Is this PC worth buying?

I've been saving up money for a new desktop PC, and this one looks like it might be the best for the price (309 USD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883241031

It got good reviews on the site, and all I need it for is some web surfing, school/work, and some moderate gaming

 

i wouldn't get it...it's got slow RAM (DDR2), it's got an on-board graphics card, which is good for no gaming at all, and the operating system is crap >.>

EDIT: i found one that may be of use for moderate gaming, and is like 100% better...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883114085

it's about $70 more though..

and i dunno your price range, but if not building one, this one seems best for ya..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883229199

it's got stats for moderate gaming, fast speeds cuz of RAM/CPU which will make web surfing and school/homework easier...the only downfall i see (which is an opinion) is it has an intel processor.

 

The DDR2 RAM slot can go like 1066MHZ but the one that comes with this PC is probabily 667MHZ or 800MHZ.
The processor has 2 cores only, which today isn't enought for gaming.
Avoid DDR2 since you gonna buy a new one, like get a DDR3.
There's only the Onboard GPU, you can buy one later.
Post how many is thew maximum you can spend in the computer.
And, is it for gaming or just personal use?
If is just for personal use, no gaming, go for it, but if you pretend to play some games, I suggest to not go in it.

 

The DDR2 isn't really a big concern for me, and I have a video card to upgrade with. I plan on using it mostly for work and school stuff

The most gaming I would do is probably just games like Call of Duty Modern Warfare, or Borderlands... Both of which I can easily run on my current PC.

300-350 USD is currently my maximum price range

 

Depending on the GPU you gonna put there, you gonna need a more powerful voltage source, I mean, those that comes are the "generics", you gonna need one with reak voltages, CORSAIR provides it real good.
Which GPU you gonna put there?


And if you gonna use for more work, it's ok, if you don't care much about runing games on VERY HIGH quality, then go for it.

 

This comps perfect for casual gaming. Unless you plan to play Mass Effect 2 on highest settings then the ZT Element with a cheap video card upgrade would be able to easily handle any game released from at least mid 09 and before.

If you plan to get a vid card i would recommend a Radeon HD 3450. Im sure that their are other cards that outpreform this in that price range (The 4xx0 and 5xx0 entry models) but thats the only off market card i've used and its served me well since i bought it.

Sides... no real use in getting the best thats avaliable. It'll just be outdated in a month anyway.

 

The GPU I intend to use for now is an Nvidia 8400GS, so the PSU included with the PC should be good enough, since I run this GPU with a 250watt. I will eventually get a new PSU and videocard though

 

I would not buy this PC

why?


I use in this PC a AMD Athlon X2 255 (3.1 GHZ)
and I've got a ASUS M4A78L-M Motherboard which has a
socket of AM2+ and my CPU is AM3 (it fits)

On this board I've got 2 DDR2 slots
The funny part is because I use a AM3 CPU
I can use the new DDR2 1200MHZ memory to
have the same result as DDR3

So in other words DDR2 can be fast but you need the right setup:

AM2+ socket supports AM3 and only then you can use DDR2 1200 MHZ
or higher

Then there is a videocard you're planning to use a 8400 GS
It will play games but for games a Assassins Greed 2 and
Fifa 2010 you'll need a 9 series card or a GTX series card
to have those games run smooth.

With my setup I can play Assassins greed 2, Mafia 2, Fifa 2010, Mass Effect 2,
smoothly and some of them on the highest settings.

Here are my specs and
then look at the add you gave us

AMD Atlon X2 255 (3.1GHZ per Core)
PNY Nvidia Geforce 9400 GT (512 MB pixelshader 3.0)
2 SATA HDD 1 with 160 GB and 1 with 250 GB
SATA DVD Re-writer 22x
2 x 1GB DDR 2 667 MHZ

I bought my CPU and motherboard together for only €169
The rest I still had from my old PC,

With this PC I can play every game I encounter.

I'm only planning to upgrade my Video card to a GTX series

I hope this helps you clear things up and helps you decide

good luck with it.

 

even though I will only be doing light/casual gaming I don't really need an awesome card

But, I do plan on buying this card eventually
http://www.compusa.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4035118&CatId=1558

 

I'd recommend the Radeon 3450 over the 8400gs either way. Especially the ASUS Passive Cooling version.

Anyway i'd recommend one of these over the 9500.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814134089
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102843

 

Now I think I might go for the Radeon HD4650

 

Thanks for clearing that for me LoonyLion I didn't know
all that but since you do can you answer I question for me

The manual of my motherboards says :

DDR2 1200 is only suported when using a AM3 CPU
on this motherboards socket AM2+
since the socket of my is AMD Athlon X2 255 is AM3

It does not support any higher as 1066 MHZ if it is DDR2?

I'm a bit confused now can you explain a bit more

thanks

 

If someone has a budget of £200/$300 it aint gonna get you much quality hardware or speed.But you can get one without an OS and get slightly better spec....

 

Thank you loonylion for the info

I understand now.

 

So would either of these be better?
http://www.compusa.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6076512&Sku=SYX-5005
http://www.compusa.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5651067&Sku=SYX-5003

 

The 2nd one looks OK,considering your budget.But you need to know how to install an operating system and hope it finds all the drivers.Then just use your old monitor and get W7 disc downloaded off of "devils-shadow".

 

Installing operating systems is a bit of a hobby of mine, I have every windows OS from 98 to 7 on discs, except for vista... I hate vista...

But I might go with the top one, because it's cheaper (which means I'll have money to order a bada$$ video card), And I think it overall looks more visually appealing