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What are the best PC specifications? I'm planning to buy a new computer since mine is getting too slow.

Also, I want the best PC specs for an AVERAGE computer. I don't want a gaming PC, even though they are the kind of PCs with the highest PC specs.

Post a budget and we'll piece something together for you. $500? $1000? Also, are you in America? Also, are you comfortable building your own PC or were you looking for something from Dell or Gateway?

What LV said.

Basics:

You'll be wanting a core 2 processor (or equivalent) and mobo to support.
1-2 gigs ram xp, 3-4 vista.
Anything over integrated graphics, just so you at least have the option of doing a little 3d gaming if you want to.

This one.

Ampersand wrote:This one.

Holy crap.
Seconded.

Thirded.

That thing's a bloody steal.

What are you guys smoking? It has a mediocre processor and a completely shitty screen (that happens to be huge, meaning low pixel density).
The only 2 things that are nice about it is the HD space and RAM, but those are both cheap upgrades that you could do yourself.

Ignore that laptop, answer all of LV's questions.

2GHz dual core isn't shitty unless you're gaming.

smartalco wrote:What are you guys smoking? It has a mediocre processor and a completely shitty screen (that happens to be huge, meaning low pixel density).
The only 2 things that are nice about it is the HD space and RAM, but those are both cheap upgrades that you could do yourself.

Ignore that laptop, answer all of LV's questions.

I'd really like to see anyone build a better computer for less while having to upgrade both the RAM and the HDD.

15.4 is an average screensize, and from experience, TruBrite screens are actually really decent (Not sure where you're getting *shitty* from at all). The Core 2 Duo is a *fantastic* processor, and beyond the HD space and the RAM, you have sick speakers, amazing port structure, a great graphics card, a 5.5-hour battery life, A Wireless N card, and a fantastic webcam/microphone combo.

So you can't run Crysis on high settings on it. So it doesn't have bluetooth. By the by, kid doesn't want a gaming machine, he wants an average laptop. Ta-da. Thank you, Toshiba. You answer my prayers. For the price, that laptop is a buttfucking *steal*.

I have an Dell XPS m1530 with similar specs, and it's a fantastic laptop. Scores around the same benchmarks as the Toshiba linked above (very slightly less overall, slightly better 3D).

For reference: mine can play games like L4D, Half Life Episodes, Team Fortress 2, etc.. on mid/high with 60fps, so the Toshiba should be able to handle similar should you want to game in the future.

Mine has a T7250 2ghz, and it's the bottleneck for some things. For everyday processing it's wonderful, for certain CPU intensive applications (TF2, mainly) it struggles a little. I'll be upgrading it soon.

OP did ask for PC though, so if it's a desktop you're after, you might be able to beat these specs for the same price via newegg (definitely ebay if you don't mind second hand parts). Answer LVs questions and we'll see what we can offer.

Intel Core i7...wait, a mid range PC?

Dell Studio 15/17. Great value, geat stuff.

What do you want the computer to do?

Ampersand wrote:<stuff>

The 15.4" screen sucks because of its low res. My 3 year old 15" Powerbook has a res of 1440x900. I have used 15" laptops at that res, and I just find it ridiculous (although that may just be partly me, I have pretty damn good eyesight, therefore prefer ridiculously high pixel densities)

The Core 2 line of processors is a fantastic line, but this particular mobile part is about as low as the Core 2 line goes today.

They are laptop speakers, just because you can actually seen them doesn't mean they are going to be any good. Not sure what 'amazing port structure' is, but there are pretty standard ports on this laptop.

The graphics I will admit is pretty decent for a laptop this price. In my initial rundown of the specs, I was in desktop mode, which a 3650 would be pretty low spec'd for a $700 desktop.

The battery life isn't specified actually. You probably saw the 'above 5.5lbs' line right above battery life.

