Computer opinions...

makenzie71 · August 19, 2009, 09:54:57 AM

Okay I have a Compaq S4100NX...Intel Celeron 2.5 GHz, 128mb video card and max RAM (1gb) installed. I surf the web, like windows media player, and play World of Warcraft. It works great for everything EXCEPT playing. Too much lag even with my display settings bottomed out. I want to be able to play the game with normal vid settings and maybe still be able to run FireFox in the background (I like to research stuff while playing) without dropping my frames per second down into the single digits.

A local has this PC up: http://lubbock.craigslist.org/sys/1331061391.html

Dual core 2.6ghz processor, 256mb vid card, 4x the cabale RAM, and a beefier power supply (mine is 200w). I can get it for $175. Would it be wiser to buy something like this or upgrade my machine with a new motherboard, processor, vid card, etc...?

scottpA_GS · August 19, 2009, 10:23:28 AM

If you are stuck at 1gig of ram, I would buy it. An upgraded mobo w/ new processor and ram is gonna be well over $100 anyway so another $75 and you get windows and more... I hope they are giving you a licenced copy of windows as they have gotten fairly sneaky lately and the old hacks/cracks dont work like they used to.

makenzie71 · August 19, 2009, 10:24:59 AM

I have a legit copy but I think he sends it with an XP disc...either way, he's local and pretty reliable so, should I have an issue, I'll likely be able to go to him.

TheGoodGuy · August 19, 2009, 11:22:06 AM

sounds like a warm deal but in terms of an upgrade its a hell of a upgrade. I'd go for it.

also check http://www.geeks.com they are having a free ship sale.

makenzie71 · August 19, 2009, 11:26:22 AM

Can you make suggestions as to what I could do to upgrade my system on a <$200 budget buying parts?

ohgood · August 19, 2009, 02:48:49 PM

Quote from: makenzie71 on August 19, 2009, 11:26:22 AM
Can you make suggestions as to what I could do to upgrade my system on a <$200 budget buying parts?

Cruise over to tigerdirect.com and see how far a dollar goes. Parts is cheap nowadays.

Jay_wolf · August 19, 2009, 02:58:29 PM

depends what u want to use it for , ask him about how much ram the motherboard can take , i have a laptop, desktop and notebook , the two lappys max out at 2gb , my pc has 16 gb , memory is cheap to , a fast harddrive can help , look into raptor , spins at 10,000 rpm instead of the 7200 , alot of ppl get one 80 gb raptor , have windows on that ,then have a 500 gb for all your stuff, but if the motherboard is junk, worthless

Canonball · August 19, 2009, 03:09:46 PM

buy a Mac

TheGoodGuy · August 19, 2009, 03:28:43 PM

Yeah tigerdirect.com or geeks.com and newegg.com

You can reuse some of the stuff right now that you have.

The thing is ANYTHING you get will be faster than what you have right now.

makenzie71 · August 19, 2009, 03:39:38 PM

How far my dollar goes doesn't matter when I don't really know what I need to get. I want a system that will allow me to at least play a consistent 30fps on WoW and will allow me to multitask a bit easier. Right now I have 5 tabs on FireFox, running WMP, and have a couple file folders open and I'm running at about 85% of my CPU's capacity if that really means anything.

Mac's suck or we'd have one when the missus upgraded.

Jay_wolf · August 19, 2009, 03:43:15 PM

Get as much ram as possible , i saw a Nvidia 1 gb card that was 41 pounds , my pc cost me 350 quid , and it makes me ps3 look rubbish

scottpA_GS · August 19, 2009, 04:40:18 PM

Mak..

Ive been pricing out a new PC lately. To build your own I agree with www.newegg.com .... geeks.com is a good site but not as large or reliable as newegg.

Anyway.. I think newegg or tigerdirect refurbs are a good bang for the $$$ as most have XP installed and come w/ a year warranty. Then you can add your own video and more ram. It seems that thats the best deal I could figure out. By the time you buy a MOBO, RAM, CPU, Possible power supply and new HD.. Youll save $$ just buying a re-furb.

