I need a new computer and would like something decent but have no clue what to look for. I saw this HP tower in store but not sure.

Is AMD good or is the intel duo cor processor better?

How about the graphics on this lousy or what should I look for?

I think I might like a TV tuner to hook into the cable so I can use it like DVR as I am planning on getting a new monitor later because I have an old bulky one and would like a flat screen. Guy at the store said this computer can have the tuner card added later.

I want to make DVD photo slide shows, run some photo programs, listen to my music and surf. Also my video camera is 8mm format and would like to know if I can hook that into this to transfer them to DVD? Do I have to look for audio video jacks on a computer to do that and will I need extra hardware to buy or can I just plug into the newer computers and upload from the camcorder?

Also see Dell packages at Walmart. I assume this won't have what I need to add TV tuner but would it work for getting my 8mm video in and would graphics and speed be decent? Mary

For the price of it and for what you're looking to do with it I'd say that HP tower is pretty good. AMD is, for all intents and purposes, quite comparable to Intel quality wise. Some people would argue this but it's mostly just personal preferance.

Unless you're going to be playing a lot of high end games the graphics card looks fine to me.

Adding a tuner card later shouldn't be a problem. Even brand name computers usually have one free PCI slot.

Overall I'd say that's a pretty good computer.

I had a response all typed up but accidentally closed it :(

Anyhow, I'll make this one short. The system has no PCI slots, only PCI-express. There is an "PCI extender" that can add two PCI slots to the board, but I doubt it's included. There are TV tuner cards available in the PCI-e x1 interface though.

Circuity City has the same tower for $749. If you print out the ad & take it to BestBuy, they'll match the price plus knock off 10% of the difference, so you *should* be able to get it for $742:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/prod...

Here's the specs from HP:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...

Well now things have changed. So hubby just got home and I am asking him about it and he got kind of funny and had to fess up he ordered me one. My birthday is in August so we were getting one then or September since my old one died but I am not sure on the specs. He got this gateway
from home shopping only it was $200 less last Sunday as the special of the day.

It does have the TV tuner and the audio video jacks on the front and the monitor is a 22 inch 1080P but the hard drive is only 160 and 1 gig of ram but has the intel cor processor. I called and was told I can record from TV on it and have DVR and everything but is that enough ram and hard drive to do it with?
They did tell me it was upgradable.

Now I looked at another HP tower at best buy that had the built in TV tuner and the audio video jacks on the front with the intel cor and it was $979 and had a way bigger hard drive and 4 gigs of ram so that was more.

Then the only monitors they had that were 1080P were 24 inch and the guy showed me a gateway one similar to the package deal and it was $400 just for the monitor.

So now I don't know if I should send this package back when it comes as you have 30 days to return and buy separate componets with a bigger hard drive and more ram or what. I have ordered things from HSN before and never had a problem so not worried about that.

I was figuring on getting the tower first then getting a good monitor a few months later. I am so confused now if the specs on that gateway are going to be any good. Mary

The HP is a much better system for less money. Quad core, 5GB RAM, 750GB HDD, etc. It doesn't need upgrading & probably won't need to be for quite a while....all it needs is the TV card.

I tried to cancle the gateway but it may be too late so if it comes I will send it back and just look at good towers then add the monitor later.

Here is the more expensive HP that has the audio video jacks on the front and the tuner built in. I believe it was $979 in the store new in box. The cheaper HP didn't have the audio video jacks on it and I think I want those for my camcorder and VCR as I have a lot of older video I would like to burn onto DVD. Mary