Best out of 3 desktop PC

[aaronjbc123]

So right now I'm looking for a new desktop, cheap. I see 3 on newegg which look nice, butI'd like some other input, because I'm not really that smart about technical computer info.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16883103034
Acer Aspire AST180-ES340M Sempron 3400+ 512MB DDR2 160GB NVIDIA GeForce 6100 Windows XP Media Center

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16883102681
ABS Awesome V2E 25 Athlon 64 3200+ 512MB DDR 160GB NVIDIA GeForce 6100 Windows XP Media Center

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16883107184
HP DX2200(EN322UA) Pentium 4 519(3.06GHz) 512MB DDR2 80GB ATI Radeon Xpress 200 Integrated Windows XP Pro

Now the main use for this computer will be gaming as well as common tasks. I'd like something that I could upgrade with alittlease ease because now all I have is a dell2400 with a PCI slot for a video card. Any type of input would be really helpful, or if you see another nice one for newegg under 500, please share the info. Thanks alot.

 

[DaveSimmons]

How much extra do you have to spend on a video card?

The built-m graphics on all of these are not good enough for gaming, except maybe at 640x480 low quality.

The Acer looks decent. It's hard to tell about the ABS since your link works but all of the image links are broken for me.

 

[aaronjbc123]

Not too much extra, in my 2400 now I have a gig and a half of RAM so memory wont be an issue. The specs for ABS

Brand ABS
Series Awesome
Model V2E 25
Recommended Usage Business Desktops & Workstations
Form Factor Mid Tower
Colors Silver
Processor AMD Athlon 64 3200+(2.0GHz)
Processor Main Features 64 bit Processor
Cache Per Processor 512KB L2 Cache
Memory CORSAIR ValueSelect 512M DDR400
Hard Drive 160G SATA
Optical Drive 1 NEC 16x Dual Layer DVD±RW
Graphics Integrated GeForce 6100
Audio Realtek ALC880
Ethernet Realtek 8201CL PHY
Operating System Windows XP Media Center
Special Features Cooler Master 80MM AMD FAN CK8-8JD2B-0L
Motherboard
Chipset NVIDIA nForce6100
Motherboard Name MSI K8NGM2-L
CPU
CPU Type Athlon 64
Installed Qty 1
CPU Speed 3200+
L2 Cache Per CPU 512KB
CPU Socket Type Socket 939
CPU Main Features 64 bit Processor
Graphics
GPU/VPU Type NVIDIA GeForce 6100
Graphics Interface Integrated video
Memory
Memory Capacity 512MB DDR
Memory Speed DDR400
Form Factor DIMM 184-pin
Memory Spec 512MB x 1
Memory Slots (Available/Total) 3/4
Maximum Memory Supported 4GB
Hard Drive
HD Capacity 160GB
HD Interface SATA
HD RPM 7200rpm
HD Spec SAMSUNG 8MB Cache
Optical Drive
Optical Drive Type DVD±RW
Optical Drive Spec NEC 16x Dual Layer DVD±RW
Audio
Audio Chipset Realtek ALC880
Communications
LAN Chipset Realtek 8201CL PHY
LAN Speed 10/100Mbps
Front Panel Ports
Front USB 2
Front Audio Ports 2
Back Panel Ports
LPT 1
PS/2 2
VGA 1
Rear USB 4
RJ45 1 port
Rear Audio Ports 3 ports
Expansion
External Bays Four 5.25"
Two 3.5"
Internal Bays Four 3.5"
PCI Slots (Available/Total) 2 PCI
1 PCI Express x16
1 PCI Express x1
Physical Spec
Dimensions 18" x 16.3" x 7.8"

The 6100 is not that great for gaming?

 

[bamacre]

http://www.delloutlet.com

Get an E521. But wait a few days for their inventory to climb back up after the Holiday. Free shipping on anything $400+. You should be able to find one with an X2 cpu, 1GB ram, dvdrw for less than $450. The power supply does 18A on each of two 12V rails, and there is a PCIe x16 slot.

 

[DaveSimmons]

> The 6100 is not that great for gaming?

It's pitiful. It's better than intel motherboard graphics, but much slower than a radeon x300, x1300 and nvidia 7300.

What is "not much" to spend on graphics? $50? $100? $150? $200?

 

[aaronjbc123]

Probably around 100


I'm obviously willing to not play with the best graphics in the world for the newest game, I dont mind not having high settings or anything...I've played WoW in 800x600 with my geforce 5200 for awhile and battlefield2 on lowest, and it's cool. So I really dont need a super card or anything.

 

[DaveSimmons]

This will last you a while, but look at the Video tab to see the limitiations of a 7600GT in games like Oblivion and the new Rainbow Six (Unreal 3 engine):

$400 Acer
$105 (after $30 rebate) Foxconn 7600GT - link

(There is also a $79 7600GT in Hot Deals forum but only after a $65 rebate)

If you want something for high-resolution gaming, you'll need to save up a bit more.

You could put in a 7900GS card for another $50 but the power supply in the Acer looks way too weak. The manufacturers say 20A - 22A for the +12V rail for a 7900GS.

The ABS has a better PSU, but only 18A on the +12V so still not good enough for a 7900GS.

 

[aaronjbc123]

Great, thanks, but the rebate for 7600GT is expired on newegg and I cant find the one in Hot Deals, I tried to use search function but came out empty. So I'll probably get the Acer, thanks a ton

 

[DaveSimmons]

It's on page 1 - link - though it may be expired too (yes, it is ), and yes search is useless

See edit above, a 7600GT looks like the best you could run with the ABS PC as well. For a 7900GS or better you need a higher-priced pre-built or to build your own.

 

[aaronjbc123]

Er, the acer has a sempron amd processor and I've heard that that kind of sucks. Is that true or would that really make much of a difference?

 

[aaronjbc123]

Er, the acer has a sempron amd processor and I've heard that that kind of sucks. Is that true or would that really make much of a difference?

sorry could someone delete this

 

[DaveSimmons]

A Sempron 3400+ will be faster than the P4 3 GHz in the HP, and will run cooler too. It's a perfectly good CPU for someone on a tight budget.

The A64 3200+ in the ABS PC is slightly better, but costs $50 more.