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| Thread ID: 48451 | 2004-08-23 10:14:00 | Dell computers | xtraka (1984) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 264627 | 2004-09-10 00:21:00 | > What is the processor a Celeron or Pentium?? And what > speed is it? > You said that it has 32MB of recovery software on a > separate partition does it come with an OEM winXP > disk?? Getting back to the poster's question, I would advise calling into the nearest Warehouse store and questioning their staff . If the staff cannot answer your questions satisfactorily I would ask them to open a box for you so you can have a look at the CDs/manuals to find out for yourself . If they wont do that for you give them a piece of your mind and tell them you are trotting down to Noel Leeming for a HP instead . ;-) > I have an old Celeron 433 (Gateway) and it is > still working fine but I want an up grade that > doesn't cost the earth (and then the kids can have > this one) I like to re-format this machine every year > or so and that is why having a Windows complete > product disk is important to me . Maybe I wont have > the need to reformat with a newer one ???? Not > meaning to open a can of worms . . . . . Some brand name computers, eg HP Pavilions, have a recovery partition to reinstall/recover Windows, etc or totally reformat your hard drive and put it back to how it was when purchased . There is also an option to make a recovery CD which I assume would have the OS on it . Those choices will allow you to reformat your computer whenever you wish and is a very simple process but I don't know exactly what Dell offers . Various models appear to differ from what I have seen here . If the arguments in this thread about brand name PCs hasn't put you off yet just pay the Warehouse a visit as mentioned previously . :-) |
Fire-and-Ice (3910) | ||
| 264628 | 2004-09-10 00:22:00 | >>Because the price of a brand name power supply can be over $350, thats fine while under warrenty,but a major kick to the goolies to anyone after the warrenty has expired. I was at a customers place the other day and they had a Macrocom pc. The comment was made that as the company no longer exists, parts could be a problem. I said that you are better off than a "branded" pc as usually it is made up of industry standard parts and they are cheaper than brand name pc's. Having said that, I have a Dell which has been running fine for 3 years (Pentium II so it ain't new). |
Dolby Digital (160) | ||
| 264629 | 2004-09-10 00:23:00 | >if you're forward thinking enough to plan for future upgrades then you're going to be thinking about what kind of MB you have, what slots are on the board etc and at that point you've stepped beyond buying an off-the-shelf PC anyhow. True. Unfortunately many consumers buy PC's off the shelf and six months later they want to upgrade and find they have neither the room in the case nor the motherboard/power supply/DIMM slots to allow this. I think this is what Metla was referring to. You are right there are different consumers with different needs and wants. Many can't be bothered or find it too confusing to wade through specifications and reviews of technology components to ge the best deal. It is a lot more convenient for those people to walk into an appliance store and buy. BTW I see if you buy a laptop from Noel Leeming they'll throw in a free desktop PC....yes that's right a "free" desktop pc. Maybe if we're lucky we can get some steak knives too. ;-) |
Sb0h (3744) | ||
| 264630 | 2004-09-10 00:30:00 | going out on a limb here . . . . . . . I am looking for a new computer that I can do everthing my present 433 Celeron (with Win ME ,320 RAM and CD Writer being the up grades from the original Gateway package) can do (e-mail, web browsing, word processing, spreadsheets, The Sims etc) and more as my favourite game The Sims is bring out a newer version called Sims2 and I cant run it on my old pc . I dont have $3000 to spend on a high end computer and need something along the lines of these below specs: "If you have a T&L capable video card with at least 32 MB of video RAM (such as nvidia GeForce 2 or better or ATI Radeon 7000 or better) then you need at least: - 600 MHz P3 processor - 256 MB RAM if Windows XP, Windows ME, Windows 98 or Windows 2000 - At least 3 . 5 GB of hard drive space If you have a non-T&L capable video card (such as TNT2 or Intel Integrated for example) then you need at least: - 1 . 5 GHz processor - 256 MB RAM if Windows XP, Windows ME, Windows 98, or Windows 2000 - At least 3 . 5 GB of hard drive space Recommended video cards (and the more video memory the better): - ATI Radeon 9800 Pro - Nvidia Geforce 4 or FX series cards" Simply put I need to know if the Dell ($1299) from the Warehouse will work for me (I am aware that I will need more RAM, comes with 256) . I also want to know if I will be able to do complete re-formats and clean installs of Windows XP, like I can with my 433 . I don't play anyother high end games just needing a reliable machine . Thanks |
Meg_h_nz (6065) | ||
| 264631 | 2004-09-10 00:45:00 | Sims2 is a full 3d game,and while it will run on basic specs it would be wise to get a comp with a half decent video card. If im correct the Dell in question uses a fx5200 GO chip,which apears to be a varient on the laptop chip,....which means its probally the poorest video card available ever.I would imagine the clockspeed and thus performance are severely retarded/crippled. |
metla (154) | ||
| 264632 | 2004-09-10 01:07:00 | Well, if you want a PC to play The Sims 2, I wouldn't listen to the site's minimum specs recommendations. Aim higher. I don't know the specs on the Warehouse Dell but I assume it comes with integrated graphics. That may be OK for the Sims 2 but it may not - the game isn't out yet to see. But you'd want an AGP slot on the board to allow you to upgrade graphics and it is pososble that the budget board used does not have an AGP slot. You'd need to check. I'd never get a PC that didn't offer an expansion slot for video and they do exist. Personally, I'd say that if you are thinikng of spending $1299 and are already thinking about whether the PC will work with the Sims 2, then you should invets some time in pricing up alternatives including finding a decent shop to price up building a good busget PC from spec. |
Biggles (121) | ||
| 264633 | 2004-09-10 01:44:00 | Meg, if your monitor, keyboard, mouse, OS and App's, etc, are fine, get an upgrade box from a specialised computer shop or local tech (ie, not: Warehouse, Farmers, Harvey Normans, Bond & Bond, etc) with goodish motherboard, graphics card and minimum of 512MB of ram. Get them to throw in your old hard drive and get it up and running for you. That way you'll know you will have a reasonable experience playng Sims 2 and other modern games. Cheers Murray P |
Murray P (44) | ||
| 264634 | 2004-09-10 03:20:00 | Hi Murray Thanks for the advice, my problem being that a quote from the local computer place (we live in a small SI town, but not too smalll as we have a Warehouse!!) for a similar spec box was around $2000 . I figured I would be better off getting a new complete one from the Warehouse and giving my old one to the kids . I am using WinME at the moment and would like to use XP but my current system is not grunty enough . It is a 433Celeron with 320 RAM and my HD is 8 . 4GB . . . . . . . . I went into our local red shed today and they have no spec sheet for the $1299 Dell so I am still no closer to getting the complete lowdown . . . |
Meg_h_nz (6065) | ||
| 264635 | 2004-09-10 03:25:00 | What small town do you live in? What is the biggest town that is the closest? | Rob99 (151) | ||
| 264636 | 2004-09-10 03:27:00 | >for a similar spec box was around $2000. >our local red shed today and they have no spec sheet for the $1299 Dell I have to say i'm wondering how you mangaed to get a quote based on specs when you don't know what they are..... |
metla (154) | ||
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