| It's happened to all of us, I'm sure. You are surfing the | | | | next step up. Getting a Pentium 4 with hyperthreading, |
| net and maybe listening to music when all of a | | | | two 512MB RAM sticks, and a multimedia |
| sudden...you click the close button on the upper right | | | | management program would be ideal. Hyperthreading |
| corner and it freezes. Then you don't know if you | | | | is great for a lot of programs used at once which |
| should wait until it's done or bash the monitor with the | | | | always happens with music, movies, and pictures so |
| keyboard. Eventually, you get fed up and hit | | | | it's definitely something to think about. |
| "ctrl+alt+delete" only to get an error. Okay! That's it! I'm | | | | If you want a gaming computer, then you should get |
| turning it off! | | | | the third down from "top-of-the-line". Try a Athlon 64 |
| Amazing what cheap parts can do, isn't it? It can give | | | | 3000+ or 4000+, three to four 512MB RAM sticks, and |
| you an ulcer...that's for sure. So what's should you do? | | | | a GeForce 7800 GTX. That guarentees no errors, no |
| Follow the path to find your way to computer bliss. | | | | crashes, and awesome performance as well as giving |
| Rule #1: Never, ever buy the best parts. They charge | | | | you the most value for your money! |
| you way too much for a small performance boost. | | | | For a more thorough explaination, take a look at [ |
| Instead, use that saved money for something | | | | Rule #3: See through the lies and make an investment |
| computers always need...accessories like a printer, | | | | you'll be happy with. The $500 computers from Dell or |
| webcam, or external memory. | | | | Gateway are a great value, BUT they skimp on things |
| Rule #2: Know your needs. Getting parts that are way | | | | that multimedia and gaming computers need... the |
| more than you'll ever need isn't smart. It's a bad | | | | RAM, Video card, Sound Card, and even the |
| investment and getting parts that are not nearly as | | | | motherboard! I'd only recommend computers below |
| good as you need them to be is an even worse | | | | $700 if they are for office computers. |
| investment! | | | | Again, let me remind you that buying computer parts |
| If you need an office computer, basic components are | | | | doesn't have to be a pain. It's just common sense if |
| all you will need. I would recommend a Pentium 4 | | | | you follow the three rules. One...don't buy the absolute |
| processor, 512MB of RAM, and Windows XP: Office. | | | | best parts, two...don't buy parts you don't need, and |
| That is a solid foundation that will take care of all your | | | | three...make an investment you will be happy with. |
| needs. | | | | Now, if you want more advice and recommendations, |
| If you need a multimedia computer, I would get the | | | | check out the website on the bottom of this article. |