Buying a new p.c

[Jimmy]

hi everyone

I am looking to buy a computer, I was going to be buying some ones old one but they decided not to sell it
I am intrested in a secon d hand or x-lease, nothing fancy but that will at least run fsx (just run it is all i want lol)

i'm looking for:

At least 1.7ghz preferably 2.0+
ram =no less than 256 (i will upgrade this in the future)
No less than 20gb hard drive (NTFS system)
Display adapter (not compulsery as ill put my geforce 4 in if it doesn't have one)
cd\rw drive.
monitor (anything, not compulsary eathier)

Whatever it is I realy want to be able to run LDS 763 and other addons like that PMDG etc....

I don't know what this would cost but i have 400-500dollars to spend.
is trademe a good idea as theres no comeback if the computer is broken or corupted etc...

I brought my curent system from the computer broker and it wasnt a bad price and that was last year so i would like some advice on what I can get with my budget

Thanks
James

[ZK-MAT]

Hi James

These are my opinions only, and I am aware that you only have limited money to spend, however if you aim for those specs only you most likely will struggle with FSX or any other modern games on anything but the lowest settings.

I would suggest that spending $400 - $500 on that basis would be at the cost of the money you could put towards something better.

I would look for at least a 3gHZ processor, 512 RAM and definitely add-on graphics.

Many companies offer upgrade options, or swap-a-box deals.

A real quick check found these:

Playtech $786

Playtech $586 although low spec

QMB - Start here then customise as you want it.

I bought my components from QMB two years ago. I bought the parts and put it together myself, the CDRW failed a year after buying the bits and they replaced it no questions asked (I couriered it and they sent one back the next day). I have also dealt with Playtech and they are very nice people.

[Jimmy]

Thanks mat

Is the playtech $586 one have a operating system installed?
it doesn't have a monitor ae?

[ZK-MAT]

The upgrade boxes don't usually include monitors, and operating systems can be extra too.

I bought the XP Pro academic upgrade for about $180 from DSE when I got my system. It's currently $228. This is the full version, but you need a Win98 disc to put in during the install so it knows you are 'upgrading'. You don't actually have to install Win98.

I guess you're a student so you should qualify (my wife was a student when we got it).

[Jimmy]

Another 288 dollars is alot for me lol
I'll have a look around the QMB site

Is trademe a dangerous option ?

[Alex]

For $510 (incl. GST) from QMB you can get;

2.93 Ghz Intel Celeron
512Mb PC3200 Memory
80Gb Western Digital Hard Drive
Case
Samsung CD-RW Drive
56K Modem.

Supply your own monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers . Probably doesn't include OS. The RAM comes with a lifetime warranty, and the Optical Drive a two year warranty. The chip does not have a fan btw. You could probably chuck your graphics card in it as well as it does not specify what sort of graphics it will have.

Alex

[Jimmy]

Does the http://www.qmb.co.nz/pk.aspx?291&c=Package (Ex-Lease Compaq Intel Pentium Professional System --- Pentium 4 2.0GHz, 256MB, 20GB, CD Rom, Floppy, + 17 inch monitor Hot Dea) system have a os?

I can always go back to the computer broker shop next weekend and have a look if i can't find anything on the net.

[Alex]

Whats the price? The OS will push it up $100 or so. And you would want at least 512mb of RAM to run FSX properly .

[ardypilot]

Just an idea...

You could buy a basic system from a shop then get cheaper upgrades of tradme (like more RAM, a new video card etc)

I am not sure if it is a safe idea though- if you don't know what you are doing with hardware then get some know does to install it for you!

