Which of these two PC's is best?

[Emperor's New Widescreen]

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/st...-15245&sku=468709&page=Product&fm=0&sm=0&tm=1


http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/st...-15245&sku=204865&page=Product&fm=0&sm=0&tm=1


One has a built in TV tuner and remote control
the other has a higher spec (processor and maybe FSB?)
but both are the same price.

What does the remote control control? The TV bit?

Also is the TV tuner any good/worth it? I was thinking of
getting a Freeview 'dongle' for TV.

I am not sure if the FSB figures are correct, the manufactures data
is here but its not very informative.
http://www.packardbell.co.uk/products/node1817.asp

Any advice appreciated.

 

[MJP]

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/st...-15245&sku=468709&page=Product&fm=0&sm=0&tm=1


http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/st...-15245&sku=204865&page=Product&fm=0&sm=0&tm=1


One has a built in TV tuner and remote control
the other has a higher spec (processor and maybe FSB?)
but both are the same price.

What does the remote control control? The TV bit?

Also is the TV tuner any good/worth it? I was thinking of
getting a Freeview 'dongle' for TV.

I am not sure if the FSB figures are correct, the manufactures data
is here but its not very informative.
http://www.packardbell.co.uk/products/node1817.asp

Any advice appreciated.

Buy this one instead http://tinyurl.com/d4tlw

MJP

 

[Joel]

I will be candid. If you don't know what the remote is for, then you don't
need that computer. Why buy something you sound like you don't know how to
use. And what kind of TV tuner is it? Will it support hdtv that everything
seems to be going to? The TV tuner is more than likely something you need to
add on later. And of course you want the one with the higher fsb if the
comps are the same price.

I am basing this on your email because you sent two same links and I did not
want to click on two same links.

 

[kony]

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/st...-15245&sku=468709&page=Product&fm=0&sm=0&tm=1


http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/st...-15245&sku=204865&page=Product&fm=0&sm=0&tm=1


One has a built in TV tuner and remote control
the other has a higher spec (processor and maybe FSB?)
but both are the same price.

Just CPU, the systems are probably identical except for the
obvious differences. Both are kinda low-end, integrated
video and only 512mB memory, such a small monitor with 19"
now down around $250 after rebates (at least in the US).

What does the remote control control? The TV bit?

Yes.
If you found a different system that had WinXP MCE, the
remote might even do a bit more. If you want an integrated
tuner, I'd think about MCE version, but some don't like it-
I don't, I use regular bundled tuner software but I accept
that some DO like it and can't guess whether you would- but
having it, you don't HAVE to use the MCE features if you
don't like them... just a thought, i have no idea if PB
offers any on their site as I didn't look.

Also is the TV tuner any good/worth it? I was thinking of
getting a Freeview 'dongle' for TV.

I know nothing about freeview. The tuner is probably
sufficient, to do the obvious, watch TV and record with
software encoding (which is higher CPU overhead but often
more flexible in which formats you can capture to, depending
on the versatility of the software which is a variable i
can't know).

I am not sure if the FSB figures are correct, the manufactures data
is here but its not very informative.
http://www.packardbell.co.uk/products/node1817.asp

Dont' worry about FSB figures, it's same for those so
basically you'd get a marginally faster CPU with the 3400,
but it's not enough difference to notice really, more of a
matter of whether you want the included tv tuner or plan on
buying another tuner instead/anyway.

 

[Sleepy]

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/st...-15245&sku=468709&page=Product&fm=0&sm=0&tm=1


http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/st...-15245&sku=204865&page=Product&fm=0&sm=0&tm=1


One has a built in TV tuner and remote control
the other has a higher spec (processor and maybe FSB?)
but both are the same price.

What does the remote control control? The TV bit?

Also is the TV tuner any good/worth it? I was thinking of
getting a Freeview 'dongle' for TV.

