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Thread ID: 78510 2007-04-18 08:12:00 Need a new computer - advice echothreezero (6612) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
542052 2007-04-18 08:54:00 I don't actually download movies myself, although I have been ripping a fews music videos onto my 250GB HD in the last day or so. (about 1 GB each) I keep a 20 GB music collection on my computer - (building it slowly) All of my music collection has been ripped from my existing CDs rather than downloaded from internet sites.

Excuse the double posting.
winmacguy (3367)
542053 2007-04-18 10:03:00 The only other consideration I have is that I plan to travel extensively overseas in about 12-24 months. I would rather not have a desktop sitting at home gathering obsolescence whilst I am traveling.

Bit of a catch 22 I guess.
echothreezero (6612)
542054 2007-04-18 10:06:00 You could probably sell your old PC on trade me for $20 and get yourself a decent laptop with all the capabilities you need for a reasonable price. winmacguy (3367)
542055 2007-04-18 10:36:00 I'd be inclined to recommend a cheap laptop especially since you plan to travel. How long do you intend to travel for?

Another option would be to do a minimal upgrade spending as little as possible, but still getting a noticeable performance increase.

The case and PSU you already have are more than sufficient and you could even use the old harddrive again to keep costs down. Grab a cheap mATX motherboard based on the nForce 430 chipset with integrated 6150 graphics, drop in a Athlon64 X2 3800+ and 2gb of cheap DDR-667.

If you've survived all these years on what is likely an aging Geforce2 then the integrated video will be more than sufficient. Read a few reviews site to find a nice cheap 19" LCD and you'd have yourself a tidy little upgrade.

It wouldn't be super expensive. id estimate around the $600-$700 mark maybe less depending on what screen. Then when you come to travel in 12months time pawn it off on TradeMe for money to put towards a laptop for your travels.
Pete O'Neil (6584)
542056 2007-04-18 11:03:00 Personally I find using a laptop to be uncomfortable, crouched into a pokey crammed keyboard with the screen directly mounted on it, Crap speakers, All sorts of devices plugged in around the chassis, retarded cd tray.

And trying to use it while sitting in a big comfy lounge chair is just a clumsy joke. Especially once the heat starts pumping out (though mine runs hotter then most)

Much prefer my desktop.
Metla (12)
542057 2007-04-18 11:16:00 Personally I find using a laptop to be uncomfortable, crouched into a pokey crammed keyboard with the screen directly mounted on it, Crap speakers, All sorts of devices plugged in around the chassis, retarded cd tray.

And trying to use it while sitting in a big comfy lounge chair is just a clumsy joke. Especially once the heat starts pumping out (though mine runs hotter then most)

Much prefer my desktop.

LOL, how true. I think the only thing your existing PC needs is some more RAM!, just go buy a 512Mb dimm and re-access your needs.
SolMiester (139)
542058 2007-04-18 12:37:00 www.playtech.co.nz in Albany is great. mejobloggs (264)
542059 2007-04-18 21:02:00 The only reason you need the latest hardware all the time is gaming.
You aren't so I'd say add more ram, up to 1Gb.
Put a bigger HDD in if you need the room.
Do a fresh install of Windows.


I hate laptops. Can't upgrade them, expensive to get fixed.
Horrible to type on.
They are only good if you need the portability.
I am using mine at present while I wait for my new parts to arrive for my desktop PC and I am not having fun.
pctek (84)
542060 2007-04-18 21:06:00 Thanks for the suggestions. I may just buy some RAM and a secondhand graphics card and wait till I go overseas and buy a decent laptop over there. I plan to travel for 2 or 3 years. echothreezero (6612)
542061 2007-04-19 00:05:00 I agree with pctek - increase your RAM to 1GB and do a fresh install of Windows. Should make the world of difference.

Also, can't remember whether you used to use Norton's AV but get rid of it if you do. Avast or AVG is better.
FoxyMX (5)
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