Korean Job Discussion Forums

[VanIslander]

I want to get a computer to do... everything but playing computer games.

I want to use some powerful layout programs, run a full version of Photoshop, have extensive encyclopedias and other memory-heavy programs.

Plus watch DVD movies, digital camera, MP3 storage and use, scanning photos and negs, etc.

But I don't play computer games.

What's the best configuration of features I should look for when I buy a new computer?

I want to buy soon but when it comes to technology, I know squat.

[barrybrown]

I would recommend AMD Athlon 2500 XP (2.0 Ghz+)
Motherboard ASROCK
CD/Writer/DVD Combo (Watch DVD's only)
512 Ram
80 Hard Drive
64 Ram Nvidia Video Card w/TV out

Custom case by Albert (Expandable Tower Case with side see through plexi-panel and tricolored interior!)
Front Panel USB connections
Front Panel Audio connections

Software Windows XP Pro
Windows XP Pro Office
Adobe Photo Shop 7.0 (CS has a few limitations)
Norton System Works
Kazaa Lite
Ares
Partiton Magic
Adaware

Monitor 17 inch Flat Screen

Printer/Scanner/Copier Combo
HP PSC 1210-Small, and works great, and installs easily.

I suggest all new hardware...Why? The above system will run about 1 million Won...Take care of it and you can recoup at least 50% of your investment a year later!

[Giant]

Are you looking at buying new or used? I may have a used Pentium 4 system that will be perfect for you.

Pentium IV 1.6Ghz
756MB RAM
40GB 7200 RPM drive
LAN Card
Onboard sound

No screen though. But you can buy one used at Yongsan for cheap. A used 17" is less than W100,000. I would actually just be selling the tower case, you can buy new mouse, keyboard, speakers etc. since they are so cheap anyway.

You can just upgrade it to a CD-RW/DVD combo drive and it will do all you want.

As for getting the best specs for a new system, just make sure you get a good mainboard (I recommend ASUS or Intel made boards, the rest are not as good, Gigabyte if nothing else is available), and a fast CPU (I recommend AMD, get a XP 2800) and the most RAM you can afford. (minimum 512MB)

Well, let me know. I know this may be in the wrong thread, but if you are interested email me on [email protected]. You can make me an offer!!

[shawner88]

Why don't you check out Apple computers. Since you don't want to play games, you don't have to worry about not being able to get a game version for the mac. Sounds like your looking for a Mac, which will make everything easier for your needs.

Why don't you invest in a digital camera as well...I need pics of that place, come on man...do I really have to go all the way down there to get them?

[Thunndarr]

www.anandtech.com posts a weekly buyers guide for low, mid, and high range systems. It's a good place to get some ideas on what the best value per dollar is on a given computer component. Conveniently, it also includes realtime prices on each part. I'd definitely recommend reading up there before buying.

Now for some general tips...

Processor: STAY AWAY FROM CELERON! It's a bargain priced processor that looks ok because they can have high clock speeds, but it performs like crap. Stay away at all costs. AMD Duron is a much better budget processor, and Athlon and P4's and up are all solid performers.

Get at least 512 mb of ram, and preferably 1 gigabyte. Most of the basic configurations you'll see in Yongsan or TM don't include that much, so be sure you ask for an upgrade.

Try to get a decent video card. Since you won't play games, you can skimp A LITTLE, but you'll still want something decent. The big names are ATI and Nvidia. I prefer ATI at the moment. Try to get a card with 64 or preferably 128 megs of ram.

On to the hard drive...Obviously, you'll want a lot of space, so go for 80 gigs on up. More importantly is the speed of the hard drive. You'll want one that spins at 7,200 rpm, as opposed to 5,400 rpm. Slow hard drives can really affect the performance of your computer, so make sure you get a decent one.

Optional stuff: I currently have a DVD-RW on my computer and love it. The big bonus it has over CD-RW drives is that it allows you to store much more information on many fewer disks, a big plus in my book. In either case, get a DVD/CDRW drive so you can watch dvd's as well as burn CD's or get a DVD-RW for a little extra cash.

Other info: Any computer with USB ports will work fine with digital cameras or scanners, and pretty much any computer made within the last several years has 2 or more USB ports, so no worries there. Digital cameras and scanners should work fine with any new computer you can buy.

If you read up a bit, and shop around, you should be able to get a computer for under a million won that will run your programs for the next 2 to 3 years, which is about all you can really expect these days.

[jaebea]

Bandwidth, both memory and disk is the name of the game here.

Dual channel DDR, PC3200 is MINIMUM. Go for two 512 meg sticks. The more the better.

Disk read/write speeds are critical here too.

You want 7200 rpm drives, on separate IDE controllers. Best if you have Serial ATA on the motherboard, and have 120gig 7200rpm HD's running off them, as they have reduced CPU loads under activity, compared to their parallel IDE brothers.

So, best config is to have either an Athlon or P4 (up to you.. I'm leaning towards a 3.06GHz proc with Hyperthreading). If money is no object, get a n AMD64.. :) A good motherboard is the key here. It'll have two IDE channels, and perhaps a RAID 0,1 controller and SATA. RAID is worth the option for faster read/write speeds but could prove to give you headaches if one of the drives die. You'd have a drive on IDE1, then maybe a DVD combo on IDE2. Then put in another drive on the SATA controller.

You can get some highspeed IDE drives, faster than 7200. There are some crazy drives out that do insane speeds without needing to resort to SCSI, but they have a limited capacity per platter, and are really not that great in terms of bang for buck. But if you need performance over anything else, then it's great. :)

I'm staying sensible and not recommending SCSI as it's really for heavy duty workstation use and I think my current config is already on the wrong side of "sensible".. :)

Any decent graphics card will do, no need to go top of the range. An ATI Radeon 9600 will do fine. As long as you stick to your resolution for no games, it'll hold. That said, this card will be more than enough for those Warcraft3/Quake3 sessions should you feel the need.

This post is more directed at the other techy types here who can dissect my post and tell you whether or not they think it's a good idea.

But that's what I'd spec out for someone in your situation. :)

jae.