Re: cheap PC's
CPU speed is only important for CAD and gaming. Trust me I have a lot of experience. <br /><br />The memory, HDD and graphics card speeds are much more impoprtant since they are the bottlenecks in any system. Even today, the fastest memory bus is just 533Mhz - 75% slower than the average 2Ghz processor. So what do you think your processor is usually doing while it asking for data out of your DRAM or HDD? That's right, waiting...in machine code NOP (No Operation), NOP, NOP...<br /><br />Still don't believe me? Pop open the windows task monitor and watch what's happening. look at your CPU Usage .... 5% utilization is not uncommon.<br /><br />As for AMD - well you're getting a knock off plain and simple. AMD is a good company, have been playing with Intel knockoffs since the days of the 386. But it is till a knockoff. If I have a problem I don't want to wonder if it's the processor. I wouldn't buy and AMD - not worth it.<br /><br />As for parts on eBay. I love eBay and I am a Powerseller myself. I would NEVER buy any cicuit board or memory unless IT IS IN A 100% selaed anti-static package. Why? if you tough a cicuit board without a wrist strap you can damage the board and the failure may not show up for weeks or moths later, or worse, cause an inermitent failure that is next to impossible to debug.<br /><br />As for upgradeability. First, upgrading a Dell is no harder or propritary than a home built. They are the market for the components you are buying. Manufacturers of mainstream compoenents make them for Dell and then you, not the other way around. Second, upgrading today is unnecessary. That is yesterday's game. Today, you buy a system with enough memory, HDD space and fast graphics card right off the bat. That used to be diffiult to do becuase components were so expensive and changing so quickly - the SW was way ahead of the HW - that's no longer really the case with the possible exception of hardcore gaming.<br /><br />Next, you get 100% tested interoperability - no messing around. The thing works right out of the box and has been tested. And you know the drivers are going to be upgraded becuase Dell has no choice - as soon as a problem is spotted they have to adress it becuase they sold a million PCs like that or with that component. Not true in a home built.<br /><br />Lastly, anything happpens to anything in the 1st year (or you can even go longer) you get it fixed at home for free.<br /><br />How does all of these added features cost? Amost nothing esp if you are willing to keep your old monitor and keyboard, etc.<br /><br />JMHO based on 23 years in the industry
If I wanted to waste a grand or two I would just go gambling.