New desktop advice

[comptechexpert]

Sorry about making another one of these topics but I just wanted to get all the answers in one post.

I am thinking about saving up for an A58 with these specs:

Processor
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E7500 Processor ( 2.93GHz 1066MHz 3MB )

Genuine Windows 7 Professional 32

PCI-E DVI-D Connection Adapter with HDCP
Total memory
2 GB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz
Hard drive
320GB

DVD Recordable

Small Form Factor

One year parts and labour

And I was wondering if this would be good for my computing requirements.

Software I will be using:
Office
Firefox
Visual studio 2005
Scratch
Processing
Unity game engine
Flat red ball game engine
All the visual express editions
Paint.net
XNA game studio

I wouldn't be using these all at the same time and would only use a maximum of about three at the same time.

[pianowizard]

I am unfamiliar with any of Lenovo's desktops, so I'll give you some general advice:

1) While the Thinkpads tend to be of higher quality than the majority of other laptop brands, the desktops made by Lenovo (and by IBM for that matter) don't seem to be any better than other manufacturers' desktops. If fact, PC Magazine's most recent survey ranked Lenovo's desktop very poorly -- see this chart. Dell's desktops are cheaper AND better than Lenovo's.

2) In general, I avoid "small form factor" desktops because they often use smaller parts that are much more expensive than conventional desktop parts. If you're considering small desktops because you want to save space, I recommend you to buy a normal-sized desktop and put it under your desk. You can see photos of two of my desktop setups in this thread. Of course, it's inconvenient to access the USB ports when the computer is on the floor, so just get a monitor with built-in USB ports and use those instead. The Dell 2007FP LCD that I recommended in your earlier thread has two USB ports.

[A31]

Try and find a desktop with a Pentium 4 HT processor, you get over 3GHZ than the Core's 2.93GHZ. My HP DX2200 has one of these, and the 2GB DDR2 SDRAM.

But yes, this ThinkCentre A58 will suit your needs, though be sure to "shop around" and look at what is one the web and in sotres today!! Some makes, Dell, HP etc are better than Lenovo like pianowizard said!
good luck!

[comptechexpert]

Well thanks for that advice guys I think I will be getting the A58 because I do like the IBM/Lenovo desktops and also I am glad that you say it will suit my needs and I think I may be getting a second hand T42 in the future so in my mind that A58 and the second hand T42 would be a very good setup for my mainly programming and game developing needs?

[qviri]

Try and find a desktop with a Pentium 4 HT processor, you get over 3GHZ than the Core's 2.93GHZ. My HP DX2200 has one of these, and the DDR2 SDRAM.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. There is so much more to a processor than clock speed. A Core 2 Duo will run circles around a Pentium 4 at a similar clock speed. The design is several years newer and vastly different. It is also properly dual-core as opposed to just HT.

[comptechexpert]

Whoa, whoa, whoa. There is so much more to a processor than clock speed. A Core 2 Duo will run circles around a Pentium 4 at a similar clock speed. The design is several years newer and vastly different. It is also properly dual-core as opposed to just HT.

So I am guessing that it is an adequate machine? and what do you think about it being used in conjunction with a second hand T42?

[qviri]

So I am guessing that it is an adequate machine? and what do you think about it being used in conjunction with a second hand T42?

Nothing you're using is exceedingly demanding. Buy anything non-Atom on the market today, up the RAM depending on the amount of things you want to run simultaneously, take good care of your operating system, and you're set.

[A31]

I do like the IBM/Lenovo desktops

I like them too If it wasn't for the better specs of the HP, I would still be using the IBM ThinkCentre A50 that I have. I still have it, it's currently sitting next to my A31 setup!

take good care of your operating system, and you're set.

Couldn't agree more, and that is the fatal mistake that I have made hundreds of times before!

[comptechexpert]

Cool what do you use it for and does it meet your needs for it?

[A31]

what do you use it

I *used* if for what you want to use your A58 for, general program runniing and gaming etc.

does it meet your needs for it?

Did it meet my needs? Yes, I should say so with 2GB DDR1 RAM, Intel Pentium 4 (though not the HT I recommended), 1x 80GB HDD and 1x 400GB HDD and with the extra NVIDIA GeForce 6200 graphics card I added it was actually brilliant. Though becuase it only had (for some strange reason) 1 HDD caddy, I had to remove the floppy drive to install the 400GB drive, which is now in the HP.

Word of warning, it was hideously noisy however it is very heavy due to metal frameworking inside!! I never really got the full potential out of it though as I only ever installed x86 Windows on it. It wasn't until I was told that becuase it had a Pentium 4 I could run x64 Windows OS's, and by that time the HP had almost come to replace it!

If I can find a monitor and another power lead and a desktop workspace (already have mouse and keyboard handy!), I could set up another desktop with it! But as I don't actually have another desktop workspace, I cannot do it.

I am assuming that becuase this machine is fairly new, it is a SATA?? If so (I know it already has 320GB allready), but if you wanted to, you could install another large hard drive like I did.

[comptechexpert]

Cool thanks for that advice and what did you use to program your applications/games?

[pianowizard]

So I am guessing that it is an adequate machine?

I can't believe that after all these discussions in your threads, you are still so concerned about performance. Like all of us have been saying, your computation requirements are fairly low and virtually any laptop made since 2005 and any desktop made since 2003 would be powerful enough. In more specific terms, I would say 2GHz Pentium 4 and up, 1GB RAM and up (not all computers have so much RAM preinstalled but it's easy to upgrade it yourself), at least 5400rpm hard drive speed, and Windows XP.

