Need a new Computer...Advice please

[Qqq123xx]

My old computer has about had it. Looking for a Tower Computer and to keep price to under $600. No need for keyboard, monitor. I just do basic stuff, email, a lot of surfing, play some games, photos, stuff like that. I have been looking online some and there seems to be some good ones out there for that price. At least according to people who have bought them. Thanks for any and all info.

[Imp]

Which games and what do you 'do' with photos (Lightroom/photoshop... or just look at them)?

--kC

[Imp]

ANd what do you have now and what's wrong with it? Maybe just get an SSD HD and some more RAM?

[Qqq123xx]

[quote name='Imp' timestamp='1414703923' post='10375487']
ANd what do you have now and what's wrong with it? Maybe just get an SSD HD and some more RAM?
[/quote]Have 1000mb ram now so with cost of bumping up might as well just get new one.

[Qqq123xx]

[quote name='Imp' timestamp='1414703862' post='10375477']
Which games and what do you 'do' with photos (Lightroom/photoshop... or just look at them)?

--kC
[/quote]Mostly Age of Empires. Yeah just photoshopping, downloading pics etc. Nothing fancy/special.

[RJRJRJ]

[quote name='Qqq123xx' timestamp='1414704496' post='10375521']
[quote name='Imp' timestamp='1414703923' post='10375487']
ANd what do you have now and what's wrong with it? Maybe just get an SSD HD and some more RAM?
[/quote]Have 1000mb ram now so with cost of bumping up might as well just get new one.
[/quote]

I think you might be surprised how cheap RAM is these days. Do you know the rest of the specs? If its completely outdated, get a new one. But if its just being bottlenecked by certain components, upgrade accordingly.

[Qqq123xx]

[quote name='RJRJRJ' timestamp='1414705160' post='10375569']
[quote name='Qqq123xx' timestamp='1414704496' post='10375521']
[quote name='Imp' timestamp='1414703923' post='10375487']
ANd what do you have now and what's wrong with it? Maybe just get an SSD HD and some more RAM?
[/quote]Have 1000mb ram now so with cost of bumping up might as well just get new one.
[/quote]

I think you might be surprised how cheap RAM is these days. Do you know the rest of the specs? If its completely outdated, get a new one. But if its just being bottlenecked by certain components, upgrade accordingly.
[/quote]I had looked about ram before, and most of threads, info were very dated and costly. Just got off BestBuy and they had 2gb for $29. Surprise surprise.

Memory 1000mb
processor cpu 2140@ 1.6 ghz
graphics Diamond Radeon x1550
hard drive 298 gb

[ERN2428]

Do you have a microcenter near you?

[Qqq123xx]

[quote name='ERN2428' timestamp='1414708158' post='10375755']
Do you have a microcenter near you?
[/quote]Guess that is an everything computer store? Not sure, will check when I get off of here.

[Imp]

What's the model of the computer and MFR? You have something fairly decent, and the 1GB of ram you have currently will NOT do much of anything for you, especially when Photoshop and LR need a minimum of 2GB... and your OS and other programs need some if that. I'm thinking if you can get 4GB of ram, you'll be pleasantly surprised with a bit more speed.

Just want to make sure you get the right type of RAM for your machine... so the model and mfr would be good to know because not all RAM is the same.

--kC

[ERN2428]

Putting money into that computer seems pretty pointless. But if he were he would obviously need ddr2-800 which would cost him about $60 for 4gb. Maybe throw in a very cheap SSD for OS only.

[Qqq123xx]

[quote name='ERN2428' timestamp='1414714699' post='10376231']
Putting money into that computer seems pretty pointless. But if he were he would obviously need ddr2-800 which would cost him about $60 for 4gb. Maybe throw in a very cheap SSD for OS only.
[/quote]Still looking at new computer of course. That said since I use my computer for just basic stuff would just adding ram enable me to get by enough? Ram I looked at was pc2 6400 ddr2. Would that work?

[ERN2428]

[quote name='Qqq123xx' timestamp='1414715177' post='10376261']
[quote name='ERN2428' timestamp='1414714699' post='10376231']
Putting money into that computer seems pretty pointless. But if he were he would obviously need ddr2-800 which would cost him about $60 for 4gb. Maybe throw in a very cheap SSD for OS only.
[/quote]Still looking at new computer of course. That said since I use my computer for just basic stuff would just adding ram enable me to get by enough? Ram I looked at was pc2 6400 ddr2. Would that work?
[/quote]
That is ddr2-800 ram just a different way of phrasing it. I honestly wouldnt waste my time on trying to upgrade that old pentium dual core. But i love spending money so maybe i am the wrong person to ask.

