Which Desktop PC to buy?

[Streetluge Chris]

My old medion pc is so old and slow (it's coming up to it's 10th birthday) I can make a brew in the time it takes to open a file.
I thought of wiping the hard drive but thing that maybe a waste of time and money.
Looking at Ebuyer there's plenty for £200 and under but not sure which is best for the money so could do with bit of advice.

Main use is for internet and bit of video editing and phoenix.
It will be hooked up to a tv as well for on line tv watching.

Was going to add windows 7 to it.
I'm due a new phone and have been looking at the HTC with windows' plus it comes witha free upgrade for desktop to windows 8pro.

so this is what i have been looking at.

[url=http://www.ebuyer.com/395305-zoostorm-desktop-pc-7873-1071]Zoostorm Desktop PC - Desktops | Ebuyer.com[/url]

[url=http://www.ebuyer.com/407538-zoostorm-desktop-pc-7873-1076]Zoostorm Desktop PC - Desktops | Ebuyer.com[/url]

[url=http://www.ebuyer.com/395306-zoostorm-desktop-pc-7873-1072]Zoostorm Desktop PC - Desktops | Ebuyer.com[/url]

[JoeBailey]

Which Desktop PC to buy?

I'd build one myself, far more fun. Plus you can get some great gear pretty cheaply.
But those are really cheap.

[bikerflier]

Have a look at these guys.

[URL="http://www.novatech.co.uk/"]PC Components, Desktop PCs, Laptops, LCD TVs & Computer Hardware[/URL]

Their telephone service and support is absolutely fantastic.
I bought a PC from them 2 years ago, been faultless.
I had a problem last week with RAM compatibility when adding an extra 8GB, and they couldn't have been more friendly and helpful with their support.
Turned out I needed a BIOS update which they offered to do free of charge when I can take it in to them.
They also emailed me all of the links to the exact update files for my PC as they had all of my actual PC build and specification records in front of them while they were on the phone.
I didn't need to tell them any details, they quoted everything I had in my machine from when I bought it.
They also sent full instructions of how to do the BIOS if I wanted to have a go myself.

Sorted anyway with a lower capacity RAM.
They credited me for the 8GB and sent the replacement next day.
I didn't want to risk doing it myself.

Worth any moderate price difference if there is any.
I could have been stuck with unusable 8GB of RAM and no idea of what the problem was.

I do use Ebuyer for hardware, no moans about them, but I have never had such easy, friendly and detailed service and support as I got from Novatech.

[PKNEC]

[QUOTE=Streetluge Chris;942369]My old medion pc is so old and slow (it's coming up to it's 10th birthday) I can make a brew in the time it takes to open a file.
I thought of wiping the hard drive but thing that maybe a waste of time and money.
Looking at Ebuyer there's plenty for £200 and under but not sure which is best for the money so could do with bit of advice.

Main use is for internet and bit of video editing and phoenix.
It will be hooked up to a tv as well for on line tv watching.

Was going to add windows 7 to it.
I'm due a new phone and have been looking at the HTC with windows' plus it comes witha free upgrade for desktop to windows 8pro.

so this is what i have been looking at.

[URL="http://www.ebuyer.com/395305-zoostorm-desktop-pc-7873-1071"]Zoostorm Desktop PC - Desktops | Ebuyer.com[/URL]

[URL="http://www.ebuyer.com/407538-zoostorm-desktop-pc-7873-1076"]Zoostorm Desktop PC - Desktops | Ebuyer.com[/URL]

[URL="http://www.ebuyer.com/395306-zoostorm-desktop-pc-7873-1072"]Zoostorm Desktop PC - Desktops | Ebuyer.com[/URL][/QUOTE]


Hi Chris the only problem you may have is Graphics issues as they are on board chipsets,there is expansion available via the pci e slot but if you get a decent Graphics card you might not have enough power from the 300 watt psu to run it.

