Need advice on new desktop

[matt819]

Need a new desktop. Previous two systems were locally built, but the company that built them has closed its retail unit to concentrate on corporate networking and such.

I hate buying computers. I'd love buying computers if I had 10 grand and could get exactly what I want. But I don't, so I can't. I know that something that costs under $1,000 isn't going to be suitable, but after that I know I'll just have to bite the bullet and buy something for more than I'd really like to spend.

Here's what I have:
Intel Core2 Quad CPU Q9400 @ 2.66 GHz
4 GB Ram
Windows 7 SP 1 64 bit
1 TB hard drive, about 65% full

Currently have 24" LG monitor - don't need to replace that at the moment. All other peripherals just fine.

No gaming. Business and personal - mainly business. Often have 6-10 programs open, include memory hogs QuickBooks and Photoshop Elements. Video streaming and graphics important. Don't care about size of box - full, mid, mini - doesn't matter as long as it has what I need. Nicer sound would be nice. I have decent enough speakers, and the sound is okay, and I don't really know what better sound sounds like, it just seems like a good idea. But that's secondary to being able to deal with everyday tasks quickly and with video processing (for streaming) and graphics (for the photoshop work).

Would prefer not to go with Dell, otherwise I don't think I care much about mfr.

Don't think I would like an all in one. Don't think I need or want touch screen.

Any advice welcome, of course.

[d_r]

1. if you consider linux

https://www.system76.com/desktops/model/ratp2

[matt819]

2. Nah

Too tied up with Windows. Alas. Used to be a Mac person about a zillion years ago, but can't stand it now. So Windows it is.

[PrestonLocke]

3. If you aren't gaming

I cannot imagine why this machine would not be fine. A quad core 9400 is hardly a slouch.

The only slowness you experience is from your HDD.

[hobbit709]

4. Add at least 4 more Gb RAM and transfer the OS and software to a SSD

Use the 1 Tb as a data drive only. And clean out the Temp folders, find out what all is loading at bootup, and tweak your settings a little. Computers don't slow down with age, they just get cluttered. As a rule I do a clean reinstall about every 2 years. you'd be surprised how much faster everything works then.

Windoze inherently clutters itself and needs periodic uncluttering.

[CountAllVotes]

5. Acer Veriton

I needed a new desktop and did not know what to get and did not want to put a lot of $$$ into it so I bought an Acer Veriton in 2008 with Windows XP Pro downgrade (from Vista) on it.

Said machine has been problem-free and the cost of it was about $400.00 best I remember.

If I were to buy a new desktop, I'd be looking at another Acer Veriton -- not a bad deal for a machine problem-free some 5 years later!

Best of luck!

[matt819]

6. Thanks.

Will take a look.

[CountAllVotes]

9. Forgot something

I bought it at tigerdirect.com -- would recommend them a lot!

Best of luck!!

[Left Coast2020]

7. Also check motherboard to see if there is another slot for another...

4 gigs of RAM which would give you 8. That would make system run realllllllll good.

[matt819]

8. I was told that wouldn't do any good on my system

Windows 7 64-bit. I have 4 gb ram and was told another 4gb would be superfluous. Is this a true fact?

[jtuck004]

10. No, not on the one you described. Win 7 would use it and your processor would likely work less.

Just an aside - I buy Core2Duo Lenovo laptops from ebay, $2-300, bring ram up to 8 gb, sometimes add a solid state drive and put a 500 gb in the second bay (I use mostly flash drives now, don't really write too many DVD's - and I can plug the old one in externally if I need it), and I run Linux Mint 15 with the XFCE desktop

BUT

I also run a piece of software called VirtualBox, and that lets me run Windows 7, or 8, or another Linux or two ALL on the same box at the same time.

It exists for Windows as well - so if you wanted to try Linux, it's relatively easily done. I prefer Linux as the main system, with Windows as I need it, but there is a little learning curve. (But Linux is available for a download, not $100 or $200, or $300 like Windows). VirtualBox is opensource, lets one run eval versions, so I can try a lot of different things. VirtualBox essentially creates another computer in a "box" on your desktop, with it's own network card, drive, etc, all in software.Can download it at virtualbox.org.

If you try it, be sure and back everything up first.

This machine happens to be an I5 with 8 gb, T520 I put $400 into (with the SSD) and I get so much open on it that I forget I had stuff there.

Anyway, Win 7 would be very happy to get another 4 GB.