If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Must buy new computer...Ideas?
Hello to all! Finally my over 10-1/2 year old Dell desktop's extreme
slowness has seriously gotten on my nerves and I'm now looking for a new one. (Surprisingly, it's working pretty well otherwise...) Maybe this isn't the right forum? But beside the usual things like RAM and HD GBs, are there things I should be sure to have...or be careful NOT to have on a desktop? After n ot looking into computers for over a decade I feel like a Martian in the Earth. lol! Also, is it possible to transfer to the new one ALL my stuff, including programs, etc.? Do you think a dummy like me could do it??? Thanks so much for any suggestions! ) Adela |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Must buy new computer...Ideas?
Try the Computer Shopper forums: http://forums.computershopper.com/index.php
there is plenty of info on buying new or building your own. "Adela" wrote in message ... Hello to all! Finally my over 10-1/2 year old Dell desktop's extreme slowness has seriously gotten on my nerves and I'm now looking for a new one. (Surprisingly, it's working pretty well otherwise...) Maybe this isn't the right forum? But beside the usual things like RAM and HD GBs, are there things I should be sure to have...or be careful NOT to have on a desktop? After n ot looking into computers for over a decade I feel like a Martian in the Earth. lol! Also, is it possible to transfer to the new one ALL my stuff, including programs, etc.? Do you think a dummy like me could do it??? Thanks so much for any suggestions! ) Adela |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Must buy new computer...Ideas?
Try the Computer Shopper forums: http://forums.computershopper.com/index.php
there is plenty of info on buying new or building your own. "Adela" wrote in message ... Hello to all! Finally my over 10-1/2 year old Dell desktop's extreme slowness has seriously gotten on my nerves and I'm now looking for a new one. (Surprisingly, it's working pretty well otherwise...) Maybe this isn't the right forum? But beside the usual things like RAM and HD GBs, are there things I should be sure to have...or be careful NOT to have on a desktop? After n ot looking into computers for over a decade I feel like a Martian in the Earth. lol! Also, is it possible to transfer to the new one ALL my stuff, including programs, etc.? Do you think a dummy like me could do it??? Thanks so much for any suggestions! ) Adela |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Must buy new computer...Ideas?
Adela wrote:
Hello to all! Finally my over 10-1/2 year old Dell desktop's extreme slowness has seriously gotten on my nerves and I'm now looking for a new one. (Surprisingly, it's working pretty well otherwise...) Maybe this isn't the right forum? But beside the usual things like RAM and HD GBs, are there things I should be sure to have...or be careful NOT to have on a desktop? After n ot looking into computers for over a decade I feel like a Martian in the Earth. lol! Also, is it possible to transfer to the new one ALL my stuff, including programs, etc.? Do you think a dummy like me could do it??? Thanks so much for any suggestions! ) Adela Do you have a large budget or a small one ? Are you expecting the machine to last for another 10-1/2 years ? Are you reusing anything from the old one ? (Like the monitor perhaps.) Paul |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Must buy new computer...Ideas?
Adela wrote:
Hello to all! Finally my over 10-1/2 year old Dell desktop's extreme slowness has seriously gotten on my nerves and I'm now looking for a new one. (Surprisingly, it's working pretty well otherwise...) Maybe this isn't the right forum? But beside the usual things like RAM and HD GBs, are there things I should be sure to have...or be careful NOT to have on a desktop? After n ot looking into computers for over a decade I feel like a Martian in the Earth. lol! Also, is it possible to transfer to the new one ALL my stuff, including programs, etc.? Do you think a dummy like me could do it??? Thanks so much for any suggestions! ) Adela Do you have a large budget or a small one ? Are you expecting the machine to last for another 10-1/2 years ? Are you reusing anything from the old one ? (Like the monitor perhaps.) Paul |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Must buy new computer...Ideas?
On 9/3/2010 11:02 PM, Adela wrote:
Hello to all! Finally my over 10-1/2 year old Dell desktop's extreme slowness has seriously gotten on my nerves and I'm now looking for a new one. (Surprisingly, it's working pretty well otherwise...) Maybe this isn't the right forum? But beside the usual things like RAM and HD GBs, are there things I should be sure to have...or be careful NOT to have on a desktop? After n ot looking into computers for over a decade I feel like a Martian in the Earth. lol! Also, is it possible to transfer to the new one ALL my stuff, including programs, etc.? Do you think a dummy like me could do it??? Thanks so much for any suggestions! ) Adela Depends, do you want to keep using Windows XP, or are you willing to go towards Windows 7? Yousuf Khan |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Must buy new computer...Ideas?
