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North Spore Shop: North Spore Mushroom Grow Kits & Cultivation Supplies

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Stupid Computer Questions.
    #7818526 -

I will be purchasing a computer in the next few days, but I am almost completely clueless about computer technology.

I have been pricing computers for some time now, but I have a few basic questions that I am still not sure of.

1) Dual-Core Technology. How important is this to have? I understand that it is literally two processors, but does it effectively double the abilities of your computer? Or is this not a 100% gain in computing power? Do I *need* a dual-core computer, or will all programs and technologies in the foreseeable future work on a single-core computer?

2) Video-Graphics Cards. Would I be right in assuming that these could be easily upgraded in the future if I see the need? Is 256Mb going to run most applications?

3) Is it really as easy to add RAM as it seems? Can you just pop it right into place? Is there no soldering involved? And is 1Gb sufficient for most applications?

4) Does anyone have experience with the "e-machines" brand of computers? Are these in any way reliable computers? Are they absolute pieces of junk? They sure are cheap...

Thanks in advance, fellas.


--------------------
After one comes, through contact with it's administrators, no longer to cherish greatly the law as a remedy in abuses, then the bottle becomes a sovereign means of direct action.  If you cannot throw it at least you can always drink out of it.  - Ernest Hemingway

If it is life that you feel you are missing I can tell you where to find it.  In the law courts, in business, in government.  There is nothing occurring in the streets. Nothing but a dumbshow composed of the helpless and the impotent.    -Cormac MacCarthy

He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God.  - Aeschylus

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Re: Stupid Computer Questions. [Re: Madtowntripper]
    #7818551 -

1. Get a dual core processor. If you go with a single core, you may be outdated as soon as you finish your build. As far as effectiveness, it is not a 100% power gain, closer to 65-75%, that should change as more and more programs are written with parallel processes in mind.

2. Graphics cards are easy to upgrade, yes, but dont spend 100 on one now, and then 200 on one later, then you could have just bought one for 300. Also, the amount of memory isn't the only important spec, also the processor speed, pipelines, shaders, many others, read up on which to pick. I recommend nvidia, especially if you are thinking of running linux.

3. Yes, it is that easy to add, but go with 2gb, most of the time you can find good dual channel kits, with two 1gb sticks in it, should be all you will need for a while.

4. E-machines are cheap gateways. They are fine computers for basic use, but if you are a power user, you won't be satisfied. I would recommend building one yourself if you have the time, then you are guaranteed all good parts.

peace

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Re: Stupid Computer Questions. [Re: Madtowntripper]
    #7818675 -

All the answers supra gave were fine, however, one thing really matters in truly answering your questions...... what are you gonna use it for?

If you're just planning to browse, and send emails, i can find you a PC for 199$ that'll do the trick. Hell, my 5yr old build is still good for that.

Games, video editing, dvd converting/writing, graphic design, 3D design.......these thing all require you to focus on certain parts of your machine if you have a limited budget. Which brings up question 2; what is your budget?


--------------------
~Happy sailing~

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Re: Stupid Computer Questions. [Re: Madtowntripper]
    #7819049 -

Quote:
1) Dual-Core Technology. How important is this to have? I understand that it is literally two processors, but does it effectively double the abilities of your computer? Or is this not a 100% gain in computing power? Do I *need* a dual-core computer, or will all programs and technologies in the foreseeable future work on a single-core computer?


Welcome to the wonderful world of marketing hell. Core 2, core duo, dual core, dual processor, duo-wtf-is-all-this-ual... Don't worry about it. Whatever you buy on a new computer will be fine.

No you do not *need* it. Single core is still fine.
No you do not gain 100%. (You will gain anywhere from 0% to almost 100% depending upon the application.)

Quote:
2) Video-Graphics Cards. Would I be right in assuming that these could be easily upgraded in the future if I see the need? Is 256Mb going to run most applications?


Are you running Vista? If so, don't skimp out on a cheap video card. Vista has two big bottlenecks, and video is one of them. Get something that has at least 256MB on it, though you shouldn't need anything more. Be certain that the video card memory is dedicated video memory and not "shared" memory. (Shared memory uses the computer memory for video.)


Quote:
3) Is it really as easy to add RAM as it seems? Can you just pop it right into place? Is there no soldering involved? And is 1Gb sufficient for most applications?


Yes, it is easy. Hard part is getting the correct type to add. Usually, you have to remove the old memory to install the new. They will sell you a computer with 2-512MB sticks and call it a 1G computer. If you want to take it up to 2G, rather than adding a single 1G stick, you have to remove the 2-512MB and add 2 1-GB.