[Jimmy]

I found this:

IBM Netvista 8305 ATX Desktop Case
Pentium 4 2.4GHtz CPU
512MB DDR Ram
40GB Hard Drive
DVD Rom / CD Writer
1.44 Floppy Drive
Intergrated Video with AGP
Intergrated Sound
10/100 Network
2 x USB2 Ports - Front USB
Windows XP Home Edition
3 months warranty

goto http://www.computerfuture.co.nz/ProdInf ... rodID=1304.

it has a os but says nothing of a monitor or modem. I'd hae to use my parants pc for the internet untill I afford a modem hmmm

What do you think of this system? FSX,LDS.PMDG capable? (all these abrveations lol)

James

[Alex]

Sounds not too bad. What is your current OS?
Integrated Video there is the big catch, Integrated Video uses Memory as VRAM, so actually you will get less memory. I'm guessing a maximum of 64 megs can be allocated for video. Go for a dedicated chip if at all possible.

Alex

[Jimmy]

thanks for all the help so far guys

My current os i windows xp home sp2.
I could put my geforce 4 in ? would it cost mch to have something like that installed (i have no idea how to do it myself lol)

So if i put a graphics card in it would oveerride the intergrated graphics?
I don't think 64mb would be to bad as its 12 and I plan to upgrade the ram.

P.S, how much does it cost to upgrade ram?

Thanks
James

[Alex]

Would have no idea how much it would cost to have your graphic card put in. Takes about 15-20 mins all up depending on your setup, sometimes (mostly) less.
Yes you should be able to put you geforce 4 in, then you could select which graphics card to use.

The OS could be tricky. You can expect to pay around $500 for Windows XP Home from a shop, it will be cheaper in a package. XP won't allow you to install it on multiple computers (there is probably an illegal way around it though).

Ok, currently you are running of 12Mb of VRAM? 64 (however could be only 32) megs of Integrated and you will see a noticable improvement. However then you will only have about 450 megs of memory.

You can get a gig of memory for around $200, 512 megs for about $100-120, 128 for about $70.

Alex

[ZK-MAT]

Ram upgrading is probably the easiest upgrade. It costs just the price of the stick (512 normally around $90) , and takes all of 2 minutes to put it in.

[creator2003]

right what i do know about upgrading ram is alway use same brand and the same amount in size like 2x256mb for 512 or two x 512mb make a gig right thats that one
also make sure you get a motherboard with 8xout agp or pci for your upgraded graphic card (not 4x)
trademe is good but i do recomend just buying the new stock things like graphic cards ,ram, as graphic cards could of been overclock or ram removed wrong ,before sold ,
at least with the newer stock items you can send them back
mike .

[Jimmy]

Ok, currently you are running of 12Mb of VRAM? 64 (however could be only 32) megs of Integrated and you will see a noticable improvement. However then you will only have about 450 megs of memory.

lol what do you mean i'm "curently running"? iv just got a 64mb geforce? ..sorry i'm alittle confused

[Zöltuger]

translation:
your current computer has 64MB of video memory

the computer you're looking at will have 512MB total memory, but 64MB will be allocated to video memory.
BUT you will only have 448MB of memory left over for the rest of the computer (512 - 64 = 448), thus it is preferable to have a dedicated graphics card which has its own memory (like your current geforce)

most people find integrated graphics sluggish at best... is there any way you can maybe pry a few hundred dollars from your parents? you will find it cheaper and easier to upgrade in the future if you spend a bit more now.

[Alex]

Yea, sorry, thought you said something about having 12mb of VRAM .

Alex

[Jimmy]

is there any way you can maybe pry a few hundred dollars from your parents?

They are buying my pc for 150 but I included that in the 500.
As this one at the computer broker has no monitor ill have to just sell my bo to my parants and give them the monitor once iv saved enough for a new monitor (how uch is a 17inch crt? )
I may just wait 8weeks untill I can get the 150 myself and don't have to sell my current system and can keep the geforce and monitor etc..

Would I get much just selling my system with no monitor of graphics card? (on trdeme)

[Zenith]

You best bet is to look at whats on Tradme first to see what prices compare! As for monitors well I scored two monitors that were going to the rubbish tip both of them work they just had some Sun bleaching. Neither more than 18 months old

You can pick up a decent cheap CRT monitor from Dick Smiths! These ones I have are Phillips 107S and 105s which is a common cheap monitor.