Need help deciding which PC to use?

[khoikn]

Currently, I am using my Dell Optiplex GX260 it has:
Intel Pentium 4 @ 2.40GHz
1GB of RAM
Windows XP Home SP3 w/ 40GB HDD.

The other computer is a Compaq Presario SR1910NX Media Center PC it has:
AMD Sempron 3200+ @ 1.80GHz
1.25GB of RAM
Vista Ultimate w/ 120GB HDD.

I'm not sure which one is stronger.
The Dell has a broken Disk Drive, and I almost filled it's HHD. Plus, it would be harder for me to upgrade the RAM.
The Compaq can only run Vista for some reason (which slows it down), something is weird about the sound card, and I am still trying to get my network adapter to work on it.

 

[Dystopia]

The dell is overall better, just buy a new drive. But TBH, neither of those computers are very good..

 

[jamesd1981]

why dont you put a new drive in the dell and sell both machines, and use the money from your sales to but second hand higher spec pc ?

 

[Drenlin]

^ That

Trying to run Vista with under 2 gigs doesn't work very well. I usually stayed under 1.25, but I was only running Avast and Firefox for the most part.

 

[khoikn]

Well obviously I know that both the PC's are pretty bad.
I'm trying not to buy anything expensive and use one of these machines for about another 2 years until my brother can give me his HP Touchsmart.
But I just need to have something to run Powerpoint, Word, and use the Internet.
I did see a pretty cheap Alienware for 125$ on CL.
How much do you think I can sell the Compaq for?

 

[Drenlin]

Actually, sell the Dell and upgrade the Compaq. The dell has socket 478, which had nearly nothing above a single core P4. The Compaq is Socket 939, which had dual-cores.

According to this, you should be able to upgrade it to a fairly respectable system:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...foCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=3184155

I figure if you eBay a dual-core, add some more RAM, and get a half-decent dedicated GPU, you'd be set for quite some time for just doing internet stuff.

edit:

RAM- $31
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134008

GPU- $20 (after $15 rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127436

CPU- $ 53 in this case. It's usually $60-$70, possibly plus shipping, for a 3800+ or 3600+.
http://cgi.ebay.com/AMD-Athlon-64-X...33QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCPUs?hash=item3a56b790ed

Totals to $104, which you should be able to get out of the Dell...or most of it at least. Depends on how well you can get it working. It may be a bit more for the CPU if that listing goes away...that's good for a socket 939 dual core.



edit: What's the specs on the Alienware?

 

[khoikn]

Actually, sell the Dell and upgrade the Compaq. The dell has socket 478, which had nearly nothing above a single core P4. The Compaq is Socket 939, which had dual-cores.

According to this, you should be able to upgrade it to a fairly respectable system:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...foCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=3184155

I figure if you eBay a dual-core, add some more RAM, and get a half-decent dedicated GPU, you'd be set for quite some time for just doing internet stuff.

edit:

RAM- $31
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134008

GPU- $20 (after $15 rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127436

CPU- $ 53 in this case. It's usually $60-$70, possibly plus shipping, for a 3800+ or 3600+.
http://cgi.ebay.com/AMD-Athlon-64-X...33QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCPUs?hash=item3a56b790ed

Totals to $104, which you should be able to get out of the Dell...or most of it at least. Depends on how well you can get it working. It may be a bit more for the CPU if that listing goes away...that's good for a socket 939 dual core.



edit: What's the specs on the Alienware?

To tell you the truth, I don't know if I can sell the Dell.
It's in pretty bad shape, the cover always comes out, scratches etc.
But the Compaq is in pristine condition, nothing wrong with the case at all.
Here are the specs for the Alienware I am looking at.
-Athlon x2 3200 on an ECS Motherboard
-2GB of DDR2
-Radeon x1850 PCI-E
-100GB HDD
-Soundblaster Audigy Card
-Area 51 Case from like 2004 I think.
125$ obo.
So basically it's in the price range of me fixing up the Compaq itself.
And it comes with just about everything that I would use on the Compaq.

Edit**
Or I can get a computer with:
Intel Quad Core 2 Q6700 2.66GHz CPU, Socket 775
- ATX Mid Tower Case
- GIGABYTE GA-G41M-ES2L Motherboard
- 2GB Corsair PC-6400 800MHz Dual Channel DDR2 Memory
- Maxtor 300GB SATA Hard Drive
- 52X LiteOn CD Rom
- 22X LG GH222NS40 SATA DVD Burner
- On Board Video Card
- Onboard Sound
- USB 2.0 ports
- Onboard 10/100MBps LAN
- Windows 7
For 275$