Page 1 of Advice on computer from toys r us

Hi, dont know a great deal about computers, any advice if this is a decent one, from toys r us....
Cybemaxx intel pentium 4 2.8ghz (512kb cache)
512mb fast ddr ram (333mhz)
120 gb (fast 7,200 rpm)
56k v.90 modem
4xdvd-r, 2xdvd-rw (minus) / 16x8x32x cd writer
16xdvd drive
15 "lcd/tft monitor with built in speakers
128 mb ddr ram nvidia geforce 4fx5200 with dv-i, dx9, tv out and video in- 8x agp
tv and radio tuner, icludes video recording software
6 channel audio on board
2xps/2, 1xparallel, serial, 2x rear usb 2.0, 10 / 1000mbit lan port, 1 x firewire (iee 1394).
digital audio in / out, s-video and composite
video out 3 x pci slots

full conect x....1 x firwire port (ieee 1394), 1 x composite video in, 1 x s-video in, 1 x audio in/mic in,3 x usb 2.0 ports, 1 x game port
integrated car readers - sony memory stick, smart media, sd/multimedia. compactflash/microdrive

windows xp, big software bundle etc

epson photoprinter/scanner/copier

£1099

any one know if this is a decent price

thanks

it`s reasonable for a pre-built system give the spec, but if you don`t mind a couple of hours work you could build one with the same spec and save around £300

You could take the spec into a local dealer (not PC World or the like) and see what they`ll do it for. I built a PC recently, but a friend less experienced with PCs got pretty much the same spec for about 40 quid more by doing this. You may find they`ll beat this price by a fair margin.

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Hi, dont know a great deal about computers, any advice if this is a decent one, from toys r us....

No problem, we all have to start somewhere.

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Cybemaxx intel pentium 4 2.8ghz (512kb cache)

Not a bad speed at all.

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512mb fast ddr ram (333mhz)

Enough RAM at a decent speed.

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120 gb (fast 7,200 rpm)

Once again, pretty good (although it depends on the manufacturer).

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56k v.90 modem

Probably on-board, and much of a muchness.

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4xdvd-r, 2xdvd-rw (minus) / 16x8x32x cd writer

Could even be the Pioneer 105, which I just got. Good drive for the money.

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16xdvd drive

Pretty standard. I`d actually go for a faster CDRW instead, as the Pioneer does DVD (and can be made multi-region).

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15 "lcd/tft monitor with built in speakers

Depends on manufacturer again, but they have come down in price.

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128 mb ddr ram nvidia geforce 4fx5200 with dv-i, dx9, tv out and video in- 8x agp

Crap graphics card I`m afraid. About the equivalent of a GeForce 4 MX440, but with DX9 support.

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tv and radio tuner, icludes video recording software

Will you ever use it?

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6 channel audio on board

Most likely pish.

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2xps/2, 1xparallel, serial, 2x rear usb 2.0, 10 / 1000mbit lan port, 1 x firewire (iee 1394).

All standard stuff.

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digital audio in / out, s-video and composite

As above.

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video out 3 x pci slots

Doesn`t seem like many free PCI slots to me...

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full conect x....1 x firwire port (ieee 1394), 1 x composite video in, 1 x s-video in, 1 x audio in/mic in,3 x usb 2.0 ports, 1 x game port
integrated car readers - sony memory stick, smart media, sd/multimedia. compactflash/microdrive

All stuff you could do without.

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windows xp, big software bundle etc

XP good, bundle most likely bad.

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epson photoprinter/scanner/copier

Yup, but what models?

Seems a bit suss that they don`t specify the motherboard. I may be in danger of repeating myself, but the one thing I always stress to customers is the need for a grat motherboard. You can add bits to that at any time, but if you don`t have a good foundation you`re stuffed. I have to admit to being more familiar with AMD stuff than Intel, but you can`t go far wrong with an ASUS board. The only P4 build I`ve done in recent months was with an ASUS board, and it was lovely ;)