How much ram,etc. do i need on a new desktop computer

[patrickdenise]

If i get a new desktop computer what specifications should i get in terms of memory, hard drive,etc.

Also should I stick with windows xp rather than vista for a cheap desktop computer?

i only use it for microsoft office, internet browsers and watching youtube videos.

 

[red+black]

just get 2GB

 

[seanoff]

seriously, if that's all you want, get a laptop.


I'm looking at an ad for an 15.4 inch acer with 4Gb ram, 256mb ATI x1200 video, 160gb HDD, vista home basic for $749. get yourself a sub $100 wireless router and off you go for less than $850.

 

[grimlock]

seriously, if that's all you want, get a laptop.


I'm looking at an ad for an 15.4 inch acer with 4Gb ram, 256mb ATI x1200 video, 160gb HDD, vista home basic for $749. get yourself a sub $100 wireless router and off you go for less than $850.

Why get a laptop if you're not going to be using it on the go? They're more expensive than an equivalent desktop.

For RAM, if you're getting a 64 bit OS, get 4GB or more, otherwise 2GB will suffice even for Vista.

 

[seanoff]

Why get a laptop if you're not going to be using it on the go? They're more expensive than an equivalent desktop.

For RAM, if you're getting a 64 bit OS, get 4GB or more, otherwise 2GB will suffice even for Vista.

it would be called flexibility.

hard to use a desktop lazing on the sofa, or in bed, or reading on the dunny etc etc etc.

really tough to attempt that on a desktop.

just seems like a good fit for casual use as it's not tied down. and if he/she wants to take it anywhere, off they go.

my job for 12 yrs was trying to read peoples needs and get them a computer. occasionally that requires reading between the lines and recommending something they may have not thought about. (more often, managing their inflated needs with their actual needs"

 

[superfraser]

it would be called flexibility.

hard to use a desktop lazing on the sofa, or in bed, or reading on the dunny etc etc etc.

I read this post while on the dunny.

just for reference.. it's been a very average session..

laptop+wifi = awesome.

 

[patrickdenise]

So you need more ram to run xp 64 than for vista?

 

[grimlock]

I read this post while on the dunny.

just for reference.. it's been a very average session..

laptop+wifi = awesome.

Ew, dirty.

 

[grimlock]

So you need more ram to run xp 64 than for vista?

You get a 64 bit OS (well Windows anyway) so you can utilise the 4gb+ of RAM, not the other way around. 32 bit maxes out at about 3-3.5gb

 

[seanoff]

So you need more ram to run xp 64 than for vista?

get vista, if you buy it now it gives free or almost free upgrades to Windows 7 which is supposedly superior to Vista in almost every way imaginable. (google up "Windows 7 improvements".)

i'd get off the XP thing you've got and try a different horse.

 

[dylan123]

2gig would be plenty but 4gig wont hurt. Do you have xp already or plan on buying a new o/s? if you are buying a new o/s you may as well buy vista with the free o/s upgrade to windows 7 when it comes out. You would probably want like 160gig+ hard drive, maybe a motherboard with onboard videocard because by the sounds of it you are not gaming so not much point in getting a gpu unless u plan to watch things like tv and getting a hdmi screen then its probably worth getting 1.

Problem with 64bit vista is it is not ment to be compatible with all the programs 32bit is. From what i was told the 64bit windows 7 will be which is a big +