BleepingComputer.com: New Desktop Computer - All in One

Hello all, hoping to receive some valuable information. I am looking to purchase a new Desktop computer (all-in-one).

- I will be using it for work purposes (Microsoft XP, Adobe, InDesign,) are some of the programs/system I would like.

- In my spare time, I like to play casino slots (and I purchase the Phantom games at Office Depot) so have a good sound, video and graphics would be most desireable.

-DVD-RW- etc. (I like to download music and copy CD's so this cabability would be great)

- I would like a lot of memory so I don't have to worry about it

- I also would like a lot of Hard Drive

Please help me find the perfect desktop for me. OR if I am out shopping for one, what are the most important things I should look for that fit what I need (listed above).

Thanks much for your help.

Do you really need an All-in-One? They're not that great, and cost more than they're worth most of the time(In my opinion). It sounds like a midpriced tower would work fine for you.

How much is your maximum price, or how much are you looking at spending?

Hi, thanks for the response. I stopped by a computer shop today in my area, and this is what they had to offer:

AMD Sempron64 AM3 Ghz
2GB DDR-2 667 Memory
160gb SATA2 Western Digital Hard Drive
CD-DVD Burner 20X Dual Layer
GeForce 6150 upto 256mb Graphics Card
8.1 Channel Audi with Sub Woofers ports
Windows XP Home
One year Warranty Parts and Labor
$399.00

OR

Athlon64 X2 Dual Core 5200+
3GB DDR-2 667 Memory
CD-DVD- Burner 22X Dual Layer -Light Scribe
500 GB SATA2 Western Digital Hard Drive
GeForce 6150 upto 256mb Graphics Card
8.1 Channel Audio with Subwoofer ports
Windows XP Home
One Year Warranty Parts and Labor
$639.00

Any thoughts? Are these good prices, is the system worth it, what would you recommend adding or increasing to making it better? Thanks

Well...just where is "my area" and why aren't you considering buying online?

FWIW: I have an X2 4400 unit and an X2 5000 unit...and I don't think that either is worth more than $350 or so in today's market. By that, I mean that I would not pay more than that for a new system featuring those processors.

To get a rough estimate of the market value of any system...a user should look up 3 items at retail prices in effect today:

a. New cost of CPU listed, with warranty.

b. New cost motherboard listed, with warranty.

c. New cost of listed RAM, with warranty.

Realize that 1TB hard drives have been available for some time for less than $100, CD/DVD burners today are available for $20-30, the PSU in the system is going to have cost less than $50...and you have the approximate price that is "fair market value."

To pay more than fair market value...is self-defeating. Even allowing that something should be considered for the assembly of the system, that consideration should not be construed to commensurate with the fee of a doctor/dentist, etc.

Good links to look up prices for components:

www.newegg.com
www.tigerdirect.com
www.crucial.com

If you live in the U.S...another item to consider is that places like Walmart now seriously cater to users who want systems but who don't want to overspend or do a lot of research or build one. Not to mention the convenience of acquiring anything available at a Walmart.

Louis

Hi Louis, wow thanks for the information, however being that I am not computer savvy when it comes to the pieces of the system, makes this a bit challenging. I live in CA - Central Valley area. How do I look for these things. I don't mind having one built, possibly is the best route to go....but what do I need as far as amounts of space/speed/ etc to run effiecently/a pretty damn good system:

RAM
Hard Drive
Speed
Video Card/Graphics Card
DVD-CD with copy downloading availability

Thanks

What you should have at least depends on how much you're willing to spend, and what you want to use it for.

For basics, I'll just post the price range and what components should be for those two cheap to medium price computers


300-500$

RAM- 3-4GB
Hard Drive- 250-500GB
Speed- Processors don't matter to a huge extent, but I say at least a Core 2 Duo intel processor, or a Athlon X2 AMD processor. Speed is relatively the same, or little difference.
Video Card/Graphics Card- Preferably not integrated. At this price range, its harder to get though.
DVD-CD- Nearly every single computer comes with one of these drives. It should have one.


500-700$

RAM- 4GB or more
Hard Drive- 500-750Gb
Speed- You could snag a deal with a Core 2 Quad or a Phenom x3 or x4, I bet.
Video Card/Graphics Card- A dedicated card is a good priority, but it probably won't be an high end card.

I suggest checking out

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16883103210
and
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16883107991

one of those would do nicely for you, I believe.

This has helped ALOT! Thank you.