Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason1
Well thanks for the help. I'm not sure if we will do that or not, seems my Dad is kinda interested in a new Computer since we have been looking. Let me show you the 2 we are considering and see if you think one is the better deal...the 1st one is the one I posted earlier. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16883147085
The only real potential problem I see with this one down the road is that it only supports 4GB Ram, and is not upgradable. Therefore the 4 GB RAM it comes with is the most it will ever be.
The other one we are looking at: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dell+-+I...=1218183110027
This one is fairly similar I think, but the RAM is upgradable to potentially 8 GB. But it appears the processer might not be quite as fast? |
When comparing CPUs and comparing video cards, these are the only two links you need:
CPU Comparison Charts:
Benchmark Charts:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-phenom-ii-corei-i5,2647-7.html
EDIT: Better Hierarchy Chart:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...i5,2647-7.html
Videocard Comparison Charts:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...on,2646-7.html
The video card hierarchy chart is especially robust, as it includes a long history of older video cards in there.
The CPU chart is very helpful, but as CPUs go out of date they just drop them from the chart. For example, the Dell's CPU is E5400, but the closest comparison that I could find on the chart was the E8400, which won't be the same at all. So it's probably just been dropped off the bottom of the chart, and suffice it to say, it's way obsolete. The HP's Athlon X2 250, on the other hand, while near the bottom of the charts (and so relatively slower than the others), at least it's actually on the chart, compared to the E5400.
EDIT: I'm not keeping up with Tom's Hardware well enough! They do make CPU charts like the video card charts now. Take a look at the new link, which is much easier when comparing CPUs.
So, yeah, the Newegg HP should have a faster CPU. EDIT: So according to the new CPU chart I linked, the two are quite comparable. [/EDIT] Keep in mind, though, CPUs are upgradeable as well. As long as your computer has the right socket for one of the newer ones, you can just plop it right in. But that gets a little more complicated, as you may have to worry about the power supply being powerful enough, and you may have to reinstall Windows (though I'm not sure on that).
As for RAM, yes, IMO you are very right to keep in mind the expandability of the RAM to 8 GB (or more, if possible). Especially since both of these computers are 64-bit, so if you can't go past 4 GB you're really losing the main draw of going to 64-bit.
As for fixing the old one, might as well pay $20 to fix it and have two decent computers around.
Unless you already have a glut of them to use.