On 9/3/2010 11:02 PM, Adela wrote:
Hello to all! Finally my over 10-1/2 year old Dell desktop's extreme slowness has seriously gotten on my nerves and I'm now looking for a new one. (Surprisingly, it's working pretty well otherwise...) Maybe this isn't the right forum? But beside the usual things like RAM and HD GBs, are there things I should be sure to have...or be careful NOT to have on a desktop? After n ot looking into computers for over a decade I feel like a Martian in the Earth. lol! Also, is it possible to transfer to the new one ALL my stuff, including programs, etc.? Do you think a dummy like me could do it??? Thanks so much for any suggestions! ) Adela Depends, do you want to keep using Windows XP, or are you willing to go towards Windows 7? Yousuf Khan |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Must buy new computer...Ideas?
It's getting closer to time for me to do upgrade also. Been trying to figure
out what though. For me, the confusion is all in the cpu chips, there seems to be so many selections were-as last purcashe it was simple, e.g. 3.2Gz beats 2.8Gz. About the only thing I've figured out so far is i3 is less than i5 is less than i7 but how they match up against AMD (or whatever) requires loads of research. The various flyers drive me nuts as every 2nd ad for a computer (desktop or laptop) sports a different cpu. ARGH!!!! "Adela" wrote in message ... Hello to all! Finally my over 10-1/2 year old Dell desktop's extreme slowness has seriously gotten on my nerves and I'm now looking for a new one. (Surprisingly, it's working pretty well otherwise...) Maybe this isn't the right forum? But beside the usual things like RAM and HD GBs, are there things I should be sure to have...or be careful NOT to have on a desktop? After n ot looking into computers for over a decade I feel like a Martian in the Earth. lol! Also, is it possible to transfer to the new one ALL my stuff, including programs, etc.? Do you think a dummy like me could do it??? Thanks so much for any suggestions! ) Adela |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Must buy new computer...Ideas?
It's getting closer to time for me to do upgrade also. Been trying to figure
out what though. For me, the confusion is all in the cpu chips, there seems to be so many selections were-as last purcashe it was simple, e.g. 3.2Gz beats 2.8Gz. About the only thing I've figured out so far is i3 is less than i5 is less than i7 but how they match up against AMD (or whatever) requires loads of research. The various flyers drive me nuts as every 2nd ad for a computer (desktop or laptop) sports a different cpu. ARGH!!!! "Adela" wrote in message ... Hello to all! Finally my over 10-1/2 year old Dell desktop's extreme slowness has seriously gotten on my nerves and I'm now looking for a new one. (Surprisingly, it's working pretty well otherwise...) Maybe this isn't the right forum? But beside the usual things like RAM and HD GBs, are there things I should be sure to have...or be careful NOT to have on a desktop? After n ot looking into computers for over a decade I feel like a Martian in the Earth. lol! Also, is it possible to transfer to the new one ALL my stuff, including programs, etc.? Do you think a dummy like me could do it??? Thanks so much for any suggestions! ) Adela |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Must buy new computer...Ideas?
Consider a HP Pavilion Elite HPE-300z series with a AMD Athlon(TM) X4
635 quad-core processor [2.9GHz and 6GB DDR3-1333MHz SDRAM. Also, order the optional 1GB ATI Radeon HD 5450 [DVI, HDMI, VGA adapter] Ref: http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/sh...gory &v1=High performance On 9/3/2010 10:02 PM, Adela wrote: Hello to all! Finally my over 10-1/2 year old Dell desktop's extreme slowness has seriously gotten on my nerves and I'm now looking for a new one. (Surprisingly, it's working pretty well otherwise...) Maybe this isn't the right forum? But beside the usual things like RAM and HD GBs, are there things I should be sure to have...or be careful NOT to have on a desktop? After n ot looking into computers for over a decade I feel like a Martian in the Earth. lol! Also, is it possible to transfer to the new one ALL my stuff, including programs, etc.? Do you think a dummy like me could do it??? Thanks so much for any suggestions! ) Adela |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Must buy new computer...Ideas?
