How do I revamp this computer? What is top of the line?

Question

I have an older Dell computer with basic components and only 256 megs RAM (I think). It takes it almost an hour to boot up. What I would like to do is buy a new computer for myself and give this one to the kids. What should I do to this older computer to get it running better and suitable for the kids? And also I would like to get a top of the line computer for myself, with a good amount of RAM and storage, a nice video card and sound card etc...what type of Specs should I look for? I will be using the computer for photos, music downloads, internet, and word processing.

Answer 1

First, yes, get a new system.

Look for Dual Processor
PCI Express Video
250G + Hard Drive
2G of RAM

Prices at Sam's Club and at Costco are usually pretty inexpensive. Dell has reasonable prices too.

For fixing the older system up a bit for the kids:

Format the Hard Drive and do a clean install of whichever version of Windows that you have available for it.

Answer 2

For what you say you are planning on doing you do not need to have a "top of the line" machine. You will need lots of storage tho so i would go with a 300-500gb hard drive. Ram wise i would say that standard now is 1gb. But if you are getting a desktop i would pay the extra and get 2 or 3 gb of ram. It will help when you run more programs at once, itunes, any camera programs, ie or mozilla, ect. Video Card wise the only thing that would use it would be iTunes if you have it on that view that shows the cd covers. I would suggest 256mb video card, any more than that is for computer gaming and is not necessary. Sound cards really dont make a difference unless you are doing surround sound. Which in that case you would need to buy a appropriate sound card. Processor wise I'd say go for 2.0ghz or better dual core. If you are buying from on online site like dell they will have all the options for you to see.
As for the other computer, if you have a friend who knows their way around a computer have them reformat it and give it to your kids. It will be slow but they dont need anything excessive.
Hope that helps

Answer 3

For yourself, a rule of thumb is: The more of, the better. The faster, the better. The bigger, the better.
Now if cash isn't too much of a burden, get the biggest, the fastest and the mostest (?).
I just bought a Compaq (Hewlett Packard) with HP technology. A fast DVD burner with Lightscribe, a huge HDD, 360 Gigabytes, 2 Gigs of RAM, all running at a CPU speed of 4GigaHertz, Dual Core. (What comes after Giga?
Terra, what else.)
HP technology means that it comes equiped with neat little programs for photos, music, games, maintenance reminders etc. (good stuff).
LightScribe means that your DVD can etch or mark on the other side of the DVD the contents of the DVD that you stipulate you want on it.
For the kids, be sure you don't put anything on it that may deplete it of the RAM capabolity to hold, so keep it really simple.
You can get kiddy stuff real cheap at a video store or at a yard sale.
For you and your word processing, be sure to download "OpenOffice.org" It is open source material meaning it is available for all to use without license, and it is a complete suite of applications with many options. You'll love it.
;-)

Answer 4

Your applications do not require a top of the line computer. Even a business desktop w/ 1Gb RAM would do. The 2nd core of a dual core would just be idle most of the time

Also your old PC can be restored for better use by upgrading RAM to 1Gb, installing a good video card and doing a fresh OS installation.

Answer 5

well for the first pc i would reformat the hd and then set whatever parental controls necessary and put a goooooood antivirus and malware detector and make sure its used.

on the new one thats a good question lol get a mac. or if you want windows you need at least 2gb of ram for vista if you use that os. top of line graphics card nvidia 8800 they might have a newer one out intel quad core........find a gamer for more specs. chances are youll get a 64 bit processor but youll have to use a 32 bit os unless u know can find aps and drivers for 64 bit which is not happening because microsoft insists they be signed and that makes it too expensive for the software people
if u get vista for an os get 2gb of ram and then go to walmart and get 4gb usb storage device and use that to speed up the pc.

Answer 6

hahaha..I always get a kick out of parents that say "I'll give the old one to the kids..." The "kids" will always migrate to the fastest computer in the house. They'll have the old one so messed up in a week that it'll be relegated to the basement. never to be seen again. Trust me the old machine won't play the $200 video game..ever. So you'll be waiting in line for a good long time to check your email my friend. I have seen this a thousand times in my 20 years in business. Just re-install windows from scratch on the Dell and and keep it in your office for yourself. And buy a new one for the kids. They won't go near the old one until the new one is KO'D Good luck R.

Answer 7

Reformat and re-install Windows on the old Dell. Add another 256 MB of RAM and you won't even need a new comp. It will run better than it did when new! Just be sure to back up all your data before the reformat.

Answer 8

an extremely effective element to do is to envision BBB reliability comments. making your own may well be very time eating as you would be spending countless time learning and such yet its a sprint greater value-effective. a minimum of get quad center and four gb ram and you would be set for an prolonged time. My suitable pc agencies in reliability... a million. Realm computers 2. electronic hurricane 2.Alienware/ Dell (now merged) 3.HP/ Compaq (comparable corporation) 4.gateway/ Emachines (comparable corporation) 5.cyberpower/ ibuypower (comparable corporation) i does not even cope with cyberpower/ibuypower as they have not so sturdy comments on them. alienware is rather costly additionally and you ought to be quite sturdy with my suitable 2 selections or development it your self. btw, ive had a notebook from electronic hurricane and a working laptop or pc from realm and function not had complications so a techniques. even have had an emachines notebook yet that pc grow to be poor. and likewise macs use the suitable comparable hardware as notebook's yet they arrive at a lots larger value. the two use intel, nvidia and so forth... I additionally must point out that hp and dell have some pc areas which you won't be able to purchase in a shop. So after your guarantee is over, and the area is broken, you ought to pay like $3 hundred just to restoration a motherboard from them...

Answer 9

try reinstalling the old computer,assuming u have all the drivers.