www.weedguru.com

Ok...I have narrowed down my search to these two options:

Processor: AMD phenom II 545 CPU, 3.0GHz
CPU Fan: AMD Original Cooling Fan With Heat Sink
Memory: 4GB DDR2 PC-6400 240-pin 800MHz RAM
Motherboard: ASROCK N68PV-GSD GF7050+nF630a DDR2 mATX
Video: # integrated Graphics Accelerator
# Pixel Shader 2.0, DirectX 9.0
# Max. shared memory 384MB
# Supports D-Sub with max. resolution up to 2048x1536 @ 60Hz
Hard Drive: 500GB 7200RPM SATAII
DVD/Bru-ray Drive: 22x DVD +RW /-RW drive (DVD-burner drive)
Sound: 5.1 CH High Definition Audio (onboard)
Network: Ethernet Network Adapter
Ports: 4X Ready to Use USB 2.0 Ports
Case: ATX Midi Tower Case Black
Power Supply Unit: 400W PSU
Keyboard Mouse: Genius KMS 110 3in1 Desktop kits
LCD Monitor: AOC 2236Vw 21.5" Widescreen LCD Monitor
Speaker: Genius KMS 110 3in1 Desktop kits
Software: All driver disks and manuals are included.Windows 7 30 days trial is installed for testing purposes only. ready to load any OS (Win XPSP2/3, Vista or Windows 7).
Operating Systems: This System does not include an Operating System, and most computers on eBay don't. That's why we are offering a great deal on Windows XP , Vista or Windows 7. See below
System Condition: All component are brand new. System is completely assembled and tested.
Warranty: 2 Year Limited with Lifetime toll free Technical support.

and this:

#
New AMD Athlon™ II X2 250 (3.0 GHz, 2M Cache, 45nm)
#
4G DDR3 BRAND NEW RAM ULTRA FAST
#
500GB BRAND NEW SATA HARD DISK (Upgrade to 1TB Hard Drive Only + $40)
#
N68-S3 NVIDIA GeForce 7025 / nForce 630a Chipset DDR3 Motherboard
#
22x DVD Burner BRAND NEW DVD Burner (Including DVD and CD Burning Functions) & Burning Software Disc Supplied
#
Brand new Premium Solid Computer Stylish Tower Case Front with USB Ports Case (Upgrade to 680w Case + $30)
#
Pre-installed Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium with 30 Days Subscription
#
COMPUTER FULLY TESTED BEFORE SHIPPING
#
OPEN OFFICE 2007 PRELOADED
#
Nero SOFTWARE PRELOADED & SUPPLIED WITH CD
#
Anti-Virus FREE AVG PRELOADED WITH LATEST UPDATE
#
Adobe Reader installed
#
ALL MOTHERBOARD DRIVERS INSTALLED, SUPPLIED WITH DISC & TESTED
#
Graphic Card: NVIDIA 512M 8400GS BRAND NEW NVIDIA PCI-E GRAPHIC CARD, Experience the power without a hefty price tag with the NVIDIA® GeForce® 8400 GS GPU. Get a supreme visual experience and realistic gameplay in today’s most popular games.
#
Brand New 22" LCD Premium Monitor (Upgrade to 22" LED Only + $40 , Upgrade to 24" LCD Only + $60) Widescreen Display There’s a Perfect Wide Function, you can say goodbye to distorted images, Senseye+Photo Image Technology Brings You the Most Optimized Images, FLATRON f Engine uses DAFI™ technology features Real Color Management allows the monitor to display colors that are vivid and natural, energy efficiency and 3 years manufacture warranty.
#
Free Brand New Keyboard + Optical Mouse

I don't play games on my computer. I mainly use it for films, music, weedguru design ( involving dreamweaver 8, and also, perhaps, a two year old version of flash, unlikely, but worth mentioning), internet, torrents, word processing, cd and dvd burning...

Which is better for my needs???
There is a $50AU difference between the two. Both come with windows home 64 bit official version.

