My First Upgrade

[Jarrodp1]

I'm looking to upgrade/buy a new computer, what do you recommend that i do?

I have an alright Computing knowledge so I will understand a lot of language used, no need to talk baby to me.

My computer is horrendous, still running XP and you'll probably laugh so hard at its specs.

All I use the computer for is Producing music, gaming (Nothing that needs anything decent to run, equivalent to games like "Runescape" or "Counter Strike"), social networking and watching videos.

I used to be able to put up with this set-up but ever since I've started taking my music production seriously I'm encountering a lot of chopping and misses on FL11 and cannot made any song with over four layers so I'm guessing that I will need a new Sound card?

Money wise I'm not rich, If you're from the UK and have ever been on an Apprenticeship wage you'll understand.

I'm completely open to buying a new build but I'm not looking for anything that will cost me a bomb

Also I'm not interested in Laptops, Just Desktops please!

Any help would be much apprichiated!


(Get ready to piss yourselves)

Here are my specs;

ProcessorIntel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz ManufacturerIntel Speed3.0 GHz Number of Cores2 CPU IDBFEBFBFF00000F29 Family0F Model02 Stepping9 Revision2E Video Card 1RADEON 9200 SERIES ManufacturerATI ChipsetRADEON 9250/9200 Series AGP (0x5964) Dedicated Memory256 MB Total Memory240.0 MB Pixel Shader Version1.4 Vertex Shader Version1.1 Hardware T & LYes Vendor ID1002 Device ID5964 Plug and Play IDVEN_1002&DEV_5964&SUBSYS_7CA6174B&REV_01 Driver Version8.252.0.0 Video Card 2RADEON 9200 SERIES - Secondary ManufacturerATI ChipsetRADEON 9200 SERIES - Secondary Dedicated Memory16 MB Total Memory16 MB Pixel Shader Version1.4 Vertex Shader Version1.1 Hardware T & LYes Vendor ID1002 Device ID5D44 Plug and Play IDVEN_1002&DEV_5D44&SUBSYS_7CA7174B&REV_01 Driver Version8.252.0.0 Memory1.6 GB Operating SystemMicrosoft Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 3 (build 2600) Service Pack3 Size32 Bit Edition
Version5.1.2600 Locale0809 BIOS4.06 Rev. 1.05.1625 Version4.06 Rev. 1.05.1625 ManufacturerFUJITSU SIEMENS // Phoenix Technologies Ltd. Date09/05/03 Display Maximum Resolution1024 x 768 Sound Device 1Unimodem Half-Duplex Audio Device Driver Version
Sound Device 2Vinyl AC'97 Codec Combo Driver (WDM) Driver Version
Sound Device 3ManyCam Virtual Webcam, WDM Video Capture Driver Driver Version
Sound Device 4Audio Codecs Driver Version
Sound Device 5Legacy Audio Drivers Driver Version
Sound Device 6Media Control Devices Driver Version
Sound Device 7Legacy Video Capture Devices Driver Version
Sound Device 8Video Codecs Driver Version
Sound Device 9Microsoft Kernel System Audio Device Driver Version
Sound Device 10Microsoft Kernel Wave Audio Mixer Driver Version
Sound Device 11Microsoft WINMM WDM Audio Compatibility Driver Driver Version
DVDDTSOFT Virtual CdRom Device CDDTSOFT Virtual CdRom Device Drive
Size149.0 GB Free28.4 GB Browsers
Internet Explorer8.0.6001.18702 Chrome0.0 Firefox26.0 (en-US) Safari
Software
Java7.0.510 Flash
DirectX9.0c .NET3.5.30729.01 QuickTime7.69.80.9 Adobe PDF Reader11.0.0.379

 

[jmacavali]

Start with a budget so we know where to start.

 

[Jarrodp1]

£100-£250 Max

 

[jmacavali]

If you want a good place to start and don't mind building it yourself I recommend this:
Barebone, Barebones, Barebone Computer System Kit, PC at TigerDirect.com

That's how I built mine when I was too lazy to look up the parts individually and didn't want to worry about compatibility and wasn't looking for a high end gaming system.

You can easily add a video card and/or a sound card to any of those.

 

[BK_123]

If you want a good place to start and don't mind building it yourself I recommend this:
Barebone, Barebones, Barebone Computer System Kit, PC at TigerDirect.com

That's how I built mine when I was too lazy to look up the parts individually and didn't want to worry about compatibility and wasn't looking for a high end gaming system.

You can easily add a video card and/or a sound card to any of those.

^^ This

If your a first time pc builder or upgrading then a kit a is great way to start out. Since you are in the UK and unfortunately Tiger Direct doesn't deliver to the UK if that's your location then I found some barebone kits around your price range like this one Novatech Barebone Bundle - Intel i3 4130- 4GB DDR3 1600Mhz - Intel H81M Chipset Motherboard - NovatechTower Case & PSU | BB-41304D which is only £214.99, Check the others out here Barebone Systems : Computer Supplies and PC Components from Novatech. I wouldn't go for the system that has a Celeron in it as they are slow and wouldn't be very fast. I'd recommend going for the on I recommended which has an Intel Core i3 in it which is very fast.

 

[rowcon123]

I would go with ebuyer since they have the cheapest parts I have found for England so far