Consider a HP Pavilion Elite HPE-300z series with a AMD Athlon(TM) X4
635 quad-core processor [2.9GHz and 6GB DDR3-1333MHz SDRAM. Also, order the optional 1GB ATI Radeon HD 5450 [DVI, HDMI, VGA adapter] Ref: http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/sh...gory &v1=High performance On 9/3/2010 10:02 PM, Adela wrote: Hello to all! Finally my over 10-1/2 year old Dell desktop's extreme slowness has seriously gotten on my nerves and I'm now looking for a new one. (Surprisingly, it's working pretty well otherwise...) Maybe this isn't the right forum? But beside the usual things like RAM and HD GBs, are there things I should be sure to have...or be careful NOT to have on a desktop? After n ot looking into computers for over a decade I feel like a Martian in the Earth. lol! Also, is it possible to transfer to the new one ALL my stuff, including programs, etc.? Do you think a dummy like me could do it??? Thanks so much for any suggestions! ) Adela |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Must buy new computer...Ideas?
pjp wrote:
It's getting closer to time for me to do upgrade also. Been trying to figure out what though. For me, the confusion is all in the cpu chips, there seems to be so many selections were-as last purcashe it was simple, e.g. 3.2Gz beats 2.8Gz. About the only thing I've figured out so far is i3 is less than i5 is less than i7 but how they match up against AMD (or whatever) requires loads of research. The various flyers drive me nuts as every 2nd ad for a computer (desktop or laptop) sports a different cpu. ARGH!!!! Intel has shockingly bad taste in assembling processors for marketing purposes. The marketing department demands "tiers" for products. Their efforts recently, are more artificial than they normally are. I agree with the statement about clock rate, as at least *that* was pretty easy to understand. To a large extent, the following analysis is irrelevant (if you were blindfolded, knowing the clock rate would probably be enough knowledge), but doing this kind of analysis is fun for me :-) ******* If you look at this Core i3 (probably mobile, as this is a laptop article), the processor has two silicon die in it. The article says the processor is 32nm geometry, while the second chip is a "GPU plus memory controller" and is done in 45nm geometry silicon. What that means, is when the processor wants to access memory, it has to go through a chip to chip interface. That makes Intel chips with integrated GPU, similar to LGA775 and Core2 systems. The GPU silicon die is then equivalent to an old Northbridge, like a G45 perhaps. http://hothardware.com/Reviews/Intel...veiled/?page=4 Core2 ------ Northbridge ---------- dual_channel_memory Core i3 --- (Internal GPU chip) --- dual_channel_memory Processors without integrated GPU, have no choice but to have the memory controller right on the processor. Some of the higher end processors are this way. All the current AMD products work that way (AMD isn't quite as stupid). Core --------------- rest of system | Dual_channel_memory Intel chose to split the designs with integrated GPU into two pieces, for reasons such as yield. They can test both parts, and then put them into an MCM (multi-chip-module) package. You can use ark.intel.com to sort the processors out, and see which ones have built-in graphics. That will help sort out, which of them are split like the one in the picture. These Core i3 processors, all have integrated GPU. An integrated GPU helps assemble low end computers, as cheaply as possible, as you don't have to buy a video card. It means the motherboard ends up with one or more video connectors, in the I/O plate area. If you use a processor without a GPU inside it, then the video connectors in the I/O plate area won't work. (Dell or HP wouldn't do that - but a home builder might.) http://ark.intel.com/ProductCollecti...familyId=43129 The ones at the top of the Core i5 list, don't have an integrated GPU, so they use one chip, and the memory controller should be right on the processor. The second link here, is supposed to be a picture of a Core i5-750. The "PCI-E" on the right hand side, is how the video card connects to the PCI Express x16 slot - the processor has the interface right on the silicon die. This is a decent way to do things, yet eliminates one chip on the motherboard (the Northbridge). http://ark.intel.com/ProductCollecti...familyId=42912 http://img.hardcoreware.net/wordpres...ut-560x342.jpg If we look at the Core i7 list, the ones at the top are "true i7". They have triple channel memory, versus the dual channel of the i3 or i5. The Core i7-920 is the favorite of overclockers, because you can buy a "cheap" processor, and get it running at the clock speed of one of the faster ones. The LGA1366 socket is used with the true ones. The extra pins help support the third channel of memory interface. It also means, you need a different motherboard, depending on whether the processor is LGA1156 or LGA1366 socket. http://ark.intel.com/ProductCollecti...familyId=28037 In this link, is a silicon die shot. In this case, instead of the PCI Express interface being on the die, there is something called QPI, and QPI is the "FSB" or "Front Side Bus". Such LGA1366 systems, need a Northbridge, and the Northbridge has the PCI Express interfaces on it. The Northbridge