I am not sure if the FSB figures are correct, the manufactures data
is here but its not very informative.
http://www.packardbell.co.uk/products/node1817.asp

Any advice appreciated.

Often sites like PCworlds get the info on PCs wrong - I'd assume both system
are 400fsb. Theres very little differance in them - just the TV card. Both
are fine for internet and office usage and watching films, DVDs etc. For
gaming they are low on memory (you really need 1gb) and the onboard graphics
chip is very slow for 3D games like Quake 4, FEAR etc .... Also for a cheap
machine like that the monitor will likely have a slow response time -
meaning that moving images will tend be a little blurred or 'ghost'. View
one instore and scroll a webpage up and down with the mousewheel - see if
the image blurs and if its acceptable to you.

 

[Paul]

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/st...-15245&sku=468709&page=Product&fm=0&sm=0&tm=1
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/st...-15245&sku=204865&page=Product&fm=0&sm=0&tm=1


One has a built in TV tuner and remote control
the other has a higher spec (processor and maybe FSB?)
but both are the same price.

What does the remote control control? The TV bit?

Also is the TV tuner any good/worth it? I was thinking of
getting a Freeview 'dongle' for TV.

I am not sure if the FSB figures are correct, the manufactures data
is here but its not very informative.
http://www.packardbell.co.uk/products/node1817.asp

Any advice appreciated.

I would definitely want to see the monitor on the computer
in person. Visit a few computer stores and look at the
monitors on their computers. How many of them do you like
the look of ? Ask the sales staff to take the movie they'll
be playing on the screen, off the computer - then ask to see
what the Windows desktop looks like. Examining the text
quality on the display, will help you decide whether a cheap
LCD is acceptable to you or not. Any LCD screen will make
movies look great, but there are very few LCD screens with
exceptional text quality.

If I could not build my own computers any more, I would buy
a computer without monitor. Then visit local computer stores
and shop for a monitor to go with it.

Also, there are still good CRT type monitors out there.
Read some of the comments here for example:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824116282

You can always add a TV tuner card to the PC later if you want.
Similarly, you can pick up a DVD writer later for about $50.
So you don't have to be satisfied with the "toys" they include
in these offers. But the base computer parts have to be solid,
if you expect to get a few years out of it.

HTH,
Paul

 

[GT]

I will be candid. If you don't know what the remote is for, then you don't
need that computer. Why buy something you sound like you don't know how to
use. And what kind of TV tuner is it? Will it support hdtv that everything
seems to be going to? The TV tuner is more than likely something you need
to add on later. And of course you want the one with the higher fsb if the
comps are the same price.

I am basing this on your email because you sent two same links and I did
not want to click on two same links.

I got two different links - subtle, but different - check the number in the
URL after the 4 @ signs.

 

[Emperor's New Widescreen]

Often sites like PCworlds get the info on PCs wrong - I'd assume both system
are 400fsb.

So would I, it's unfortunate you cant rely on retail sites to supply the
correct
info.

Theres very little differance in them - just the TV card. Both
are fine for internet and office usage and watching films, DVDs etc. For
gaming they are low on memory (you really need 1gb) and the onboard graphics
chip is very slow for 3D games like Quake 4, FEAR etc .... Also for a cheap
machine like that the monitor will likely have a slow response time -
meaning that moving images will tend be a little blurred or 'ghost'. View
one instore and scroll a webpage up and down with the mousewheel - see if
the image blurs and if its acceptable to you.

I doubt i will get web access instore!!
I am not that worried abou timage quality as I have a CRT monitor I can
use if I need good quality.
I don't do power hungry gaming just looking for a PC to cope with
badly written slow applications.
I probably wouldn't use the TV bit or notice the difference between
a 3200 and a 3400 (less than10%) so there is not much in it.

Any way I just checked the links again and it changed one
costs £59 more but has a 17" monitor. Which rules it out.

