I have three issues that I need resolved, but am rather clueless as to solving. I know that all three don't apply to this forum, but it is much easier to track having 1 thread, as opposed to 3.
First thing first, here is my computer specifications:
System: ASRock Dual-sata2 939, AMD A64 3200+, eVGA 7600GT CO, 2GB Corsair ValueSelect, 80GB WD Caviar, 380W 10+15A +12V Seasonic S-12
Now, for the problems. Don't feel the need to answer all three, any help is appreciated greatly on any problems.
1. I need some advice on purchasing a new computer. This is because my old, old computer, dating from 1999, is finally dying. It freezes running web pages, and Office, and is generally hated because of its unreliability. With this in mind, I decided that we should replace it with a cheap (450-600 dollar) machine that could run modern web pages and office applications without the fear of losing data or being annoyed by the constant need to reboot. However, I can't decide whether to build by own, just buy a store one, or get a computer shop to build for me.
I can see the pros and cons of each side. The self-built one allows me to choose every single part I want, and usually isn't burdened down by worthless trials of programs I won't buy. However, I have to buy the OS, which takes a huge chunk out of the budget, as well as shipping. Also, I have to worry about part failures and lack of stability myself, rather that relying on the company.
The store bought one, naturally, has the opposite pros and cons.
I think that the computer shop is just a waste of money, since they are essentially building it for you, and tacking on a price of labor that I could do myself. However, I wish to consider all the options.
Edit:
Another option is to wait for the 8600's to come out in March, and purchase another $1000-1200 system (the one I have was the same price a year ago, including monitor.) This would tide my family over for more time, I would think, than just buying a budget machine now. So would it better to buy the budget computer, build the budget computer, or build the mid-range computer?
What do you recommend, and if self-built, what parts?
2. Our DSL initial deal (the one they grab you with utilizing low price) is set to expire at the end of March. Off of it, we were paying 22 dollars a month for 1.5 Mbp/s. After the deal ends, the price for this speed raises to 27 dollars a month. However, for 37 a month, we can get 7 Mbp/s.
I wish to know the benefits of each speed comparing all factors, and essentially whether the extra 10 dollars is worth spending.
3. My nice computer, the one whose specs were mentioned above, is having some problems, compared to normal functioning. It starts with the computer boot-up. Once Windows passes from the blue welcome screen, and begins loading the desktop, it freezes. Nothing is responsive except the mouse movement, the desktop icons don't load properly and where the start bar (whatever the bar along the bottom with the start button, shortcut buttons, and system tray is called) should be displaying, there is blue.
See picture: (note: The black is for privacy, not part of the screen display)
http://img472.imageshack.us/img472/7980/img0489jw4.jpg
After about a minute of waiting, the blue leaves, and the system resumes normal start-up. This takes another minute to load the tray, and for the system to function properly.
The problem with this is that the system used to waste a minute doing this. This includes splash screen and load tray. The blue never existed and the tray loaded much faster.
Simultaneously, weird happenings with Window Explorer began. Many of you are aware that the desktop sometimes refreshes itself. Half the time it does this on my computer, it will freeze with no response except for the mouse movement. Crtl+Alt+Dlt doesn't work, unlike in most freezes. It is, in fact quite similar to the startup, including the time of waiting. A fair assumption can be made that the problems are related. however, I have no idea what may be causing them, and obviously no idea how to fix it.
Magically around this time, Battlefield 2, my game of choice for measuring the functioning of my computer began acting up. When I reinstalled it, I noticed that the performance wasn't the same. I was getting lag where I hadn't before, even with the same video settings, and the load times for the maps increased (you know how the bar hangs at 62% When I upgraded my RAM from 1 GB-2 GB, the hang there ceased. Now, though, it has returned.) Problem with server connections and crashing also resurfaced, ones that had been banished from my computer with the upgrade to 2 GB.
