Okay, so another thing I need to buy soon is a non-gaming desktop computer (w/monitor) with a price range of around 650$-750$.


I found these two computers at bestbuy and wanted to get feedback on them and which one is "better" than the other. By better I just mean what is the better overall computer in terms of speed, quality, efficiency, etc. Both come with a 20 inch monitor so it is the tower that I care about.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dell+Inspiron+I580-6736NBC+Desktop+%26+20%22+LCD+Monitor+Package/9999139200050024.p?id=pcmprd139200050024&skuId=9999139200050024&childSku=1244487&count=1
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+Pavilion+p6674y+Desktop+%26+20%22+LCD+Monitor+Package/9999146400050001.p?id=pcmprd146400050001&skuId=9999146400050001&childSku=1245317&count=1

The Dell has a better processor, the HP has a bigger hard drive and actually has a graphics card (while the Dell has integrated).

The Dell, as far as specs go, is probably more suited for your needs. Don't know how good of quality either one is though.

I don't care about hard drive size too much as don't really need that space much at all. I see the the graphics in the dell one is integrated, but could I still add a graphics card in the future to upgrade it or is that a no go since it is integrated.

Maybe I got burned on the i3 I have, but I've been thoroughly disappointed in the i3's performance (it is mobile, though, which may be the reason since my complaints are it deciding to randomly go into powersave mode), so while it may be clocked higher, I'd hold out as to saying it is better until I see some comparisons.

You could, because it does have a PCI-E slot. It only has a 300W power supply though, so your options for upgrading would be very limited (and I'd wager it's not a high quality 300W power supply as well).

EDIT: I'm not seeing a benchmark for the specific processor in the HP, but higher clocked Phenom II's are rated lower than the i3 in the Dell.

Seeing that it labels a PCI express slot being free, it's upgradable.

I was looking at the specs and noticed that the HP was about half the weight of the Dell; what's up with that?

Overall I'd say the HP is probably better, but you should list what you're looking for in a computer. My idea of better may not be the same as yours.

Thanks everyone for sparing some of your time and helping me out. I guess I'll go with the Dell computer tomorrow. And If I do want to upgrade I'll have to find some of pc gaming friends (haha) and see if the can help me install a new graphics card and replace the 300watt power supply if possible to something higher.



Cheers


EDITED Since someone said HP.

What I am looking for in my computer is something where I can do school work (ms word, spss, etc.), go on the internet, and that is about it to be honest. I will also have some media on it, but I am not picky about that at all. Sound doesn't matter one bit and I just stream my videos to my TV instead of watching them on my monitor. THe one thing that would be a plus is if I could upgrade the computer in the future to something a bit more gaming friendly.

The dell should suit you, then. As it does beat the HP specs-wise other than the video and HDD, both of which are upgradable.

While it pains me to say this, I have to admit my Dell lasted over four years for me, and is now living out it's fifth year with my brother. It has never once, at all, had any MAJOR problems. However, it was an impossibly difficult machine to get along with- beeping, freezing, poor gaming ability (despite not having poor specs), readjusting its settings all by itself, moving icons around, very slow, randomly closing windows...the list goes on. However I think that was just a dud machine. It lasted remarkably well, and it got thrown around, bashed into things, dropped etc. It was a tough cookie, that's for sure.

Every Dell I have ever worked on or tried to upgrade for my friends has been a nightmare. I don't know if their hardware policies have changed in the last couple of years, but Dells always seemed had really specific hardware that was difficult to replace without replacing a bunch of other stuff too: weak PSUs that couldn't handle graphics card upgrades, memory modules that wouldn't fit any other machine, even weird ducting in their cases that simply got in the way of everything (including efficient cooling.) So if you're going to get a Dell, it's probably not going to be very upgradeable except through Dell's own overpriced service. Given this choice, I would probably pick the HP over the Dell just to avoid these headaches - although really I would build a rig from scratch since in most cases it's the cheapest alternative anyway. Just my 2 cents.

can anyone else talk about the upgrade potential for the dell?