compooter prices

[Rider90]

I was blown away today when I purchased a new computer, it's being custom built. I was never one for Name-Brand computers...

3.2 GhZ Intel Processor
120 GB Hard Drive + My Current 80 GB
1 GB RAM Memory
DVD/CDRW/CD Drives
256MB Graphics Card (Forgot which, was described as best out there?)

And a few other doo-dads I forgot due to me being distracted while he was telling me.

$850!!!

My current dinosaur...
600 Mhz Intel Processor
80 GB Hard Drive (Upgraded two years ago)
512 MB RAM Memory
DVD/CD/CDRW
16MB Graphics Card

And this one cost me $2,000 5 years ago!! Maybe 6, IIRC. I'm bringing my old hard drive to the new computer because there is without a doubt, with the work I do in my spare time, priceless and invaluable information stored on here over the years. Also keeping my flat screen and the sound is sent over my room stereo system. I am skeptical though...My dad has a 2.x GhZ Intel on his machine and my 600 Mhz Intel is faster at everything. I can't stand using his computer. But we'll see...

I'll miss this one, it's like a member of the family by now and I'm a nerd like that :cry:

[blackf0rk]

For an average computer user prices have come down quite a bit. But for a person that needs top of the line computer products, the prices haven't come down really - a whole lot.

For comparisson I have a

XPS Gen 3 - 3.6GHz
2.00 GB of RAM
150GB HD
DVD/CD
256MB Graphics Card
20" flat panel wide screen LCD monitor

There are different grades to these products. Mostly likely on the more inexpensive computer models the hard drive read speed is lower, your RAM's Mhz is lower and your graphics card is only 16MB - 32MB

[Wires]

I've noticed some sellers advertising the "256 bit" busswidth of their cards without mentioning its memory capacity - the consumer is lead to believe it is a 256MB card, when it may be 128 or less.

The most expensive part of my last machine was the memory, 2 GB of DDR2, PC-5600. (I think that's correct, don't flame me if my memory is wrong.)

The old rule was "the computer you want is 5000, but the one you can live with is 2000."

I think there are now more people in between those extremes - and the upper end is larger - my friend was looking at a quad CPU system that would have run 15-20 grand.

Nowdays, there is no simple rule, but you can live with a 800 dollar machine, but 2000, 3000 or up is always better.