I build all the computers at our studio. I was a loyal Dell fan for years until my last 2 were overpriced junkers, Dell customer service (I paid for the XPS premium US-based CS) was anything but, and my husband's $3K AlienWare came with 6GB of RAM but only a 32bit OS (
). All the studio machines (we're up to about 24 right now) were custom built by myself and in 3 years we haven't had a single major failure or data loss incident despite hard, brutal use so I must be doing something right.
First two questions:
1) What do you want it to do?
2) What do you want to spend?
I'm going to surmise that since you're using a 5yo PC you have pretty basic needs. Surf the 'net, email, some word processing, some image editing. No 3D modelling, gaming, so forth.
Basically, your needs are simple. If I were to build a machine for you from scratch ~$500 would produce something you'd probably be really happy with for a while. But if you take $500 to a store you might end up with garbage or a good deal. So be careful and ask the right questions. I saw some good deals this Memorial Day so I know they're outthere but it's kind of shark infested waters.
I've never, ever found reports from places like ConsumerReports or CNET any good whatsoever. Just read the CR review for the computer Shari mentioned. I think this is it?
http://www.consumerr...bk-99044768.htm
Anyway, here's why I find that review of questionable merit::
The 2320 is a 1155 socket CPU. 1155s do NOT support triple channel RAM. that 6GB has to be in a 3 x 2GB stick configuration. It also says the mobo has no spare RAM slot. That makes me go ??? So the motherboard only has 3 RAM slots? What? Does the computer even SEE 6GB of RAM? What exactly is this 1155 socket mobo that only has 3 RAM slots? To add to my confusion it says it has ATI graphics... but the 2320 is 1155. Granted, it's one of the cheapest of the 1155s, but I can't imagine that horrible ($25) GPU is any better than the CPU's integrated graphics.
It strikes me as VERY odd CR doesn't point any of this out. Add into that they don't mention PCI or PCI-e slots (we can presume there is at least 1 PCI-e due to the ATI GPU) and you have me sitting here wondering what exactly is in that case. Because at face value it sounds bizarre. For geeks like me looking at it CR loses a lot of credibility for at least failing to mention some oddball stuff.
My point isn't to rant but just to advise- ask questions! I hear about people getting these production line PCs and they're dying/BSOD/falling over within a year and when I look at these strange configurations they originally ship with... I've got to wonder.
Here are some questions to consider:
1) How many RAM slots? RAM speed? (the speed is just a quiz for them)
2) Who manufactured the motherboard?
3) Who manufactured the harddrive?
4) What is the harddrive's spindle speed? What is it's cache size? (probably will be 5400 or 7200RPM, 4MB, but it's really just a quiz to see if they know their business)
5) How many PCI-e slots? 2.0 or 3.0? (Probably will be 2.x) What speed? (x16 is what you want to hear, x8 indicates inferior board)
6) FSB?
7) PCI slots?
8) PSU wattage? (hint: anything under 500w means limited to NO upgradability!)
9) Is the PSU standard ATX or is it proprietary? (hint: proprietary means NO upgradability!)
10) 12v rails on the PSU?
11) Who manufactured the PSU? (Why should you care? Because if your PSU dies because it's cheap it's going to take everything else with it)
12) discrete GPU or on-board (quiz time)
13) mobo chipset (when dealing with 1155 boards this is important!!!)
14) USB 2.0 or 3.0? Both?
15) SATA 3.0 or 6.0 on the board?
16) 10/100/1000 NIC?
17) PS/2 port? (just quiz time to mess with them)
18) 64 bit OS or 32 bit?