lazyweb inquiry: new desktop PC

[kate_nepveu]

So I'm buying a new desktop PC because the one I'm using now is sad and slow. What's the general configuration of a lower-middle-end machine these days? I would like it to be able to convert video files from one format to another or run casual games like the Mystery Case Files series without having to close down every other program, but I don't need to do complex video editing or high-end gaming or anything like that.

Comments

[montoya.livejournal.com]

I am basing this on research at least a year out of date, but for around $500, you should be able to get:

1. Quad-core CPU (which will be useful for video format conversion, and also is not expensive in modernity)
2. 4GB of RAM (which is the weirdest spec in that it was totally standard for a while, and then RAM prices went up and suddenly cheap computers started coming with 2GB again, but absolutely insist on at least 4GB)
3. Enough hard drive space to not be relevant (I think .5TB is a basic minimum these days)

About the only thing that cheap computers won't come with is a non-integrated video card, which sometimes means that they'll only have VGA outputs instead of DVI/DisplayPort/HDMI. The easiest solution is to buy a decent low-end graphics card (a Radeon 5770 is probably the thing to get right now, although at $150 maybe it's too high-end) or move the one over from your current computer if you have PCI Express and a reasonable graphics card. Trying to bump up the configuration to include discrete graphics from Dell or whatever tends to get you into "gaming PC" territory, which you don't want.

[montoya.livejournal.com]

And because I can't stop without looking more, this (http://www.techbargains.com/news_displayItem.cfm/219261) looks pretty good. $469, Core i3 (only dual core, but fast dual core), 4GB, .5TB, and (slow, but whatevs) Nvidia graphics.

It's hard to imagine needing more than that for anything non-specialized.

[kate_nepveu]

That is useful, thank you.

[mhoye.livejournal.com]

All new computers are pretty amazing now. I will have more to say about this when I'm not typing this into a phone, but:

Insist on Windows 7, 64bits. This is accept-no-substitutes mandatory.

Install as much RAM as you can afford. If you still have money to spend, consider an SSD, but that's getting pretty fancy.

Consider organizing your backup situation at the same time. This is "an equally-sized usb drive" for most people.

Consider also _not_ buying a computer until (1) during the back to school rush when there will be sales, or (2) after that, when companies roll out new products in October, having emptied their shelves in aug/sept.

Beyond that, don't buy a great computer and hook it up to a crappy mouse, keyboard and screen. You'd be much happier with the opposite.

[kate_nepveu]

Aren't we in the back-to-school rush now? Nevertheless, good point, thanks.

[thomasyan.livejournal.com]

Is it going to live close enough to a nice TV that you'd like to hook them up? My computer is 5+ years old, but I love being able to display video from it on my large flatscreen LCD. I'd expect contemporary computers to do that with no problem, and would insist on that ability.

[kate_nepveu]

No, it's not, but good point.

[neverjaunty.livejournal.com]

Don't buy a Dell.

[kate_nepveu]

YMMV--we've had no trouble with Dells.

[prince-corwin.livejournal.com]

...Is it even possible to buy a mid-range machine that doesn't do everything the typical user requires? Especially in a desktop machine, which is much simpler to design and much cheaper to get components for?

At this point, if you're not a power user (not doing video stuff, not doing heavy gaming, not doing heavy scientific computations, etc) you probably care as much or more about how the machine connects to the outside world than about what it does internally... and the outside world will change even if you don't upgrade your computer. So make sure the interfaces to the outside world are good-to-excellent. Meaning, HDMI for the video, a better network card than you think you need, and... I forget if USB3 is widespread, but I'd err on the side of getting it. Certainly if USB2, then there ought to be a bunch of them.

Other things nice to have: Memory, but I think that's not a huge concern either for non power-users.

The one thing that goes against your directive of mid-range that's still worth thinking about, is the Solid State Drive. Pricy, but oh Sweet Jesus it speeds some things up. Like, boot time. I timed my machine. Cold start to login screen, twenty six seconds, primarily because of the SSD. If you go that route, though, get Windows 7, which has the drivers that work with those drives.

[kate_nepveu]

Well, that's the thing, I don't know what constitutes a decent mid-range machine these days. And I was planning on Windows 7, since I have it on the netbook and we get along fine.

[kjn]

One factor that at least for me is hugely important is the sound level and characteristic. Modern computers are much better, but still noticable in most cases.

Other than that, not much to add to Monty or Hoye. The one regret I have with the Dell 220 (slim case) I bought for translating two and and a half years ago is that I didn't bother getting a cheapish video card with it - DVI would make the screen a lot better, and I'll have to aftermarket a video card now when I'm planning to get a new and better display.

[kate_nepveu]

Thanks.