Advice on a new PC please

[janetsflower]

Hello, total idiot here - I am planning to buy a new PC in the near future but would welcome some advice on how to work out what specification to go for - I don't even know what my existing PC is except it seems increasingly slow and full up- how do i see what memory etc i have at present so i know to get bigger and what does all the jargon mean? I want something fairly fast with plenty of space on it as we are always on the internet (Broadband) and have a fair few large documents/databases and loads of photos, also quite a bit of music stored on it for our i-pods. I guess if i knew what I already had i ould get advice from the guys in the store but i don't want to look like a total numpty. I am absolutely fine with operating all the programmes i use but don't have much clue about the rest of it. Thanks for your help

[Ethel]

The speed of your internet is more connected to the broadband speed than your computer spec.

Unless you are a high end gamer; or use the pc or editing video to a high standard any of the sub �500 machines will suit you.

[fo3nix]

Do you play intensive games (Doom 3, Half Life 2, that kind of thing)?

If yes, reply back.

If no, then the specs don't matter all that much (mostly..)

RAM: minimum 1GB, ideally 2GB. All computers today should be sold with 1GB minimum anyway.

Processor: Ideally a Core 2 Duo or other 'dual core' processor. But most will do.

Hard drive: this is the thing you use to store all your photos, documents, programs, everything. You want this to be as large as possible. 250GB, or as large as you can find. You won't think you will ever fill it, but you will.

Also: once you settle on a computer and buy it, see how much hard drive space there is. Then go and buy an external hard drive with more space than that one (again, as large as you can afford). Use this for backups (there are free programs on the internet to do this). With this much information stored, you don't want to lose it! (And hard drives are mechanical and can lose data at any moment, but usually last a good few years).

Also -- it may be hard, but if possible go for Windows XP and not Vista. You'll have less hassle and the system will run faster.

(Side note: depending on how much you're willing to spend, take a good look at Apple Macs. They more stable than Windows systems, and every one is built to be able to do anything with it, so specs are less of an issue.)

[janetsflower]

Thanks for the advice. No I don't play games, its mainly boring old work, music and photos that fill my PC, probably the photos take up the most space. Great idea about the external hard drive I will certainly look for one of those as well