I have a DELL Inspirion 531 with buggy on board graphics, NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE nForce 430. I added a buggy Creative X-Fi Audio Processor (WDM), which has low latency with ASIO4ALL. It's phased out, but it looks like I can get Win 10 drivers for it.
I'm on Win 7. I understand that newer OS and programs are built to tax resources instead of conserve them. I have very little running in the background. Should I stick with Win 7? I have a copy on CD.
I don't play graphics intensive video games, but it would be nice if I could play Settlers of Catan in 3D mode without the lag. It'd be nice to watch YouTube in fullscreen. Oddly, I used to watch YouTube in fullscreen, and I have no problem running Netflix fullscreen. I do a lot of 2D graphics work, which is fine on my computer. I occasionally do 3D work.
SMART says my drive is fine, but it doesn't sound fine. 500 GB is overkill for me. What do people do with all that space?
Tracktion 4 wants an Intel dual core. No idea why. Tracktion 3 worked fine on my machine until it caught a ghost. I did a painful uninstall and reinstall without the response server. Still haunted. There's no support for it, so I have to move on.
I'd like to spend $500-$600 for just the tower. I found an old KDS 17" monitor that doesn't bleed. It's literally a little rough around the edges, slight yellowing, but I'll take that any day over bleed.
Quote from: gentle_dissident on June 22, 2016, 11:49:10 PMI'm on Win 7. I understand that newer OS and programs are built to tax resources instead of conserve them. I have very little running in the background. Should I stick with Win 7? I have a copy on CD.
Based on your requirements, I'd just stick with 7 for the time being.
QuoteI don't play graphics intensive video games, but it would be nice if I could play Settlers of Catan in 3D mode without the lag.
Is this (http://store.steampowered.com/app/239410/) the video game you're talking about? Shouldn't be too pricey to max that baby out. :)
QuoteSMART says my drive is fine, but it doesn't sound fine. 500 GB is overkill for me. What do people do with all that space?
You'd be surprised. My Steam installation is sitting at about half that and most of those are older games. A lot of new games clock in at 20-30 gigs now.
QuoteI'd like to spend $500-$600 for just the tower.
I assume you're talking about the parts inside the tower rather than just the case. :P
I recommend looking at logical increments (http://www.logicalincrements.com/) for a general idea of what you want, which'll probably be somewhere in the very good or great range. From there, it's just a matter of looking over your options and refining your search to whatever will work best for you. r/buildapc and r/buildapcforme are good communities for tips.
QuoteI found an old KDS 17" monitor that doesn't bleed. It's literally a little rough around the edges, slight yellowing, but I'll take that any day over bleed.
That sounds bad. Are you sure you can't spring for a new monitor? You should be able to get something decent and slightly bigger in the $100 to $200 range (https://www.amazon.com/s?rh=n%3A1292115011%2Cp_36%3A1253506011).
Quote from: Hydra009 on June 23, 2016, 02:17:42 AM
My Steam installation is sitting at about half that and most of those are older games. A lot of new games clock in at 20-30 gigs now.
I've got crap loads of games from Humble Bundle. I don't keep them on my hard drive. That's the beauty of cloud storage. Besides, I'll play a PC game about once a month. I have little time or interest for them. I mostly play virtual pinball on my Fire gen 2 during my morning constitutional. I'm usually looking at Pinterest, though.
Quote from: Hydra009 on June 23, 2016, 02:17:42 AM
I recommend looking at logical increments (http://www.logicalincrements.com/) for a general idea of what you want, which'll probably be somewhere in the very good or great range.
Thanks, that's a nice site. Looks like it prefers a widescreen monitor. I don't remember encountering a site that does before. We have a CRT in our living room. It hasn't been a problem, but I can't find The Force Awakens in 4:3.
Quote from: Hydra009 on June 23, 2016, 02:17:42 AM
From there, it's just a matter of looking over your options and refining your search to whatever will work best for you. r/buildapc and r/buildapcforme are good communities for tips.
I was hoping to be told to go buy some ready made job. It's going to take enough of my time chasing down installers and setting up a new PC.
Quote from: Hydra009 on June 23, 2016, 02:17:42 AM
Are you sure you can't spring for a new monitor? You should be able to get something decent and slightly bigger in the $100 to $200 range (https://www.amazon.com/s?rh=n%3A1292115011%2Cp_36%3A1253506011).
