The Upgrade Advisor told me...

[jmflu]

I'm the one with the Dell Dimension E310 I bought four years ago. I just checked, and it has 504 MB of RAM, and a 465GB HD. I'm confused as to why it has SO much less RAM than the computers built nowadays, but in some cases, MORE HD capacity!

I just checked a Wal-Mart site and wrote down the info on several computers to compare them. I wouldn't know one processor from another, so that will have to be research all on its own, but I can easily compare HD and RAM sizes. Right now that guy's recommendation at Staples is looking right-on as far as a good deal goes! The only other thing that catches my eye (in the affordability range) is an HP S6120F-E running Vista but with an auto-upgrade to W7, with 8 GB RAM and a 750GB HD. IT's $578. Any idea which is the better buy? The Compaq has a AMD Athlon II x 2 215 Dual-Core 2.7 GHz processor and the HP is running an Intel Pentium E6300, if that matters.

[Train]

Well, the newer operating system work better with more ram.

Ram has dropped in price, big time, over the years.
For less hassel, I would go with the Compaq. Plus the 215 would use less electricty in the long run.

[SuperSparks]

What do you use your computer for, jmflu? That's really the most important question when deciding what is the best option.

[jmflu]

Hey y'all, I got the Compaq. I am so happy to be going a lot faster! Win 7 is great!! I just wish I could figure out how to get my iTunes over. They say they can only be on one computer at a time.