Trying to buy a computer for gaming and multi-tasking on design software.
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[*]How important is the speed of RAM? In the $900 price range, HP gives me more power in many components over Dell. The Dell will have fast 800 Mhz RAM, but the HP will have slow 667 Mhz RAM. So do I choose the HP or Dell?
[*] In Vista, is RAM speed and size much more important than it had been in XP? Vista has some new RAM management system that uses up 80% of your RAM. So should I get large and fast RAM when using Vista?
[*]When compared in various benchmarks, the Intel Quad Core 2.4 Ghz is more or less equal to the Intel Dual Core 2.6 Ghz. I suppose the dual will be faster for older and current programs that are not programmed smartly to use parallel processing. But what about the future of software? Would the quad be a smarter choice?
[*]What exactly is the purpose of a dedicated sound card? I’ve never owned one, so I don’t know. My desktop integrated card produces excellent static-free sound, but my laptop integrated card has hardcore static. I’m confused why this is and what advantages a dedicated card will offer.
[*] If an AMD processor runs at lower frequencies but does the same work as an Intel processor, does that mean that the AMD will produce less heat than a comparable Intel?
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