I need a new computer

[PaulConventionWV]

I thought I had posted this earlier, but apparently my computer is just that messed up. Anyway, I'm planning to buy a new computer on Black Friday tomorrow and was hoping I could get some suggestions for good quality PC's. I don't like Windows 8 operating system, but I understand that's what most of them use. I also don't want to use Chrome because I want to be able to save files offline.

My computer is about 7 years old and only has download speeds of about 13-15 Mbps and upload speeds of 2-3 Mbps, which is way subpar. I think it's just getting old. It's not the connection because I tested it on other computers in my house with the same cable and they did fine.

I would also like to get one that comes with Microsoft Office and is not too, too cheap. Just a good quality, inexpensive laptop.

Thanks and happy Thanksgiving!

[juleswin]

The next question is, what do you need out of a computer? i.e. do you game, video edit, program etc etc on it?

Also what do you mean by "only has download speeds of about 13-15 Mbps and upload speeds of 2-3 Mbps"? is that below the internet connection speed you are paying for from your isp?

This is probably too late to try this if you plan on doing your shopping tomorrow, but have you tried formatting your hard drive and reinstalling everything? sometimes that renews the vigor of an old computer

[presence]

I strongly suggest you BUILD and go w/ LINUX


I suggest AMD motherboard:

FM2+ if gaming is not that important
AM3+ if you're hardcore gamer

Hard Drive:

Samsung SSD

Chip:

3.5 GHz or better Quad core AMD

Ram:

8 GB unless you can justify more


Powersupply:

Amazon search "gold power supply"

Monitor:

plenty of bang for buck in an LG

Mouse and Keyboard:

Cheapo $20 Amazon Special



Install Ubuntu 14 and you're a happy camper

[PaulConventionWV]

The next question is, what do you need out of a computer? i.e. do you game, video edit, program etc etc on it?

Also what do you mean by "only has download speeds of about 13-15 Mbps and upload speeds of 2-3 Mbps"? is that below the internet connection speed you are paying for from your isp?

This is probably too late to try this if you plan on doing your shopping tomorrow, but have you tried formatting your hard drive and reinstalling everything? sometimes that renews the vigor of an old computer

I might do some video editing in the future, but besides that, just need space for Word files and using the internet.

And yes, the connection speed is way slower than normal. Like I said, other computers in my house on the same cable and everything go twice as fast.

[heavenlyboy34]

FWIW, Open Office does all the $#@! MS office does for no charge.

[PaulConventionWV]

I strongly suggest you BUILD and go w/ LINUX


I suggest AMD motherboard:

FM2+ if gaming is not that important
AM3+ if you're hardcore gamer

Hard Drive:

Samsung SSD

Chip:

3.5 GHz or better Quad core AMD

Ram:

8 GB unless you can justify more


Powersupply:

Amazon search "gold power supply"

Monitor:

plenty of bang for buck in an LG

Mouse and Keyboard:

Cheapo $20 Amazon Special



Install Ubuntu 14 and you're a happy camper

I'm not sure if I understood much of that lol.

I don't think I could build a computer for my life. I'm going overseas and I don't really have time to build.

[PaulConventionWV]

FWIW, Open Office does all the $#@! MS office does for no charge.

Where do you get that?

[presence]

I don't think I could build a computer for my life. I'm going overseas and I don't really have time to build.

You'd be surprised man... there really ain't much to it.

Buy a box, 4 screws mount the motherboard, 4 more screws mount the power supply.

Plug in the chip
Plug in the ram
Plug in the SSD drive

Download Ubuntu to a flash drive.

Boot to flash.

Install Ubuntu.




-------------------------

3 hours... much money saved, much better machine than you'll buy from the box store.

[invisible]

Where do you get that?

www.openoffice.org
Great freeware, for sure. Only disadvantage is that it's java-based, so it's a little slower than the microshaft product, and is a bit of a memory hog.

[presence]

Where do you get that?

Once you install Ubuntu, all software is free. You just click on "ubuntu software center" and get whatever free apps you want. Whatever you had on your old Microsoft box that you paid too much for... is emulated and free in linux.

[Natural Citizen]

I'm going overseas...

What did you ever decide upon? I remember that you had mentioned it a while back. Was it Japan?

[presence]

it's a little slower than the microshaft product, and is a bit of a memory hog.

Yeah but linux based stuff running on a new box is going to smoke microsoft stuff running on his old box.

