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Can anyone offer some minimum specs, recommended systems or even a recent article that will help?
Thanks.
[edited by: Buzliteyear at 2:24 pm (utc) on Aug. 3, 2007]
I would like to get a good system that will last a few years.
No chance. The PC industry has a six month redundancy built in.
Plebs like me are happy using old technology, but I guess that what ever you buy you will be lusting after something new in six months seduced by the advertising.
Matt
2GB of RAM is a must, especially for video editing and gaming. 4 is preferable.
Try to get a GeForce 7600 or better for the graphics card, preferably a BFG Tech model. These cards age well, come factory-overclocked, and are perfectly stable. I have a 6600 that still plays modern games at acceptable rates. If you're really into high-powered games, you might investigate SLI, but think long and hard before you do so--it might be worth simply spending the money on a single, more powerful card with the latest technologies.
For a processor, go for a 64-bit Core 2 Duo if possible. These have the best bang for your buck at the moment. If you can't find one of these, go with an AMD dual-core, as the lower-end Intel processors are relatively weak.
Try to find a Prudent Way power supply, preferably the 550 watt version unless you're going with an SLI setup--then get the next step up. I haven't used one of these myself, but I've heard they provide much more consistent power and will produce the actual wattage labeled on the box as opposed to cheaply-made power supplies that will die after a few minutes of producing the wattage they're "rated" for.
website design, video editing, surfing, and some gaming.
And for the screen/Monitor, considre 19" LCD Monitors might be a good idea for the video editing and to ensure neat graphics you might create.
[edited by: PCInk at 12:36 pm (utc) on Aug. 9, 2007]
