21 replies to this topic

[DeathStalker]

I'm not up on the best brands to buy nowadays since I started building computers. (To be honest, I don't foresee ever buying one again. You just get better parts for less when you do it yourself. Plus it really IS easy.)

I used to sing Dell's praises to high heaven, but they really screwed the pooch lately and I can't in good conscience recommend them any more.

HERE is a link to PC mags  2010 reviews of computers. The particular page I linked is for ones under $500. I'll do some more research and get back to you. It would help to know how much you are willing to spend.

Meanwhile: What you should look for is a Quad core processor with at least 6GB's of DDR3 RAM and a 700GB hard drive (spinning at at least 7200 RPM's). You need to have 64 bit Win7 as the operating system. XP is dead, and Vista is the red headed step child that will soon be phased out. You need a 64 bit system becasue a 32 bit system will only "see" 3.5 GB's of RAM.

As single core processors have been basically phased out so are the quad cores replacing the Duo core. More programs are being written to utilize 4 cores, and the price of them has dropped significantly. Same with the DDR3 RAM. It is faster than the DDR2 stuff and has become comparably priced. You need at least 6 GB's because more programs are being written to be more RAM dependent. Programs also take up much more space. 700 GB hard drives nowadays are (using loose terms), equivalent to the 80 GB drive you now use. I don't know where it all goes, but I filled up the 150 GB Raptor I put in this computer almost immediately and had to get a 300GB second one. And I really need another 300GB's. 

Hope this helps.

[llky]

Thank you so much for this info,this really helps me out in my search for a new unit.