New Computer help

[iDon]

Am after getting a new desktop computer for University with it being able to hand surfing high speed net, watching movies and listening to songs and just doing coursework. This computer will be with me for at least 2 years.

Get a dual core or a quad core?

What other specs would i Need?

Cheers

 

[finrod]

For what you say you are doing basically any new computer should be adequate, so I wouldn't go with a quad core - dual will be fine. Hell, I use a 1.4 Mhz notebook from about 4 years ago for all the things you mentioned and I get by. One thing though - if you get Vista with it (don't know if you can still buy Windows XP), just make sure you get at least 2GB of RAM... but this is pretty standard these days. Only if you want to play recent games or do lots of computation-heavy stuff (eg - CAD) would I consider getting higher specs.

 

[Niximus]

Am after getting a new desktop computer for University with it being able to hand surfing high speed net, watching movies and listening to songs and just doing coursework. This computer will be with me for at least 2 years.

Get a dual core or a quad core?

What other specs would i Need?

Cheers

Do you have one already?

If so I would cannibalise parts allowing you to either get a new one cheaper or a better on for the same money.

For example I already had a DVD burner and a case and power supply that were perfectly fine. My current computer is:

• Standard Asrock Motherboard (I have never gone all out on a mobo cheaper ones work just fine)
• Core 2 Duo 2.4ghz CPU
• 4 gb ddr2 ram
• 500gb sata2 hdd
• 200gb sata hdd
• LG dvd burner
• 650W PSU
• Thermaltake armour LCS case (has liquid cooling - i know i don't need it, it just looks cool)

New components in red cost under $550