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Is this Compaq Desktop PC a good, basic computer? [INFO INSIDE]? - iiGOTCHA. <3 I'm looking for a computer that's not going to LAG, on games like second life :) and is capable with just normal use. Here are the features: Complete tasks quickly for home or school with dual-core processing and a LightScribe-enabled DVD burner AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 dual-core processor 4200+, 1GB DDR2 SDRAM, double-layer DVD±RW/CD-RW drive with LightScribe labeling, 160GB hard drive, NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE graphics and Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1 17" widescreen flat-panel LCD monitor with BrightView panel technology, ultrafast 8 ms response time, 500:1 contrast ratio and built-in speakers; tilt-and-swivel base, or wall-mountable (kit not included) HP Deskjet printer with 4800 x 1200 dpi color resolution and support for borderless 4" x 6" photos; Web Smart function for easy Internet printing Could you decode that and tell me what I'm really buying?

Best Answer: Well, yeah that would be a good computer for normal use...Usual computers have 80gb hard drives, but that one has double...so you'll have enough memory..You'll have a DVD burner so you can make your own movies and write them to disks....the dual core processor pretty much means you have to good processors in you computer...which means yeah you can run second life and stuff without lag...so if you have the money buy it...its a good normal computer - skate4adio69

The processor is alright, you need 2 GB of ram instead of just one with vista home premium for it to run smoothly. If you are going to do any gaming like you mention you will need a dedicated PCIe x16 graphics card like a 8600 or preferrably an 8800 GTS card. There are faster ones but since you did not mention games like crysis and COD4 the 8600 should be fine. The onboard graphics (GeForce 6150) is not for gaming at all, only normal uses like word processing, internet usage and such. More than likely if you purchase this computer and decide to upgrade the graphics card, you will also need to upgrade the power supply also. The 8600 and 8800 require a 400 watt power supply. So 1. double Ram 2. upgrade graphics card 3. upgrade power supply This will give you a very decent system. UPDATE: The 1GB DDR2 SDRAM, is what needs upgraded to 2GB, 1 GB is running about $30-40 now. If you aren't familiar with computer buy it from where you are looking to buy this system from and have them put it in for you. - Greg D

Well, it isn't the best, but it will work for basic stuff. The minimum amount of RAM required for Vista Home Premium is 1GB. I would recommend upgrading it to 2GB, since this computer has integrated graphics, and thus must share with the RAM. The 17" monitor seems kinda small by today's standards, and what makes it worse is that it's a widescreen, so you won't get the amount of viewing area if it weren't widescreen. The AMD processor is going to be cheaper than an Intel one, but will consume more electricity, be just a little slower, and produce more heat. Like most current Intel processors, the one in the system above has two cores, essentially just two processors on one chip. In my experience, HP and Compaq computers feel kinda cheaply made. - Brian

Its a decent processor, light on the RAM, really light with the Vista. You will want to add at least another gig of RAM. Disk drive will work for ya, plenty of hard drive space. Your graphics card is onboard, so it won't do anything special, like playing games. For a basic computer it will work for you. Upgrade the RAM and it will work better. If your going to game, you will need a new graphics card, PCI-E. - B L

yes it's really good. Basically you're buying something that won't lock up on you and will load stuff really fast. - punklovr182

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