A friend of mine needs to buy a new desktop (although most information should also be applicable for anybody looking for a laptop), so instead of sending my feedback over email, I decided to put it down in this post. Maybe it helps somebody else.
Starting requirements
- Desktop, no monitor
- Price point, around $400/-
- Processing primarily word processing, excel, power point, some graphics, ITunes etc.
- Tech Specs
- No Intel Celeron or AMD Sempron
- Memory, at least 3GB
- Hard Disk, at least 500GB
- Some implied specs from my side
- Windows 7
Now, before I get on some details, some useful info
32bit OS v/s 64 bit OS (Windows 7 assumed, but also true for Vista)
|
32 bit |
64 bit |
| Memory limited to 4GB (actual about 3.5GB actual) | Memory can be much greater than 16GB |
| Most XP/Vista applications should install | Some existing XP/Vista apps may not work in a 64Bit OS. Examples are Adobe Photoshop, some VPN clients, some open source apps. Which work and which don’t will only be known when trying to install. |
| 64bit app performance should be better, especially if you add (and can add) loads of memory | |
| This should future proof your system |
Intel or AMD processor: In most cases, Intel/AMD is a personal preference (that is if you care). Otherwise, just pick one. But with the myriad of choices out there – here is an excellent website (http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php) to nail down where a processor sits down the totem pole.
There are many desktops out there with Intel ATOM processors. These are cheap, but below Celeron in processing power and are primarily meant for the tiny netbooks, which can handle most of the starting requirements (see above) except for any decent graphics processing.
3GB or 4GB for a 32bit OS: Most 32Bit OS machines will allow a max of 4GB memory. However, even with 4GB memory installed because of 512Mb video cards and 256Mb sound cards etc, actually only 3.25GB is actually used. So, the “practical max” for a 32Bit OS machine is 3GB. If you are really interested in the “down and dirty details”, click here (http://www.vistaclues.com/reader-question-maximum-memory-in-32-bit-windows-vista/).
Refurbished vs New: I have always had a good experience with refurbished equipment, bought from good retailers such as dell.com, buy.com, newegg.com etc. You will save a good bunch with a refurb. However, if you are really looking for a “top of the line”, then refurb may not be the choice for you (remember, I said “may not”, not “will not”. I got a refurb top of the line gaming console at about $100 less than a identical new one. It was an “unopened customer return” …. Hey, I have no problem opening it). On the other end of the spectrum, I have also found that a refurbished system is not necessarily always cheaper; “deals” for new systems are sometimes better.
Coupon Codes: Before you buy from ANY site, always check out coupon codes for the site. Even unknown sites have coupon codes and you are likely to find them by searching on Google (of course), slickdeals.net (search on top right of the site) or retailmenot.com. Even if you get free shipping, that could mean $20 – $50 off.
Now, lets get shopping. Remember, before you start shopping, be ready to “pounce on a deal” because some deals are “time limited” (for one day only or for first 1000 users only etc.).
Here are some of the sites I typically use for my computer search.
| Dell | http://www.dell.com http://www.dell.com/outlet |
| Buy.com | http://www.buy.com |
| Newegg.com | http://www.newegg.com |
| Tigerdirect.com | http://www.tigerdirect.com |
| RecoupIT.com | http://www.recoupit.com (mainly for low/mid range, refurb options) |
| Cowboom.com (A Best Buy company) | http://www.cowboom.com ((mainly for low/mid range, refurb options). Make sure they have the OS installed. |
| Slickdeals.net | http://www.slickdeals.net – A user forum where users post deals they find. A quick search here is always a good idea. |
| Deals2buy.com | http://www.deals2buy.com – Another site with “daily” updates of deals around the web. If you are not in a hurry to buy, then keep a daily watch on this page, typically with 2 weeks, you will find an awesome deal somewhere. |
Well, hope you find what you are looking for.
Here are some “desktop only deals” I found today (8/30/2010 9:45am). Price not including taxes or shipping.
| A decent starter desktop from Dell, Inspiron Zino HD | $249/- (AMD Athlon 2650e 1.6Ghz, 2GB Ram, 250GB, 8x DVD±RW, Windows Vista Home Basic 64bit) $377/- (AMD Athlon 2850e 1.8Ghz, 3GB Ram, 320GB, 8x DVD±RW, Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit) |
| Staples has an ACER desktop deal starting Labor Day weekend (9/5 – 9/11) – See picture here (http://a.slickdeals.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=405834&d=1283145127). They had this on sale for $299/- the week of Aug 22nd. | $349/- (AMD Athlon II X2 Dual Core 215 2.7GHz, 4GB, 640GB, 16x DVD±RW, Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit). |
| HP s5510 from hpshopping.com. (http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/load_configuration.do?destination=review&config_id=5225259&aoid=35252) | $399/- (Intel Dual-Core e5400 2.7GHz, 3Gb, 500Gb, 16x DVD±RW, Windows 7 Home Premium 32Bit) |
| Lenovo H215 from Newegg.com (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883108312) | $369/- (Athlon II Dual Core 215, 2.7GHz, 2GB, 320 Gb, DVD±RW, Windows 7 Home Premium 32Bit) |
| ACER VM420 from Tigerdirect.com (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6448101&CatId=5140 ) | $299/- (AMD Athlon Dual Core 4850, 2.5GHz, 2GB, 160GB, DVD±RW, Vista Business 32Bit) |