1. You want dual-core, at the very least. That much, I wouldn't budge on. Speed varies, based on what you want to do, but I'd shoot for 2Ghz or higher.
2. How much RAM you *need* depends on what OS you run; XP will run (though modern programs don't jive well with it) on 512MB, where Win7 won't run at all below 1GB, and is sort of lacking (but good enough for basic tasks) on 2GB.
3. HDD size? 80GB will work, even for Win7, but you won't have room for a lot of video or anything.
4. As for video cards, depends on what you'd like to do. For basic Internet and the like, anything will do, even like a surplus 128MB video card or built-in mobo card. I'd aim to add on a better GPU later, and work off of a basic one to start. Most modern ones won't come with VGA any longer, but a lot have DVI; DVI converts down to VGA *real* easy. I've got a couple of converters bumping around my house, and my company had about a metric ton of them.
5. No clue on refurbs. Sorry.
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.
I've been writing a bit.
2. How much RAM you *need* depends on what OS you run; XP will run (though modern programs don't jive well with it) on 512MB, where Win7 won't run at all below 1GB, and is sort of lacking (but good enough for basic tasks) on 2GB.
3. HDD size? 80GB will work, even for Win7, but you won't have room for a lot of video or anything.
4. As for video cards, depends on what you'd like to do. For basic Internet and the like, anything will do, even like a surplus 128MB video card or built-in mobo card. I'd aim to add on a better GPU later, and work off of a basic one to start. Most modern ones won't come with VGA any longer, but a lot have DVI; DVI converts down to VGA *real* easy. I've got a couple of converters bumping around my house, and my company had about a metric ton of them.
5. No clue on refurbs. Sorry.
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.
I've been writing a bit.