Need desktop for eleven yr old?

Question

Uses MSN, internet, word, dvd games eg simms and usual stuff that kids do on pcs. I have laptop so don,t want to spend too much. not sure what GB,Memory ect i would require

Answer 1

512MB RAM should be enough, although you'll want to buy soon. With Windows Vista coming out, most computers on the market are starting at 1GB of RAM.

80GB is quickly becoming the minimum hard-drive size for desktops, although 40GB is plenty.

I would upgrade the graphics card to 128MB to support gaming if that's something you want to pursue, although it's less expensivei sometimes to just buy a PS2 separately. (PS2 - not PS3).

Whatever you do - spend the extra $60 per year for a full internet security package (additional firewall, virus-scan and privacy protecter.) In addition, set her up as a non-administrator on the account and monitor her use. The Internet is a very dangerous place if you're not careful.

Answer 2

I sell computers at a major retailer. For a modern PC for a tween-teenager, there are three big categories you should look for:

processor- AMD Athlon64, 64X2 or Intel Core2Duo (in ascending price). These are all 64-bit, an important thing to have for compatibility in the long run. DO NOT get a Pentium of ANY class or kind. None of them are 64-bit and few are even manufactured any more. Any gigahertz rating in any of these systems should be fine for her.

RAM (aka memory)- This is like the tires for your car in that the RAM applies the power of the processor as efficiently as possible. START with 1 Gb of RAM. More is better, but in your circumstance not necessary. Look for @Gb models on sale for a good deal.

Other- this category depends on what you are doing. A basic graphics card would be good for Sims 2 (ATI X1300 or GeForce 7300/7600 GS or GT). The Hard drive shouldn't be a problem, as average systems today have over 200GB's, WAY more than most people would ever use.

As for brand, check out the gateways carried by major retailers. They have a lot of the basics with no bells and whistles you may not want to pay for. However, they are reliable and very upgradeable.

Answer 3

Apart from games such as the Sims, you could get a very low spec (second hand perhaps) machine (Pentium III, 128Mb RAM) for surfing the internet, instant messaging and word processing. The key specification you should be looking at is the RAM (random access memory). If games are essential, you will need a minimum of 256Mb RAM. I'd be sceptical of anyone suggesting you need a Vista-capable PC, Windows XP will suffice.

Answer 4

Go with the HP dx5150 Windows XP Professional Edition Athlon 64 3200+ 2.0GHz Processor 80GB SATA Hard Drive 1GB DDR RAM 400 CD Drive Small Form Factor. It's on special right now for less than $550 at www.stupidcheapcomputers.net

Answer 5

If you're buying new, I'd recommend a Mac mini; you can get one for as little as US$549 (and Apple gives discounts for students, which I assume your kid is). If you're buying used, an eMac or iMac G4 would be great. I do not recommend getting a Windows computer.

Please don't buy Microsoft Office if you don't already have it; it's a big waste of money that you could be spending on computer hardware. Instead, download OpenOffice ( http://www.openoffice.org ) for Windows or NeoOffice/J ( http://www.neooffice.org ) for Mac; these programs do everything MS Office does, but they're free.

Answer 6

i have been working at a computer store , and this is what i usually recommend to parents with kids requring PC`s

Pentium 4 3.0HT
Intel Original mother board
512 MB DDR ram
80 GB western digital (hard drives usually run for a long time , and a resonsible one liek western digital is required)
256 MB Graphic card ( Nvidia Geforce 7600 GT or X800 GTO (ati)
a good graphic is required becuase i guess your child likes games , so you wont need your graphic card for a loooong time...:)
Any normal soundcard woulddo
any normal modem would work

Answer 7

Go to Dell and customize your kids PC. Http://www.dell.com
As for memory and hard drive, Get at least 80 GB hard drive with 512 mb RAM, or higher.

Answer 8

Have a look at the back of the packaging of some games she likes (say The Sims 2) and see what specifications it requires. That's a very rough guideline.

Answer 9

you're punishing him with issues that are thoroughly unrelated to the project. All he has to do is wait out those punishments for 2 weeks, and each and every thing is going lower back to generic, yet he doesn't ought to modify something. If he doesn't educate appreciate for the pastime that you've achieved, then he can do his own laundry. At 11, he's totally able to doing that. (purely ignore about the ironing for a lengthy time period -- it truly is probable no longer needed besides.) And if he doesn't do his own laundry, then he has to positioned on even with is sparkling to school and out with associates, that's in all possibility going to be stuff he doesn't favor to positioned on in public. And if he has no longer something sparkling, then he can't go out with associates. If his issues get damaged using his negligence, then complicated luck. do not go out and purchase him a sparkling one. he might want to attend till he may have the funds for to change them himself. one element i have heard about is in case you provide your little ones an allowance and they don't do their predicted chores, you do not purely no longer pay them. particularly, they ought to pay you to do the chores for them. so that you provide them the $3 a week (or maybe with) as continually. Then, once you position his laundry away for him, you immediately cost him $2 (or maybe with you imagine is honest). it truly is a lot extra painful to ought to bodily quit your own money than it truly is to in no way get it contained in the first position. i'm no longer particular if i comprehend how his room can capture on hearth more effective than once from the mess, yet when it truly is somewhat that a lot of a protection risk, then each and every thing needs to go back out of there. i'm tolerant of mess, yet protection is a unique project. Strip his room all the way down to in problem-free words a mattress and textile cupboard. table lamps are lengthy gone, too, assuming there is an overhead basic. each and every thing else is going in packing packing containers contained in the hall closet, basement, anyplace. at the same time as he shows that he can keep his room neat adequate that it truly isn't any longer a protection risk, he can initiate incomes those issues lower back slowly.

Answer 10

Just got for the £400 models at PC world now that would be more than enough