Getting a new computer

[trappedslider]

When my mom gets her tax refund,we will be getting a new computer,however she will be chipping in 200$ and the rest is up to me,however due to my budget issues i can at the max put in roughly 300$

so right now my three top choices are the following computers:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/HP-BT529AA-ABA/14978548

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Acer-EL1352G-41w/15686810

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Acer-AX3400G-U4802/15686808

making my own is not an option either,nor is saving up more sicne its a one time offer only.

I plan to play WoW and counter strike srouce along with the half life series and have Itunes on the computer.

[altpersona]

games = ram + video card

avoid vista

xp is preferable, 7 is fine.  nix is actually preferable but thats another thread altogether...

after checking your links, i think the 400$ is the one to get, 4gb ram 3.1gb cpu.

have you checked craigslist?

[trappedslider]

This is what i'm currently using

Sony VAIO PCV-RS520
Pentium 4 3E GHz (Hyper-Threading), 512 MB RAM
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition
RAM: 512 MB
Harddrive:160 GB
Graphics and Display

Graphics Card: ATI Radeon 9200
Graphics RAM: 128 MB
Interface: AGP

[altpersona]

k, so, instead of buying new, check what your current ram limit is and video card slot situation is..

and just upgrade those.

[trappedslider]

k, so, instead of buying new, check what your current ram limit is and video card slot situation is..

and just upgrade those.

from my understanding i'd haveto get a new processor for a new graphics card...and the graphics card would be pricey cuz of the interface

[Shadeseraph]

Most modern graphic cards are PCIe only, and your motherboard has AGP slots, so if you want to upgrade your graphic card, it is almost assured you'll have to change your motherboard too, and that means that you'l have to change your processor.

The games and apps you want don't have high specifications, so you should be fine with a not so awesome computer. That said, all of them have crap-ass graphic cards, which is the most needed part in a game, so I'd suggest buying one of them (the second or the third) and then buying a decent graphic card for it.

Right now, a NVIDIA GT 9800 or a GT 220, or an ATI Radeon 2600 are pretty low cost and should give you enough to run those games without any problem with high quality settings.

[altpersona]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007709%20600007850&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&Order=PRICED&PageSize=100

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=VAIO%20PCV-RS500%20Series%20(2%20DIMM%20sockets)#

~150 bucks for a full make over.

i would also reset my registry back to factory to give it that 'new os' feel.

[Shadeseraph]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007709%20600007850&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&Order=PRICED&PageSize=100

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=VAIO%20PCV-RS500%20Series%20(2%20DIMM%20sockets)#

~150 bucks for a full make over.

i would also reset my registry back to factory to give it that 'new os' feel.

Oh, right, USA. You don't know how much I hate (envy) you.

[altpersona]

olla mi amigo, i dont recall spain having an embargo on japanese products.

[Shadeseraph]

olla mi amigo, i dont recall spain having an embargo on japanese products.

Nop, but they are pretty difficult to get, because most retailers don't sell them.