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First of all, here are the minimum requirements for backing up DVDs.
(note the Operating Systems and also these are absolute minimums, so for reliable minumums, double the values except for the PSU where you can just add 50 to 100 watts):
CPU:
400MHz or higher CPU with Windows 98/ME/2000
800MHz or higher with XP
1.5GHz or higher with Windows Vista
RAM:
128MB RAM with Windows 98/ME/2000
384 - 512MB with Windows XP
1GB or higher with Windows Vista
HDD:
80GB HDD (Defragment often)
Drive:
DVD Burner
Graphics:
Onboard Graphics or better for Windows 98/ME/2000/XP
Low Grade DX9 graphics card or better for Windows Vista (6000/x series or better).
Power:
150Watt
250watt for Windows Vista
Note, that this is NOT what I recommend, only the absolute minimum required. Less RAM will crash or cause errors and less CPU may crash or not run the software correctly. If you currently have a PC that meets the "double the absolute minimum" values, then you do not need to upgrade your PC for burning DVDs or casual use like surfing the internet, downloading music/videos, word processing, etc... More power will only benefit in faster encoding if you do that, streaming videos, watching high bitrate (HDV or more) movies, or gaming.
Please list exactly what you want to do on your PC, because for burning DVDs a 6 year old system is more than enough!!! For example, do you plan on playing any games at all? Do you want to watch movies on it? Play music? etc...
So the answer is that both CPUs are fine for DVD Burning and also they should not make a difference as long as the speed ratings are similar i.e., Celeron 2.53GHz vs. Sempron 2600+. AMD usually outperforms its Intel Counterpart though, so that should factor in.
Please list links to the PCs you are considering or the specs. Include, Processor speed, RAM (also number of sticks), Hard Drive, Video Card (if any) and whether it comes with a DVD Burner or not.
Here is what you usually get from those $300 PCs:
Celeron 2.53GHz (usually socket 478) or Sempron 2600+
2x256MB RAM
40GB HDD
Onboard Graphics with Shared Memory
DVD-ROM/CDRW combo Drive
Windows XP Home
Bundled Software
The CPU is OK in terms of speed for making backups and normal PC usage like surfing the internet, word processor, etc... Actually except for compressing and encoding, it is overkill!!!
Now, the bad part of the CPU is that AMD is dropping the Sempron or at least changing to socket AM2, so your Motherboard will be worthless withing weeks and you will never be able to upgrade your CPU (basically you will never be able to get a faster one without buying a new motherboard). The same will probably be true about Intel. Actually, they still use socket 478 for some of their Celeron D CPUs...Make sure you are getting a socket 775 motherboard/CPU if you get Intel so that at least you can throw a P4 on it later on if you want an upgrade.
The RAM... 512MB of RAM is not bad, but 2x256 is bad in terms of having little to no upgradability. You would be better off with 1x512MB so you can just add an extra stick later on. It is much easiers and cheaper to upgrade this way.
40GB HDD. For normal use, word processing, downloading music, etc... this is more than enough. For DVD backups, no way. Each DVD needs 8GB. Now add that to Windows and Temp space and you are looking at 11GB of spece needed for just 1 DVD to be on your HDD. Also, add in the ISO that you want to create and that's another 4.3 to 8GB more!!! Say you want to have more than one at a time and still use your HDD for stuff other than movies... 80GB minimum, 120GB recommended!!!
On Board Graphics. This always uses system memory and can easily cripple your PC. Everything now has so much eye candy that you almost need a low to mid end graphics card to run applications smoothly. This may cause write errors during the burning process since your RAM will be very low. Also, it can cause system crashing during either encoding or burning which can lead to coasters, frustration, or corrupt Windows or Corrupt HDD (lost data). Corrupt Windows can be devastating with store bought PCs, because they do not alway scome with the reinstall CDs...
DVD-ROM/CDRW combo drive. You will need to buy a DVDRW drive since you cannot burn DVDs with a Combo drive. Not crucial, but $35 extra on the PC...
Windows XP Home. No Dual Core support. You only have to worry about this if you plan on upgrading to a Pentium D or AMD X2 later on.
Bundled Software. This is 100% worthless software that cripples even the fastest systems. Can cause the same problems as onboard memory, but this more so since lots of this crap is running 100% of the time. Also, Windows XP will use up 150MB of RAM running idle, so you need all the RAM you can spare!!!
If you can build a PC, I can give you a nice recommendation of parts for about $400 for a socket AM2 PC that will be upgradable in the future and also be able to run most games available now. Let me know and I can research and post links. Oh and if you are afraid of building, if you can spread peanut butter on a Saltine, you can build a PC.
If you do decide to get a store bought PC, here are a few things to look for:
1x512MB of RAM or 1GB RAM installed (2x256 is not as good even if it does perform slightly better than 1x512)
available PCIe slot for future upgrading of graphics
80GB 7200 RPM HDD with 8MB Cache or better. More than 200GB is overkill.
One more thing...NEVER buy the extended warranty!!!! That is just profit for Best Buy or whatever store you buy the PC from. You already have 1 year manufacturers warranty on most of the components. Also, after that 1 year, your PC will be worth less than the cost of the extended warranty. You would be better off just buying a better PC or building one yourself.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 25. May 2006 @ 14:06
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