I listen to a lot of talk radio. Yesterday, "that digital goddess" Kim Komando told a call in listener that the minimum CPU size one should buy for a back to school computer was a 2.8 P4 with 512 meg RAM and a 60gig HD. She never mentioned Athlon. Does she know what she is talking about?
Minimum CPU to buy according to Kim Komando
- Thread starter fritzfield
- Start date
That or just biased. There are a lot of people out there like that. Hell, I was one of them until I got tired of all the gustapo crap Intel pulls.
mechBgon
Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
- Oct 31, 1999
- 30,699
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- 0
If a person's looking to get a PC to use for the next four years without an upgrade, then starting above the middle of the performance spectrum makes sense. 512Mb of RAM is certainly not a bad idea, since WinXP can use the extra to cache apps for instant re-launch. I don't think many people are going to *need* a 60GB hard drive for their actual school needs, but the smallest ones out there are generally 40GB nowdays.
For the office where I work, I'm putting together AthlonXP 2400+'s on nForce for this fiscal year, and we will probably do AthlonXP on nForce2 for next fiscal year, or perhaps Athlon 64 on nForce 3 Pro 250 (integrated native-to-the-southbridge gigabit LAN and onboard firewall are attractive features). But the AthlonXP 1800+'s I've built on nForce so far have been a delight to build and support. We do expect a five-year lifespan from our systems, so I'm sort of in the same market that Kim is talking about.
For an Intel-based college computer, I'd go with a 2.4C on i865PE with 2 x 256MB of DDR400 (at least) and consider a 17" or 19" DVI-equipped LCD monitor and a Radeon 9x00 card that suits the person's gaming habits (or lack thereof). An LCD saves valuable dorm space
For the office where I work, I'm putting together AthlonXP 2400+'s on nForce for this fiscal year, and we will probably do AthlonXP on nForce2 for next fiscal year, or perhaps Athlon 64 on nForce 3 Pro 250 (integrated native-to-the-southbridge gigabit LAN and onboard firewall are attractive features). But the AthlonXP 1800+'s I've built on nForce so far have been a delight to build and support. We do expect a five-year lifespan from our systems, so I'm sort of in the same market that Kim is talking about.
For an Intel-based college computer, I'd go with a 2.4C on i865PE with 2 x 256MB of DDR400 (at least) and consider a 17" or 19" DVI-equipped LCD monitor and a Radeon 9x00 card that suits the person's gaming habits (or lack thereof). An LCD saves valuable dorm space
Wow i want a really big CPU like the size of a beachball the bigger than better lmao 2.8GHz????? lol that's pretty funny, i think a low end athlon would work just as well and save them big bux. If they dun mention AMD you can trust they are basically getting any info on computers from intel.
I'm going to agree with you. What the hell kind of back to school computer need to be 2.8ghz? I need power for games, but I won't pay for it. I just overclock.
zephyrprime
Diamond Member
- Feb 18, 2001
- 7,512
- 2
- 81
Consumers are dumb. Telling them all the options they have available to them would only confuse them. KK's recommendation is pretty good.
that sure is "back to school" computer system
no offense........
he wants all our students to play games like hardcore
but i think an overclocked low-end Athlon XP will kick out any non-overclocked Intel P4 2.8CGhz
some consumer don't even know there is AMD because it is not as BIG as INTEL.
no offense........
he wants all our students to play games like hardcore
but i think an overclocked low-end Athlon XP will kick out any non-overclocked Intel P4 2.8CGhz
some consumer don't even know there is AMD because it is not as BIG as INTEL.
but also consider that an overclocked 2.4C can kill a 2500/2700/3000+ ....
But seriously, average consumers don't "overclock" despite the fact that it's become so easy that practically anyone can do it given the right hardware. If you take this into consideration then the P4 recommendation makes more sense if you want great overall kick. A 2.8C will be more than powerful enough to run practically anything for the next 4 years, especially if they start using HT.
But I think a 2.4C or 2.6C would be more than adequate for a college student who will not play games and actually do "work" most of the time. An AMD equivalent of 2500+ or 2700+ should be fine also. In fact, a P3 1 Ghz or maybe a cheap 2+ Ghz celeron will work if the average person is just going to check their mail and type papers and such. It all depends on the user.
All I know is that our slow @$$ Dell XPST500 is still useful for mundane tasks like email and surfing the web, lol.
But brand bias or not, I think the P4 w/ the 800Mhz fsb and HT would probably be a better long term investment than an athlon XP for the average college student. Yes, it's pricier, but considering that a 2.8C can match or even best even the XP3200+ in a few benchmarks...well, I would place my money on the P4 being a little more future proof if buying a computer RIGHT NOW. And again, if you're gonna talk about overclocking, keep in mind that the majority of 2.4Cs can do 3.0 GHz and beyond on stock voltage and cooling.