Last I read, I'd have to pay $1000 to avoid bleed. Has that issue been fixed recently? It's too bad plasma isn't manufactured anymore.
I don't know if I could handle a much bigger screen. When working on art and music, my eyes are all over the place. I'd think more area to cover would wear me out and be less precise. I could Window everything. T3 didn't Window. Maybe T4 does. I don't usually watch video for the visuals. I'm after the content.
I have no idea which brand or model of graphics processor is the best for the money. I'm guessing there are compatibility issues with motherboard slots and programs. Is there a particular brand of computer I should look at? Are modern on board graphics chips OK?
Is Win 10 OK compared to Win 7? I really liked XP. It let me use my computer for work. Win 7 added tons of "user friendly" features that made doing actual work a pain. I had to tweak the freak out of the registry to make it functional. It still does things like running off with a file after I rename it and turning my music project folders into commercial music folders.
I'm partial to EVGA Nvidia graphics cards.
Quote from: Atheon on June 23, 2016, 12:59:50 PM
I'm partial to EVGA Nvidia graphics cards.
Thanks. Do all new computers support them?
Quote from: gentle_dissident on June 23, 2016, 12:40:20 PMI have no idea which brand or model of graphics processor is the best for the money.
Since you rarely play video games and nothing you've listed so far has high requirements, you'd be fine with a mid or low-tier graphics card. We're talking anywhere from around $100 to $160. Something like this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487157) or earlier would be a more than enough for Catan and 3D work.
QuoteAre modern on board graphics chips OK?
You could go that route, yes. But you'd get poor performance for anything graphically intensive.
QuoteI'm guessing there are compatibility issues with motherboard slots and programs.
Yes. First, you have to make sure the form factors (http://www.utilizewindows.com/types-of-computer-cases-and-motherboard-factors/) match between the motherboard and the case. ATX is the most common form factor.
Next, you have to make sure the CPU will fit the motherboard. Any decent motherboard listing will tell you what CPU it can support, usually by describing at as ___ socket. For example, this motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132713) will support this CPU (https://www.amazon.com/AMD-FX-4300-Quad-Core-Processor-FD4300WMW4MHK/dp/B01ASDDREE/ref=sr_1_7?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1466703196&sr=1-7&refinements=p_n_feature_keywords_four_browse-bin%3A7107930011%2Cp_36%3A5000-10000).
There are sites that can help point out any incompatibility issues. If you plug the components into PCPartPicker (https://pcpartpicker.com/list/), it'll warn you if you pick incompatible components.
QuoteIs there a particular brand of computer I should look at?
Not really. Some people are married to AMD or Nvidia for graphics and AMD or Intel for the CPU, but honestly, the brand isn't terribly important. I'd just check out the reviews and make sure people were happy with the component they got. If the comments section is filled with horror stories, I'd rethink my purchase.
QuoteIs Win 10 OK compared to Win 7? I really liked XP. It let me use my computer for work. Win 7 added tons of "user friendly" features that made doing actual work a pain. I had to tweak the freak out of the registry to make it functional. It still does things like running off with a file after I rename it and turning my music project folders into commercial music folders.
?? Running off with a file after you rename it? Like moving it from its current folder to a new one? Or are you talking about sorting it in its folder according to some undesired sorting method?
As for the Windows 7 My ___ libraries, I don't like it either. I shunned that feature early on and haven't had a problem with it since.
XP would leave my file right where I renamed it and not move it by whatever parameter the folder is set. It let me break the grid for organization. Win support says these are features and not bugs. Win support is annoying. I stopped communicating with them.
Win 7 automatically changes the folder type to commercial music. It even screws up my commercial music folders by deleting or corrupting folder.jpg's. Win support said it was a known issue they had no intention of fixing.
Anyway, The only building I'm going to do is insert a low latency sound card and eventually a compatible graphics card. I really just need to know what ready built computer would be best for this. I'd also like to know if Win 10 is closer to XP and far far far removed from Win 8.
Quote from: gentle_dissident on June 23, 2016, 11:06:52 AMWe have a CRT in our living room.
I recommend replacing that ASAP. There's pretty much zero reason to keep CRTs around anymore.
QuoteI was hoping to be told to go buy some ready made job.
You could go that route. Lots of people do. But generally speaking, it costs more for a prebuilt machine than buying the components for said machine and either assembling it yourself or getting a friend to assemble it.
