Gaming Computer Questions URGENT

[sillycrown]

Ok i have yet another question to ask. The more feedback i get the better.

I can buy this computer right here:

2.4 ghz 800mhz fsb with hyperthreading
fic mobo
52x24x52x cdrw drive
2 80 gig western digital hard drives with 8mb cache (both still under a 2 year warranty)
geforce 4 ti 4200 128 mb video card
512 ddr memory
sound blaster audigy

This computer i believe has Windows XP. And not sure what kind of case it comes with.

Id like to have this computer for a gaming computer, downloading alot of movies and mp3's and surfing the net. I would be hooking up dsl or cable whatever is cheaper in my area.

My few questions are?

1. What would you upgrade if you had this computer?

I was thinking to upgrade the 512 Ram DDR Memory to 1 GB in time.
The video card not sure i hear this is a pretty good video card. Im not a true gamer but id like to get into gaming so this might be a great start for me.
The other upgrade id like to do is put a cdr/dvd RW burner in it.

What could i do to this comp to make it better or is it already pretty good? Would this computer be good for gaming and downloading on the net???

Also i can buy this coputer for $350.00 shipped for just the case and everything inside the case. Is that a good deal for this computer with what it comes with???

Please give me all the info you could or advice about this computer you can. Is it better than a dell in its current state???

Cause i would need to decide and purchase this comp in the net couple days

thanks very much

sillycrown

[mfrank]

Sounds like a pretty good deal if there is a warranty on the whole computer...

[VHockey86]

ya, definately a good buy for the money if its in good condition.
Make sure the case and power supply arent Generic/crappy though. This is often overlooked when people try to build cheap computers and it sucks on the long run.

If i was to upgrade anythig on taht computer it would definately be the video card.
I use a ti4200 myself, and it gets by, but its not great by newer games standards.

You can pickup an ATI 9700pro or a ATI 9800pro nowadays for 180-220 bucks... both of which will mop the floor with the ti4200, but before you go out and spend that much money see how it works for you. By the time games come out that it simply cant handle at all, feasible cards will be cheaper

[Gilthanaz]

Yes, you'll definately want to bump up the video card a little. I'm not too familiar with the names of the higher end Nvidia cards, but something that is comperable to an ATI radeon 9700 pro or better if you want to stick with Nvidia. Also keep in mind that both nvidia and ATI are coming out with their new line of cards later this month, which will bump down the prices of the above named cards. If you wait a few more weeks and then grab one of those, you'll have yourself a pretty good deal.

[The Real Bingo]

Everything looks great, and for that price, I dont see anything beating it [assuming it's in swell condition].

As you mentioned yourself, an upgrade to 1GB of RAM will be just that; an upgrade. 512MB isnt so much today for the new games coming out, so 1GB would surely be nice for you to have. The fellas who posted before me stated good video cards, so I wont bother to reiterate.

Good luck.

[teengeek88]

the only thing other than vid card/ ram, would be mobo, but u cant choose that cause its prebuilt correct?

[sillycrown]

i appreciate all the help

yes the computer is guranteed for 1 year warranty by the guy who built it. now how reliable is he i have no clue but i guess you have to take his word.

Pentium 4 2.4 ghz 800mhz fsb with hyperthreading
fic mobo
52x24x52x cdrw drive
2 80 gig western digital hard drives with 8mb cache (both still under a 2 year warranty)
geforce 4 ti 4200 128 mb video card
512 ddr memory (pny and Viking brand ram 2 sticks of 256mb)
sound blaster audigy

there is some more info put next to the things that i found out since asking more questions it is a Pentium 4 and the 512 Ram is two sticks pny and viking brand 256 x2) the first thing id like to do is update the ram.

then id like to get a nice cd/dvd rw burner and have that put in.

i thought about adding a 56k modem to it. right now i dont have cable or dsl i have to get that stuff hooked up but from what i hear it doesnt take long.

the guy im buying this from has pictures so i will be taking a look at them. he says the computer is in great shape.

the case is a aluminum case with a blow hole

this comp has all the hook ups for dsl or cable

this is the kind of mouse that comes with it (mx 310 logitech mouse) are these any good???

the biggest downfall about this computer is that the windows xp does not come with operating disc therefore i take it that the progarm is stolen or burned or whatever??? i dont know much about computers. but i take if i got this and i ever had to get it repaired and they had to reinstall windows or something like that and needed the disc and i didnt have it then they would know and i wouldnt be able to get the comp fixed.

so i guess my first big thing i need to do is get a original windows xp operating system and have that installed that way i dont have no problems.

also he says he can put on the computer any programs i want basically for nothing. i thought about gettin a few but not sure what ones

any suggestions???? is there any good gaming programs i might want to consider.

or any good prgrams period for downloading music or movies and what not???

please get back to me

thanks

[The Real Bingo]

I suggest getting MS Office over anything else first. Is there a specified list of programs he has? If so, maybe you could get that information from him.

[rrcn]

If he doesn't give you the original XP cd, then he MUST place a copy of the cd somewhere on the hard drive and he MUST also include a COA (certificate of authenticity). Otherwise he cannot sell you XP (leagally).

[sillycrown]

no i believe this computer was built from scratch up. so the mobo should be able to be upgraded.

as for the windows xp i have no clue he just said it dont come with the comp. im thinking more like its a burned copy like stolen. that is just what im thinking. im still not sure if i want to do this deal or not. id like to get this comp and then have a real windows program bought so i dont have to worry.

Also windows ms sounds good

he dont have a list of programs he said whatever i wanted.

id like to get some nice burning programs for downloading and burning to disc.

thanks