At the very least the computer won't get as hot
MadRat
Lifer
- Oct 14, 1999
- 11,967
- 281
- 126
At least with the 2.8 P4 the consumer is assured to be using the 533fsb as a minimum, whereas there are still 400fsb 2.6 P4's in the channels. Its all just nonesense when you think about it; the kid could buy a new $500 system every year and by the third year the newest $500 system will have more than the original single $1500 purchase did three years back.
haha, true that. $500 will buy a good amount of PC these days.
but it's just not as fun as buying the latest and greatest stuff, eh?
a good back to school system would be:
amd athlon 1ghz
256-512m ram
40gb hardrive
geforce 2mx400 64MB
that is perfect for text documents web browsing and such, and even a little light gaming (will run ut2k3 at over 60fps constant at 640X480 lowest settings, and 30 at 800X600 medium settings)
amd athlon 1ghz
256-512m ram
40gb hardrive
geforce 2mx400 64MB
that is perfect for text documents web browsing and such, and even a little light gaming (will run ut2k3 at over 60fps constant at 640X480 lowest settings, and 30 at 800X600 medium settings)
kind of true.........i am running these system
i feel it is not enough........
so i think i would recomment XP 1700+ or 2500, that is more "back to school" and would recomment 2 40gb, one for back up, just in case
beatle
Diamond Member
- Apr 2, 2001
- 5,661
- 5
- 81
Think of what was close to top of the line 4-5 years ago. I think some of the fastest things were the bleeding edge P3-450's and the first Athlons. These machines are just scraping by now, provided they've upgraded their ram. Also consider there are not a lot of choices for OEM computers with Athlon processors. HP has a few, Compaq, Gateway, and Dell have none. Most college students are going to need the tech support and warranty service that an OEM can provide.
I'd think a 2.4 ghz computer would be fine for them. Hardware has shot ahead of software more compared to the systems of 5 years ago, hence part of the blame for a slow down in sales and drop in prices. Somehow, I think medium grade computers of today will be handling software a little better than those of 5 years ago are doing, after 5 years.
It is easy to sit behind a microphone and spend people money, especially in a tight economy. People should save a few hundred dollars and get a mid-speed computer.
Agree'd... most students need good brand w/tech support etc... they are not computer hobbiests like the folks here, for the most part.
I think one argument for buying a little more than a mid end PC for long term investment would be the fact that hardware has far overtaken most software, and especially today, if you buy a powerful PC, it WILL last a while. Bang for the buck is much higher these days. A 2 Ghz+ PC should last an easy four years. Hardware has come a looooong way in 4 years compared to software, and what we could do 4-5 years ago was NOTHING compared to it now.
But buying a low end every year or couple of years and selling of the previous year's PC....it's so logical that I couldn't see not doing it, lol.
But buying a low end every year or couple of years and selling of the previous year's PC....it's so logical that I couldn't see not doing it, lol.
lodog,
Certainly you are getting more bang for you buck these days. But unemployment is at high point and consumer confidence is a bit low. Politicians make a big deal about a few hundred dollars for tax returns help out families etc. The high incidence of people living on maxed out credit cards etc. The philosophy about spending more than necessary has led to Americans being cash strapped far more than necessary. Add to that the very high cost of sending kids to college these days and families would really appreciate saving money as much as possible.
My philosophy has always been to look for the price break in systems and go a bit below that for buying purposes. Sure, it is always nice to get the fastest thing you can afford, but it isn't necessary that the average family spring the extra cash. I would suggest saving people a little money.
Certainly you are getting more bang for you buck these days. But unemployment is at high point and consumer confidence is a bit low. Politicians make a big deal about a few hundred dollars for tax returns help out families etc. The high incidence of people living on maxed out credit cards etc. The philosophy about spending more than necessary has led to Americans being cash strapped far more than necessary. Add to that the very high cost of sending kids to college these days and families would really appreciate saving money as much as possible.
My philosophy has always been to look for the price break in systems and go a bit below that for buying purposes. Sure, it is always nice to get the fastest thing you can afford, but it isn't necessary that the average family spring the extra cash. I would suggest saving people a little money.
I don't disagree with you one bit. I just know that for me personally, assessing my needs, looking at a budget, and getting the most bang out of every little cent by weighing what I want v. what I need has really helped me stay in the game for the kind of things I like to do with PCs. And trust me...I'm NOT a rich man, but a very POOR college student! Thank god for LOW interest rates on financial aid....
Of course, I'm an advocate of DIY....it's much more fulfilling, fun, AND cheap.
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