AboutBobbert Expertise General purchasing questions, in areas regarding price to performance ratios and future expansion, drawing from roughly a decade of experience and numerous unique situations for customers and myself, I'm willing to help you get the best computer for your money.
Experience I have been an enthuiast of PC's for many years, and can answer most questions about purchase of a new computer from personal knowledge or experience through other online Q&A services in advising on the same topic.
Question Hello,
I am interested in buying a new computer (not laptop) but I'm not sure what the most reliable brands are etc. I really want to suprise my son with a game but need to be able to add microsoft works etc, though I'm sure any PC can do that. So the listed details are the requirements for the pcComputer
100% DirectX 9.0 compatible computer
Operating Systems
Windows 98 SE, Millennium, 2000, and XP
CPU
Required: Intel PIII 933 MHz or AMD Athlon 900 MHz
Recommended: Intel P4 1.5 GHz or AMD Athlon XP 1500+
Graphics Card
Required: 32 MB 3D Graphics card with Hardware Transform and Lighting (T&L) Capability
Recommended: 64 MB 3D Graphics card with Vertex Shader and Pixel Shader (VS/PS) Capability
Monitor
1024x768 capable monitor required
Sound Card
Required: PCI, USB or Onboard Audio Device
CD-ROM
Required: Quad Speed CD-ROM drive
Input Device
Required: Keyboard and mouse
Connectivity Requirements
Required: 56K modem or faster Internet connection
DirectX
Microsoft DirectX 9.0 is included on this CD. NOTE: DirectX may require the "latest" updates for your operating system. This may also include the latest drivers for your particular motherboard, sound and video hardware.
Installation
Installation requires 2.0 GB of free hard drive space. It is recommended that you have at least an additional 500 MB of free space available after installing the game for the Windows swap/page file and additional patch downloads.
I have a screen and mouse/ keyboard etc already and I'm looking to spend no more than £500 is that unrealistic? What sites or actual PCs do you recommend.
Obviously this is the minimum, even a better computer is preferred :)
Many Many Thanks,
Sean
Answer The requirements you've listed look to be about 10-15 years behind the times, so I wouldn't worry at all about that software running on a new system. I would suggest Dell or HP, you can probably get at least free input devices, if not a free monitor (or massively discounted monitor) with a promotional deal. Basically "anything" modern in the desktop space will more than surpass those requirements, but for grins, why not grab something with a decent discrete graphics card.
Another thing I would suggest is OpenOffice.org, in place of MS Works, as you will gain more functionality, and not pay for it (open source software).
