New
#11
So, going with a dual core, upgrading from a Pentium 4, any suggestions what I should go with?
For desktops I would study the Sunday ads. They do not offer too many reasonably priced desktops these days.
You should be able to get a decent machine with a dual-core Intel i-3 rated at over 3.0 GHz.
What's your budget? I assume you do NOT need a monitor, mouse, or keyboard?
Do you want Windows 7?
Have you or the wife ever looked at Windows 8?
Let me know your budget and I'll look around online.
Nothing at all wrong with AMD, but you can get pretty stout Intel dual core i3 processors for $100 or so and they are competitive with AMD.
A step lower would be a PC with Intel Pentium "G" series processors, such as G3240 or G3258. Competitive with AMD at that price point. Perfectly adequate for your purposes.
Computer Parts, Laptops, Electronics, and More - Newegg.com
above is suitable Dells up to 500
Computer Parts, Laptops, Electronics, and More - Newegg.com
above is all brands up to 500; all are i3 Intel, some dual core, some quad core.
Which brand you should buy is hard to say as the PCs themselves are largely generic commodities.
Expect to go through some form of hell if you ever need to contact customer service from any brand.
I'd probably lean to Dell or Asus. I'd avoid Acer. HP I dunno.
Pick out a couple that tentatively look OK and I'll try to delineate the differences.
Or you can just do a "compare" right there at New Egg by checking boxes.
Computer Parts, Laptops, Electronics, and More - Newegg.com
Above link is to Intel i-5 machines up to 500.
You don't need an i-5, but if it's in your budget you might consider one.
Some are refurbished.
Don't push the buy button on anything without further advice from someone.
I don't know what you might find at Best Buy, Walmart, Costco, etc.