb for about £40

its not the most powerful, but it will run battlefiend 2142 on mid settings, because funnily enough its what my pc was before it blew up
 
Try Praetor's sticky on PC building, even if you don't want to build its a fun read!!
Click to expand...

You mean MY sticky :D Building Computers 101

I have a Compaq PIII - 800 that runs Windows 2000. It has 512 mg of memory and an 80 mb hard drive.
Click to expand...

Hope you meant 80Gb drive as I'm fairly certain you can't get anything greater than Damn Small Linux to install on a drive that small. As for a new system you would be fine with buying a pre-built dell or other type system, as you won't be using it for gaming. Even a nice 700-900$ laptop would work for you, that way you'd be able to work and stay mobile.
 
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Honestly i would buy a pc with a good cpu...
An Athlon 64 X2 4200 + with 1 gig RAM and onboard graphics...
Or a Core Duo...
With some space on the hard drive.
So you got the speed to run some application at the same time.
 
Lax said:
You mean MY sticky :D Building Computers 101



Hope you meant 80Gb drive as I'm fairly certain you can't get anything greater than Damn Small Linux to install on a drive that small. As for a new system you would be fine with buying a pre-built dell or other type system, as you won't be using it for gaming. Even a nice 700-900$ laptop would work for you, that way you'd be able to work and stay mobile.
Click to expand...

MY HUMBLE APOLOGIES TO THE OTHER GOD OF THIS FORUM sorry LAX
 
Maxorrr said:
Honestly i would buy a pc with a good cpu...
An Athlon 64 X2 4200 + with 1 gig RAM and onboard graphics...
Or a Core Duo...
With some space on the hard drive.
So you got the speed to run some application at the same time.
Click to expand...

AMD Athlon 64 x 2 4200+ costing you $155. why not going for C2D E4300?
 
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