Recommendations on a New PC

technobard · 07-26-2002, 11:59 AM

Hey,

I'm in the market for a new PC (preferably using an Athlon CPU). Any recommendations on recent purchases? It's a long story, but basically I'm replacing my main browsing/word processing machine. It will probably need to come with Windows XP (my wife will start using it at work soon). The old machine will become a dedicated Linux box instead of the dual-boot I'm doing now. I hate on-board sound and video cards that borrow main memory.

I originally had dreams of building a dual athlon powerhouse, but I'm short on time these days and I just want the thing to work. This option requires the least amount of re-configuration/installation on my part for the other machines in my network. Again, long story.

Any thoughts/recommendations/jokes appreciated.

Admin · 07-26-2002, 12:23 PM

i would get a pentium 4 (soc 478) if you plan on keeping the computer any amount of time.

technobard · 07-27-2002, 06:42 AM

Not a fan of AMD?

bdl · 07-27-2002, 09:17 AM

Is this more of a question of which manf. to pick or which CPU?

I've built several of my own machines and also for family, and I prefer to do things that way, you get exactly what you want. Having said that, the main box I use now is a Dell I bought last year, and although it's not ideally suited for upgrades or tinkering, it's served me well and the few problems I did have were taken care of with BIOS updates. This machine is a 1.4gHz P4 with PC800 RDRAM; I've always been partial to Intel procs myself, but I've heard good things about the new AMDs. If I had it to do over again (buy a PC vs. build one) I think I'd shell out a little more and get one from Alienware, for performance reasons and just because they seem to have an excellent user rating. Plus the fact that they do things as you would, build the machines from scratch and don't skimp on components. There are alot of other 'custom' shops popping up now, but I'd still go with them, more established and have good customer support (or so I'm told). They also have a mix of AMD and Intel boxes to choose from.

sde · 07-27-2002, 10:03 AM

i've had an AMD 1.5ghz since march of this year, and a p4 1.7ghz since about november of last year. ( i think that is when )

the p4 1.7ghz box with an intel mobo has been very reliable to me. I have had 0 problems with that box.

the AMD 1.5ghz (xp1800) has been pretty good too. ( the cpu anyway) I purchased an azus mobo with that and the mobo went out on me. . . i might have broke it while tinkering around in there, but i ended up getting a new Iwill mobo.

both systems run solid. the amd system has been running 24/7 since march. the p4 system gets turned on and off in the morning, and again at night. i am happy with both.

technobard · 07-27-2002, 07:07 PM

Thanks, Guys. And to answer your question bdl, it's more a question of which manufacturer. I also have a Dell, but it's past it's prime. I'll check out Alienware.