[Qqq123xx]

[quote name='ERN2428' timestamp='1414715828' post='10376293']
[quote name='Qqq123xx' timestamp='1414715177' post='10376261']
[quote name='ERN2428' timestamp='1414714699' post='10376231']
Putting money into that computer seems pretty pointless. But if he were he would obviously need ddr2-800 which would cost him about $60 for 4gb. Maybe throw in a very cheap SSD for OS only.
[/quote]Still looking at new computer of course. That said since I use my computer for just basic stuff would just adding ram enable me to get by enough? Ram I looked at was pc2 6400 ddr2. Would that work?
[/quote]
That is ddr2-800 ram just a different way of phrasing it. I honestly wouldnt waste my time on trying to upgrade that old pentium dual core. But i love spending money so maybe i am the wrong person to ask.
[/quote]The same okay good. Maybe for $30 might be worth a shot just to see what happens.
Are there any computers you would recommend for a basic guy like me? Thanks.

[1992]

I'll give it a shot - don't bother building around an old pentium processor.

You can always build your own computer, but this is now only worth it if you have access to a free OS key.

Keep your eye on Dell Outlet and Lenovo Outlet they will yield the best deals. General rule of thumb pay less than $400 for an i5 system and less than $300 for an i3 system. You could probably even get away with buying a pentium system. Pentium processors are very nice now.

Last November I was able to get a Lenovo tower i5, 8gb ram, 2tb hd for $320.

If you're a Mac fan this is a nice system and has been as low as $400 lately - http://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-mac-mini-4gb-memory-500gb-hard-drive/4840634.p?ref=195&loc=2caafc188d0441d5a36fce3dc3104c2e&id=1218548287950&skuId=4840634

Last good mac IMO - ram and hard drive upgradeable.

If you are wondering where a processor stands on a system you are looking at - https://www.cpubenchmark.net

Good luck on your search I'll try and keep an eye out.

[Qqq123xx]

[quote name='1992' timestamp='1414812100' post='10381519']
I'll give it a shot - don't bother building around an old pentium processor.

You can always build your own computer, but this is now only worth it if you have access to a free OS key.

Keep your eye on Dell Outlet and Lenovo Outlet they will yield the best deals. General rule of thumb pay less than $400 for an i5 system and less than $300 for an i3 system. You could probably even get away with buying a pentium system. Pentium processors are very nice now.

Last November I was able to get a Lenovo tower i5, 8gb ram, 2tb hd for $320.

If you're a Mac fan this is a nice system and has been as low as $400 lately - [url="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-mac-mini-4gb-memory-500gb-hard-drive/4840634.p?ref=195&loc=2caafc188d0441d5a36fce3dc3104c2e&id=1218548287950&skuId=4840634"]http://www.bestbuy.c...0&skuId=4840634[/url]

Last good mac IMO - ram and hard drive upgradeable.

If you are wondering where a processor stands on a system you are looking at - [url="https://www.cpubenchmark.net"]https://www.cpubenchmark.net[/url]

Good luck on your search I'll try and keep an eye out.
[/quote]Appreciate all the info. Thanks.

[prestiege]

if you have a fry's electronics nearby you can get everything you need to build one as well just like microcenter, check prices on newegg as well

[Qqq123xx]

Thanks for the info everyone. I ended up getting 2gb of ram and it is a major improvement speed wise. I had added 512mb of ram a few years ago. So now after taking 512mb out and adding the 2gb computer said need equal ram for computer to run at it's best. So debating whether to just take other 512 of ram out or just add another 2gb. Even if it is a waste will probably add another 2gb, cost with tax around $36 so no problem there.

[RJRJRJ]

[quote name='Qqq123xx' timestamp='1415521042' post='10419123']
Thanks for the info everyone. I ended up getting 2gb of ram and it is a major improvement speed wise. I had added 512mb of ram a few years ago. So now after taking 512mb out and adding the 2gb computer said need equal ram for computer to run at it's best. So debating whether to just take other 512 of ram out or just add another 2gb. Even if it is a waste will probably add another 2gb, cost with tax around $36 so no problem there.
[/quote]

If its a noticeable difference, dump the old ram and upgrade. 512MB of ram is worth a few dollars at best.

[Qqq123xx]

[quote name='RJRJRJ' timestamp='1415524993' post='10419181']
[quote name='Qqq123xx' timestamp='1415521042' post='10419123']
Thanks for the info everyone. I ended up getting 2gb of ram and it is a major improvement speed wise. I had added 512mb of ram a few years ago. So now after taking 512mb out and adding the 2gb computer said need equal ram for computer to run at it's best. So debating whether to just take other 512 of ram out or just add another 2gb. Even if it is a waste will probably add another 2gb, cost with tax around $36 so no problem there.
[/quote]

If its a noticeable difference, dump the old ram and upgrade. 512MB of ram is worth a few dollars at best.
[/quote]That is what I am going to do. Don't think just the 2gb is enough since that is what my internet security needs.