• If you are having problems logging in please use the Contact Us in the lower right hand corner of the forum page for assistance.

I need a new puter. What to Buy?

alabama

Well-known member
My home computer, new in 1997, has just about had it. I need to replace it but don’t know what to buy. About all I use it for is internet connection on dial up and then do taxes and such off line.
What do y’all suggest?
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Bama- We went with the company that had the best service locally-which might not affect you, but does us out here in the boonies--- and since Dell has a local serviceman and since Dell had a contract thru the hospital where my wife works, and offered special deals to the employees, we went Dell...And then the wife has had him add on and build the system as she needs it...But she understands computers and I don't- so don't ask me any questions :wink: .....
 

Judith

Well-known member
bama, computers need to be taylored to the individual. Not every computer works well for every user. What do you use it for primarily and I will tell you the componants you need. As I put PC's together and have never bought a packaged product, I am anti-Dell. The dam things are not designed to be upgraded. But they do seem to work well for alot of families. When I put a system together I make sure that it can be upgraded and compatable with almost everything. Let me know what you need and I will tell you the componants that will be useful to you. Then have someone put one together for you. It is often far cheaper to have one custom built for you. My latest and greatest cost me just under $750.00. I work on webpages and need huge harddrives and really pricey graphics capability. In a store the same box would have cost me over $3000.00 . I still would have had to add some things. Remember that a computer that is over a year old is ancient and often you cannot even purchase the correct type of RAMM for it any longer. ( That makes me crazy when I go to buy more !!!!!
 

alabama

Well-known member
This will be my home computer and I don’t use it very often. My internet connection is dial up. The programs I run are a word processor, a spreadsheet, power point and turbo tax. I store and print pictures, Keep track of my cattle records and such. We also check the web for shopping and research.

I have a 1997 model Gateway with a Pentium two processor now. Do I need to get a new monitor?
 

Judith

Well-known member
What type of motherboard do you run now? You may be able to get away with just a new cpu! Since you are not using the system as a graphics computer or a gaming computer. That would be a plus. Im just heading to work but i will check back later. PM with the info you have on the system and I can give you a list of options.
 

Judith

Well-known member
Northern tell me what you want send good photos and I will have a skin for you to work with by Friday :wink: BIG HINT!!!!!! Photos Photos Photos. Crappy photos make it look like you dont care...... :)
 

Aaron

Well-known member
It would be far better for him to get more than the CPU upgraded Judith. Being that it's a '97 computer, its going to be running SDRAM at best, so even upgrading to a new motherboard that can support DDR2 would be beneficial. I'd say a AMD Sempron +3200 with 512MB of DDR2, an 80GB hard drive and a DVD/CD combo burner would be about right.
 

Ranchy

Well-known member
My dad (who will be 70 in June) just got his first computer! We went and helped the lady who built it, set it up for him, and get him started, last Friday. She's super-good at this kinda stuff, and built him a state of the art (at least it was last week) computer, complete with CD-DVD burner, flat screen monitor, optical mouse...........for $550.........manufacture, deliver, set-up, all that included.
And he's scared to turn it on by himself........... :lol:

That might be your best bet, too.......find someone who does that in your locality, and go for it! They're usually the best, in my limited experience.........
 

Judith

Well-known member
Sorry guys I was married to a computer tech for over 10 years. I forget not everyone is fluent in "geek" :oops: NR get the kids to e-mail me some pictures and we can go from there. PM and I will ask all of the questions needed to get ya started. I wonder if a computer tower could fit up Northerns nose sideways 8) for calling me Judy :D

Your right Aaron he could get a new computer for a nice price. A 97 is ancient! However an overclocked CPU can get ya through if you dont want to fork out alot of moola.
 

alabama

Well-known member
Aaron said:
It would be far better for him to get more than the CPU upgraded Judith. Being that it's a '97 computer, its going to be running SDRAM at best, so even upgrading to a new motherboard that can support DDR2 would be beneficial. I'd say a AMD Sempron +3200 with 512MB of DDR2, an 80GB hard drive and a DVD/CD combo burner would be about right.

Ok so who makes this thing? Just what do I ask for? And how much will it cost?

Thank you for all your help so far. I just don't know anyone that does this.
 

cowsense

Well-known member
Bama - Putor hardware is relatively cheap (and getting moreso day by day) so figure out what you need and get it configured the way you need it. It's the software that costs the bucks and make sure if you buy a system that the provided software is not just a 30 day trial that you have to purchase down the road.
PS- This was the advice from my computor repair guy a couple of hours ago when we were pricing a replacement system.
 
Top