I need a new computer

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rightisright
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I need a new computer

Post by rightisright »

So, my Win XP machine is really starting to act up. I loathe having to transfer programs and files, so I have been putting off an upgrade... but it's time.

First off, I am not a power-user. Aside from the occasional crossword or other web based game, I do absolutely no power gaming. I also do not do heavy video editing. Some stuff for business here and there, but nothing too taxing. All of my CAD work is 2D (I have an engineer if I need AutoCAD stuff done). I do use a 3D program for outside landscape, hardscape, deck and pool designs. This one: http://www.ideaspectrum.com/arch_sysreq.php It actually works, albeit sometimes slowly, on my current box.

So I am looking for something that will power me through the next 4-5 years. Costco has a Lenovo H50-50 on sale for $650 w. the following specs:

Win10 Home 64
i7-4790 CPU
12GB DDR3
1 TB 7200 HD
GeForce GT730 2GB
Optical Drive
WiFi
Bluetooth
7 in 1 card reader


Erm, after typing all that, Costco.com has a linky: http://www.costco.com/Lenovo-H50-Deskto ... 30172.html

It comes w. Costco's great return policy and tech support. Yes, I could build my own, but at this price would it really be worth it?
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Jered
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Re: I need a new computer

Post by Jered »

How much do you value quicker load times?

I built a computer, and I use it for gaming, so, I put in an SSD, which makes things a lot faster.

If you can do everything fine on your current box, that one should do you just fine.
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BobbyK
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Re: I need a new computer

Post by BobbyK »

That's a decent value, and I concur that it'd be well worth swapping the drive for an SSD. 1TB units are running right aroudn $300 now, and 512 GBs far cheaper.
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g-man
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Re: I need a new computer

Post by g-man »

Just upgraded my laptop to an SSD... TOTALLY worth it. Caught at 512TB drive on sale on Amazon for $110, I think it's $159 now, which still isn't bad. I would NOT buy a Lenovo laptop since they are now produced by the Chinese, and have been repeatedly found to have malware installed from the factory, if not backdoors built in as well. The ASUS X751LX on Costco's website appears to meet similar specs, and is only a bit more expensive. As far as RAM goes, I went from 8GB to 16GB recently since I do a lot of astrophotography processing, and only noticed a pickup when I was doing heavy lifting in Photoshop or other heavy lifting. The SSD was a FAR better bang for the buck than the RAM increase, at least if you're already running 8GB. Just my $.02.
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Greg
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Re: I need a new computer

Post by Greg »

+1 on the SSD.

My PC is 2009 tech and still runs great. One big thing I did was switch to an SSD.

For the RAM, it depends on what you're doing. My wife and I don't do much that's CPU intensive, but we both tend to stay logged in (Linux box, we can do that) and keep browser tabs open for future reference. A LOT of browser tabs.

I have an ancient CPU but 16GB of RAM, and sometimes I wish for more.

Odds are, if you don't do anything like that 8GB should keep you happy. Having 'extra' RAM doesn't get you much, but not having enough is a killer.
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mekender
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Re: I need a new computer

Post by mekender »

If I may make a suggestion...

http://www.amazon.com/ThinkServer-70A40 ... 00FJF4T76/

Or:

http://www.amazon.com/ThinkServer-TS140 ... 017RJ2HIY/

FAR more RAM and HDD space than you will likely use and plenty powerful. I got the Xeon version as a server for my home office 2 years ago and love it... Sucker is quiet too.

The first one has no OS but a bigger HDD and more RAM... The second has an OS but less RAM and a smaller HDD but comes with a keyboard and mouse.

The Xeon version is a tad more and usually comes without a HDD, but that is easy enough to fix.

This is the slightly higher up model from the one I have with the Xeon in it...

http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-ThinkServe ... 00HEK9A8M/

Only 4gb of ram and no OS but at that price, it is well worth it IMO... Slap in 8gb of ram or more and an OS and you have a beast that is more powerful than almost any PC in your local stores. In fact, if that price stays that low, I will be getting one of them to have as a second server in my house this spring.
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g-man
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Re: I need a new computer

Post by g-man »

Again, see previous comment about Lenovo hardware being wholly owned by the ChiComs and having been caught with spyware already: I would recommend against that brand.
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mekender
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Re: I need a new computer

Post by mekender »

There is zero chance that their server line has such things, unless you think the third (or maybe 4th) largest seller of servers in the world could do it and not get caught... And besides, two of the machines I linked have no OS and the one that does had it installed by the reseller.

But any consumer OS load from any vendor is going to have some level of bloatware or spyware on it... That is SOP for the industry.
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JustinR
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Re: I need a new computer

Post by JustinR »

Just a fair warning, all of your XP programs may not install/run on Windows 10. It can be a PITA.
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mekender
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Re: I need a new computer

Post by mekender »

Greg wrote:I have an ancient CPU but 16GB of RAM, and sometimes I wish for more.

Odds are, if you don't do anything like that 8GB should keep you happy. Having 'extra' RAM doesn't get you much, but not having enough is a killer.

For 99.99% of computer users 16GB is more than enough... No game on the market today will utilize that much... About the only things that will are heavily involved video rendering and 3D modeling programs outside of server applications.
“I no longer need to run as a Presidential Candidate for the Socialist Party. The Democrat Party has adopted our platform.” - Norman Thomas, a six time candidate for president for the Socialist Party, 1944
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