Desktop pc help!

[mail2sc]

Hello to all,

I am new to this forum..I have to buy a very cheap pc. But it must have the following requirements/features..

1. I will use it for general browsing. Firefox, Kemelon, Chrome and Opera.
2. will use a messenger client digsby , qip, infium
3. Use a 3G card for internet, I dont use line based broadband.
4. I will play two or three games, and Counter strike source will be the biggest game i will play on it(without network gaming).I dont require a good graphic card for it. (Can run on minimum settings)
5. Microsoft office, and some worthless applications which i will test.
6. Audio-video softwares and photoshop, I use intensively.
7. Skype.

My questions are these:-

How much minimum ram is required if i am using these applications all at once?
Which min core processor (probably INTEL only) is required?(Technical name with branding)
I dont need disk more than 500Gb, if i use an external TB drive will it make me face problems?
Windows 7 will be used probably. If i use an XP will it save me over Ram limitations?
Free Avast will be used as antivirus program, will it work on it properly?

I think i have mentioned much of the informations here. I will be using it for very basic purposes and i am thinking of a 32 bit machine for a time period of next 3 years..

Please help me with this.


p.s: Sorry i may sound naive, and i have to save lots of money of useless machine so that i can buy an android based mobile phone which will probably work more than this pc for me.

[julien]

Hello mail2sc,

Maybe you could provide us with a little more information concerning your budget for purchasing a computer, along with your area (all computer shops don't ship to the same areas, unfortunately). I suspect any kind of computer would do in your case (pick at least 2Gb RAM and 320Gb hard drive, processor 2Ghz should be plenty enough).

[varindia]

If the processor will be taken care of it will last for some years instead of 2GHZ with dual core or core2duo in Pentium D series because in PC world things outdated soon with couple of years. The HD and RAM can be replaced or extended with less price in compared to process if upgrade required in future.

[andyou111]

computer now are very cheap

[krafa]

Hei,
Given that, why don't you just go and buy a computer that is already setup at your price point? Having a set of components that have been tried and work well together easily beats any slight performance advantage you might get by trading off one sort of motherboard against a type of processor. If this is something you want to learn about and further down the line you want to upgrade some components then fair enough but otherwise buy something that works from a shop you can take it back to when it breaks down again. Thanks!