If you are running Vista I would highly recommend at least 2GB. If you are running XP, then 1GB is overkill.

Quote:
4) Does anyone have experience with the "e-machines" brand of computers? Are these in any way reliable computers? Are they absolute pieces of junk? They sure are cheap...


Junk. I avoid both gateway and e-machine computers. Gateway screwed me over back in the mid 90's and I still haven't ended my boycott. Besides, their computers are still junk; e-machines are the cheaper version of their junk.

I assume you aren't wanting a "gaming computer" but something to browse the web, send emails, or play with spreadsheets, etc. Pretty much any new computer you buy is going to be fine for these tasks. Just watch out for poor video cards with shared memory and less than 2GB system memory if planning on running Vista.

------

I got screwed by gateway on a large computer purchase back in the early/mid 90's. We spec'd out "High end workstation with SCSI hard drive, cdrom, and tape backup." Gateway won the quote and we purchased 30+ computers from them. What we got were 30+ machines with a scsi hard drive, an IDE cdrom, and a tape drive that ran off the floppy controller. So much for "high end workstation". The SCSI adjective was meant for all peripherals, not just the hard drive. None of the other vendors that quoted "misread" the quote. Needless to say, Dell has profited from Gateways "failure" as I have directed literally several million dollars in computer purchases away from Gateway over the last decade.


--------------------
Just another spore in the wind.

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Re: Stupid Computer Questions. [Re: Seuss]
    #7819327 -

The Pc I bought

Seriously for the price and what it comes with you can't beat it. You can add an lcd and printer for a grand total of $749.97. It comes with a keyboard and mouse. The speaker in the lcd sucks so plan on needed a set of speakers, although I picked up a set with a sub woofer at walmart for $20.


Sysytem Highlights

• AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 5600+
• 3GB of DDR2 memory
• LightScribe-enabled

• 400GB hard drive
• Burns DVDs and CDs
• 15-in-1 memory card slot



_----------------------------------------------------------------


Also when your looking at buying a computer and upgrading it, especially an emachines the ram spots are ussually filled on them. Therefore you'll probably have 2 slots with two sticks of 512 meaning if you want to upgrade to 2 gigs of ram you'll have to buy 2 gig sticks instead of one to upgrade.


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All of my posts are purely fictional and for hypothetical purposes.

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Re: Stupid Computer Questions. [Re: Montanahunter420]
    #7821175 -

Thanks all. You've all been helpful in your own ways.

I will be buying an E-Machines desktop tomorrow. That makes me nervous after what Seuss said, but I'm fresh out of school, dirt poor, and this is a pretty good deal.

At least, I think.

E-Machines 4000+ Desktop

-AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 dual-core processor 4000+

-1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 memory for multitasking power, expandable to 2GB

-Multiformat DVD±RW/CD-RW drive with double-layer support

-512KB + 512KB L2 cache memory for efficient system processing

-320GB Serial ATA II hard drive with 8MB cache (7200 rpm)

-NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE integrated graphics with an available PCI Express x16 expansion slot and up to 128MB shared memory

-Various and assorted bells/whistles.

With a 17" monitor for 450, give or take a few bucks.


--------------------
After one comes, through contact with it's administrators, no longer to cherish greatly the law as a remedy in abuses, then the bottle becomes a sovereign means of direct action.  If you cannot throw it at least you can always drink out of it.  - Ernest Hemingway

If it is life that you feel you are missing I can tell you where to find it.  In the law courts, in business, in government.  There is nothing occurring in the streets. Nothing but a dumbshow composed of the helpless and the impotent.    -Cormac MacCarthy

He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God.  - Aeschylus

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Re: Stupid Computer Questions. [Re: Madtowntripper]
    #7821303 -

that's a good deal

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Re: Stupid Computer Questions. [Re: Boom]
    #7822587 -

Quote:
-1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 memory for multitasking power, expandable to 2GB
-NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE integrated graphics with an available PCI Express x16 expansion slot and up to 128MB shared memory


Those two are going to kill Vista, making it almost unusable. If you are running XP, then no worries, but that isn't enough hardware to make Vista happy.

Vista happy = 2GB system memory and 256MB non-shared video memory.


--------------------
Just another spore in the wind.

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Re: Stupid Computer Questions. [Re: Seuss]
    #7822690 -

Yeah, but Vista is, what ~15% slower than XP! :what:


--------------------
Republican Values:

1) You can't get married to your spouse who is the same sex as you.
2) You can't have an abortion no matter how much you don't want a child.
3) You can't have a certain plant in your possession or you'll get locked up with a rapist and a murderer.

4) We need a smaller, less-intrusive government.

