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<blockquote data-quote="Lord Zardoz" data-source="post: 453206" data-attributes="member: 704">My advice...The amount of money you intend to spend on your computer is secondary to what you need to be able to do with it.For the processor, you do not need a bleeding edge processor unless you like to frequenly recompile the Linux Kernel or other large programming projects.&nbsp; For most applications, the bottlenecks are no longer CPU dependent.For the Ram, you can get by just fine with either 256mb or 512mb unless you do one of the following:1)&nbsp; Heavy PC gaming2)&nbsp; Heavy Graphics work (Photoshop or 3dsMax type of stuff)3)&nbsp; Mass Data Manipulation (work with Databases and such)Your choice of videocard should be governed by items 1 or 2 on the criteria for getting alot of RAM.&nbsp; Get at least a GeForce2 card.&nbsp; That will allow you to at least attempt to play most of the currently available games.For the Hard Drive, get at LEAST 40 megs.&nbsp; If you tend to collect alot of mp3's, and movie clips, get alot more, especially if you do alot of peer to peer file sharing (like to use applications like KaZaa or Gnutella)If you intend to watch dvd drives on your PC, then get a player.&nbsp; If you like to burn cd's, get a burner.&nbsp; If you like to burn profane amounts of cd's and often have your burner wear out, get an EXTERNAL cd burner.&nbsp; Its easier to replace external peripherials then it is to replace internal ones.&nbsp; As a bonus, you can bring the burner over to a friends house if the need arises.For sound cards, I cannot really offer much advice.&nbsp; Getting the latest / newest thing from Creative Labs is always a safe bet.As for a pre-packaged computer (Dell, Gateway) vs a custom job assembed by your self, there is only really one word of advice.&nbsp; Unless you are comfortable taking your computer apart or have a friend that is, get a pre-packaged one.&nbsp;&nbsp; If something fails on the pre-packaged one, then its probably under warranty.One last thing.&nbsp; Since you post to this board, I can assume you play D&amp;D.&nbsp; As such, you will probably be intrested in getting a printer.&nbsp; If you also intend to buy a new printer with your new computer, then for the love of all that is holy, do not get a cheap Inkjet printer.&nbsp; Get a laser printer if you can.&nbsp; With sub $100.00 Inkjet printers, you can end up paying more for ink refills then you did for the printer.END COMMUNICATION</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Lord Zardoz, post: 453206, member: 704"] [b]My advice...[/b] The amount of money you intend to spend on your computer is secondary to what you need to be able to do with it. For the processor, you do not need a bleeding edge processor unless you like to frequenly recompile the Linux Kernel or other large programming projects. For most applications, the bottlenecks are no longer CPU dependent. For the Ram, you can get by just fine with either 256mb or 512mb unless you do one of the following: 1) Heavy PC gaming 2) Heavy Graphics work (Photoshop or 3dsMax type of stuff) 3) Mass Data Manipulation (work with Databases and such) Your choice of videocard should be governed by items 1 or 2 on the criteria for getting alot of RAM. Get at least a GeForce2 card. That will allow you to at least attempt to play most of the currently available games. For the Hard Drive, get at LEAST 40 megs. If you tend to collect alot of mp3's, and movie clips, get alot more, especially if you do alot of peer to peer file sharing (like to use applications like KaZaa or Gnutella) If you intend to watch dvd drives on your PC, then get a player. If you like to burn cd's, get a burner. If you like to burn profane amounts of cd's and often have your burner wear out, get an EXTERNAL cd burner. Its easier to replace external peripherials then it is to replace internal ones. As a bonus, you can bring the burner over to a friends house if the need arises. For sound cards, I cannot really offer much advice. Getting the latest / newest thing from Creative Labs is always a safe bet. As for a pre-packaged computer (Dell, Gateway) vs a custom job assembed by your self, there is only really one word of advice. Unless you are comfortable taking your computer apart or have a friend that is, get a pre-packaged one. If something fails on the pre-packaged one, then its probably under warranty. One last thing. Since you post to this board, I can assume you play D&D. As such, you will probably be intrested in getting a printer. If you also intend to buy a new printer with your new computer, then for the love of all that is holy, do not get a cheap Inkjet printer. Get a laser printer if you can. With sub $100.00 Inkjet printers, you can end up paying more for ink refills then you did for the printer. END COMMUNICATION [/QUOTE]

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