Well I am leavin for college here soon and realllly need a new computer... the thing is that I dont want to spend a whole lot of money... I wont use it for much... just to type papers... surf the net... maybe a game once in awhile... and music... other than that not much else...

But then again I dont want some peice of crap... I like my computers to be pretty fast...

So if anyone knows of a good computer that comes with keyboard, mouse, and speakers, and maybe even a screen for around $500-600 please tell me!

Thanks a lot guys

 

Anyone?

I want to get one ordered...

 

For a pre-configed PC, go Dell.
If you PLAN on doing any type of gaming at all, do not get a PC with on board video on the mother board.

On board sound is OK for occasional gaming like you intend, but not hardcore, that is where a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS sound card comes into play.

But for what you are looking for, a Dell would suit you fine.
If you order one, tell them you want either and AGP vid card, or if they are building their budget PCs with the new PCI Express motherboards, of course it uses a PCI Express vid card, as there is no AGP support on it.

If you want Nvidia, get at least a 6600 GT card.
If you can order it with an ATI chip set for the GPU, get at least a 9600 to 9800 Pro on it.
Both the ATI ones mentioned come in AGP flavor only.
I am not up on my PCI Express stuff, as I have not gone that route yet.
Next new PC I build will be PCI Express.

You can get anything these days from Dell, including name brand speakers.
Look into Logitechs or Klipsch 2.1s to keep it lower priced.

Logitech did make a very nice low end 5.1 system for $60 called the Z640.
Not sure if they still have them or not.
My youngest son has them, and they are very good for the $$$.

 

I second going with Dell....

 

Dell frequently runs specials where you get a free LCD screen along with one of their 500-600 pc's - would be really nice for college. Something like this would be pretty nice.

 

How is this? Please reply! If it is ok I will order it now!
or would the Intel® Pentium® 4 be better?
_________________________________________________
Dimension 3000 - Celeron
Date & Time: August 19,2005 7:35 PM CST

SYSTEM COMPONENTS
Dimension 3000 - Celeron Qty 1

Intel® Celeron® D Processor 330 (2.66GHz, 533 FSB)
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition Unit Price
$764.00

Dell Home Customers: Save $100 off the Dell Dimension 3000!
Limited Time Offer!
- $100.00

Catalog Number: 29
Module Description
Dell Dimension 3000 Series Intel® Celeron® D Processor 330 (2.66GHz, 533 FSB)
Operating System Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
Memory 512MB DDR SDRAM at 400MHz
Keyboard and Mouse Bundles Dell Quietkey Keyboard and Dell 2-button Scroll Mouse
Monitors 15 inch E153FP Analog Flat Panel
Video Card Integrated Intel® Extreme Graphics 2
Hard Drive 80GB Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drive
Floppy Drives and Additional Storage Devices No Floppy Drive Included
Mouse Mouse included with Keyboard purchase
Network Interface Integrated 10/100 Ethernet
Modem 56K PCI Data/Fax Modem
Adobe Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 6.0
CD or DVD Drive Single Drive: 16X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/double layer write capability
Sound Card Sound Blaster® Live! 24-bit ADVANCED HD™ Audio
Speakers Dell A425 30 Watt 2.1 Stereo Speakers with Subwoofer
Office Productivity Software No Productivity Suite - Corel WordPerfect® word processor only
Security Software No Security Subscription
Digital Music Musicmatch® Jukebox Basic
Digital Photography Photo Album™ SE Basic
Limited Warranty, Services and Support Options 90 Days Ltd Warranty, 90 Days At-Home Service, and 90 Days Technical Spt
Internet Access Services 6 Months of EarthLink Internet Access Included
Miscellaneous Award Winning Service and Support
Financial Software (Preinstalled) No QuickBooks package selected- Includes limited use trial
Video Editing IEEE 1394 Adapter
Dell Media Experience Dell Media Experience™ with Remote Control
Operating System Backup & Recovery Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition backup CD


-------------------------------------------------------------------

Dell 720 Color Printer Qty 1
Free Dell Color Printer 720 Unit Price $0.00
Catalog Number: 29
Module Description Show Details
Dell Color Printer 720 Free Dell Color Printer 720
Hardware Support Services 1Yr Ltd. Warranty- Advance Exchange

TOTAL:$664.00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Additional Discounts and Coupons

Free Ground Shipping on Dell Dimension 3000 Celerons greater than $549!
Limited Time Offer! View Details


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Total Price
Sub-total $664.00

 

Anyone

 

Get a refurb Mac Mini for $429, then spend $199 on a nice monitor and you're set!

