Quick question on a system... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

bigbad · 09-21-2004, 09:46 PM

Looking at recommending this for some family members, I read up on the Sempron a bunch but would like some more opinions though, what do you guys think?

http://www.a-power.com/sys/ap09-soho.asp

Tandem · 09-22-2004, 04:22 AM

Seems like a decent family pc for sure.
Nothing wrong with it, but what exactly do they intend to do?
If it's simple Internet / Word / Excel type use, it is indeed.
If they're needing a grunt box, well there are other systems.

HTH's

zynyxx · 09-22-2004, 11:27 AM

I agree with Tandem. We need to know what they intend to use the computer for in order to help better.

bigbad · 09-22-2004, 01:45 PM

Ahh sorry, pretty well what Tandem said, using it for internet and Word and kids games and stuff, nothing that requires a lot of heft

Tandem · 09-23-2004, 03:03 AM

bigbad,

The system is then sutiable (so it seems) for the desired role.

While I'm at it I'll throw a spanner (small one) into the works for you...
Have them consider when (some time in the future) they'd consider or be willing to consider upgrading. I say this because being that the turn over of the industry technology and rate of implementation of new technology, you'd perhaps (or perhaps not) want to consider purchasing a slightly more grunty box.

Hard drives will and can generally last many many years; RAM you can add more as required; video cards can be cheaply upgraded; but upgrading CPU's can become expensive if some future thinking isn't taken into account.

For example: Some years ago; my closest friend (and best mate / bestman) and his family posed the same question to me at a BBQ. I threw him a couple of suggestions and acknowledged a few of his own. Then I asked him had he considered what the kids would possibly be doing with it in a few years time. They were in their early to mid teens (two girls, one boy) and two of the kids had an existing fascination for IT and mathematics. To end a long story short, he purchased a slightly more expensive, but grunter box (for the time) and the decission paid off. The two girls have in Tony's words "Flogged" the PC, but it still keeps ticking and is now a SQL & fileserver. The kids have learnt to build their own pc's from scratch over a period of time and the one purchase is used by all three.

Obviously, this won't happen with all families, however you could easily draw some parallels in relation to what sort of requirements your family member's kids may need a few years down the road.

Food for thought perhaps. HTH's

bigbad · 09-24-2004, 01:22 AM

Thanks for all the advice

They are using a P2 266 now, and even still are reluctant to upgrade because they think that what they have is fine. So my task was to find a complete system for VERY cheap so that they couldn't really say no to it, but I wanted to make sure that it would have enough power that it won't need to be upgraded too soon, and I just wasn't too sure about the Sempron. Again, thanks for your replies.

09-21-2004, 09:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
bigbad Insane	Quick question on a system... Looking at recommending this for some family members, I read up on the Sempron a bunch but would like some more opinions though, what do you guys think? http://www.a-power.com/sys/ap09-soho.asp

09-22-2004, 04:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
Tandem Insane Location: Brisbane, Australia	Seems like a decent family pc for sure. Nothing wrong with it, but what exactly do they intend to do? If it's simple Internet / Word / Excel type use, it is indeed. If they're needing a grunt box, well there are other systems. HTH's

09-22-2004, 11:27 AM	#3 (permalink)
zynyxx Tilted	I agree with Tandem. We need to know what they intend to use the computer for in order to help better.

09-22-2004, 01:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
bigbad Insane	Ahh sorry, pretty well what Tandem said, using it for internet and Word and kids games and stuff, nothing that requires a lot of heft

09-23-2004, 03:03 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tandem Insane Location: Brisbane, Australia	bigbad, The system is then sutiable (so it seems) for the desired role. While I'm at it I'll throw a spanner (small one) into the works for you... Have them consider when (some time in the future) they'd consider or be willing to consider upgrading. I say this because being that the turn over of the industry technology and rate of implementation of new technology, you'd perhaps (or perhaps not) want to consider purchasing a slightly more grunty box. Hard drives will and can generally last many many years; RAM you can add more as required; video cards can be cheaply upgraded; but upgrading CPU's can become expensive if some future thinking isn't taken into account. For example: Some years ago; my closest friend (and best mate / bestman) and his family posed the same question to me at a BBQ. I threw him a couple of suggestions and acknowledged a few of his own. Then I asked him had he considered what the kids would possibly be doing with it in a few years time. They were in their early to mid teens (two girls, one boy) and two of the kids had an existing fascination for IT and mathematics. To end a long story short, he purchased a slightly more expensive, but grunter box (for the time) and the decission paid off. The two girls have in Tony's words "Flogged" the PC, but it still keeps ticking and is now a SQL & fileserver. The kids have learnt to build their own pc's from scratch over a period of time and the one purchase is used by all three. Obviously, this won't happen with all families, however you could easily draw some parallels in relation to what sort of requirements your family member's kids may need a few years down the road. Food for thought perhaps. HTH's

09-24-2004, 01:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
bigbad Insane	Thanks for all the advice They are using a P2 266 now, and even still are reluctant to upgrade because they think that what they have is fine. So my task was to find a complete system for VERY cheap so that they couldn't really say no to it, but I wanted to make sure that it would have enough power that it won't need to be upgraded too soon, and I just wasn't too sure about the Sempron. Again, thanks for your replies.