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General discussion

Is this a good system?

May 4, 2005 1:36PM PDT

My friend is asking me if this is a good PC. She's thinking of getting a new desktop and was offered a pre-built PC by a local computer shop. Here are specifics:

CPU AMD Sempron? 2200+
Motherboard MSI KM4MV Snd / Video
Memory 128Mb DDR 266
Video Card 32Mb Dynamic Video
Harddrive 40Gb 7200 RPM
Video Monitor 15 inches LG Monitor
Casing Professional Case + Kyb + Mse
Optical Drive 52X CD ROM
Floppy Drive 1.44 FDD
Accessories AVR 500W

My friend will be using the computer mostly for documents but she has twelve year old son who would like to install games like Counterstrike and the Sims on it. Will the computer's specs handle it? Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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RE:
May 4, 2005 1:40PM PDT

If this costs $600, then the answers's no. You can get a better pc then this for $400.
Roger

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Re:
May 4, 2005 2:36PM PDT

She says it costs $300. Thanks for replying. Appreciate it. Happy

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Nay...
May 4, 2005 1:48PM PDT

I would consider this a low-end system, just a minium system. The video and ram should be better right off the bat and the 40gb is pretty low too, a bare minium again.
A beginners system if you like. Check this website for general pricing of the componets:

http://www.newegg.com

good luck -----Willy Happy

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Thanks
May 4, 2005 2:37PM PDT

Thanks! I'll pass it on to my friend.

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Problem is...
May 4, 2005 2:42PM PDT

if she has a 12 year old that wants to load a few basic games now, in 2-3 years she wil have a teenager that will be wanting to play the higher end games etc etc. OR getting into MP3 files (if they are not yet) OR getting into storing or sharing digital pictures (which both mp3 and pics suck up hard drive space)

Tough to say if this is a good deal since you did not note the price. BUT if it is anything over $200 or $250 I would seriously pass. even if it is around that amount I STILL might seriously pass. IN the long run she will spend more being frustrated with this pc, kind of low end I think, and not much of a savings if in 2 years she needs/wants to get a new one

While I know everyone does not have a $1500 budget, as the previous post said for $500-$650 you would be able to get a 10X's better pc (thoughts include Dell 3700 or emachines 6212. Nice thing about Dell is you could save $ by not getting ALL the latest things. May be able to get by with a 80gb hd (thought that is tight now a days) and may not need dvd drive etc. BUT emachines is great option to get a more than good pc now AND give flexibility to upgrade video and ram ethier now or 2-3 years later as 12 yr old interest grow.

Again, no need to go overboard, but may be worth the extra $100-$200 today for the extra years of use to come.

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Re: Good System
May 5, 2005 4:55AM PDT

Chip and others have made good post.

I have a 12 year old grandson who plays games on my computers and he would definitely be unhappy with the performance and capabilities of that computer.