QuoteLast I read, I'd have to pay $1000 to avoid bleed. Has that issue been fixed recently? It's too bad plasma isn't manufactured anymore.
$1000?! Some poorly-manufactured or damaged monitors have noticeable bleed. But the vast majority do not have noticeable bleed. Mine certainly doesn't, and I spent far, far less than $1000!
QuoteI don't know if I could handle a much bigger screen. When working on art and music, my eyes are all over the place. I'd think more area to cover would wear me out and be less precise.
I thought so too when I went from 19" to 27". Now, I'll never go back.
Quote from: Hydra009 on June 23, 2016, 02:09:53 PM
either assembling it yourself or getting a friend to assemble it.
I have no time, knowledge, or friends.
Quote from: Hydra009 on June 23, 2016, 02:09:53 PM
I recommend replacing that ASAP. There's pretty much zero reason to keep CRTs around anymore.
An LCD screen is going to cost a lot to get the height our CRT has. We'll just be gaining a little extra on the sides. We only watch Midwife anyway. I'd watch the premier of BattleBots if I didn't have to work. If we had a bigger place that wasn't a duplex, I might set up a projector with surround sound to watch Star Wars over and over again. However, I've watched Star Wars repeatedly on a 1.5" square screen. It's the content I'm after.
Quote from: gentle_dissident on June 23, 2016, 02:04:28 PMI'd also like to know if Win 10 is closer to XP and far far far removed from Win 8.
Windows 10 fixed a lot of the interface issues that windows 8 introduced, yes. Public opinion goes both ways on it. Some people upgraded and love it, some people were dissatisfied, some people even went right back to 7. Personally, I plan on sticking with 7 for a while. It's stable, it has all the features I need and not many that I don't.
Quote from: gentle_dissident on June 23, 2016, 02:11:40 PMI have no time, knowledge, or friends.
You sound like me when I was 15. Now I at least have some time and knowledge. :P
In the 80's, I had access to 7 different types of computers. I liked them all for different reasons. I was just happy to compute. Now there's really just one type of computer worth having, IMHO, but there are many more options.
BTW, There's a Laser 50 sitting behind my monitor.
Quote from: gentle_dissident on June 23, 2016, 02:43:51 PMBTW, There's a Laser 50 sitting behind my monitor.
(http://i.imgur.com/8eUqDyb.jpg)
That thing jams.
Anyway, to finally answer your question and get you some headway to your new setup, anything like this (https://www.google.com/search?q=prebuilt+computer+under+%24600&source=lnms&tbm=shop&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjU58Te6L7NAhXJox4KHT5kBMsQ_AUICCgB&biw=1310&bih=708) will probably be fine for Catan, 3D work, and YouTube, though it pains me to go the prebuilt route.
Quote from: Hydra009 on June 23, 2016, 02:57:04 PM
it pains me to go the prebuilt route.
While it's been fun chatting, it appears you entered the wrong thread. LOL. I'll ask elsewhere.
"I want to upgrade my computer"
"Here are some resources to help with selecting new components."
"What I really want is a ready-made computer"
"Ok, here are some prebuilt computers within your budget."
"That's not what I want."
¯\_(ãƒ,,)_/¯
Quote from: Hydra009 on June 23, 2016, 03:18:22 PM
"I want to upgrade my computer"
"Here are some resources to help with selecting new components."
"What I really want is a ready-made computer"
"Ok, here are some prebuilt computers within your budget."
"That's not what I want."
¯\_(ãƒ,,)_/¯
I'm pretty sure I was clear about what I wanted form the start. "Please Suggest a Desktop Computer". Your mind just isn't used to operating that way. No reason to take offense.
Admittedly, I have trouble parsing what you're saying to me. And quite a few of your replies make little sense to me, particularly the CRT post.
However, I really tried to answer the question, as vague as it was. I don't really know what exactly you're after and it doesn't look like you're prepared to tell me. So not much I can do on my end.
Quote from: Hydra009 on June 23, 2016, 04:00:03 PM
it doesn't look like you're prepared to tell me.
I've been very clear from the beginning. I have said just what I plan to do with this computer out of the box. I'm going to be clear again, the problem is not on my end.
I will always reccomend AVA direct. You can configure a PC to your needs and budget. There's also some pre-built stuff that is pretty affordable. Also. Best customer service I've ever had.
