4 gigs minimum, Windows 7 32bit (if you want the 64 bit, you'll be able to have more RAM than 4 gigs, but I doubt your needs will require it), at least a dual-core processor, and a standard 24-bit sound card. Go with that if you're not using your computer for any specialized task, aka just browsing, listening to music, etc.
Why? Because that's pretty much what you'll be offered, and it's the current standard for your average consumer PC. That means you won't have to spend your whole tax return to get it, and it will also meet your needs.
Of course, I'm assuming you're not planning on doing graphics rendering or heavy-duty audio work. You should be fine for gaming, although for gaming, you'll probably want to have at least 512mb of RAM in your graphics card, preferably Nvidia or ATI. A lot of current games only support those cards anyway.
|