My 5-year old Dell doesn't cut it anymore!

Hey guys, I'm looking for some help putting together a new computer as I haven't been following the hardware situation in years. Mods please move/delete this if necessary.



My grandfather bought me a Dell as a highschool graduation gift, but it's starting to go. Cuts out randomly, floppy drive doesn't work, and I can't play any new games or run Vista (not that I'd really want to...).

I started looking at wiping the harddrive and swapping in new components, but honestly, when it's this old I think I should just get a new CPU tower and save myself the hassle and risk of part-failure.

Here is what I have at the moment:

• Dimension 4500 Series Intel Pentium 4 Processor @ 1.8 GHz
• 2x128 MB DDR SDRAM
• CD-RW Drive
• HK-206 Speakers
• SB Live! 1024 Digital Sound Card
• 56k PCI Modem
• 16x DVD-Rom Drive
• Windows XP CD
• MS Office 2000, 2002
• Dell Back-up CDs for the DVD drives and speakers
• 17" Monitor. Not flat.
• 64MB GeForce4 MX Graphics w/ TV-Out
• 3.5" Floppy Drive (broken)
• 40 GB Harddrive
• 128 MB Harddrive (which I'd like to use to transfer files to the new comp)
• Keyboard, Optical Mouse
• HP 854C Deskjet Printer
• Canon N67OU Scanner
• $10 Chinese Webcam
• Shitty Wireless Gamepad

For the new system, I'm looking for something I can keep going another 3-5 years with occasional simple part-swapping. I'd like to be able to keep playing new games that long, and also use Vista if it becomes essential in the future. I multi-task like a bitch, and run my computer a lot so I need something reliable.

I was thinking I'd buy a new CPU tower with a DVD drive, and see if my Dell Windows XP CD, monitor, and speakers will take in it. Or should I bite the bullet and go Vista? (Might kill my scanner/printer). I'm happy to use my current monitor and peripherals until they die. Getting a new tower would also leave my old 40 GB Dell sitting around as a present or back-up.

What kind of memory and ram should I be shooting for? I want to get a DVD writer, should I jump on the blue-ray bandwagon or wait it out?

Money isn't that tight for me, so I'm not going to begrudge even a few hundered bucks if it's really worth it, but I don't want to overspend for overclock-bragging rights, or pass up on reusing components that I've already got.

Thanks a lot,

HU

Jam it back in, in the dark.

First of all: great advice everyone, thank you all immensely.

As for the price, since I'm bringing all the peripherals and a 128 GB hardrive, it better not go much over $1000. I was expecting around $400-700. If it gets too high I could just buy a console for my fun and run my existing computer into the ground.

Also, FYI, there's a good chance I may have to buy this computer in Canada, if I get moved there for my work. Not that that's really a problem, just means I can't use newegg?

Originally Posted by Omnislash124

Are you building your own or are you buying a brand name one?

I've never built my own before (just swapped/added components), so I was planning to get one prebuilt and avoid the learning curve and risk of DIY.

Originally Posted by Garret

3. Video card REALLY depends on what you want to do. The 8800 series are pretty solid, but I'm rather disgusted with Nvidia's drivers for Vista. ATI this round doesn't have too much that is interesting. Once again, Nvivdia should be coming around with a new Graphics Series in Novemeber. I know that you could always be waiting for next generation with computer stuff, but the 9000 series should have much better Dx10 support, and hopefully better Vista drivers. You could always get something really cheap until after xmas. But once again, all depends if you game or want video acceleration etc..
AGP isn't even a consideration, current gen chipsets won't support them.

5. Your dell windows XP cd will not work on a different computer. Vista shouldn't have too much of an issue with those printers, but some playing around might be required if they are very old *Too lazy to look those model numbers up*

3: Like I said, playing the latest games it the most graphic-intensive thing I should be doing on the home computer. I'm not making movies or CADD or anything. I have no problem waiting a few months if there's a big payoff, so maybe I'll wait for the 9000 and get Vista since my XP CD won't carry over.

5: The printer/scanner are probably 2001 models. HP says the printer passes, but according to Cannon.ca:

Quote:

ScanGear (scanner driver)
You can use the ScanGear for Windows XP as the one for Windows Vista 32 bit version. ScanGear does not support the Windows Vista 64 bit version.

But it sounds like I'd want to install 32 bit anyway.

And from a quick web search the scanner is giving people some problems.

There's nowhere I can't reach.