Awesome!  Congrats!  Have fun!

Desktops, as in the big, bulky ones that have anything from a micro-tower and up, aren't very efficient. I don't just mean their size, but also in terms of power-usage. An average gaming desktop generally runs on a 1000 W PSU. (and this is often because the graphics processing unit demands it) There is this misconception that anytime you buy a new computer, you need to buy the absolute best components, fastest processor, most memory, etc. If you aren't actually putting this power to use, you're throwing money down the drain. What do you think you're monthly utilities bill is going to look like when you're running a 1000 W beast 24/7? This is where green computing comes in. We're getting to a point where the whole "green" lifestyle is becoming more and more popular. Computing is no exception. Newer computers are gradually decreasing their power requirements, either because hardware itself is trying to take a more power-efficient approach, or by substantially reducing the system's capabilities.

If you build a system that both fits your needs and uses power-efficient hardware, then you're getting the best deal out of it. If you're buying expensive, powerful hardware in anticipation of not having to upgrade later, you're just wasting your money. By the time significant improvements are made to memory and processing maximums, there will be some new architecture to accompany this technology, and you will likely have to rebuild your computer from the ground-up anyway. (or in the least, replace your motherboard)

Right now, I'm running 512 MB RAM and a 1.6 GHz single-core CPU. My PSU is only 200 W. I haven't upgraded because I haven't needed to thus far.

This probably seems like a long digression, but the point is: Consider what your needs are, in terms of hardware and performance. Desktops offer the flexibility of upgrading and having interchangeable components. You're also getting the most power with a desktop. Laptops are mostly good for travel / portability, but aren't as robust when it comes to gaming. Netbooks are great for ultra-portability, but are likely to only play much older games, or the few newer games that have fairly low-end requirements. They also lack any CD / DVD mediums.

Also consider how much power you need. If you're not going to be playing games like Crysis, then you don't need to worry about getting the latest and most powerful graphics cards and processors. Knowing this information can help you pick a computer that's not only more practical for your needs, but also substantially less expensive.

There are also portable desktops to consider. These are pretty awesome, but generally lack any real graphics capabilities.

I have 256 MB RAM and only 991.0 MHz clockspeed. I win. j/k


("Margin"-edit: I have to say I run a very outdated linux, so speed is not a concern. I haven't updated anything in some time. The computer is almost 10y old and not connected to the internet, so nothing fancy, but it also means I hardly need/want any bloatware like antivirus )

Damn. Someone has me beat.

I used to have a 600 MHz PC. It actually wasn't half-bad. I was able to run XP on it fairly well. (but it also had 512 MB RAM)

Ok so as some of you heard from me for several months alerady, this month I am supposed to buy a new desktop computer. No I'm not gonna build it myself.

Hi there DJ. My post is following an older topic but I am sure it will be read and found encouraging by many Desktop Owners.  I am a gamer, (can you tell by my nickname? ) But I am also a remote support tech.  Which means all the experience I have connecting to computers around the world gives me a good insight as to the preferences people are leaning toward.  I can tell you for certain that  Desktop Gaming Computers will be in the mainstream for years and years. Why?  Because we gamers want the "Big Experience".  We want a rugged keyboard to bang out our text, a huge screen or dual screens to play our games and plenty of customizeable personal upgrades in our Towers a.k.a Cases.  The software industry is deluged with game designers and they don't want a "cartoonish" experience for their end users. They want us to be "blown away" with the best software possible that takes advantage of PhysX and all other technologies for our machines to knock us out of our comfy-computer chairs!  .  Desktop computers are the only way to give us the tactile, visual and audio experience we all crave. Whether it's surround sound or a magnificent pair of light-weight bass throbbing  headphones, the sounds make the games so real we sometimes forget that 10 hours have passed-by since we sat down to play our games!  

Nope. Desktop Computers for gamers and many other fields are here to stay, at least until everything plugs directly into our gray-matter.  

Here is my latest Desktop Build:
http://s1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff475/onlinegolfer/?action=view&current=pcdualmon.mp4

I love desktops. I have had 2 laptops with broken screens (stepping on it, lay a book on it, etc.) Desktops just seem better. And I love large screens.

Just wondering... do you own a calc, online golfer (no offense if you dont, just wondering)

Just wondering... do you own a calc, online golfer (no offense if you dont, just wondering)

No offense taken. If you are referring to some software coders use, no I don't. I am strictly an Expert Windows Advanced Power User/Tutor/Troubleshooter.  I can fly the shuttle but (J/k) I didn't engineer it.