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New Desktop

balken

balken

Well-Known Member
Apr 14, 2006
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It has been asked a million times in different ways, but I would appreciate input on some specfic specs you might recommend for a new desktop. Generally for basic business apps, nothing too taxing.
  • processor
  • memory
  • drives
  • ports
  • other
  • etc.
Thanks!
 
All I'll say is max out the memory when you buy it. It's usually cheaper than to do it later and you will eventually need to.
 
I really hate to give recommendations because every use is different and someone always comes back and says that something else is better. With that being said, if someone in my family was looking for a PC, didn't want to spend over $1,000 and they didn't want to play games:

Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
Intel Core I5-750
Office???? If you don't need it get open office for free
6 or 8gb of ram
750gb hd
16x dvd+/-rw


I think the biggest question is the video card. There are lots of options available or you can just go with the onboard video.

I think a system like this would last you a lot of years.
 
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dmclone said:
I really hate to give recommendations because every use is different and someone always comes back and says that something else is better. With that being said, if someone in my family was looking for a PC, didn't want to spend over $1,000 and they didn't want to play games:

Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
Intel Core I5-750
Office???? If you don't need it get open office for free
6 or 8gb of ram
750gb hd
16x dvd+/-rw


I think the biggest question is the video card. There are lots of options available or you can just go with the onboard video.

I think a system like this would last you a lot of years.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. This is more than the average family computer needs...but I always remind myself that I am buying for the the next few years...not just the moment.
 
You may also want to think about buying a reasonably priced external hard drive so that you can easily back up your system. You also didn't mention if you need a monitor or not. You could get a system like the one I've listed including a decent sized monitor for under $1,000.
 
CyFever said:
I'll only say this. I think that people usually hugely over-recommend systems for home use.
Click to expand...

Yes and no.

Yes because many systems with big processors and memory are not needed in today's environment.

No because that's today's environment, the computer world changes rapidly and getting today what can still be used tomorrow isn't a bad idea. On the flip side, if you're one that likes to upgrade hardware every year or two - this isn't that much of an issue.
 
ISUFan22 said:
Yes and no.

Yes because many systems with big processors and memory are not needed in today's environment.

No because that's today's environment, the computer world changes rapidly and getting today what can still be used tomorrow isn't a bad idea. On the flip side, if you're one that likes to upgrade hardware every year or two - this isn't that much of an issue.
Click to expand...

About the least powerful system you can get is more than capable of home uses (email, internet, office) for now and years into the future. I'm currently using a netbook with 1.6 Ghz Atom processor and 1 GB of memory. That's basically a mid-level laptop from 5 years ago and it has no problems with normal usage and even photo editing (though that is more limited by the small screen).

Quad cores and 6-8 GM of memory? Moore's Law is killing application needs and has been for years. Component manufacturers keep making faster computers not because of some great need for speed, but to keep introducing new products to keep producing revenue.
 
CyFever said:
About the least powerful system you can get is more than capable of home uses (email, internet, office) for now and years into the future. I'm currently using a netbook with 1.6 Ghz Atom processor and 1 GB of memory. That's basically a mid-level laptop from 5 years ago and it has no problems with normal usage and even photo editing (though that is more limited by the small screen).

Quad cores and 6-8 GM of memory? Moore's Law is killing application needs and has been for years. Component manufacturers keep making faster computers not because of some great need for speed, but to keep introducing new products to keep producing revenue.
Click to expand...

I guess it depends what you're doing. I have a netbook that is less than 6 months old and like you said it handles email and browsing just fine. However, the other day I tried to copy a movie on it and it took roughly a year. Also, what seems like a lot now in 5 years may not be. Last year I sold a cheap Dell notebook that was about 3 years old. It had a 40gb hard drive which was fine 3 years ago but it would quickly fill up when I went on vacation and started adding video's.

The system I recommended would be less than $1,000 and include a monitor. If the person who is asking wanted something for less than $500 than he could put together a decent system with that as well. I've just never felt bad about paying a little bit more for something that is overkill now.
 
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I always trot out this reasoning for typical home uses and by that I mean email, internet and office applications. Photo processing is slightly different and video processing and gaming are substantially different in their requirements.
 
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Thanks for the responses. The issue you guys are discussing is the debate I am having: buy for future versus value. Your help is appreciated.
 
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