New monitor

[Dennis Ross]

Monitor quit, so I guess I must upgrade. I had a 17" HP flat screen. What should I upgrade to? and what size works well with Alamode software. What should I avoid? And most of all remember, I'm cheap. I have a 64MD DDR video memory card.

 

[JTip]

I just picked up a 22" Viewsonic from Circuit City for .......$165...... Floor model, last of the old season. Sweet screen for peanuts.

Check your local big box stores for these deals and search on newegg dot com, quality online store and fatwallet dot com for deals. I think I saw that Staples has a 19" for $119/no rebates required this week.

Edit: These screen prices are for LCD, I dont think you can buy a CRT anymore.

 

[Tom Woolford]

As big as you can afford, wide screen. Then add one on either side.

 

[OSU Beavers]

Make sure you have a good enough video graphics card in your computer to support the native resolution of your monitor. No use getting a 24" wide LCD if it hooks up to intergrated graphics by a VGA cable.

Now may be the time to get a whole new system before they stop selling Windows XP!

 

[Charles Knutson]

I've been shopping for a new computer, but also looking at flatscreens. I wouldn't get anything smaller than a 22", and ideally a high resolution monitor. Jtip's buy sounds perfect -- I love my ViewSonic 17" CRT, but it's almost 10 years old.

On the computer search, Dell has just introduced the Vostro 410 -- but my configuration costs $964.

On the home & home office side, the Inspiron 530 with a quad core Q6600, 3GB of Ram, and 500 gb HD is $499 -- upgrading to XP Pro and adding a modem are $20 each; 10gb of online backup for a year is $10, for a total of $549.

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...&oc=DDDADGX&s=dhs&dgc=CJ&cid=24471&lid=683020

Another option I'm looking at is the same build, but upgrading to the Q9300 Quad-Core processor, 4 gb of Ram, and an upgraded video card -- total is $769.

The other upgrade option is the Core 2 Duo E8200 Processor, with the same upgrades as the Q9300 build -- also $769.

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&oc=DDCWDAY&s=dhs&fb=1

Both the E8200 and and Q9300 processors are 45 nanometer, while the Q6600 is 65nm -- the 45nm is the latest technology from Intel, and the quad core is mainly for gamers. For my purposes, I'm not sure the extra $100-200 is a worthwhile investment.

http://www.techspot.com/review/85-intel-core-2-wolfdale-vs-conroe/

http://hardware.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=528246&cid=23131772

June 18th is the last day to buy XP from Dell -- those who want to upgrade had best do it soon.

 

[RSW]

I'd get a graphics card that allows for two monitors if you don't have one. Working with two monitors is the bomb! I don't know how I ever did without them before.

 

[OSU Beavers]

Dennis Ross & Charles Knutson post how much are you planning on spending for a new system and I'll PM you a Dell coupon or discount link.

 

[Mike Siegfried]

FWIW, I'm very happy with my HP 22" widescreen monitor.

Mike

 

[Charles Knutson]

Hi OSU --

I'm planning on spending between $550 and $800 -- probably on one of the 530 Inspirons, with XP Pro. Right now, I'm leaning towards the higher end, because they have the newest processors. But the Q6600 is way better than anything I've ever had -- if I feel cheap or poor tomorrow, it will be the choice.

I'm not set up for IM -- my email is ckcentral at yahoo dot com.

 

[OSU Beavers]

Currently the best Vostro set up for you is http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=04&kc=6W300&l=en&oc=brph4ge&s=bsd&fb=1

Dell 22 inch Widescreen E228WFP Analog Flat Panel Display [add $40]

The best Inspiron deal is thru EPP and ends a 3AM
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst..._orig_cs=6008&oc=RDDWDHX&link_number=17970705

22 inch E228WFP Widescreen Digital Flat Panel [subtract $10]

How you option each will determing which has the best final price. RAM and video cards are cheaper after market than through Dell.

PM me if you need an EPP member code.