typically used, has at least two full video card interfaces, for things like Crossfire video setups. The memory controller is right on the processor, for a low latency interconnect to memory. So this is the "Cadillac" at Intel. http://www.tomshw.it/guides/hardware...2-164882-3.jpg QPI DMI SATA Core i7 (true) --------------- Northbridge -------- Southbridge -------- (disks) | | triple_channel_memory PCI Express to video The lower items in the Core i7 listing, don't have the word QPI next to them. It means those Core i7 come in LGA1156 packages, and have the PCI Express interface on the side of the die, instead of QPI and LGA1366 package. So they're like some of the better Core i5 processors (the ones without a GPU chip). They'd look something like this (and I wish Intel would draw these stupid pictures for me, so I don't have to make them up). PCI Express to video | DMI ? SATA Core i7 (false) ----------------------------------- Southbridge -------- (disks) | dual_channel_memory If we compare a Core i5-750 (no GPU, 2.66GHz, 4C, 4T) versus a Core i7-870S (no GPU, 2.66GHz, 4C, 8T), the difference between them is the Core i7 one has Hyperthreading, which is why it has 8 threads instead of 4 threads (8T versus 4T). (The S on the end, means it is a power saving version, so we can't compare prices directly. I wanted to show there were two processors ostensibly identical in performance, yet with different family names. Hyperthreading isn't always a big win.) If I price compare, the Core i5-750 2.66GHz is $196. The Core i7-860 2.8GHz is $284. And the puny difference in clock speed doesn't justify the higher price. There is one other processor, of interest only because it has six cores, instead of two or four. The price means this is only affordable to enthusiasts. It's a true Core i7, with QPI. The second link shows the extravagant use of silicon. http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id...ec-codes=SLBUZ http://images.bit-tech.net/content_i...ulftowndie.jpg ******* In terms of future proofing, the number of cores you can buy (Intel or AMD), range through 1,2,3,4,6 right now. Dual core makes sense, if you're primarily a web surfer, and don't do multimedia (video editing, Photoshop). Buying a quad core, leaves room for future performance improvement, as (presumably) software developers make better usage of multiple cores. The hex core right now, is almost suited to server usage, as it is hard to envisage a desktop making cost effective use of it. I'm not certain how many applications can load six cores equally and to 100% (Cinebench can, but then, it's pointless). Buying a dual is good, if you value saving electricity over everything else. Buying a quad is good, if you want the machine to last a few years. (At least, as long as the clock rate choice isn't too low. There are a few quads that are on the slow side, and you might not be happy with them five years from now.) I've left AMD out of the picture, mainly because there is less to explain. They all look more or less like this. HyperTransport HyperTransport SATA AMD_Core ------------------- Northbridge ------------------ Southbridge ------ (Disks) | | Dual_Channel_Memory PCI Express to video You can use tomshardware.com/charts , to do processor benchmark comparisons. Or, I like Xbitlabs.com and some of their comparison articles, to get a better feeling for some of them. ******* As for Adela, I had a quick look around, and I can't say I'm too impressed with Dell or HP. (What is with all the crappy video cards offered for the systems ? ) I liked some of the options offered by Gateway FX series. But so far, this web page, shows the level of choice I'd be looking for as a shopper. You can get almost anything you want here, including an SSD for your boot drive. I'm not saying you should buy a computer here, merely that I'm impressed with the level of choices offered. http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Rattler/ With the smaller companies, it helps to look at their rating. The Better Business Bureau in their home town, may also have data on them, such as unresolved complaints. http://www.resellerratings.com/store/CyberPower On my first PC, I chose to let a local company build my computer, and they charged $100 above retail cost of the parts. For that price, I got the OS installed, and the company did a good job. You don't have to go Dell or HP, if you have a good builder in town. Unfortunately, that company is bankrupt now, and I've been building all my own computers, since having the first one built for me (I've got more time now to do it). Paul "Adela" wrote in message ... Hello to all! Finally my over 10-1/2 year old Dell desktop's extreme slowness has seriously gotten on my nerves and I'm now looking for a new one. (Surprisingly, it's working pretty well otherwise...) Maybe this isn't the right forum? But beside the usual things like RAM and HD GBs, are there things I should be sure to have...or be careful NOT to have on a desktop? After n ot looking into computers for over a decade I feel like a Martian in the Earth. lol! Also, is it possible to transfer to the new one ALL my stuff, including programs, etc.? Do you think a dummy like me could do it??? Thanks so much for any suggestions! ) Adela |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Must buy new computer...Ideas?