I got a pretty decent gaming laptop in 2012 that still runs a good amount of games from there. I'll be getting a desktop from them soon for my upgrade
http://www.avadirect.com/
Quote from: gentle_dissident on June 24, 2016, 12:09:16 AM
I've been very clear from the beginning. I have said just what I plan to do with this computer out of the box. I'm going to be clear again, the problem is not on my end.
Actually, you haven't been all that clear about what you intend to do with the machine IMO. You indicate in your first post that your current audio hardware has low latency ASIO drivers. People doing pro audio and video stuff worry about low latency audio. I'm not a gamer but I would suppose the hard core gamer guys might be interested in that as well.
You make no mention of intending to do professional music or audio production nor video with the machine. You mention playing games but nothing graphic intensive which would suggest that you're not what most would consider to be a hard core gamer. Are your games audio intensive? Do you need extremely low latency audio drivers for some reason?
Then you mention that you a lot of 2d graphics work which one would assume means photos and whatnot. Then 2 seconds later you're wondering aloud why anyone needs 500GB of storage. I'm not knocking you so don't take this wrong, but it seems a little out of character for someone who does 'a lot of graphics work' to not understand why people might use lots of storage space.
So yeah, what exactly do you intend to use the machine for? You mention games. What games? List them. All of them. You mention 2d and 3d graphics work. Again, what applications are you going to be using? List them. All of them. What else to do intend to use the machine for? You want to watch netflix and youtube full screen but quite frankly, pretty much anything built in the last few years should be able to do that without breaking a sweat.
Quote from: Johan on June 24, 2016, 07:10:56 AM
Actually, you haven't been all that clear about what you intend to do with the machine IMO.
Then your reading comprehension is lacking.
Insults. Nice. Make friends much? Whatever.
Here's a machine that should fit your mission (http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/91/912bcb507515413fde835d7b906343c2964db7b1a360a4f373cef3daaad16122.jpg).
Best of luck asking for advice in the future. Asshole.
GD .. either accept the red pill (MS et al) or the blue pill (Apple). Either way you are a slave of the police state. The idea of a self built PC, or being off the net, just marks you as a terrorist, or worse ... a Sanders supporter ;-) Linux users are pure Marxists, just ask Bill Hitler Gates.
Quote from: Baruch on June 25, 2016, 01:46:41 PM
GD .. either accept the red pill (MS et al) or the blue pill (Apple). Either way you are a slave of the police state. The idea of a self built PC, or being off the net, just marks you as a terrorist, or worse ... a Sanders supporter ;-) Linux users are pure Marxists, just ask Bill Hitler Gates.
What about people that dual boot with linux AND Windows??????? lol
@gentle_dissident you really haven't been clear You say you don't play graphic intensive games, but that means as much to us as saying to a New Yorker "I'll be there in a little bit. Only a few blocks away" It may seem clear to you, but it's not. A graphic intensive game to you may be not graphic intensive at all to us, meaning you will need significantly less processing power than we would recommend. And similarly, it could be the complete opposite. A game that isn't graphic intensive to you, could be very graphic intensive to us. All you mention in terms of games is Catan, which is a videogame version of a board game. There surely is other games you play. And even a game like that can require some decent set of graphics. Civ 5 is just a turn based game, and you would think it would not need too much graphics... and it doesn't really, but it does need more than you might think.
You need to be more clear, whether you think you do or not. Don't be an asswipe to people that are trying to help you, especially when it's clear that the people you're asking know more about the subject. Hydra and Johan and even myself know quite a bit about computer setups. Johan and Hydra, probably a little bit more than me, even. I'd take their advice. Otherwise, if you're going to insult them for not being able to decipher the very vague information you gave us, you can go to a computer store and have them help you and sell you something.
Thanks for the props PE but this thread has taught me all that I need to know about GD. And that is essentially that from here on out, GD can eat my shit and die for all i care. I am sick and fucking tired of making a genuine effort to help asshats like that only to be insulted by them. People paid me a hansom rate for my computer advice at one point and I never once had anyone even come close to insulting me. Now I offer that same expertise for free on the net to try and help a fellow atheist and this fucking gizz monkey wants to casually throw insults? Fuck him.
