I want a computer for web surfing and msn msgr.

[Aztech]

Originally posted by: Varun
Keep what you have.

Add another 512 RAM

Remove all the crap you have starting when you boot up, and get rid of the RAID array.

You could do everything you want with a Pentium 200. You are absolutely crazy to think you need a faster computer for what you need. Some more RAM and get rid of the spyware and you'll be good to go.

Agreed. If you wanna upgrade for fun, go for it. But for what you're doing, your machine is quite adequate. I agree about maybe more RAM and disk cleanup. But for photo browsing, editing, etc... you should stay with a dedicated graphics card, I think.

 

[irwincur]

You do not need a new computer.

As a matter of fact, for what you are doing, your current PC is clearly overkill.

If you really want to reduce boot time - LEAVE THE THING ON...

 

[TGS]

Originally posted by: mindgam3
Your raid 1 is slowing everything down try raid 0 or invest in a raptor drive and 512 more ram will help tons .

This is garbage. RAID 1 will not slow down read speeds. Unless the controller supports concurrent reads it will be as fast as a single drive, with complete data protection. If you have a controller (though I'm assuming you are using onboard) that supports concurrent reads, it will be as fast as the raid 0, and still have the data protection through mirroring.

Newer hard drives compared to raptors, is all based on disk density and drive I/O. Windows XP optimizes the data structure on the disk, thereby giving an overall faser boot up due to the layout of the drive data.

The significant times a raptor outperforms larger density drives is with a high I/O load typically found in database or heavy web traffic. I'll assume you are not doing either, and if storage capacity is important to you than I would vote for a drive with larger disk density. Heat, noise, and lower usable disk capacity is the price you pay for using a raptor in a typical home setup.

Typical things to speed up booting, faster CPU, sufficient system memory, faster disk subsystems. Beyond those options I can't recall anything that may improve boot times. The XP boot tweak is something specific to windows XP, and as you said you are on a budget that may not be an option for you.

Also if you go with integrated graphics, that will eat up some system memory resources which could results in an overall performance degradation.

 

[superfly27]

I did the following to post on the Hard forum. But, in case you don't want the video card, you could either choose a motherboard with on-board video. You may want a video card like the one I listed for the next Windows operating system.

Don't worry about the Duron 1.8 GHz, it's really an Athlon 2200+ with less cache.

Duron 1.8 GHz $42 (processor)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819104160

Cooler Master heatsink $6 (goes on processor)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835103160

Corsair 512 MB RAM $43 (memory)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145026

Asrock motherboard for $39.50 (main circuit board)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813157046

Sparkle power supply $29.50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103484

Raidmax case $30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811156019

Gigabyte 9600 Pro $79 (video card)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814125169

Western Digital 80 GB HD $56 (hard drive)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144122

NEC ND 3520 DVD burner $38
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152039

Altec Lansing speakers $12
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836113159

Logitech mouse $6 (actually, I just noticed that with that mouse, you can get a combo special, a Logitech keyboard is only $2 instead of $7)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826104181

Total cost of this system? $383 US AND this includes a good gaming video card!!!

extra case fans? $2 each
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811998104

Instructions? Go to...
http://www.buildyourown.org.uk/

You could choose a Cool Master 400 watt power supply instead for better upgrade ability. $35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817171007
Then a 6600 GT video card for better gaming. $137 (with rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814135160
Or, an Athlon 2700+ for better gaming as well. $81
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103341

If you bought those three instead, the total would be $485 ($102.50 more).

Of course, the best deal for gaming right now would be a socket 939 Athlon 64 3200+ (requires another motherboard) & Geforce 6800.

 

[SonicIce]

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/product..._dp_dimen2400_1?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs#
$300 with monitor, printer, and speakers

 

[judasmachine]

Originally posted by: NervousNovice2
I know I don't really need a fast computer for office work. But what If I want one (reasonable budget), what should I go for?

I do these:
1. web surfing with firefox
2. msn msgr
3. write doc, load pdf, run xls, etc..office work
4. occasionally watch dvd movie
5. sometimes run mathematica

I don't do these:
1. play games, just any games
2. do graphics or 3D stuff
3. video encoding

Ok. So I don't play games so AMD is not a must. And I don't do encoding either so Intel is no a must either. So what should I get? How much ram? What graphic card?

Is onboard graphic suffice? I afraid it will slow down my CPU a bit. How much performance is reduced ? And how much performance gain on CPU will I have if I go for a discrete graphic card ?

Look at the AT home page they have a great entry level system article that is right up your alley.