Anyway, I have absolutely no idea what is wrong, why it happened and how to fix it. Any advice, or any help, would be greatly appreciated.
First thing first, here is my computer specifications:
System: ASRock Dual-sata2 939, AMD A64 3200+, eVGA 7600GT CO, 2GB Corsair ValueSelect, 80GB WD Caviar, 380W 10+15A +12V Seasonic S-12
Now, for the problems. Don't feel the need to answer all three, any help is appreciated greatly on any problems.
1. I need some advice on purchasing a new computer. This is because my old, old computer, dating from 1999, is finally dying. It freezes running web pages, and Office, and is generally hated because of its unreliability. With this in mind, I decided that we should replace it with a cheap (450-600 dollar) machine that could run modern web pages and office applications without the fear of losing data or being annoyed by the constant need to reboot. However, I can't decide whether to build by own, just buy a store one, or get a computer shop to build for me.
I can see the pros and cons of each side. The self-built one allows me to choose every single part I want, and usually isn't burdened down by worthless trials of programs I won't buy. However, I have to buy the OS, which takes a huge chunk out of the budget, as well as shipping. Also, I have to worry about part failures and lack of stability myself, rather that relying on the company.
The store bought one, naturally, has the opposite pros and cons.
I think that the computer shop is just a waste of money, since they are essentially building it for you, and tacking on a price of labor that I could do myself. However, I wish to consider all the options.
Edit:
Another option is to wait for the 8600's to come out in March, and purchase another $1000-1200 system (the one I have was the same price a year ago, including monitor.) This would tide my family over for more time, I would think, than just buying a budget machine now. So would it better to buy the budget computer, build the budget computer, or build the mid-range computer?
What do you recommend, and if self-built, what parts?
2. Our DSL initial deal (the one they grab you with utilizing low price) is set to expire at the end of March. Off of it, we were paying 22 dollars a month for 1.5 Mbp/s. After the deal ends, the price for this speed raises to 27 dollars a month. However, for 37 a month, we can get 7 Mbp/s.
I wish to know the benefits of each speed comparing all factors, and essentially whether the extra 10 dollars is worth spending.
3. My nice computer, the one whose specs were mentioned above, is having some problems, compared to normal functioning. It starts with the computer boot-up. Once Windows passes from the blue welcome screen, and begins loading the desktop, it freezes. Nothing is responsive except the mouse movement, the desktop icons don't load properly and where the start bar (whatever the bar along the bottom with the start button, shortcut buttons, and system tray is called) should be displaying, there is blue.
See picture: (note: The black is for privacy, not part of the screen display)
http://img472.imageshack.us/img472/7980/img0489jw4.jpg
After about a minute of waiting, the blue leaves, and the system resumes normal start-up. This takes another minute to load the tray, and for the system to function properly.
The problem with this is that the system used to waste a minute doing this. This includes splash screen and load tray. The blue never existed and the tray loaded much faster.
Simultaneously, weird happenings with Window Explorer began. Many of you are aware that the desktop sometimes refreshes itself. Half the time it does this on my computer, it will freeze with no response except for the mouse movement. Crtl+Alt+Dlt doesn't work, unlike in most freezes. It is, in fact quite similar to the startup, including the time of waiting. A fair assumption can be made that the problems are related. however, I have no idea what may be causing them, and obviously no idea how to fix it.
Magically around this time, Battlefield 2, my game of choice for measuring the functioning of my computer began acting up. When I reinstalled it, I noticed that the performance wasn't the same. I was getting lag where I hadn't before, even with the same video settings, and the load times for the maps increased (you know how the bar hangs at 62% When I upgraded my RAM from 1 GB-2 GB, the hang there ceased. Now, though, it has returned.) Problem with server connections and crashing also resurfaced, ones that had been banished from my computer with the upgrade to 2 GB.
Anyway, I have absolutely no idea what is wrong, why it happened and how to fix it. Any advice, or any help, would be greatly appreciated.
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