[tomhole]

List your requirements and then buy what meets them.

1. Quiet? Get a Honda or Yamaha inverter model. They are quiet. Anything else is not. Some are noisy as Hades.
2. Run the air conditioner? Yes = minimum 3000 watts. No, 1000-2000 watts will do
3. Dollars? Well, that depends on #1. #1=big bucks. No #1=buy it from Costco for $350.

I have a 3000 watt Honda 3000is. Quiet, very quiet. But I bought it so I could use it in a campground and not be heard 7 miles away. I paid $1700. My neighbor has a 7,000 watt Champion. It's often cited as a "quiet" generator. Quieter than my F-18 in full afterburner, maybe. But, he uses it as a backup generator. He paid $400. I might get one for myself for use as a backup generator as it has 50 amp power vs. my Honda which is only 30A. But I would not take that thing anywhere near a campground. Talk about ruining everyone's weekend.

Hope that helps.

Tom