Let him go to whatever professional will even agree to have him as a customer and let him pay whatever premium they want to charge. Asshats like that deserve to raped in the wallet. I sincerely hope some professional ends up retiring early off what they end up charging this asshole so he can play some fucking video games.
LOL. I'm sorry none of you could recommend a desktop computer, but don't take it personally.
Quote from: gentle_dissident on June 26, 2016, 12:05:59 AM
LOL. I'm sorry none of you could recommend a desktop computer, but don't take it personally.
You should read the computer review sites. Take them all with a grain of salt, of course, but you can be a more educated consumer after some research.
Anybody got a favorite site to recommend?
You can also go to computer stores and just ask. Have a clear list of things you want to do with the computer and the price range you're working with.
Finally, look for "open box" items that meet your needs. I recently bought a laptop computer that listed for $749.00 for $614.00.
Quote from: gentle_dissident on June 26, 2016, 12:05:59 AM
LOL. I'm sorry none of you could recommend a desktop computer, but don't take it personally.
No worries, I'm good. Nothing person. Sorry you're such an asswipe that you couldn't be helped. Sucks being you.
Quote from: PickelledEggs on June 25, 2016, 02:41:00 PMYou need to be more clear, whether you think you do or not. Don't be an asswipe to people that are trying to help you, especially when it's clear that the people you're asking know more about the subject. Hydra and Johan and even myself know quite a bit about computer setups. Johan and Hydra, probably a little bit more than me, even. I'd take their advice. Otherwise, if you're going to insult them for not being able to decipher the very vague information you gave us, you can go to a computer store and have them help you and sell you something.
Johan is much more knowledgeable than me. I have a basic understanding, but I don't know this stuff intimately like he does. My main strength is enlisting various online resources to my aid. I've already linked a lot of them.
That said, I tried to educate and also I tried to throw stuff out there to in the hopes of getting some sort of feedback that would aid in narrowing down the search. Neither met with much success. Instead, I got a condescending "I've been totally clear. Your mind just isn't used to operating that way", which probably isn't the best attitude to have when you're enlisting other people's help.
GD is probably going to end up with a computer to match the antique CRT and yellowy LCD screen, which is such a shame.
Yeah, no problem
@Johan . No need to explain what went on in this thread to me. I got you.
If he can't figure out why we've been telling him we need more information and that he's not been clear, he's just going to need to figure out this computer thing on his own. He can go and be condescending to Google.com, AVADirect.com, or Newegg.com or something.
Quote from: Hydra009 on June 26, 2016, 12:41:41 PM
Johan is much more knowledgeable than me. I have a basic understanding, but I don't know this stuff intimately like he does. My main strength is enlisting various online resources to my aid. I've already linked a lot of them.
That said, I tried to educate and also I tried to throw stuff out there to in the hopes of getting some sort of feedback that would aid in narrowing down the search. Neither met with much success. Instead, I got a condescending "I've been totally clear. Your mind just isn't used to operating that way", which probably isn't the best attitude to have when you're enlisting other people's help.
GD is probably going to end up with a computer to match the antique CRT and yellowy LCD screen, which is such a shame.
The point is that everyone that helped out... you, Johan, me.... all know more about putting together a computer than GD does. And if he's asking someone that knows more than him, it's stupid to tell them they're wrong and lack comprehension skills when he didn't supply enough information in the first place/refuses to supply more information after we asked for it.... to help HIM......
It's just annoying to offer help and be dismissed/be told we're lacking reading skills by the person that asked for help and won't even give us enough information to help.
Building your own desktop PC is the way to go. There are great videos on YouTube showing you how to do it. It's not difficult, an it can be fun!
After reading through this thread I'm ready to make my recommendation. I suggest a Gateway 2000 4SX-33 Complete Desktop Computer including Gateway FPD 1530 Monitor, New PS2 Gateway Keyboard, Microsoft PS2 Intellimouse Trackball, Ethernet ISA Adapter with Install driver disk, Windows 95 Install CD, Microsoft Setup floppy disk, Windows 95 Manual, Certificate of Authenticity with Microsoft Genuine Product ID OEM License Number. AC Power and Monitor cables included. Description: CPU: iNtel 486sx, CPU Socket is Upgradeable RAM: 24MB RAM Upgradeable Cache: 256k, Upgradeable to 512k Ports: Serial COM1, COM2, Parallel LPT1, PS2 Keyboard, PS2 Mouse, RJ45/coax Ethernet Sound: SoundBlaster Compatable with Game Joystick port Video: Built In Cirrus Logic VGA Hard Drive: IDE 480MB Floppy Drive: 3.5" 1.44 Disk Drive: CD ROM ReWritable. Does not come with cow box.
