10th February 2008, 3:24 PM
64-bit Windows? I know that it'll allow you to access that 4GB of RAM, but there are compatibility issues with 32-bit programs and forget about older 16-bit Windows apps I'd imagine... Vista as it is has enough compatibility issues with older stuff (as did XP in its day). 64-bit just makes that worse (again, as did 64-bit XP). When I got my new computer I didn't even consider 64-bit Windows, despite its RAM advantage, and for good reason, I'd say. The downsides are just too huge. 32-bit Home Premium is indeed the best version.
Other than that, I'd get like at least three times that amount of HDD space (get as much as you can afford! :D), but that's me... I currently have filled 381GBs of the 493GBs of actual space available on my drives. I think I'll want another harddrive in not that long... :)
Oh yeah, and I'd definitely try to find room in the budget for an actual sound card, either Audigy or X-Fi. Relying on the motherboard's onboard sound really isn't the best idea... sound cards are still important. I have an X-Fi.
Other than that, I'd get like at least three times that amount of HDD space (get as much as you can afford! :D), but that's me... I currently have filled 381GBs of the 493GBs of actual space available on my drives. I think I'll want another harddrive in not that long... :)
Oh yeah, and I'd definitely try to find room in the budget for an actual sound card, either Audigy or X-Fi. Relying on the motherboard's onboard sound really isn't the best idea... sound cards are still important. I have an X-Fi.