 

[Emperor's New Widescreen]

On Wed, 11 Jan 2006 22:52:25 GMT, "Emperor's New Widescreen"


http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@098198 3672.1137015717@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccfdaddgjkkijgmcflgceggdhhmdgmk.0&category_o
id=-15245&sku=468709&page=Product&fm=0&sm=0&tm=1
9586.1137019405@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccfdaddgjkkijgmcflgceggdhhmdgmk.0&category_o
id=-15245&sku=204865&page=Product&fm=0&sm=0&tm=1

Just CPU, the systems are probably identical except for the
obvious differences. Both are kinda low-end, integrated
video and only 512mB memory, such a small monitor with 19"
now down around $250 after rebates (at least in the US).



Yes.
If you found a different system that had WinXP MCE, the
remote might even do a bit more. If you want an integrated
tuner, I'd think about MCE version, but some don't like it-
I don't, I use regular bundled tuner software but I accept
that some DO like it and can't guess whether you would- but
having it, you don't HAVE to use the MCE features if you
don't like them... just a thought, i have no idea if PB
offers any on their site as I didn't look.



I know nothing about freeview.

Its basically digital terrestial TV in the UK, here are about 30 channels
on it as opposed to just 5 on analogue. If I wanted TV my PC I would
want all 30 so I would have to fork out £50 for a Freeview decoder
(dongle) which would make the TV tuner redundant I believe.

The tuner is probably
sufficient, to do the obvious, watch TV and record with
software encoding (which is higher CPU overhead but often
more flexible in which formats you can capture to, depending
on the versatility of the software which is a variable i
can't know).

I think it is easier with the Freeview dongle thing which gives
digital video signal so there would be no encoding overhead
as its already done by the CPU in the dongle (probably a 300mhz
CPU).

So I guess the TV tuner card offers me nothing?

Dont' worry about FSB figures, it's same for those so
basically you'd get a marginally faster CPU with the 3400,
but it's not enough difference to notice really, more of a
matter of whether you want the included tv tuner or plan on
buying another tuner instead/anyway.

I think I would have to buy the Freeview thing, I am not sure
what a TV card does as I have never used one, I assume it
just lets you watch analogue TV your PC in which case I
would rather not have it and spend £50 on a digital dongle.

 

[kony]

Its basically digital terrestial TV in the UK, here are about 30 channels
on it as opposed to just 5 on analogue. If I wanted TV my PC I would
want all 30 so I would have to fork out £50 for a Freeview decoder
(dongle) which would make the TV tuner redundant I believe.

Ok, I had a passing idea of what freeview was but I meant so
far as the hardware requirements, and/or whether any PCs
sold there with a "TV Tuner" were expected to be able to
tune it.

I think it is easier with the Freeview dongle thing which gives
digital video signal so there would be no encoding overhead
as its already done by the CPU in the dongle (probably a 300mhz
CPU).

Not true, encoding is about compression, any/all tuner cards
(including analog type) digitize the signal as that is
manditory. You have to use a codec to compress it into the
target format, or record uncompressed which is a few dozen
(or more) GB per hour. Contrast that with Divx for example,
when I encode to divx it takes up less than 2GB per hour
depending on quality desired.

So I guess the TV tuner card offers me nothing?

I dont' know what it is.
Even with the freeview decoder, you'd still have to get that
signal into the PC. What's the output of the freeview
dongle? "Digital" doesn't tell us how you'd get that into a
computer.

I think I would have to buy the Freeview thing, I am not sure
what a TV card does as I have never used one, I assume it
just lets you watch analogue TV your PC in which case I
would rather not have it and spend £50 on a digital dongle.

Well in simplest terms a TV card tunes. You have multiple
frequency input whether digital or analog and need a way to
discriminate the discrete channels and direct which get
pushed to the video card overlay. If your freeview dongle
has analog (S-Video) out and your video (card or
motherboard) has S-Video, VIVO, input then there's no need
for the tuner card at all. Otherwise, you'll have to look
at what the freeview dongle outputs and go from there.