Need A Computer

[MarylandAG]

I will ask, because I know little to nothing about computers. I'd like to get a new desktop, the one I use now is very old, I don't know the specs completely, but off the top of my head, it has an AMD Athlon 600 MgHz chip, 10 or 20 Gig HD, I did increase the RAM, I think to something like 128, anyway, you get the picture it is pretty old. I'd like a newer, faster machine, I don't want a brand new machine, nor do I have to have the latest, fastest, etc. I'm a pretty practical guy and I just want a backup second computer. Most of what I do is visit the aggie boards, use Word, PowerPoint, and Excel quite a bit, especially workd and powerpoint. Also run some cad programs not autocad, just generic cheaper ones. I don't do any gaming, but perhaps if I had the right machine maybe I would. I'd just like something practical that I surf the net with, and do the things I listed above. So I have a few questions for those in the know:

1. What type system do you recommend?
2. Can I get it in the price range of $200-$300?
3. Where is the best place to get it? website? classified in the local paper? ebay? Dell refurbished? etc.

While I'm at it, I'd like a laptop, I have a government issued one, but I'd like one for me and Mrs. Md Ags personal use, basically the same for the same things as above, I'd like to be able to go wireless with the laptop, so we can use it when we go to Barnes and Nobles, etc.? So I have the same questions for the laptop? Again, I really don't have to have the latest, just something functional, newer than what I have, and practical. All information you can give me is much appreciated.

[jagowar]

First and foremost 300 will be a slight stretch for a complete system but you should be able to do it around there (depending on how much stuff you actually need, monitor, kb/mouse, etc). Put up a listing of what exactly you need and then we can get a better idea of what your going to need.

for just the computer hers what I would get (assuming you want to do it as cheaply as possible)

CPU: AMD 64 Sempron 2600+ (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819104249) $65
Motherboard: ASUS K8N (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131512) $72.00
Memory: Crucial 512 DDR RAM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146541) $50.00
Hard Drive: Western Digital 80 gig SATA Hard Drive (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822135106) $55.00
Video Card: eVGA Geforce FX5500 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130207) $53.00 - $10 Rebate
Case: Theres too many to choose from but you can get a case with atleast 300 watt PS for ~$50

Than any DVDroms/CDroms and such that you might need.

[Texas Aggie 07]

you can get a dell for 399. With 512 MB of RAM and a 2.4 Ghz processor