Looking at buying a New Computer

sallyanne · **Posted:** Thu Feb 02, 2017 1:08 am **(#1)**

Hopefully one of my daughters will buy a computer for me and I will pay them off. That way I can do it without paying extra (They don't like me rent - buy) It will depend on if they can help me with the amount I want. $999 AUD.

I have seen a computer that I like.
Lenovo IdeaCentre 300 23.8" AMD A6 1TB 8GB All-in-One

Not heard of Lenovo before. I will be doing graphics work. (Photo restoration, Fractals etc on it). I don't play games alot. Would this be sufficient and has anybody heard of this brand before and how it works?

At the moment I am using a 4 year, 9month old Toshiba Laptop 4GB RAM, Intel core i5, 32bit OS, x64-based processor, 13 inch wide screen but gimp wont complete a lot of stuff because it says I don't have the memory. I cant do full resolution fractals plus my fan has stopped working. I can probably still use it for smaller things after I get the fan fixed but want another bigger one for other stuff.

Mainah_Ayuh · **Joined:** Oct 12, 2016 **Posts:** 377

Lenovo is a Chinese company who purchased IBM's Personal Computing Division in 2005.
This made them the third-largest personal computer company in the world (at the time).

Lenovo has been manufacturing personal computers since the early 1980's.

Based upon all the research that I have done they have a good reputation in
the United States.

The Lenovo IdeaCentre 300 23.8" AMD A6 1TB 8GB All-in-One retails in the
United States from $600 to $750 USD depending at which retailer it is purchased.

Good Luck in your search for updating your present hardware.

sallyanne · **Posted:** Thu Feb 02, 2017 3:34 am **(#3)**

Thank you Mainah

Wallace · **Posted:** Thu Feb 02, 2017 4:32 am **(#4)**

I don't know much about,
or use laptops or the new all-in-one computers that have recently come to market.
I've always built my own desktop computers.
I wouldn't build a computer,
or buy one with an AMD processors,
but that's me.

I could build a really nice desktop computer with $999 AUD or USD.
In fact the computer I just built,
according to pcpartpicker.com.
Would have cost me $924.27 US.

Bottom line is...

Processors Speed and Number of Physical Cores.
Any processor which runs under 3GHz (gigahertz) will not be very fast,
given today's processor standards.

In general, the higher the GHz number for a processor,
the faster the processor can run and process data.
Today,
some processors are reaching 3.8 GHz,
or higher speeds out of the box.

There are a number of CPU's (Central Processing Unit),
which a consumer has to choose form.
Single-core CPU's can be hard to find today.
Two cores is okay,
but four-core CPU's can now be considered the "norm".
I use a CPU that has four physical cores.

You'd be hard pressed,
to find a duel-core cpu,
that can out preform most quad-core cpu's.
Without having to implement "Overclocking".

Another thing to think about,
is if the processor has "Integrated Graphic" or not.

RAM (random access memory).
8GB (gigabytes) is ideal for most users.
More is always better.
I have 16GB installed.
However,
my computer has the potential of supporting up to 64GB of memory.
Being able to add more ram in the future,
may also be something to consider.

A must have these days,
would be a 64bit operating system.
You'll be able to utilize more then 4GB of RAM with a 64bit OS.
32bit operating systems,
are limited to only 4GB of memory,
which is quickly becoming a thing of the past.

IMHO... I don't like laptops,
or the newer AIO's and wouldn't buy one.

Born2BeMild · **Joined:** Nov 14, 2013 **Posts:** 101

I have heard lenovo's are good. I often read posts where people talk about how good Lenovo Thinkpad models are. Also Dell models.
Myself I only have a cheap Acer travelmate I bought more than a decade ago, never been any trouble and still going strong but I also need to upgrade soon as I need something with more processing power.

@Wallace I don't like laptops either but they are easier to move around the house!
The one thing I didn't like about standard pc's is the larger noisy fans! I can hardly hear the fan on my laptop and it doesn't come on much, especially since I drilled holes in the bottom of my laptop!

Wallace · **Posted:** Thu Feb 02, 2017 4:44 am **(#6)**

Born2BeMild wrote:

@Wallace I don't like laptops either but they are easier to move around the house!
The one thing I didn't like about standard pc's is the larger noisy fans! I can hardly hear the fan on my laptop and it doesn't come on much, especially since I drilled holes in the bottom of my laptop!

I have 12 fans in my computer.
:hehe

Born2BeMild · **Joined:** Nov 14, 2013 **Posts:** 101

@ wallace
lol, now I know why people are always playing music on the computer

Wallace · **Posted:** Thu Feb 02, 2017 5:15 am **(#8)**

Born2BeMild wrote:

@ wallace
lol, now I know why people are always playing music on the computer

I know what you mean.
However,
I installed a fan controller.
This gives me the ability to turn all the fan speeds down,
making it really quite,
but with all the fans running a full tilt,
(which is very rare).
It sounds like a plain getting ready for take off.
:hehe

lylejk · **Joined:** Sep 24, 2010 **Posts:** 12845

I don't trust Lenovo; they supposedly corrected their ways, but a few years back they put spyware on their bios. I guess I just don't trust the Chinese all that much.

Roger-Ca · **Posted:** Sun Feb 12, 2017 3:50 pm **(#10)**

laptop keyboards, fans and more are available as replacement parts, on e-bay. My DELL laptop fan costs $11 from DELL! So, you might want to talk to your computer manufacture, customer support person, as well. YOU-Tube usually has video's how to replace your laptop fan, or other parts.