Advice on new PC

[Paul V]

After a bit of advise, not really too up on PC’s but my one is a bit old so thinking of getting a new one.

I’ve seen PC world has a few on offer for around the £500 mark, just wondering if they a decent value. Mainly going to be used for looking online, msn, also ripping DVD’s and that sort of thing, I will also do a bit of AutoCAD 2D and some 3D with renderings but not a huge amount of this. My current machine is an 800Mhz Pentium 3 with 384mb ram and a 40 GB hard drive, which is more of less full.

I’ve seen this www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1748804774.1145289660@@@@&BV_EngineID=cceladdhifgmfeicflgceggdhhmdgmh.0&page=Product&sku=138712 and www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1045994002.1145289795@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccfaddhidjjhfkcflgceggdhhmdfho.0&page=Product&sku=142350&tabIndex=1

The first one looks better but has less ram, although am I right in thinking that ram is quite cheap these days???

Another option is a laptop as it’s smaller but not sure trying to do CAD on one is a great idea.

Any opinions???

Paul

[Zad]

Hello Paul.

First thing to consider, if your current PC is ok (except for the drive being full) then maybe look at just adding another hard drive, and perhaps maxing out your memory. Adding more memory can help a heck of a lot, especially with Photoshop and 3D apps.

Handy hints for buying PCs, number 1: Don't go to PC World.

Dell are "ok" but the computer mags are packed full of retailers selling PCs. Once you have a specification, phone your local independent computer shops and ask them to price a machine to that spec. You will get far better service, and probably a better deal too.

Personally I avoid Intel CPUs at the moment, for any given device AMD have one that is faster, cheaper, and uses less power. Intel have so much clout that they can (and have) tied big manufacturers into their devices, making it difficult to get an AMD based machine from PC World, Dell, Compaq/HP etc.

Yes, memory is cheap. I got 2GB of super whizzy stuff for less than £130 at Christmas. It will probably be less than that now.

Taking those two machines:

COMPAQ 1739 INTEL PENTIUM 4 517 HT TECHNOLOGY PROCESSOR + 15" TFT MONITOR

15" Monitor is a bit *tiny* for your needs
80GB Hard drive. I'm surprised you can even get them this small now! Way too small.
Graphics: Radeon X200 Express. Ick. That is one of those motherboard integrated adaptors which uses the PC's own memory and results not only in slow graphics but a slower PC too. Integrated graphics adaptors are a PC World fave trick.


PACKARD BELL IMEDIA 1538 INTEL PENTIUM 4 519 PROCESSOR + 17" TFT FLAT PANEL MONITOR

512MB Memory is, as you say, a bit on the mean side. Especially for Photoshop and 3D.
160GB drive is distinctly bottom-end-of-the-market now. 250GB or 300GB is more usual and would not cost much more as an individual item.
Graphics: The Nvidia 6200 isn't last generation, it's the one before that.


I would go for an AMD64 3500+ processor, with 1GB of dual channel memory on an Nvidia-based motherboard

For graphics I would go for an Nvidia 6600 or X600 PCI Express based card.

For hard drive, anything over 250GB.

Monitor is a matter of taste. For CAD I would go for a 19" monitor, but on a tight budget 17" will be fine so long as it is at least 1280x1024.

[Paul V]

I will have a look in the computer magazines, I have had a look at Dell but seems buy the time you add all the bits on they work out more expensive than the likes of pc world etc, or was that me just getting carried away . One reason I considered PC world is there is one at the bottom of the hill so fairly easy option lol.

My current machine crashes far too much and takes an age to do anything in AutoCAD it seems, got new antivirus etc so think it's just where it's old, I do often have a fair few programs running so wanted something with decent memory but as it’s cheap don’t mind throwing some in myself. I have an ok monitor for CAD and as I will set up the old machine for my dad he can use whatever monitor I get with it.

Easy option is to get a PC out the box but will have another look about.