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Minimum performer for cheap computer

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I'm looking for a second computer for email, web surfing, paying bills, etc. I'm assuming I'll be getting Vista. Is there some performance threshold I'll want to get over just in terms of running Vista and other minor office apps? Will I shoot myself in the foot if I go too cheap? I'd like a slimline model such as the 530s model in the left hand column, a Celeron machine.

http://tinyurl.com/5l998v

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IMO the hurdle to jump at this price will be to get a system which will run (and comes with) Vista Home Premium. The ones that come with Vista Basic will not run the Aero 3D desktop that makes Vista pretty. These cheapo's are built with obsolete parts and I would avoid them.

Reply to Newf

OK, so what processor/system would be at that "hurdle" point then? thanks.

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Reply to jeffnc

Memory is most important with Vista. 2GB is absoultely minimum, 4GB recomendd.

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http://valid.canardpc.com/cache/banner/547515.png

Intel Xeon X3370 @3.6ghz Under Enzotech Extreme-X,EVGA GTX 285 SC, 4GB Mushkin Ascent eVCI @ 1066mhz, Gigabyte P45 UD3P
Reply to spathotan

cheapest motherboard with AMD chipset and onboard graphic, 2 gigs of cheap ddr2 ram and cheapest amd dual core available.

Reply to pat

jeffnc wrote :

OK, so what processor/system would be at that "hurdle" point then? thanks.

...a system which will run (and comes with) Vista Home Premium.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to Newf

Dual-core Intel or AMD, and at least 2GB of RAM. We have a 2-year old Dell C521 with a 2GHz Athlon X2, 2GB RAM, and Radeon X1300, and it runs Vista Home Premium very nicely.

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------------------------------ DFI nF4-DAGF
A64 3700+ @ 2.25GHz (11 x 205)
2GB G.Skill DDR400 @410
ASUS Radeon HD 2600XT 256MB
Reply to angry_ducky

angry_ducky wrote :

Dual-core Intel or AMD, and at least 2GB of RAM. We have a 2-year old Dell C521 with a 2GHz Athlon X2, 2GB RAM, and Radeon X1300, and it runs Vista Home Premium very nicely.

Yes it will. The NEW systems the OP is looking at are not even that powerful. Hence the hurdle of getting one that comes with Home Premium.
Dell won't sell you a box that can't run the OS they include with it.

Reply to Newf

Newf wrote :

...a system which will run (and comes with) Vista Home Premium.

You, sir, are a tough nut to crack. The minimum system I mentioned from Dell comes with Premium. Presumably it will run it, or presumably they wouldn't sell it with it installed.

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Reply to jeffnc

jeffnc wrote :

You, sir, are a tough nut to crack. The minimum system I mentioned from Dell comes with Premium. Presumably it will run it, or presumably they wouldn't sell it with it installed.

Sorry. Happy New Year.
All the activities you want to do can be done with a 6 year old Pentium4 2GHz system EXCEPT for running Vista Home Premium.
This is what we use at home running Windows XP to do the same tasks. Office apps take little power, even Macs can run them...
So unless you want to stream video or run games on it, just about anything will do.

Reply to Newf

Cheap Budget Performer :

Amd 5400+ Black - 66.00
4GB DDR2 - 39.99
500GB SATA HD - 79.99
9600GT - 89.99
Vista X64 - 99.99
Antec Nine Hundred - 109.99
500W Power Supply - 50.00

Grand Total 535.95

Message edited by PsychoSaysDie on 01-01-2009 at 10:42:31 PM

------------------------------ E8600 @ 5Ghz 1.475v
8GB DDR3 2000
Intel X25-M
XFX 5770 In X-Fire
Reply to PsychoSaysDie

Psycho: OP was looking at a prebuilt for office apps which total cost was 300.

Reply to TenaciousleyDead

That build is way overkill Psycho. Why would he need or want a 9600GT and a Antec 900 case? Not to mention you forgot a motherboard.

Message edited by spathotan on 01-01-2009 at 11:40:08 PM

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Intel Xeon X3370 @3.6ghz Under Enzotech Extreme-X,EVGA GTX 285 SC, 4GB Mushkin Ascent eVCI @ 1066mhz, Gigabyte P45 UD3P
Reply to spathotan

I have built my own computer before, but it's been awhile and I'm out of the loop and just to avoid hassles and get something quick. I do want the slimline case, as mentioned. I think I'll go with the Inspiron 530s, with Pentium dual-core E5200 (whatever that is!). With shipping and tax it comes to $495.

Reply to jeffnc

E5200 is a good chip.

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Intel Xeon X3370 @3.6ghz Under Enzotech Extreme-X,EVGA GTX 285 SC, 4GB Mushkin Ascent eVCI @ 1066mhz, Gigabyte P45 UD3P
Reply to spathotan

I wouldn't worry too much about the processor. My 3.0 ghz P4 handles vista ultimate no problem. I get a slight lag sometimes with Aero because I upgraded to the bare minimum gfx card at the time of the upgrade.

with 2 gb of ram -- the system seems a lot snappier than xp for the most part although I do get some long lags when back ground programs try to get updates --- like when acrobat reader or java wants to tell me there is an update available --- very sluggish. But I was impressed that my 5 year old hardware handled it well.

My other computer is a laptop with a T5500 core 2 duo and it flat out blows my other system away and it has integrated graphics.

anyway - I hope this helps a little.

Reply to bc4

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6883103188

Something like this is all you need.

Reply to runswindows95

You know, good find runs95. Thats not bad at all, perfect for the OP.

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Intel Xeon X3370 @3.6ghz Under Enzotech Extreme-X,EVGA GTX 285 SC, 4GB Mushkin Ascent eVCI @ 1066mhz, Gigabyte P45 UD3P
Reply to spathotan

+1 for this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6883103188

Just increase RAM to 4GB and you are set. You could go higher than that if you are willing to spend $50 for 2*2GB DDR2 800.

Message edited by Shadow703793 on 01-02-2009 at 01:06:46 AM

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http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2617/3815217176_0a5be7955d_o.gif

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3553/3818083596_1a772f7162_o.gif

Reply to Shadow703793

That does look pretty good. No slimline case (I have an issue with desktop space and it has to fit under a little 5" shelf space) but otherwise a real nice looking deal.

Reply to jeffnc

5 inches of space? Hmm... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6856167032 These things are great for basic useage (email, browsing) but its a barebone, dosent come with a harddrive, memory or CD drive, youll have to buy those. But anyways, check these out http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] toreType=1

Message edited by spathotan on 01-02-2009 at 01:13:58 AM

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Intel Xeon X3370 @3.6ghz Under Enzotech Extreme-X,EVGA GTX 285 SC, 4GB Mushkin Ascent eVCI @ 1066mhz, Gigabyte P45 UD3P
Reply to spathotan

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