Time for a new computer

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Gentle Ben

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Jan 5, 2002
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It's time I replaced my home built computer. Looking for direction. should I buy a computer or build again?
I don't game, all I do is surf, email, burn some music & dvds basically.
I like asus MBs , had great luck with this one.

if I buy, what should I look for?
if I build, what should I buy, especially chip & MB
Id also like usb at least 1 USB 3 port and a bunch of usb 2
is there an auto-back up system available to back up documents ?




thanks

B
 
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Don

Active member
Aug 23, 2001
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Since your use case is simple, I'd actually recommend a laptop. Bit more pricey in terms of bang for the buck but you can make up for it in portability and compact size.
 
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bassnut

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Dec 25, 2009
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I would build just for the fact that you know what you are getting, if you go with a box computer you will be getting technology at least 1 if not 2 generations behind what is now selling and soon coming out. Concidering what you are using your computer for a box computer might be the easiest sollution as you are not a power user by any stretch of the imagination. If you are looking to build and you want soem guidence you will need to come up with a buit of a budget. With the long awaited release of the AMD FX Series (Bulldozer - Late Sept early Oct) on the horizon prices will fall for the chips on the market now. You should be able to get a top of the line PII X4 chip for around $100 and an PII X6 for not much more. you could build a real good system now for 500 - 750 depending on what you want to spend and what you want.
 
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WoodPeckr

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New Desktops are vey inexpensive, not sure what you want to spend

Not sure how powerful or old your PC is but two friends still love this Compaq model that is 2 yrs old now that I recommended to them. They have basic PC needs like you and paid $300 for this one back then.

Here's what it's going for now at Best Buy in the USA $269.99. Imagine prices should be close in Canada.

Compaq - Presario Desktop / AMD E-Series Processor / 3GB Memory / 500GB Hard Drive $269.99.

One friend has burned 100s of DVD movies with it so far with no complaints. It's very quiet and had 3GB DDR2 Ram. The new model comes with 3GB DDR3 Ram that is expandable to 8GB.

You get 64 bit Windows 7 also which you want rather than the 32 bit version. I still see his PC every now and then and it has been an excellent PC to date. He dual boots W7 with Ubuntu also on it and now prefers Ubuntu over W7.
 
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Gentle Ben

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Jan 5, 2002
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thanks so far everyone. I don't want a laptop as I already have one that is fine for when I travel etc. portability isn't an issue since all the work I do with the desktop is at my desk anyway.
as far as budget, I hadn't thought about that .It's not unlimited, but I don't mind spending some $$$ to get a good quality pc. I would spend $500 without hesitation if I was buying quality and not some POC . I'm leaning towards building myself.
any other suggestions re motherboard, case , etc greatly appreciated..
 
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WoodPeckr

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zpinkz

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Sep 29, 2008
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Correct me if i'm wrong but i'm pretty sure that i3's don't have quad cores. When they say 4 way processing they're referring to hyperthreading which makes windows treat the 2 physical cores as if there were 4.

But as a side note an i3 processor should b more than enough for whatever gentle ben has said he needs.

WoodPeckr said:
Lenovo - Ideacentre Desktop / Intel® Core™ i3 Processor / 8GB Memory / 1TB Hard Drive $529.99

Here's an example of a nice powerful Lenovo Quad i3.
Not sure if you can build one with the same specs cheaper.

I also have a laptop but still prefer a powerful desktop for multitasking without any strain or pain.
Click to expand...
 
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WoodPeckr

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zpinkz

Looks like you're right.
I never really looked into the i3's and thought they were all quads and the i3 just lacked hyperthreading.

From Wiki

Core i3

The Core i3 was intended to be the new low end of the performance processor line from Intel, following the retirement of the Core 2 brand.[18][19]

The first Core i3 processors were launched on January 7, 2010.[20]

The first Nehalem based Core i3 was Clarkdale-based, with an integrated GPU and two cores.[21] The same processor is also available as Core i5 and Pentium, with slightly different configurations.

The Core i3-3xxM processors are based on Arrandale, the mobile version of the Clarkdale desktop processor. They are similar to the Core i5-4xx series but running at lower clock speeds and without Turbo Boost.[22]
Click to expand...
 
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enyaw

Member
May 8, 2005
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all good suggs. so far. I would swap out the board and cpu keep your existing stuff and you should be fine. Do some homework and upgrade/increase the ram as well. I have an amd quad with room for 16g ram and haven't done an upgrade in a year and 1/2. But I have room to grow, which is the key.

Good luck,
 
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onthebottom

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Jan 10, 2002
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for $500 you could get a mac mini

OTB
 
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enyaw

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May 8, 2005
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Yes you could but that is a bare bones machine. You will need a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Not really a big problem but not the true cost. If you running a mac you will need a mac keyboard, mouse can be generic unless you want the special features. I'm going that route because I'm going to split my monitor between hdmi and vga. Already have an old mac keyboard lying around and a mouse cost fuck all. If the op has these things lying around go for it. Last but not least you will/should get an optical drive external usb burner will do. Unless you share one you have already for your pc. Great for me because I have these things lying around
 
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Cobster

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Apr 29, 2002
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onthebottom said:
for $500 you could get a mac mini

OTB
Click to expand...
...and get screwed for what you're getting.

Btw, Minis start at $600, not $500, now I see WoodP's "fuzzy numbers" comments in regards to you.
 
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Cobster

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WoodPeckr

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Powershot said:
Most of the time when people specify builds they don't include $100 for Winblows 7..
Click to expand...
Install Linux and it won't cost ya a penny....;)
 
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zorlack

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Jul 7, 2010
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Antec makes some nice cases, powersupplies & cooling fans...there are some good sites which giveya a formula to figure out how many watts yoru powersupply should be, depending upon how much stuffya want in your box, so that it will work most efficiently.

Gigabyte, MSI, Asus make the better motherboards...onboard video is fine for most general use PC's.

AMD processors are awesome, Intel is not worth the premium.

yes, consider Linux for your operating system, Linux Mint or Ubuntu are good starters.

have fun!
 
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bassnut

Member
Dec 25, 2009
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If you are really not going to use the computer for heavy gaming ...... try one of the new AMD EPU models with the graphics built into the CPU.

They run from 139 ..... http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=4_64&item_id=040146 on the upper end for a quad core
to 84 on the bottom end for a dual core ..... http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=4_64&item_id=041859

Match that with a FM1 Motherboard .... http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?cPath=26_334

and talk to them about some ram to match the board and cpu. I have heard good things about these new chips. If you want something that will be around for a while this is the way to go or more power you say AMD's new FX series (Bulldozer) is soon to be launched. They just set a new cpu overclock world record of 8400 mhz on though this option will cost you allot more.
 
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