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Re: Stupid Computer Questions. [Re: Seuss]
    #7824012 -

Seuss said:
Quote:
-1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 memory for multitasking power, expandable to 2GB
-NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE integrated graphics with an available PCI Express x16 expansion slot and up to 128MB shared memory


Those two are going to kill Vista, making it almost unusable. If you are running XP, then no worries, but that isn't enough hardware to make Vista happy.

Vista happy = 2GB system memory and 256MB non-shared video memory.


Yeah, it comes with Vista installed but I have a copy of XP lying around my office somewhere...


--------------------
After one comes, through contact with it's administrators, no longer to cherish greatly the law as a remedy in abuses, then the bottle becomes a sovereign means of direct action.  If you cannot throw it at least you can always drink out of it.  - Ernest Hemingway

If it is life that you feel you are missing I can tell you where to find it.  In the law courts, in business, in government.  There is nothing occurring in the streets. Nothing but a dumbshow composed of the helpless and the impotent.    -Cormac MacCarthy

He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God.  - Aeschylus

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Re: Stupid Computer Questions. [Re: Madtowntripper]
    #7824842 -

If you're replacing the OS right away, make sure you don't boot it up with Vista and check "yes" to anything first. You might be able to get a rebate for not using Vista. You hear about this working for people from time to time.


--------------------
Supercollider? I just met her!

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Re: Stupid Computer Questions. [Re: supercollider]
    #7826417 -

Also, make certain that there are XP drivers for all the hardware in the new system. Microsoft is getting pretty clever at forcing people to "upgrade" by strong arming the hardware manufacturers.


--------------------
Just another spore in the wind.

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Re: Stupid Computer Questions. [Re: Madtowntripper]
    #7826521 -

Stay away from emachines. I
work at Geek Squad and 75% of the emachines that come in have bad motherboards or a dead power supply, sometimes both!

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Re: Stupid Computer Questions. [Re: Newbie]
    #7827433 -

Ugh.

I'm buying it from Best Buy, what about this $120 Geek Squad enhancement they're trying to sell me.

Is this actually worthwhile?


--------------------
After one comes, through contact with it's administrators, no longer to cherish greatly the law as a remedy in abuses, then the bottle becomes a sovereign means of direct action.  If you cannot throw it at least you can always drink out of it.  - Ernest Hemingway

If it is life that you feel you are missing I can tell you where to find it.  In the law courts, in business, in government.  There is nothing occurring in the streets. Nothing but a dumbshow composed of the helpless and the impotent.    -Cormac MacCarthy

He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God.  - Aeschylus

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Re: Stupid Computer Questions. [Re: Madtowntripper]
    #7828299 -

You could do all the shit yourself with a little know how, unless it comes with faulty hardware replacement...but 120 would easily cover a motherboard and power supply...plus a little extra

they mostly put spyware removal programs, set up your antivirus and firewalls. If you can install spybot s&d, avg free, and have a router, then you really don't need what they will do for you, they may even go into msconfig and remove some startup programs for you...if you put xp on it, check out tweakxp.com, they have a bunch of helpful hints to make it run better.

peace

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Re: Stupid Computer Questions. [Re: Madtowntripper]
    #7829835 -

Madtowntripper said:
Ugh.

I'm buying it from Best Buy, what about this $120 Geek Squad enhancement they're trying to sell me.

Is this actually worthwhile?


It does a bunch of tweaks to the system that makes it shutdown and startup faster, removes all the initial crap that's on it, updates, etc. You could really do it yourself, it's mainly for the yuppies that can afford to have people set up their PC's for them because they can't or don't feel like it.

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Re: Stupid Computer Questions. [Re: Newbie]
    #7831910 -

Yeah, I'm certainly that capable.

I can use software, I just am generally clueless about the hardware involved.

And I am, as mentioned earlier, poor.


--------------------
After one comes, through contact with it's administrators, no longer to cherish greatly the law as a remedy in abuses, then the bottle becomes a sovereign means of direct action.  If you cannot throw it at least you can always drink out of it.  - Ernest Hemingway

If it is life that you feel you are missing I can tell you where to find it.  In the law courts, in business, in government.  There is nothing occurring in the streets. Nothing but a dumbshow composed of the helpless and the impotent.    -Cormac MacCarthy

He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God.  - Aeschylus

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Re: Stupid Computer Questions. [Re: Madtowntripper]
    #7833198 -

You get what you pay for though with a pre-assembled PC. I'd hold off and save a little more, you'll be a lot happier in the long run.

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North Spore Shop: North Spore Mushroom Grow Kits & Cultivation Supplies

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