Topic: TSKB: Upgrading My PC

[spyder9]

No Mac jokes , please.   

I'm looking to make the jump for the first time in 5 years.  My old trusty Dell 2350 just can't keep up with the most recent software upgrades I've done.  Last time I had a slow computer, XP was making an impact on software developers.  This time, its Vista.

The most important thing:

A machine that will make Adobe Audition, TMPGENC, and other audio/video editing software flat-out-fly.

I don't use my PC for gaming.  But I do multi task when running the above software.  Speed is everything. 
Budget: $500.00  No desire to build own.  Monitor not needed.

Thanks.   

[sygdwm]

stay away from vista. get a refurb dell or gateway w/ xp.

[spyder9]

Definitely sticking with XP.  My 2350 is actually a refurbished Dell.  The thing is a tank.  Scored it on flea-bay.  Gonna miss it.

Too many choices nowadays.  Not sure what PC to grab.  Dual Core, Core 2 Duo, Quad Core.....    

[OFOTD]

http://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnlineSales/topics/global.aspx/arb/online/en/InventorySearch?c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh

Dell Outlet.  Just set your prices to >500.  About 50 results just popped up for me.

One was a Dimension 3100/E310 
- XP Media Cneter
- P4 2.8GHz
- 1GB RAM
- 160GB SATA drive
- DVD+/- RW

No floppy drive, no keyboard, no mouse and no monitor.

$459 !!!!!!!!!!

[Gordon]

Dual Core, Core 2 Duo, Quad Core.....    

good luck getting any of those in a machine for $500.  my dual core 300ghz was close to $300,  just for the processor

[spyder9]

I struck gold!   

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280199929944

[kskreider]

meh.  You probably could have taken a lot of what you had (burner, mouse, video card, XP Key, case, power supply) and threw the $450 at some good RAM, mobo and CPU and built yourself a screamer.

I don't know why everyone thinks they need to buy a new OS every time they get a PC.  You buy the key, not the OS.  Just use Magic Jelly Bean and re-install it on a new machine.

[spyder9]

meh.  You probably could have taken a lot of what you had (burner, mouse, video card, XP Key, case, power supply) and threw the $450 at some good RAM, mobo and CPU and built yourself a screamer.

I don't know why everyone thinks they need to buy a new OS every time they get a PC.  You buy the key, not the OS.  Just use Magic Jelly Bean and re-install it on a new machine.

No way.  I looked into that.  Would have cost more like $750.00 for that kind of thinking.  Plus, the 2350 box would've required some PITA engineering to get a new mobo in there.  I hate cob-jobs.   

My current setup:  1.8ghz P4, 512MB RAM, 30gb+80gb HD's, Windows XP

New setup:  2.4ghz Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM, 500gb + 300gb HD's, Windows XP

I'll then flip my old machine through a local newspaper for $175.00.  Putting this upgrade at just under $325.00.  I'm good for few years now.

[JoeKiller]

for what it is worth, you can't beat dell prices for the base systems, soon as you upgrade it, you'll get hosed.