Internet surfing only computer

[Aolish]

Hi all, I ran into a particular thread while surfing that I found interesting. In general it talked about what a typical machine would look like to have a FAST web experience. I was curious to know what others thought about this was on their ideal machine for a fast internet surfing machine. From most important to least important, please put the following things in order that you think would provide the best web experience a person can have.

Here's the scenario: John Doe wants a computer that provides the best internet only experience he can get. He'll be using the internet for email, chatting (Skype) listening to music, will be watching Netflix, youtube videos and will be video conferencing with Skype every once in awhile. John Doe wants a LAG free and responsive computer at his disposal. Here are the components, please list each one in order of importance from #1. Most important to #7 Least important.

CPU, RAM, Storage device, PSU, High Speed, GPU and a Web browser. Here is my order:

1. High Speed connection
2. Storage device, SSD
3. CPU, i5/FX-6300 or higher
4. RAM
5. GPU
6. Firefox
7. PSU

 

[Bubbleawsome]

I would say nearly all correct, though the requirements are not quite right. An i3 or even some faster pentiums will run all that fine. Skylake i3's are hitting 3.9Ghz base. Also, GPU could be below firefox, though I think high speed connection and firefox both don't belong here.

iGPUs are also usually enough for a smooth, lag-free experience now.

tl;dr

1. SSD
2. CPU
3. RAM
4. PSU

 

[Charlie98]

1. High Speed connection
2. Storage device, SSD
3. CPU, i5/FX-6300 or higher
4. RAM
5. GPU
6. Firefox
7. PSU

Basically correct... I agree with Bubble that even a modern day Pentium will suffice, an i5 is certainly not necessary. I also agree the iGPU of a modern chip is plenty for those tasks. I would take out #6 and #7... I've not found Firefox to be any faster, in general, than IE, for example, and it's visual performance is not as good; a PSU has no effect... as long as it's a properly sized PSU of good quality, which any computer needs.

I do agree that a high speed connection is #1... you can have an i7 double-compound super-charged... and it won't go anywhere if you are on dial up.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Well, my Skylake Pentium G4400 @ 4.455Ghz, coupled with a PCI-E 3.0 x4 M.2 SSD, and 8GB of DDR4-2400 @ 2520 is pretty snappy at web browsing, on a 75/75 connection. I do have a dGPU though too, a 7950 3GB.

I also have a Skylake i3-6100 with 8GB DDR4 @ 2133, using the iGPU (non-OC). I prefer the OCed G4400 Pentium with dGPU and M.2 PCI-E SSD, slightly. Though the difference is slight.

I guess I would say:
1) SSD
2) CPU
3) dGPU
4) connection speed
5) browser (Firefox 44.0 x64 is spiffy and fast)

But it's really hard to order them, you really need them all for a really supreme web experience.

Oh, I forgot #0... NoScript!

 

[Aolish]

IMO I think an i5 is needed nowadays. Especially for future proofing. Anyone tried surfing the internet with no adblock? Them ads can take up a lot of cpu usage. In addition Skype calling can get really taxing when your in a group video chat.

 

[lakedude]

I have a different way of looking at this which is as follows:

1) Connection latency.
2) Connection speed (within reason).
3) Adblock.
4) Enough RAM that your entire OS fits into RAM, eliminating the need for the SSD entirely.
5) GPU to accelerate video like Skype.
6) CPU hardly does not matter at all.
7) Big enough PSU to power your hardware, after that it will not matter at all.

 

[Ketchup]

IMO I think an i5 is needed nowadays. Especially for future proofing. Anyone tried surfing the internet with no adblock? Them ads can take up a lot of cpu usage. In addition Skype calling can get really taxing when your in a group video chat.

Which can all be thrown over to a decent video card. I find that the order would be difficult, simply because of all the variables, many of which did not make your list. For example:

Running adblock? That would put gpu and cpu closer to the bottom of the list.
Running Java, Flash and other add-ons that use processing power? That's going to put your gpu and cpu closer to the top of the list.