I need a new computer, how's this one look?

[krunchyfrogg]

My friend helped my build this computer. Let me start by saying that I really don't know much about computers. I also only use my computer for checking e-mail, visiting message boards, and things like that. I also play some older video games (late 90's).

 

Anyway, here's what we came up with:

 

Dell Dimension 3000 Series

 

Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor (2.80GHz, 533 FSB)

 

Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition OS

 

512MB Dual Channel DDR SDRAM at 400MHz

 

Integrated Intel® Extreme Graphics 2 video card

 

80GB Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drive

 

48x CD-ROM Drive + Save $40! 48x CD-RW/ DVD Combo Drive

 

Integrated Audio Sound Card

 

Will this be able to handle the needs I detailed above? Does it look like a reliable system? TIA.

[Sam]

yeah it'll be fine but make sure you bargain with dell - they can always drop their price alot from what they tell you....

[sAtelitte]

i wouldn't worry about it

 

If you want to lower the price a bit you can cut down on the Pentium 4 and DDR SDRAM memory. 2.8Ghz and 512MB DDR are certainly a bit much for just using the internet, it depends on how "graphical" the games are you play, but i don't think late 90's games require such resources either.

[krunchyfrogg]

Thanks for the tip, Sam! I'll place this order by phone instead of ordering online then!

[SaiFightsMS]

I would love to have 512 mb of ram.

[krunchyfrogg]

Question: My wife would like to be able to burn CDs, and possibly DVDs as well. Would I need to change anything on my order for these features?

 

Also, I have some friends who have told me that an 80 Gig Hard Drive is more than I'll ever need (I can save some cash if I lower that down). If I do go down to 40 Gigs, would that affect my CD/DVD burning?

 

Please, keep in mind that I really don't know much about these things. It's all new to me.

 

TIA.

[Maddwraph]

burning cds, if you actually have the cds is easy. if you use windows, it will come with windows media player, you put your cds in, then you can burn them. dvds are much harder to burn as far as i know. but luckily my brother just got a dvd burner which is like new technology which burns dvds simply and very good. i dont think youll have to change anything but check again. you should be fine besides the dvds part.

[SaiFightsMS]

Question: My wife would like to be able to burn CDs, and possibly DVDs as well. Would I need to change anything on my order for these features?

 

Also, I have some friends who have told me that an 80 Gig Hard Drive is more than I'll ever need (I can save some cash if I lower that down). If I do go down to 40 Gigs, would that affect my CD/DVD burning?

 

Please, keep in mind that I really don't know much about these things. It's all new to me.

 

TIA.

 

You could leave off the cd rw dvd drive and get a dvd rw drive for that.

[Sam]

Sai Fights MS is right you would need a DVD burner / writer whateva you want to call it to burn DVDs. Currently you could burn CDs.

 

Keepwith the current set up when bargaining - get them down to a low price that they wont budge on [keep threatening to go with another group who have offered lower, then when tehy offer lower say hmm... put fone down, call back 30minutes later with a "better"offer from the "other supplier"]; then when they wont budge at all; say ok ill take it now if you change the 80gb for a 40gb but through in a 16x DVD +/- burner!!!!

 

Tell are so easy to f^&% with like that - they make almost no profit margins on fone sales, lol.

[krzychicano]

If your going to burn DVD's I would get a gig of ram. My buddy has a machine dedicated to strictly burning DVD's and he said it ran the best with a gig of ram...other than that it took up all his resources and he couldnt do jack.