New chips better?

I'm thinking of upgrading to a new PC, but is it worth it.

Is a P4 much better than one from 3ys ago, would a Dell flat screen be much
improved on a 3 year old model, along with various other parts of the tower?

just wondering if its worth it...

Many thanks

Zzaaarathustra wrote:
> I'm thinking of upgrading to a new PC, but is it worth it.
>
> Is a P4 much better than one from 3ys ago, would a Dell flat screen be much
> improved on a 3 year old model, along with various other parts of the tower?
>
> just wondering if its worth it...
>
> Many thanks

Wouldn't it run the battery down rather quickly, and be a bit big to put
in your pocket?

D

"Zzaaarathustra" <w@w.com> wrote in message
news:ArydndJh9ugioxjZnZ2dnUVZ8s6dnZ2d@pipex.net...
> I'm thinking of upgrading to a new PC, but is it worth it.
>
> Is a P4 much better than one from 3ys ago, would a Dell flat screen be
> much improved on a 3 year old model, along with various other parts of the
> tower?
>
> just wondering if its worth it...
>
> Many thanks
>
>

Chips - for maximum performance get AMD X2 processor, and Dell have just
started selling them. Spend extra money on more memory rather than a faster
processor.

You should get a few times more performance from a current chipset than one
of three years ago.

Key factors with the screen are size (larger is better) and resolution
(higher is better).

LCD screens have now overtaken CRT's on both fronts.

If your old screen is <=17" or <1280x1024 then I would recommend upgrade.

If you get a video card with dual outlets (e.g. Matrox Millennium P650 -
available 2 years+) then you get a new high res' screen and drive the old
one as well.

R. Mark Clayton wrote:
> "Zzaaarathustra" <w@w.com> wrote in message
> news:ArydndJh9ugioxjZnZ2dnUVZ8s6dnZ2d@pipex.net...
>> I'm thinking of upgrading to a new PC, but is it worth it.
>>
>> Is a P4 much better than one from 3ys ago, would a Dell flat screen be
>> much improved on a 3 year old model, along with various other parts of the
>> tower?
>>
>> just wondering if its worth it...
>>
>> Many thanks
>
> Chips - for maximum performance get AMD X2 processor, and Dell have just
> started selling them. Spend extra money on more memory rather than a faster
> processor.
>
> You should get a few times more performance from a current chipset than one
> of three years ago.
>
> Key factors with the screen are size (larger is better) and resolution
> (higher is better).
>
> LCD screens have now overtaken CRT's on both fronts.
>
> If your old screen is <=17" or <1280x1024 then I would recommend upgrade.
>
> If you get a video card with dual outlets (e.g. Matrox Millennium P650 -
> available 2 years+) then you get a new high res' screen and drive the old
> one as well.

Thing to bear in mind regarding LCDs is that whilst they're much
smaller, often their overall image quality may not match that of CRTs.

I bought a Dell 20" LCD (1680x1050) to replace a 19" CRT
(1600x1200@85Hz). Whilst the screen is very nice, it does have
noticeably uneven illumination on a black screen. This does annoy me
somewhat (especially during the dark screens of Half Life 2). I also
have 1 duff pixel which I notice but aren't bothered about. This was on
a heavily discounted to £350 LCD display (originally about £450 I
think). This model (2005FPW) is highly recommended by a number of sites.

Other than that, the LCD display is wonderful, and probably better than
my old CRT (which cost a similar amount 4 years ago). I needed to
switch now due to needing to reduce the size of the display as the 19"
wouldn't fit where it needed to go - but in some ways, I do prefer my
old 19" CRT and resent a little having to spend that sort of money to
get something, which in some ways is inferior to it. But as I say, I
had to replace it, and this was the best option.

D

I found the Dell screen to be poor quality compared to others out there on
the market, of similar price.

But I like Dell for the excellent customer support.


Thanks for the info


"David Hearn" <dave@NOswampieSPAM.org.uk> wrote in message
news:e63mnq$p9r$1@slavica.ukpost.com...
> R. Mark Clayton wrote:
>> "Zzaaarathustra" <w@w.com> wrote in message
>> news:ArydndJh9ugioxjZnZ2dnUVZ8s6dnZ2d@pipex.net...
>>> I'm thinking of upgrading to a new PC, but is it worth it.
>>>
>>> Is a P4 much better than one from 3ys ago, would a Dell flat screen be
>>> much improved on a 3 year old model, along with various other parts of
>>> the tower?
>>>
>>> just wondering if its worth it...
>>>
>>> Many thanks
>>
>> Chips - for maximum performance get AMD X2 processor, and Dell have just
>> started selling them. Spend extra money on more memory rather than a
>> faster processor.
>>
>> You should get a few times more performance from a current chipset than
>> one of three years ago.
>>
>> Key factors with the screen are size (larger is better) and resolution
>> (higher is better).
>>
>> LCD screens have now overtaken CRT's on both fronts.
>>
>> If your old screen is <=17" or <1280x1024 then I would recommend upgrade.
>>
>> If you get a video card with dual outlets (e.g. Matrox Millennium P650 -
>> available 2 years+) then you get a new high res' screen and drive the old
>> one as well.
>
> Thing to bear in mind regarding LCDs is that whilst they're much smaller,
> often their overall image quality may not match that of CRTs.
>
> I bought a Dell 20" LCD (1680x1050) to replace a 19" CRT (1600x1200@85Hz).
> Whilst the screen is very nice, it does have noticeably uneven
> illumination on a black screen. This does annoy me somewhat (especially
> during the dark screens of Half Life 2). I also have 1 duff pixel which I
> notice but aren't bothered about. This was on a heavily discounted to
> £350 LCD display (originally about £450 I think). This model (2005FPW) is
> highly recommended by a number of sites.
>
> Other than that, the LCD display is wonderful, and probably better than my
> old CRT (which cost a similar amount 4 years ago). I needed to switch now
> due to needing to reduce the size of the display as the 19" wouldn't fit
> where it needed to go - but in some ways, I do prefer my old 19" CRT and
> resent a little having to spend that sort of money to get something, which
> in some ways is inferior to it. But as I say, I had to replace it, and
> this was the best option.
>
> D