RE: [ProgSoc] buying hardware

[Vik <vik@nospam.progsoc.uts.edu.au>]

> > 1. Set a budget - even a Pentium II or III will do Cable/ADSL so you
> > shouldn't need to spend more than $500 if that's what you want. Keep on
> > eye out for second-hard stuff as well, but make sure you know what you
> > are getting and how it compares price-wise to brand-new gear.
>
> I think I'm aiming not to go above $2000.  But I will get a new one, in
> case it has to last 7 years as well :)

Is the computer for u or for ur parents? If the latter, get a mac. If u
got up to $2k, get a mac. It will be considerably less of a hassle in the
long run. plus they tend to keep their value much better than PCs.

> Yeah, I have very little knowledge on these sort of things.  What would
> you go for?  Any advice on the spec?

I just put one together on the weekend from bits from north rocks computer
market:

Celeron 1.7G - $130
motherboard (bottom-of-the-line ASUS I think) - $100
256 DDR RAM - $130
40Gig HD - $165
case + power supply - $50
CD burner - $100
keyboard - $15
good mouse - $30
ethernet card - $15 (better motherboard has this included)
total - add it up urself (no monitor included)

> I was under the impression that 512 was fairly standard, until I started
> looking around today, because 256 seems to be the only thing on offer for
> mid-range packages.  But ram has probably been the most limited factor in
> my current computer, so I don't want to scrimp in that department :)

why do u need that much RAM? 256 had been more than enough for all I've
needed to do (mainly development, bit of grfx etc). 512 would be nice, and
might save you a valuable second or two, and cost u an extra $100 or so.

vik

<http://www.progsoc.org/~vik>
PGP: <http://www.progsoc.org/~vik/pgp.txt>

"I think it would be a good idea." Ghandi, on Western Civilisation


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