I know jack all about computers other than my current one is knackered (slow, unreliable and keeps crashing)
So I need a new PC
Needs to be relatively cheap - say upto £450 max (ideally around £350)
Only need base unit and OS
Where would you recommend (my last one came from a local computer place, wasnt impressed, one before from MESH - they still seem reasonable but bit pricey?)
Mainly for internet, video streaming, home video editing and photographs etc
No gaming - I have PS3 for that (although I do stream PC to PS3 to play music / videos downstairs on the big TV)
Have an external hard drive already so masses of storage not essential
I see RAM and processor speed as most important, is this correct?
Is there any chance I could salvage bits from my existing one - memory etc?
I like Ebuyer.com for this sort of thing, plenty to choose from at that price range:
http://www.ebuyer.com/search?page=1&store=5&cat=191&minprice=200&maxprice=499.99
If you don't game I'd suggest you have nothing to lose by downloading Ubuntu linux and installing it on the old PC. That'll give your old PC a new lease of life. It runs lots faster than Windows in general.
Installing Ubuntu goes one of two ways for newbies - swift and painless, or the worlds steepest learning curve. Why not roll the dice?
Download Ubuntu 10.04, burn to CD, reboot from CD. You don't even need to blitz your old operating system although it will take up hard drive space.
Linux can do everything you mention.
If it worked out you could spend the money on a mini MTB break.
waderider - not an option, existing PC really is crap - processor is slow, no hard disk space etc, its about 8 years old at least and was cheap and cheerful even then and besides that all sounds way to technical for me
Ive always used windows, anything else would just be too confusing I want a plug and play type solution
In that case I've used Mesh before quite happily. Whatever you do don't just march into PC World. Doesn't sound like you're giving the purchase that little thought though.
When buying anything of value I always buy relevant magazines and do a bit of homework. Pays dividends.
Ebuyer is a good place to start.
Try [url= http://www.overclockers.co.uk ]Overclockers[/url], [url= http://www.novatech.co.uk ]Novatech[/url] or [url= http://www.microdirect.co.uk ]MicroDirect[/url] and look at their basic systems. You'll generally end up with better spec/faster/more memory/etc. than by shopping at somewhere like PC World.
ok looked through ebuyer and completely confused
Anyone recommend anything off there?
I assume whatever I get off there I would need to add in a wireless card?
Think I'll keep an eye on this too but I want a fair bit of storage too. Don't need monitor...
For storage this looks good money, onboard graphics though so if you want to do anything gamey you will need to add a decent graphics card:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/182594
Or if you want cutting edge you could go for this monster 😉
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/18259
i had the same conundorum and ended up with a dell vostoro from their business site. £180 all in for a bottom spec one, £400 would probably get you something fairly meaty
Holy crap, by a 'fair bit of storage' I meant compared to my current 7 year old Dell with 40GB... so 500GBish. Don't think I'll need 2TB!
🙂 500GB is for amateurs 😉
I've been looking for a similar priced PC for a mate, I usually build him one up from scratch, but just happened to look at the budget machines on overclockers, they look good value for the components they use.
ok then -
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-239-OK&groupid=43&catid=1078&subcat=
£378
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-258-OK&groupid=43&catid=1078&subcat=
£422
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/pc/range/realm.html
£462
is it worth the extra £90 for the novatech one?
If you can live with a laptop, the Samsung R519 running Windows 7 I got from ebuyer has been great - only £350 too.
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/202798
I'd go for the £378 one and stick a £20 wifi card in it. They should do that at Overclockers for you if you speak to them nicely. You're under budget, and for the use you've mentioned above it's unikely that there's any noticeable difference between any of them anyway. Apart from in the wallet department.
that £378 pc is broadly the same spec as this
£209 + vat & shipping
seems pricey for 2 gigs extra ram and a slightly bigger hdd?
tragically1969 - Member
500GB is for amateurs
Or people who have better things to do with their lives than download porn 😉
£40 to downgrade to XP? C***s
For what you want any base spec pc will be fine, anything with core 2 duo written on it with 2gb or more ram (Windows 7 benefits from more ram) will be more than enough.
+1 for overclockers or aria. You should be able to call them and they'll either suggest or spec something for you. Best way to buy a pc.
that £378 pc is broadly the same spec as this£209 + vat & shipping
seems pricey for 2 gigs extra ram and a slightly bigger hdd?
add 1gb ram and up HDD to the same and the Dell one with VAT and delivery is £386 so 1gb RAM and a tenner worse off - and its a Dell, I would feel like I was at work staring at that logo every day 😉
OK I maybe dont need the bigger HDD but the RAM probably useful and sure I could get the HDD downgraded accordingly if I phoned them?
OK I maybe dont need the bigger HDD but the RAM probably useful and sure I could get the HDD downgraded accordingly if I phoned them?
Probably not - sorry!
I would say that your as well getting the cheapest you can and then get RAM from crucial.. 🙂
You could give the Medion range at Aldis a go?
I have the laptop, and wish id bought the pc too, you get a fantastic spec for less than anywhere else, and a 5 year warranty
http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/special_buys3_13448.htm
wait til the next "special thursday" and you're sorted
http://www.meshcomputers.com/Default.aspx?PAGE=PRODUCTVIEWPAGE&USG=PRODUCT&ENT=PRODUCT&KEY=792937
seems a decent spec for the price (better than the one I listed aboev from novatech) and was always impressed with Mesh
the dell upgrade cost for hdds is rediculous - if you need more space you can buy a 1 tb hard drive for under £50. The ram is more reasonably priced, but my point still stands..
Where can you? Even the ryanair of the computer world, ebuyer don't stock one under 55
use overclockers, but build your own
works out cheaper, you get what you want, lots of fun and you will never ever buy an off the peg pc again
John Lewis outlet? (works for me)
Dell, using a deal from DMX dimension or whoever else is listing them.
Where can you? Even the ryanair of the computer world, ebuyer don't stock one under 55
here we go:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-067-HI&groupid=701&catid=14&subcat=1279
Where can you? Even the ryanair of the computer world, ebuyer don't stock one under 55
here we go:http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-067-HI&groupid=701&catid=14&subcat=1279
Oh right, that £54.99 one? 🙄 Last I heard, that's > £50 🙂