recommendations please re new pc

[Lou Knee]

My monitor, printer, keyboard, mouse, scanner are all OK.......but I think I need to upgrade the base unit........(is that what it is called.......the tower bit with all the gubbins in)

I would be grateful for any recommendations as to what's best and where to get it.

Ta muchly

[vehelpfulguy]

It depends what you want to use it for, just GENERAL computing (internet, email etc) or if you want to do something specific (GAMING, VIDEO EDITING etc)

As for what is best, well to be honest for GENERAL computing most system units are just put together from standard parts so they are all pretty much the same.

Any system unit you buy will easily be powerful enough for GENERAL computing. It just depends how much you want to pay, but I would say about �125 to �200 for a GENERAL system unit with XP pre installed.

For special tasks like GAMING or VIDEO EDITING you will need a good graphics card, or a large hard disk for example.

Now a good graphics card alone can cost you over �150 pounds, so you need to think carefully if that is what you want.

If I were you I would buy a magazine like Micro Mart and find a supplier who can sell you just the system unit.

Here is their web site http://www.micromart.co.uk/

I will put another append suggesting a spec.

[vehelpfulguy]

Here is a spec to start you off.

Processor: Intel or AMD. For general computing anything between 2500 and 3000 Mhz will be fine. Consider an AMD 64bit processor.

Memory: 256Mb absolute minimum. 512Mb if you can get it. 1000Mb if you are planing some serious gaming or video editing.

Hard drive: 80Gb is probably the lowest you can get nowadays. This may be enough but if you have lots of digitial pictures, MP3s, video then go for more. Allow for future growth.

Consider perhaps two hard drives as a second drive is useful for backups etc.

CD/DVD drive: Go for a DVD rewriter. No point in anything less nowadays.

Graphics: Go for "on board" graphics (on the motherboard) or a cheap graphics card (�25) for general computing.

Pay more for a good graphics card if gaming or video editing.

Sound: Go for "on board" sound unless you listen to a lot of music on your PC, then go for a reasonable sound card.

Get one with built in modem and ethernet LAN so you can use it with dial up or broadband.

Ensure it has USB 2.0 for fast data transfer.

If you are doing video editing get one with fireware (not so important now USB 2.0 is so fast).

Get Windows XP pre-installed. Home should be OK unluess you plan to connect it to your network at work, then go for Professional.

Novatech are one company who can build to order, although I am sure other will suggest different companies.

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/

[Lou Knee]

VEHELPFULGUY

Thank you very much for the prompt and very comprehensive answer. I appreciate your input....

Hey! that makes me sound like i knew exactly what you wrote about........lol

Much appreciated!.......XXX