[brandon]

Any laptop in the 300 to 500 dollar range will be fine, but the laptops in that price range arent built to last. You will probably get 2 or 3 years out of it before it starts fallins apart. Nothing wrong with that if its what you want... just be aware though

[invisible]

Yeah but linux based stuff running on a new box is going to smoke microsoft stuff running on his old box.

I would think it would be the same, since the what slows it down a little is it being java based, not the OS it's run on. (OpenOffice will run on both linux and windoze computers, for those that don't know - I know you know this presence, I'm mentioning it for the benefit of the OP) In my experience, it really makes no difference whether run on windoze or linux, all it means is a few seconds longer to first bring up and run the program, and a couple seconds lag time when saving a file, compared to the microshaft product.

[thoughtomator]

My computer is about 7 years old and only has download speeds of about 13-15 Mbps and upload speeds of 2-3 Mbps, which is way subpar. I think it's just getting old. It's not the connection because I tested it on other computers in my house with the same cable and they did fine.

This makes no sense at all. The only part of your computer that would affect network speed is the network card. Even 7 years ago 100Mbps network cards were common - it's possible you have a 10Mbps one but I doubt it. The age of your computer does not otherwise affect upload/download speed.

[juleswin]

I might do some video editing in the future, but besides that, just need space for Word files and using the internet.

And yes, the connection speed is way slower than normal. Like I said, other computers in my house on the same cable and everything go twice as fast.

From what you describe, it seems like you need just an ordinary computer. Personally, I go for sony computers. I would pick up some sony factory made computer and use it. I seriously doubt you could go wrong on this.

The question I would be asking since I would like to know the answer too is: do you go with intel processors or AMD?

[PaulConventionWV]

From what you describe, it seems like you need just an ordinary computer. Personally, I go for sony computers. I would pick up some sony factory made computer and use it. I seriously doubt you could go wrong on this.

The question I would be asking since I would like to know the answer too is: do you go with intel processors or AMD?

I don't even know...

but I almost forgot to mention I need to use Skype as well. I'm not sure if that really makes a difference, but there it is.

[PaulConventionWV]

You'd be surprised man... there really ain't much to it.

Buy a box, 4 screws mount the motherboard, 4 more screws mount the power supply.

Plug in the chip
Plug in the ram
Plug in the SSD drive

Download Ubuntu to a flash drive.

Boot to flash.

Install Ubuntu.




-------------------------

3 hours... much money saved, much better machine than you'll buy from the box store.

I must say it's tempting, but I really want to get this done quick and not spend too much time. Can you get all the components in the same place?

[PaulConventionWV]

What did you ever decide upon? I remember that you had mentioned it a while back. Was it Japan?

Nah, China. I might visit Japan, though.

[presence]

I don't even know...

Intel costs more. There is nothing you've said so far that tells me you need an Intel machine.

You need an "ordinary computer" like juleswin said.




You're after a desktop machine right?

[presence]

Can you get all the components in the same place?

For the best price you might need two vendors: amazon and newegg


Set a budget. I'll build you a shopping list.

[PaulConventionWV]

This makes no sense at all. The only part of your computer that would affect network speed is the network card. Even 7 years ago 100Mbps network cards were common - it's possible you have a 10Mbps one but I doubt it. The age of your computer does not otherwise affect upload/download speed.

Then what else could it be? I did an internet speed test and those are the results I got. My brother suggested the ethernet cable receptors could be worn out. I don't know, but the computer seems to be the problem.

[PaulConventionWV]

Intel costs more. There is nothing you've said so far that tells me you need an Intel machine.

You need an "ordinary computer" like juleswin said.




You're after a desktop machine right?

I pretty much only use my laptop as a desktop, but I prefer a laptop.

[PaulConventionWV]

For the best price you might need two vendors: amazon and newegg


Set a budget. I'll build you a shopping list.

$300?

[anaconda]

I almost went for one of these recently. There's many different configurations to choose from. Get a SSD hard drive.

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-D54250WY.../dp/B00F3F38O2

[tod evans]

Computers in todays world are consumables, if I were looking for a new one I'd find whatever was available locally with a good on the spot warranty.

[presence]

$300?

yikes that's tight.


can we reuse old monitor, keyboard, mouse, and hard drive?

[specsaregood]

yikes that's tight.
can we reuse old monitor, keyboard, mouse, and hard drive?

On a laptop?

Personally I'm not opposed to refurbished. I just got a decent refurbished HP with 17" screen for $350 on newegg.

[presence]

On a laptop?

I'm confused. WV do you want laptop or desktop?

[presence]

I'm confused. WV do you want laptop or desktop?

ok... I see you recently edited that post...


"I prefer a laptop"