Pre-Built Computer

[cmd098]

Hi, I'm looking to upgrade my old computer and was wanting some advice/opinions on the PCs I've looked at. The main use will be multimedia (music, videos, etc.). I don't plan on doing any gaming on it, but I do have a 24" monitor that it would need to be able to used (not sure how powerful of a graphics card will be needed, but my older computer's resolution was too low to look good on it). As for pre-built vs. building it myself, the main reason is that I need it fairly quick and I don't have any technical/computer knowledge. I've also read that with lower end systems (I'm looking to spend around $600), the price difference isn't too big. Anyways, here are the systems I'm looking at, but I'm open to recommendations:

Dell ($630):
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
AMD Athlon™ II X3 425 (2.7GHz, 1.5MB)
No Monitor
6GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz - 4 DIMMs
640GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
16X DVD+/-RW Drive
ATI Radeon HD 4350 512MB
No Speaker Option
Integrated 5.1 Channel Audio
Dell 19 in 1 Media Card Reader
No Modem Option

HP ($630):
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Intel Core 2 Quad processor Q8300 [2.5GHz, 4MB L2, 1333MHz FSB]
6GB DDR2-800MHz SDRAM [3 DIMMs]
640GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive from 500GB
512MB ATI Radeon HD 4350 [DVI, HDMI, VGA adapter]
LightScribe 16X max. DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive
Integrated 10/100/1000 (Gigabit) Ethernet, No wireless LAN
15-in-1 memory card reader, 2 USB, audio
Integrated 7.1 channel sound with front audio ports

Thanks.

 

[IlllI]

depending on your software, the hp could be better since its a quad core processor.

 

[cmd098]

Somebody on another forum mentioned that there was a problem with the 6GBs of RAM and 3 DIMMs on a dual channel motherboard (I have no idea what any of that means). s that something I should be worried about. Also, how important is an upgraded sound card? Thanks again.

 

[CurseTheSky]

They have similar specs, but the HP is slightly better in my opinion. I'd base it on whichever has a better software bundle (real software like Microsoft Office, not junk like Anti-Virus trials), a better warranty, and better customer support.

Dual Channel RAM increases the memory bandwidth going to the processor (as I understand it). With a capable motherboard, you need to install matching memory sticks in paired slots (so, with four slots, you could install 4x2GB sticks for 8GB, or 2x2GB + 2x1GB for 6GB, etc.). The HP computer is using 3x2GB for 6GB total, which leaves one stick without a match, so dual channel will be disabled. As far as I know, it won't have any noticeable affect on everyday performance anyway, just in computationally-intensive programs (SuperPi, video encoding, 3D rendering, etc.) and synthetic benchmarks.

An upgraded sound card can be good or bad. Generally they do have a better sound and better equalizing options than onboard solutions, but bad drivers have been a notorious problem for many sound cards. Unless you're into high-end audio, I wouldn't suggestion (and even then, you should be looking for a better card than what's offered as an upgrade for a $600 computer).

Both of those computers come with an HD 4350, which has a DVI port, and will be plenty capable of driving a 24" monitor. Don't expect to do any gaming, though, unless it's 5+ years old (Warcraft III?) or simple puzzle / flash games (Bejeweled).

 

[mshan]

Watch Tech Bargains dot com for good deals on the Dell Vostro 220.

Often have good packages for around $400, including monitor sometimes.

If you don't game, probably don't need more than a 4350 (integrated graphics might be fine as 4350 is often very cheap at Newegg after rebate).

I think Dell 420 series is quad-core, if you need that.


🙂

 

[Skott]

Just based on the two specs I'd pick the HP I guess. The quad is what would probably sell me.

 

[cmd098]

They have similar specs, but the HP is slightly better in my opinion. I'd base it on whichever has a better software bundle (real software like Microsoft Office, not junk like Anti-Virus trials), a better warranty, and better customer support.

Dual Channel RAM increases the memory bandwidth going to the processor (as I understand it). With a capable motherboard, you need to install matching memory sticks in paired slots (so, with four slots, you could install 4x2GB sticks for 8GB, or 2x2GB + 2x1GB for 6GB, etc.). The HP computer is using 3x2GB for 6GB total, which leaves one stick without a match, so dual channel will be disabled. As far as I know, it won't have any noticeable affect on everyday performance anyway, just in computationally-intensive programs (SuperPi, video encoding, 3D rendering, etc.) and synthetic benchmarks.

An upgraded sound card can be good or bad. Generally they do have a better sound and better equalizing options than onboard solutions, but bad drivers have been a notorious problem for many sound cards. Unless you're into high-end audio, I wouldn't suggestion (and even then, you should be looking for a better card than what's offered as an upgrade for a $600 computer).

Both of those computers come with an HD 4350, which has a DVI port, and will be plenty capable of driving a 24" monitor. Don't expect to do any gaming, though, unless it's 5+ years old (Warcraft III?) or simple puzzle / flash games (Bejeweled).

Thanks for the great reply. As far as software goes, I'm fine with OpenOffice and won't be purchasing Microsoft Office either way. How hard would it be for a person who doesn't know much about computers to replace the graphics card? Would it even be worth it to switch to an integrated one and then swapping it out when it arrives (I think the upgrade is $80).

Edit: I'm actually warming up to the idea of building one myself, how much better of a computer could I get in the $600 price range by going that route?