I'd like to point out that he didn't actually ask for a laptop at all, which is why I will once again say:

Answer all of LittleViking's questions, then I'll give you an answer.

smartalco wrote:

Ampersand wrote:<stuff>

The 15.4" screen sucks because of its low res. My 3 year old 15" Powerbook has a res of 1440x900. I have used 15" laptops at that res, and I just find it ridiculous (although that may just be partly me, I have pretty damn good eyesight, therefore prefer ridiculously high pixel densities)

The Core 2 line of processors is a fantastic line, but this particular mobile part is about as low as the Core 2 line goes today.

They are laptop speakers, just because you can actually seen them doesn't mean they are going to be any good. Not sure what 'amazing port structure' is, but there are pretty standard ports on this laptop.

The graphics I will admit is pretty decent for a laptop this price. In my initial rundown of the specs, I was in desktop mode, which a 3650 would be pretty low spec'd for a $700 desktop.

The battery life isn't specified actually. You probably saw the 'above 5.5lbs' line right above battery life.

I'd like to point out that he didn't actually ask for a laptop at all, which is why I will once again say:

Answer all of LittleViking's questions, then I'll give you an answer.

I've tested both the battery life and speakers, and they're both as listed above in my earlier post. Firewire, esata, HDMI, and Svideo ports along with 3 USB 2.0 ports is certainly at the high end of expandability on a laptop. I've never seen a single laptop with as many ports as this thing has. But you're right, until we get a response from the dude, kind of a moot point.

LittleViking wrote:Post a budget and we'll piece something together for you. $500? $1000? Also, are you in America? Also, are you comfortable building your own PC or were you looking for something from Dell or Gateway?

Fine, I'll answer the questions:
1. About the budget, it doesn't matter.
2. 3. I'm building my own PC.

Neil_Bryan wrote: 1. About the budget, it doesn't matter.
...
3. I'm building my own PC.

Go to Newegg and buy the most expensive things available.

Techno wrote:

Neil_Bryan wrote: 1. About the budget, it doesn't matter.
...
3. I'm building my own PC.

Go to Newegg and buy the most expensive things available.

I fail to see anything that could go wrong with this plan, and recommend it wholeheartedly.

scythe33 wrote:

Techno wrote:

Neil_Bryan wrote: 1. About the budget, it doesn't matter.
...
3. I'm building my own PC.

Go to Newegg and buy the most expensive things available.

I fail to see anything that could go wrong with this plan, and recommend it wholeheartedly.

Seconded. If you really have no worry at chucking a few grand at this thing, then you may as well go all out, gaming or not. If you still need advice on compatible parts, then let us know and we'll throw a few builds together for you.

If, however, you do have a more moderate budget, it would be very handy to know what it is specifically.

[quote=I]Fine, I'll answer the questions:
1. About the budget, it doesn't matter.[/quote]
Correction: I have a moderated budget. I can buy expensive ones but not the most.

Is an Intel Dual Core processor with 1GB DDR RAM an appropriate choice?

Neil_Bryan wrote:

I wrote:Fine, I'll answer the questions:
1. About the budget, it doesn't matter.

Correction: I have a moderated budget. I can buy expensive ones but not the most.

Is an Intel Dual Core processor with 1GB DDR RAM an appropriate choice?

What is the speed of the dual core? (ghz)
You'll be wanting at least 2 gigs of ddr2 ram (more if vista).

You really need to let us know exactly how much money you have to spend.

Right now, settling for anything less than 4 Gb of RAM is a no-no.

Techno wrote:Right now, settling for anything less than 4 Gb of RAM is a no-no.

Completely untrue. If he wants XP, and as he won't be gaming, 2gb would do just fine.

3-4 for vista, but 3 would be fine.

Saying that, ram is dirt cheap right now, so you may as well stock up as much as you can.

Techno wrote:Right now, settling for anything less than 4 Gb of RAM is a no-no.

I only recently upgraded my XP machine from 512 MB to a full gigabyte. Now, if I wanted to buy a new machine today, I'd definitely get 2 GB. But even a single gig of RAM would be passable as long as there's room for the user to upgrade if he or she wasn't happy.

Techno wrote:Right now, settling for anything less than 4 Gb of RAM is a no-no.

I'm on 1 Gb of RAM for Vista at the mo, and it works fine. If you don't want to be playing games that could pass as Pixar epics then you don't really need so much.