It’s a while since I bought a new PC but this old Dell is getting a bit long in the tooth, particularly as regards graphics (not just gaming/Zwift – some mapping sites seem to struggle). I’m not into building my own these days so just want to buy something adequate for under £1,000.

It’s too easy to get lost in a never-ending web of specs, availability and prices so I was hoping there was one site that came recommended enough that it’d save me any hassle.

Aldi has a decent bit of kit at the moment – on-line, same price range.

Scan
Pc Specialist
Overclockers uk who also have a forum and can give you an idea of specs within budget using the Overclockers store.

Really happy with awd-it that I used for my sons Christmas after recommendation on here. Great spec and price and excellent after sales support.

Are prices of graphics cards etc coming down, or did I dream that?

Yes. Graphics card prices are coming down. I’m in the industry and saw some interesting market analysis.

EDIT: based off public data, so not secret or anything

Aldi has a decent bit of kit at the moment – on-line, same price range.

They don’t, friends don’t let friends buy Medion!

Tend to look at Cyberpower, who often have good weekly deals, Ebuyer, Chillblast, Scan and Overclockers, who seem a little expensive, but their forums suggest good support.

My last PC was a Yoyotech – really well built, good selection of parts, but I think they went bust a few years back.

Chillblast used to win quite a lot of UK PC magazine awards for builds.

Is self build a better option these days?

Scan are certainly good, or if you’re anywhere near a Costco they usually have some good value pre-built systems. Your £1K will get something with an i7 + GTX 3060 which should be ok for gaming as long as you’re not aiming for 4K Cyberpunk 2077.

They don’t, friends don’t let friends buy Medion!

That’s a name I’ve not heard in a very long time. Wasn’t that Dixons / Currys etc’s in-house brand?

Is self build a better option these days?

Probably not. Depends what you mean by “better” I suppose.

Medion is the Aldi brand name. I believe they are actually built by Lenovo.

Anyway, I read a few reviews and ordered an i7/GTX3060Ti. 500Gb SSD will need to be supplemented but it otherwise looks fine. I’ll let you know how it goes.

I’d happily recommend Chillblast. We bought 3 £20k workstations which’ve been worked VERY VERY hard over the past 4 years and are still faultless. We had one minor issue with a cooler which they agreed was faulty and offered to send a technician (they said “engineer”, but we won’t go into that…) within a week or would send the parts next day and we could fit it ourselves.

CCL computers have had some good deals over the last few days all listed on hotukdeals.
Worth a look before you bit the buy button.

Medion is the Aldi brand name. I believe they are actually built by Lenovo.

Looks like you’re right.

What am I thinking of, then? Hmm.

What am I thinking of, then? Hmm.

Packard Bell wasnt it? Basically as close as they could get to HP without being sued.

Medion is the Aldi brand name.

Used to be sold in places like toys r us as well. Friends who have had them have had nothing but problems when it comes to windows upgrades so i always recommend avoid.

You are thinking of Medion. In the 2000s they were budget PCs availabe in the UK market alongside a raft of other crap.

What am I thinking of, then? Hmm.

Matsui?

Packard Bell wasnt it? Basically as close as they could get to HP without being sued.

It’s named after the 2 people who founded it.

Cougar

What am I thinking of, then? Hmm.

e-machines?