So, I'm getting a desktop...

[Etrian Veteran]

Like the title says, I need a new computer, because the laptop I have is about 6 years old, and a piece of crap. I'm not going to be using it for much gaming, so that's not a priority. I was thinking of these:

Computers:





Monitor:





Speakers:

I don't really have an idea for these, so any type of dual speakers works for me.

Any advice is appreciated, thanks.

[Maxine MagicFox]

[Etrian Veteran]

[Starfe]

[scy]

[Etrian Veteran]

[Starfe]

[scy]

[Etrian Veteran]

[Kimiko]

Of those two PCs, the Gateway definitely has the better CPU. If it'll be another six years before you buy another computer, it's best to buy something a little better than what you need right now, so an Intel i3 or i5, or AMD Phenom II.

I'm not very familiar with Intel video cards, but those are probably adequate for regular use. The monitors are likewise average.

For the speakers, *shrug* just get whatever looks like a reasonable price/quality tradeoff at your local computer store. If you were a real audiophile, you'd already know what you want/need, the rest of us don't hear the difference between just-above-cheapest and top quality anyway.

Same goes for the keyboard and mouse. Unless you type all day for a living or use the mouse for heavy gaming, just get whatever is cheapest / comes with the PC.

[Maxine MagicFox]

As for building your own computer. Personally: I wouldn't even know where the heck to start. I don't know where to go to get the parts or what it intells. I've only just barely seen computer components when my dad had my laptop open. o_O Uhh... I don't have a clue what I'm looking at.

I don't know what a sound card or video card is really. Nor do I fully understand ram and what it means to my every day use. I do think it is annoying to have a bunch of crap that I don't want, but if it's only taking up 1gig of space, whatever. I couldn't care less.

While you think it might be cheaper to build your own, for someone who doesn't have a clue nor concept, I'd be afraid of paying for something that's overpriced and completely the wrong thing that I need. Nor would I trust some random dude to create one for me. I could be getting something severely inefficient and wouldn't know the difference one way or another. Plus there are warranties and stuff. If something on my computer breaks within the first year, I like knowing that I can send the damn thing back and get it fixed or get another.

[scy]

[noodles]

my pre-built computer costed like $1400 from Dell, probably would have costed around $500 if I built it myself at the time, maybe less since it was around the whole HD paradigm shift (360 had just come out etc) and the graphics capabilities were from a previous standard.

[Kinokokao]

[Trifkin]

Oh, man. The last time I attempted to build a computer from the ground up was back in 2004 or 2005. @_@;;; I don't think I could do it now.

Though I could probably still take one apart and put it BACK together...