I only ever installed x86 Windows on it. It wasn't until I was told that becuase it had a Pentium 4 I could run x64 Windows OS's

Actually, the vast majority of Pentium 4 processors could not run 64-bit Windows. If I remember correctly, the earliest P4 that could run 64-bit was 2.8GHz HT, and only some 2.8GHz HT processors could do x64. Both of my Dell GX280's have 2.8GHz HT but they don't support x64.

[comptechexpert]

OK thanks I was already aware of that but I wanted to know that even though it could do what I need I is a good machine.

[A31]

Actually, the vast majority of Pentium 4 processors could not run 64-bit Windows. If I remember correctly, the earliest P4 that could run 64-bit was 2.8GHz HT, and only some 2.8GHz HT processors could do x64. Both of my Dell GX280's have 2.8GHz HT but they don't support x64.

Yes, you are completely right, as I found out last night when I tried to install Win Vista x64 on a Pentium 4 computer and it wouldn't accept it, went for the x86 instead.

Comptechepxert, this computer is completely fine for all your needs as pianowizard as said, so now maybe think about actually buying it? 1GB RAM with XP will be fine for your needs. If you can get it with Windows 7, great, but be aware that the x86 version requires 1GB RAM and the x64 version requires 2GB RAM.

[comptechexpert]

OK thanks a lot great help!!!!

[comptechexpert]

I think I have changed my mind and decided to go with this HP machine instead because it has a lot better specs for a lower pricer.
What do you think?

[pianowizard]

I think I have changed my mind and decided to go with this HP machine instead

I still think that any new desktop would be overkill, since a used 5-year-old Pentium 4, Celeron D or Pentium D desktop that costs well under £100 would be powerful enough.

I just installed Windows 7 on my Dell Dimension 8200, which only has 2.0GHz Pentium 4, 1.25GB Rambus RAM, and a 7200rpm 200GB HDD, and it runs so smoothly. For £100, you can get a far better used desktop than this Dell.

If you insist on buying new, have you looked into Dell Business' Vostros? My lab bought two Vostro desktops in the past year and both were really solid, and very affordable.

[comptechexpert]

Thanks for the advice but I am not that keen on dell but I will have a look into it?

[A31]

If you are prepared to pay for a new desktop, go for the HP, as nearly always with HP's, the specs are better than the ThinkCentre's, but as pianowizard said, try looking for a second hand Pentium 4 PC on eBay or somehwere and get a good one for even less...

From my experience, I can recommend one of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HP-Compaq-DX2200- ... 2eaa9c5b29 and it comes with a monitor!! It is fairly expensive though. This DX2200 (I have one) has an 6-in-1 card reader, Vista Ultimate, a DVD-RW drive, 160GB Hard drive, 2GB DDR2 RAM and comes with monitor, mouse and keyboard with wireless!

I think this more than good enough for your needs and cheaer than the other HP that you found... and you can easily upgrade this machine to Win 7 x64 with no troubles as it has a Pentium 4 HT processor which supports x64, 160GB HDD which is more than big enough and 2GB DDR2 RAM which is FAST I can tell you!

[comptechexpert]

Thanks for the advice but I would quite like a new machine plus I have a monitor,I am fond of HP's and this one has really good specs?

[Vempele]

Whoa, whoa, whoa. There is so much more to a processor than clock speed. A Core 2 Duo will run circles around a Pentium 4 at a similar clock speed. The design is several years newer and vastly different. It is also properly dual-core as opposed to just HT.

If P4 is the diameter, a Core 2 Duo will run a bit more than one circle around it, clock for clock, in decently parallelizable tasks.

Now a Core 2 Quad, that would be multiple circles.

[A31]

I am fond of HP's and this one has really good specs?

The DX2200 or the one you want to buy?

I would quite like a new machine

That's fine but just remember that by buying second hand (like the DX2200 I found on eBay), you'll save yourself quite a bit of money.

So you are definitely not buying the A58 now, but you like the look of this HP...

Now a Core 2 Quad, that would be multiple circles.

Errrm... we have a PC with Windows 7 Pro x64, Quad processor and 4GB DDR2 RAM and it is actually runs about the same speed as my DX2200 with a Pentium 4 HT, Vista Ultimate x64 and 2GB DDR2 RAM.

[comptechexpert]

The DX2200 or the one you want to buy?

The one I want to buy.

So you are definitely not buying the A58 now, but you like the look of this HP...

Well I don't think I will but I just wanted to check on this forum.

Plus the machine has really good specs for that price and I want to keep the machine a long to for uni etc.

The usage for this machine is the same as the usage listed above.

[A31]

Ok then, well, good luck!!

[comptechexpert]

So do you think it is a good buy?

Congrats on becoming a junior member and getting your first feather!

[A31]

So do you think it is a good buy?

If you really want it (which i am sure you do!! ) - Go for it!! It's better than the A58 and it has good specs and will be very good for your needs... you'll have a great time with it!

Congrats on becoming a junior member and getting your first feather!

Thank you!!

[comptechexpert]

Thanks that is useful advice I think I will go ahead and get that one but if anybody has any other advice please tell me because I wont be getting it for a little while.

[comptechexpert]

I am also looking at optiplex's and other HP's.

[A31]

I am also looking at optiplex's and other HP's.

Give us the links to the PC's you're looking at and we'll see which is best...
So now maybe the HP may not be the one you'll end up with??

BUT, still look on eBay and see if you can find a decent one on there - you can still buy new & used PC's on eBay and usually a lot cheaper than anywhere else.

[comptechexpert]

OK thanks I will do that soon thanks.