Although I do not need a new computer, I like to look at deals for gaming computers optimal for Second Life.
Alienware, now owned by Dell, is a legendary gaming brand.
This is not a laptop (which I do not like much for gaming)-- this is a small desktop "minitower" which requires a monitor. You can pick one up -- a nicely sized 24 inch one- for well under $200 to use with this. You will also need a keyboard, mouse, and an extended warranty -- the ones Dell sells are fine. I would pick up a three year warranty for this from either Dell or
Square Trade, my favorite independent warranty company (note- I am not on the referral program and do not earn anything with my recommendations).
You can find my parameters here in an posting I wrote last week:
http://eddihaskell.blogspot.com/2013/11/it-it-that-black-friday-time-of-year.html
This Dell Alienware computer is an amazing buy at under $600.00 today:
http://www.dell.com/us/eep/p/alienware-x51-r2/pd?cs=6099&oc=DPDOXY01h
It fits all my requirements as I outlines here last week. And you still get Windows 7.
You can pay $49.00 to raise your RAM to 8 gigs. I would do this if I were buying this, but you do not need to. It will run SL just fine with 6 Gigs of RAM as long as you are not multitasking or making machinima, or doing things like running two viewers at once.
The all-important Intel CPU (processor) and NVDIA graphics card are highly rated and should do a great job at running Second Life in very high graphics (if you have the bandwidth of course). Here are the
Passmark Benchmarks:
CPU:
Graphics Card:
There is no shipping charge (regular delivery) but you may need to pay tax.
Take a very serious look at this please. This is an absolute killer purchase at the price from Dell -- with its great service record.