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Originally posted by DragonBlazeI wouldn't get it, Celeron processers suck, plus it doesn't come with an operating system. You can get a much nicer computer for the same price. Last year, I got an AMD Atholon 64 3000+, 1 GB RAM, 80 gig HD, DVD burner, for a little under $450. I could easily get that same thing for $350 now. Anyway, if I were you, I'd either get an AMD Atholon or a Intel Pentium 4 procesor. If you get a bad processor, it'll make you're whole computer run bad. 512 RAM is decent, I wouldn't get anything lower than that. You would also probably want an operating system for your computer unless you have a spare windows XP sitting around somewhere, otherwise if you wait a little, you could get a windows vista operating system. I'd wait a little to get that though because it'll probably have a lot of bugs and stuff right away. You probably won't need a graghics card, so you could use integrated for a while. If you need to, you could always buy a cheaper gfx card, I bought a Radeon 9550 for $75 ($5 after gift certificates) and its worked great for all the games I play. Just remember, you could buy the cheapest piece of crap out there and suffer the concequences for the next two years until you have to get a new one, or you can get a nicer one (for a good price) and have it faithful to you for 6-10 years.And if you're really feeling ambitious, you could always buy computer parts from newegg.com and just build your own computer, you can get a good cheap computer if you do that.Edit: I should also mention that the computer there does not come with a monitor, speakers, or a key board. I don't know if you knew that or not.
Originally posted by OsmoseI promise you that building your own computer is not only pretty damn easy compared to all the stigma people give it, but well rewarding. I didn't think I knew crap about hardware, but even basic knowledge, like what RAM looks like and being able to tell the difference between a graphics slot and an expansion slot (different colors, usually, not to mention size and shape) were all I had when I built my system.Best bet? Find a friend who knows a bit more about computers than you and have them help you choose parts that will be compatible together. Once they arrive you'll be able to figure out where everything goes - the motherboard and case should both come with manuals, not to mention anything else you get retail.And yes, those systems are total crap. A quick google of the motherboard reveals at least 10 different motherboards (meaning you have no idea what you're actually getting), some of them without graphics card ports, meaning you'll be stuck with the crappy built-in one until you either get a new motherboard or buy a new computer.
Best bet? Find a friend who knows a bit more about computers than you and have them help you choose parts that will be compatible together. Once they arrive you'll be able to figure out where everything goes - the motherboard and case should both come with manuals, not to mention anything else you get retail.