I am definitely slanting towards the AMD PHENOM II X2 Dual Core 545 CPU, 3.0GHz (80W), 6 MB Cache....

The only advice I can give you Dan is to not buy a desktop. Best of luck in your search.

I have not moved any of the laptops I have owned for the last 3 years, for any reason other than to move house or country...also...watching films on a laptop is less enjoyable as they generally have smaller screens...lastly...the main threat of damage and ruin to any puta I own is spillages all over the keyboard...on a laptop this generally means serious injury, but with a desktop...easy to replace a keyboard. FInally, upgrading is much easier with a desktop. SO all in all, your advice seems...misplaced, my friend. Highers specs available, more suited to my needs, obviously a desktop is what I need.

^Eh, I just don't like having an immobilized computer. Anyway, with all the computer buffs on here I'm surprised you have not received any "real" advice yet.

Edit: You can always buy an HD cord that goes from your laptop to your television and watch movies on that.

Ok. I have changed my focus... and am now only interested in advice regarding whether to grab a system with a duo 2 core e8400 or a quad core q8400. From what I understand, even without buying an aftermarket cooler, I could easily overclock the quad to 3.0ghz...but then again, if I am talking of overclocking, the e8400 overclocks safely to 3.9ghz. So...will 2 cores running at 3.9ghz be better than 4 cores running at 3ghz???

The rest of the system, which I will have built once I decide...runs like this:

asus/giga/ecs g31 chipset motherboard
4gb kingston ddr2 800 ram
ati 4350 512mb video card
wireless keyboard
22' wide screen HD 10.000:1 monitor
windows 7 64 bit home
norton anti virus
320gb sataII hd

i dont know a lot... but my logical thinking is that if you are using software that only runs on one
cpu core then the core 2 duo is the way to go
but if you are using high end software or intensive multi tasking then the core 2 quad would be the one...
... so i will leave it in your hands... but it depends on how much price difference there is
I would lean to the first of the two... just my two cents

All I can say is delete Norton the second you start your computer.

I will be deleting norton, mate...though I suspect it will run quite fast on the system I am getting tomorrow...and I opted for the duo core, rather than the quad. PArtly because the core speed is higher, but also because the l2 cache is 2mb higher. SO...in terms of the comparison from this craptop to the new processor...I am doubling the core speed, and also multiplying the amount that the processor can think about with each thought by 12 times. At the same time doubling the RAM, from 2 to 4gb...the beast should fly.

it wouldn't havem attered that much for the things you want to do with your desktop dan.

I don't know how much you payed for it, but it shouldn't be over 800 dollars.

cutthecashflow wrote:The only advice I can give you Dan is to not buy a desktop. Best of luck in your search.

my heart nearly stopped when i read this post. buying a laptop for ANYTHING other than school work is a fuckin terrible idea.

-you cant upgrade a laptop unless youre loaded
-you can do what Animal did and spill your drink on the laptop and its usually done
-they last about 5x shorter than a desktop
-have you ever accidentally hit the screen on those bitches? everything goes to one single color for several days.

^I'm way too overloaded with schoolwork.

Anyway, I have insurance on mine and when its time for a new one I usually find some way to fuck the big corporation Best Buy, that is of course after everything gets backed up. I don't play any games either, just MSWord, Excel, SPSS, SAS, and the internet.

Well...for $859AU....I grabbed the following:

intel e8400 duo 2 core 3.0ghz
radeon 512mb graphics card
22 inch wide screen acer High Definition screen
320GB SATAII HD
wireless modem
ethernet card
wireless keyboard and mouse
windoes 7 64bit Home edition
norton 2010 anti virus

2/3 year warranty...

COnsidering that to put these parts together myself would have cost at the least...around $799AU...I don't feel that I have too badly. And it's fast...stupidly fast. No need to buy a weaker l2 cache quad core, when I can make better use of a higher stock speed duo core with a 6mb l2 cache...

Hope it works for you man!