Yours for just $395 plus $45 shipping.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/tSMAAOSwuhhXVgOP/s-l1600.jpg)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gateway-2000-Desktop-Computer-Monitor-Super-Clean-Complete-Original-1993-/222144270515?hash=item33b8d490b3:g:tSMAAOSwuhhXVgOP
don't go anywhere near Best Buy or a big box store. Buy from Amazon. You can get it cheaper and they won't try to throw in shit software along with the deal. And you can read the reviews before you buy.
I recommend my Erazer 510 by Lenovo ($1449 at Amazon). It's more expensive than what you want to pay. Hell, it was more expensive than what I wanted to pay, but it does a good job at running Flight Simulator, and sometimes you just have to grit your teeth and fork it over. Flight Simulator may or may not be a special beast. But the 510 does have power.
I asked the same question when I bought my first computer. My guru asked if I wanted to play games, to which I, as a nuts and bolts intellectual, replied with a definitive and disgusted, "No, absolutely not." So I bought a cheaper laptop. Oddly it came with a bunch of extra software, including one disk that included a short preview of Combat Flight Simulator, and I though, "Hmmm, this looks interesting," so I went out and bought it the next day. Combat Flight Simulator wasn't the power hog that the regular Flight Simulator was, and it worked fine on my laptop. But I soon tired of flying sorties and doing dogfights with the Germans. The sorties began flying out of different airbases. There was no navigation to speak of. You would just follow along with your flight squadron, until you encountered the enemy, and then all Hell would break loose.
There was a heads up display that showed your lat and lon location, so one day, after getting bored with shooting down planes, I wrote down the coordinates from one air base, and then started a flight from another airbase just to see if these various airbases were actually part of the overall sandbox or only showed up for specific sorties.
Flying from one coordinate to another is a pretty clumsy way of navigating, and I flew for an hour or so over the lovely German landscape flying in general directions (N E S W) toward the desired coordinates and eventually off in the distance, I spotted an airfield, so I landed there and thought, "Wow, that was exceptionally satisfying," So I sent for a copy of the regular Flight Simulator which didn't focus on fighter planes, but the regular Flight Simulator ran like crap on my crap computer, so 3 months after I bought my first computer, I bought another one (and back then a primitive computer with a 10th of the power cost twice as much as the midrange ones today, like $3000... Ouch!).
So I'm partial to buying a bit more than you need, because you don't know where you might want to go. So there's my recommendation. Not necessarily all that helpful and outside of your expectations, but it's my recommendation. Did I do good???
I got myself a pc made by a pc creator service, designed for high level gaming and with a huge amount of storage.
it cost me around £900, but when you think about what the cost of a high level gaming pc can cost, I got this for a bargain.
Not sure where your are abouts, but look online to your localized pc creator services, and maybe your find a good deal in just getting one made up.
Aww! I missed all of the fun!
Quote from: PopeyesPappy on June 28, 2016, 09:57:38 AM
After reading through this thread I'm ready to make my recommendation. I suggest a Gateway 2000 4SX-33 Complete Desktop Computer including Gateway FPD 1530 Monitor, New PS2 Gateway Keyboard, Microsoft PS2 Intellimouse Trackball, Ethernet ISA Adapter with Install driver disk, Windows 95 Install CD, Microsoft Setup floppy disk, Windows 95 Manual, Certificate of Authenticity with Microsoft Genuine Product ID OEM License Number. AC Power and Monitor cables included. Description: CPU: iNtel 486sx, CPU Socket is Upgradeable RAM: 24MB RAM Upgradeable Cache: 256k, Upgradeable to 512k Ports: Serial COM1, COM2, Parallel LPT1, PS2 Keyboard, PS2 Mouse, RJ45/coax Ethernet Sound: SoundBlaster Compatable with Game Joystick port Video: Built In Cirrus Logic VGA Hard Drive: IDE 480MB Floppy Drive: 3.5" 1.44 Disk Drive: CD ROM ReWritable. Does not come with cow box.
Plus free time machine.
Based on the information provided, it sounded to me like the best fit.