Leroy wrote:
Consider a HP Pavilion Elite HPE-300z series with a AMD Athlon(TM) X4 635 quad-core processor [2.9GHz and 6GB DDR3-1333MHz SDRAM. Also, order the optional 1GB ATI Radeon HD 5450 [DVI, HDMI, VGA adapter] Ref: http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/sh...gory &v1=High performance The HD 5450 isn't much of a card for 3D gaming. It's down near the bottom. In fact, I notice my old Radeon 9800 Pro AGP card from six years ago, is marginally faster :-) http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/vi...Radeon+HD+5450 Those cards cost around $50 or a bit more. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131339 The HD 5450 is easy on electricity load, so it does have that advantage. It draws 9.2 watts flat out, which is a lot better than my old 9800 Pro video card. http://www.xbitlabs.com/images/video..._cdr_power.png It would be a fine choice, for an office PC, for web surfing or email, but a 3D gamer would hate it. Any game title needing graphics muscle, would be a slide show. Paul On 9/3/2010 10:02 PM, Adela wrote: Hello to all! Finally my over 10-1/2 year old Dell desktop's extreme slowness has seriously gotten on my nerves and I'm now looking for a new one. (Surprisingly, it's working pretty well otherwise...) Maybe this isn't the right forum? But beside the usual things like RAM and HD GBs, are there things I should be sure to have...or be careful NOT to have on a desktop? After n ot looking into computers for over a decade I feel like a Martian in the Earth. lol! Also, is it possible to transfer to the new one ALL my stuff, including programs, etc.? Do you think a dummy like me could do it??? Thanks so much for any suggestions! ) Adela |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
Must buy new computer...Ideas?
Leroy wrote:
Consider a HP Pavilion Elite HPE-300z series with a AMD Athlon(TM) X4 635 quad-core processor [2.9GHz and 6GB DDR3-1333MHz SDRAM. Also, order the optional 1GB ATI Radeon HD 5450 [DVI, HDMI, VGA adapter] Ref: http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/sh...gory &v1=High performance The HD 5450 isn't much of a card for 3D gaming. It's down near the bottom. In fact, I notice my old Radeon 9800 Pro AGP card from six years ago, is marginally faster :-) http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/vi...Radeon+HD+5450 Those cards cost around $50 or a bit more. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131339 The HD 5450 is easy on electricity load, so it does have that advantage. It draws 9.2 watts flat out, which is a lot better than my old 9800 Pro video card. http://www.xbitlabs.com/images/video..._cdr_power.png It would be a fine choice, for an office PC, for web surfing or email, but a 3D gamer would hate it. Any game title needing graphics muscle, would be a slide show. Paul On 9/3/2010 10:02 PM, Adela wrote: Hello to all! Finally my over 10-1/2 year old Dell desktop's extreme slowness has seriously gotten on my nerves and I'm now looking for a new one. (Surprisingly, it's working pretty well otherwise...) Maybe this isn't the right forum? But beside the usual things like RAM and HD GBs, are there things I should be sure to have...or be careful NOT to have on a desktop? After n ot looking into computers for over a decade I feel like a Martian in the Earth. lol! Also, is it possible to transfer to the new one ALL my stuff, including programs, etc.? Do you think a dummy like me could do it??? Thanks so much for any suggestions! ) Adela |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
Must buy new computer...Ideas?
Why????????
"Leroy" wrote in message ... Consider a HP Pavilion Elite HPE-300z series with a AMD Athlon(TM) X4 635 quad-core processor [2.9GHz and 6GB DDR3-1333MHz SDRAM. Also, order the optional 1GB ATI Radeon HD 5450 [DVI, HDMI, VGA adapter] Ref: http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/sh...gory &v1=High performance On 9/3/2010 10:02 PM, Adela wrote: Hello to all! Finally my over 10-1/2 year old Dell desktop's extreme slowness has seriously gotten on my nerves and I'm now looking for a new one. (Surprisingly, it's working pretty well otherwise...) Maybe this isn't the right forum? But beside the usual things like RAM and HD GBs, are there things I should be sure to have...or be careful NOT to have on a desktop? After n ot looking into computers for over a decade I feel like a Martian in the Earth. lol! Also, is it possible to transfer to the new one ALL my stuff, including programs, etc.? Do you think a dummy like me could do it??? Thanks so much for any suggestions! ) Adela |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|