On the Dell note, check out their refurbs too..it can save you A LOT of money!

 

Alright cool... where is the best place for the refurbished ones?

Thanks

 

But would that computer I posted be alright do you think?



oooo what about this one??

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16883102639

 

The sound card is OK, but it does not say if it is the Live 5.1 model or not, but it may be.
You will not be gaming on it though, that has built in vid on the mother board.

It simply can not handle todays games such as UT 2004, Battlefield 2, and many others.
Plus it steals memory from your 512 MB that is installed.
If you intend to game, you need a sperate vid card.

Now if you could get the Dell XPS 600, that would last you for awhile, and it is Dell's top of the line gaming system.

Data has the laptop with the same name.
Both are spendy though, and you roommates or neighbors would always want to be gaming on it

 

The one from Newegg looks good.

 

Hey all for the Dell Demension 5100... is the Media Center addition worth it? Its like $120+ I think... what all does it do? Anyone have it?


And another thing how big of a harddrive to you really need? Is 80 gigs ok or do you really need 160 gigs lol

 

Different idea.... IBM. Im currently in college and love my thinkpad. I guess its a little more pricey but its well worth it.

 

Alright how about this!

Dell Dimension 5100 Series Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 630 w/HT Technology (3.0GHz,800FSB)

Operating System Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition

Memory FREE UPGRADE!! 512MB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 400MHz (2x256M)

Keyboard Dell USB Keyboard

Monitors 17 inch E773 (16 inch viewable)
Conventional CRT

Video Cards 256MB PCI Express™ x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) ATI Radeon X600 SE HyperMemory

Hard Drives 160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM)

Floppy Drive and Media Reader No Floppy Drive Included

Mouse Dell® 2-button USB mouse

Network Interface Integrated Intel® PRO 10/100 Ethernet

Modem 56K PCI Data Fax Modem

Adobe Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 6.0

CD or DVD Drive Single Drive: 16X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/double layer write capability

Sound Card Sound Blaster® Live! 24-bit ADVANCED HD™ Audio

Speakers Dell A425 30 Watt 2.1 Stereo Speakers with Subwoofer

Office Productivity Software No Productivity Suite - Corel WordPerfect® word processor only

Security Software No Security Subscription

Digitial Music Musicmatch® Jukebox Basic

Digital Photography Photo Album™ SE Basic

Limited Warranty, Services and Support Options No Extended Service, Support or Ltd Warranty

Internet Access Service 6 Months of EarthLink
Internet Access Included

Miscellaneous Award Winning Service and Support

Financial Software No QuickBooks package selected- Includes limited use trial

Operating System Backup & Recovery Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition backup CD

----------------------------------

Dell 720 Color Printer Qty 1
Free Dell Color Printer 720 Unit Price $0.00


Module Description
Dell Color Printer 720 Free Dell Color Printer 720
Hardware Support Services 1Yr Ltd. Warranty- Advance Exchange

TOTAL:$865.50

 

Install UT 2004 on that puppy with all the updates and maps, and join in sometime with us.

Have fun with the PC.

Yeah, I would try to replace the CRT with a 17" LCD if you can, or even a 19" depending on what break they give you.

Also head over to www.ati.com and get their latest Cat 5.8 drivers for the vid card.
You will want to remove the current ones first via add/remove aplet in the Control Panel, reboot, exe the new ones, and set them up.

You do not need the drivers with the Control Center like I run, you just need their regular drivers.
https://support.ati.com/ics/support/...questionID=640

It is called the Control Panel, at 25.2 MB.

 

I would not buy a celeron processor. If your going Laptop, go IBM, I have a T-43 that I just bought about 3 mths ago. The one before this, an IBM 600E, had it almost 8 yrs with both winders and linux on it.