Solved: Which processor best for my use and money?

[cybergrrl]

I want to buy my sister a new PC for Christmas but with all the different processors, I'm not sure what's best. She mainly uses the PC for the internet and some data processessing. The most resource intensive would be listening to music, watching youtube, and watching DVD movies. She has an old HP Pavillion a350n with a pentium 4 proc w/hypertreading. It's having problems running everything, lags on the keyboard, and can't run any youtubes without multiple stops.

I'd like to stay under $600-700 if possible and I'm looking at Gateway, Dell, and ASUS. NO HP!!! (the HD crashed and had major problems installing new one because of proprietary mb). Are these brands all about the same? I saw a Gateway AMD PenomIIx6 for $398 and a Dell Core i5 for $598. Both had 6GB ram. Don't need much HD so not concerned about the size of that.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

 

[fang508]

lol i have an old lappy with 512mb memory 1.5Ghz mobile pentium and crappy gfx that can play youtube fine lol.

But anyways, a good computer for DVD/HD viewing while having all the other capabilities, id go with a cheap Dual Core + Gfx.

 

[gberger]

I'd recommend going with the Dell. Try this one, a bit cheaper than the one you mention and has a 1gb Video card (not a very good one but more than adequate for what you are describing). You don't mention if you are looking for an included monitor.
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...=CJ&cid=24471&lid=566643&acd=10550055-600263-

 

[managed]

What about a laptop ?

 

[cybergrrl]

Sorry - she has a nice monitor, keyboard, and mouse along with home 802.11n network. I like your recommendation, gberger!

 

[cybergrrl]

Already has laptop AND macbook, managed!

 

[win2kpro]

I'd recommend a Dell over anything the Acer Group builds (Acer, Gateway, eMachines and Packard-Bell).

 

[crjdriver]

We use dells at work [must have at least 1000 of them] and they seem to work fine for basic stuff. I do not do IT where I work however most of the problems I see are printer issues and not related to the dell computers.

 

[fang508]

well you could buy this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Optipl...0414718335?pt=Desktop_PCs&hash=item53ea64297f

Add a gfx and I think its all set.but for normal youtube viewing the onboard video might work.