I am wanting to build a new PC from a barebones unit. I am kinda old school on new stuff so I need some advice. Do I want high bus speed? I now have 133 but have seen it up to 533. What type Ram. I have heard DDR is really good, but the numbers 2100 to 2700 confuse me. Do I want the higher number? Or does this depend on other factors? Do I want to use cards or get onboard sound and video. This is mainly just for web surfing and downloading, no games to speak of. I don't need a fast CPU, maybe around a 1200 or so. But I want the best setup I can get. So someone tell me what I am looking for. If you need more info, just ask. Yes, feel free to make me feel silly.

High bus speed is want you want and on the Ram, DDR is really good, the higher the number the better for ex. 2100 < 2700 3200 > 2700. The higher those numbers the faster the ram. Onboard sound and video is ok but even a little help there can make a difference. Just get a cheap sound card because it can make a huge difference just by that. Video card, for web surfing it's now really needed and onboard is alright, but again, for a little edge, just get a cheap video card with like 32 or 64meg on it. It can help quite considerably even on the smallest of games or on-line movies.

Hey, Ronnie, we are all enthusiasts and nobody is going to try and make you feel silly. SILLY! SILLY! SILLY! (heck, just had to do that) ;0) I will pop a few thoughts, and there are lots of guys here who have good ideas that will come along. First of all, I am an AMD man. In my opinion, you get more bang for your spent dollar with AMD processors, and they are real performers. Usually out-perform Pentiums. First two things extremely important: your case and your mainboard. A cheepie, poorly engineered case will have you constantly borderline overheating on your CPU. The new CPUs run far, far hotter than the oldies. Get one with at least 350Watt power supply, and a fan exhaust on the TOP (called a "blowhole" after a whale's spout) as well as the rear. The heat all collects at the top of the case, and that is where your CPU is located also. Here is a good case to get you started looking: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=manufactory&manufactory=1998&catalog=7&DEPA=1&sortby=14&order=1 Aspire Silver ATX Mid-Tower with 350 Watt Power Supplremember you want a blowhole in the top. An unstable mainboard is like a spoiled, unfaithful wife. Never takes care of you,and you get gray hair because she's undependable. You can have the most fantastic components available, but on an unstable mainboard ("mobo" for short), they can't perform. Virtually all memory (for practical purposes) now is DDR. Great stuff compared to old SDRAM, or older EDO ram. Memory comes commonly in pc2100 (266FSB), pc2700 (333FSB), and pc3200(I think)-400FSB. FSB means Front Side Bus. Higher the number, faster the unit runs. The CPU, memory, and mainboard should all run at the same FSB for peak speed, otherwise the slower (lower number) component will slow down the entire system. The most respected mainboards right now are Asus, Abit, and Shuttle. I have also heard good things about Chaintech, but never built with one. I am a firm lover of the Shuttle AK39N. Goes up to 333 FSB, onboard 6-channel stereo audio, terrific mainboard, stable as the rock of Gibralter and very fast. AND only about $65. Definitely stay away from any Soyo product. High number of unstable mainboards. link: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=manufactory&manufactory=1465&catalog=22&DEPA=1&sortby=14&order=1 A great place to shop online is Newegg.com. They have a stellar reputation for integrity and customer service, and I have never had a bad experience with them. Okay, I will let someone else take over. you are going to have a lot of fun. Enjoy!

Just an afterthought: Don't get a mainboard with integrated (onboard) video. I haven't seen one yet that is worth anything, and it draws its memory and resources from your system memory and CPU. Not good. Modern Video cards, even cheap ones, have their own CPU and memory on the card, thus relieving the load off the system. Buy the most powerful CPU you can afford. Around $120 can put you into a screamer. Under $100 will put you into a fast one. You need minimally 512 MB of DDR RAM if you are going to be running XP. 256 just isn't enough, your systme will run visibly slower.

I am kinda partial to 98 SE. I have ME now and it seems like it is really slower than 98 even tho I have a faster CPU than I did with 98. It seems like the newer the OS, the more memeory you need to run it. So I will stay with 98SE and still get the DDR. Thanks.

Hey when u wanna build a new pc,the biggest choice is between the AMD or intel.From what it seems u are not a gamer as this post is in the general hardware section.I am personally an intel fan so for just normal office use i would go for this Intel 845 GEBV2(motherboard) Intel p4 2.0 512 DDR at 333 mhz Ge Force 4 MX 440(64 MB)U cannot use onboard graphics it SUCKS bigtime.I am a gamer so i use an FX 5200 ultra with 256 MB DDR.This should do u fine.The extra specs like cd rom drive and monitor are upto u.These are the basics and shoukd wokr u fine