I think for $175 the deal you posted would by far beat what would be worth your time and money to build

Jay_wolf · August 19, 2009, 05:49:35 PM

Xp only handles 8 gb of ram, even if u have 16 in , it will only see 8

TheGoodGuy · August 19, 2009, 05:55:26 PM

Quote from: Jay_wolf on August 19, 2009, 05:49:35 PM
Xp only handles 8 gb of ram, even if u have 16 in , it will only see 8

XP 32bit only handles max of 4gb (actually 3.5), so you cant put more than 4 gb in XP.

Yeah looking back the 175 isnt a bad deal. The bottle necks for WOW are actually video card processing power, Memory and CPU .. not so much a hard drive issue.

go for it!

ohgood · August 19, 2009, 06:29:58 PM

Quote from: makenzie71 on August 19, 2009, 03:39:38 PM
How far my dollar goes doesn't matter when I don't really know what I need to get. I want a system that will allow me to at least play a consistent 30fps on WoW and will allow me to multitask a bit easier. Right now I have 5 tabs on FireFox, running WMP, and have a couple file folders open and I'm running at about 85% of my CPU's capacity if that really means anything.

Mac's suck or we'd have one when the missus upgraded.

I don't get it - you're not even close to using all your cpu cycles. If you were pinning it 100% of the time with FOlding@Home or something, ya, i Could see an upgrade. Sounds more like you have a standard-issue of XP-rot. You know, filesystem crap, need a defrag, etc. There are tons of things to do (easiest is a fresh install) to speed up a 'old' computer.

Don't blame the hardware for software that sucks !

As far as macs sucking - sure, ok. It's the same hardware -now- as all the other machines, aside a nicer keyboard, and some standardisation with wifi chips/stuff. THe software--- oh man, you're so wrong there though. It may be different, it may be odd compared to what you're used to, but it's soooo much better.

GIve the tiger a shot, or pricewatch.. even ebay. if hardware isn't 'new' people think it's worthless anymore. I'm typiing this on a now 5 year old mac, g4 at that, it still performs fine while decrompressing a 1Gb tarball, playing mp3's, 14 tabs in firefox, running a torrent, sftp access (from my android phone), and a couple other htings going.

ps- i fold @ night but only @ 50% cpu usage to keep the fan quiet. every night. for the last 5 years.

hooray for reliability

makenzie71 · August 19, 2009, 06:35:05 PM

I hit the 100% mark pretty regularly when I've got three active things running (WMP, Limewire/etc, and FireFox)...if I have FireFox and IE up I can't do anything else. I'm sure the software isn't in top form, but, in the end, it's a dated machine.

yamahonkawazuki · August 19, 2009, 06:45:41 PM

lol 200 won buy a mac. ten times that amount maybe

makenzie71 · August 19, 2009, 06:53:24 PM

I will say that Mac's are pretty cool machines. They're purpose built machines and it's hard to beat them at their game...however, a comparable Mac is going to cost half again as much as a PC. My wife's XPS, for example...it does everything we need and cost less than $2500. To get a Mac that does the same tasks, though I do admit it does them a bit better, we were going to spend nearly $3400. She was going to get a Mac but opted out because all her expensive programs were already purchased for a PC and it was going to cost so much more (guilt...the computer was going to be a grad gift).

Jay_wolf · August 20, 2009, 12:34:50 AM

Oh i thought it was 8 , my beast runs on Vista

yamahonkawazuki · August 20, 2009, 02:44:11 AM

Mak use as much of your old unit. if you buy parts. drives etc. to cut costs. that CL ad sounds pretty sweet tbh

i spent 350 on my new rig. came wiht 4gb ddr2, and an x2 5000 cpu, i added my hd3870 oc from previous build, and found an amd phenom2 x4 940 ( quad core 3.0ghz ) for 90 shipped on ebay. so roughly 350 in rig in current state ( not counting case and lcd from previous as well, and psu. but still. if you are buying parts, find a good cpu/ram/mobo package. but that 200 watter should be upped.

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