Have you looked at this [url=http://www.ebuyer.com/407541-zoostorm-desktop-pc-7873-1078]Zoostorm Desktop PC - Desktops | Ebuyer.com[/url] it's got a much better graphics setup and it's also expandable via the pci e slot.
Plus you could also at a later date upgrade the psu.
I built my own but they where high spec (now low spec) units and it was cheaper and with quality components but at the price of those from Ebuyer it's not worth it and Ebuyer service has been excellent as all my components where bought from them.

[Streetluge Chris]

[QUOTE=PKNEC;942391]Hi Chris the only problem you may have is Graphics issues as they are on board chipsets,there is expansion available via the pci e slot but if you get a decent Graphics card you might not have enough power from the 300 watt psu to run it.

Have you looked at this [url=http://www.ebuyer.com/407541-zoostorm-desktop-pc-7873-1078]Zoostorm Desktop PC - Desktops | Ebuyer.com[/url] it's got a much better graphics setup and it's also expandable via the pci e slot.
Plus you could also at a later date upgrade the psu.
I built my own but they where high spec (now low spec) units and it was cheaper and with quality components but at the price of those from Ebuyer it's not worth it and Ebuyer service has been excellent as all my components where bought from them.[/QUOTE]

I do have this graphics card in the old pc eVGA e-GeForce 6200 Graphics card - 512 MB - DDR2 SDRAM would it be worth taking out and using in new one?
Don't think i have the know how to put one together and it work LOL.

The one above looks good to me but i know nothing.

[PsiFox]

If the video editing is a major usage then look for a system with an i7 processor. It will be quicker. Get a better GFX card too.

Alternatively, if the video edit is not too much of an issue then an overclocked i5 system with a decent GFX card will be fine.

Consider a SSD drive as the primary boot drive for OS and software, follow this with a large 1.5TB plus drive for documents and data storage

Get at least 8 gig RAM. Bear in mind if you use Win7 Home premium, it only recognises up to 16 GB. you need the pro version for more.

[barryorbik]

I did not want to be bothered with another space and connecting wire hungry besk top PC so have just splashed out £600 with Amazon on a Toshiba LX830-10Q, 23" LED back lit, HD touchscreen and graphics card, All-in-One. with wirless mouse and keyboard and it includes a freeview TV tuner (not HD) as standard and fortunately comes loaded with Windows 7, as I did not want to be one of the first to be landed sorting out Windows 8 problems.

I can only give this PC a rave review as the graphics, speed and sound are all brilliant and it has taken my Phoenix experience to a whole level.

[ghost2212]

I would be looking at getting an intel i3 processor at least, make sure its 3rd generation as there is some pretty big performance gains to be made!

[LaurenceGough]

I'd recommend the latest gen (3rd) Intel i5 with the onboard HD4000 graphics chip, good price and excellent performance vs cost. The Intel 3750k is a great CPU.

Alternatively you may just want to purchase a SSD for your current machine, this will greatly speed up file access and Windows boot/shutdown times etc.

[PKNEC]

[QUOTE=Streetluge Chris;942402]I do have this graphics card in the old pc eVGA e-GeForce 6200 Graphics card - 512 MB - DDR2 SDRAM would it be worth taking out and using in new one?
Don't think i have the know how to put one together and it work LOL.

The one above looks good to me but i know nothing.[/QUOTE]

If you can build a heli, a desktop is a doddle.
I would upgrade your graphics card based on your TV and Video editing uses.
There is some good advice on systems above I used the duo core and quad core sandy bridge chipset as they where the fastest at the time

[tomatwalden]

Chris, welcome to my day job! I'm an IT architect by trade (ie. I design computer solutions for data centres).

The trick to getting this right is understanding your [U][B]requirements[/B][/U]. This must come first. For example, it's no good spending all your budget on a fantastic graphics card if all you want to do is read emails and post to rcheliaddicts! Equally, a desktop PC itself might not be right if you want to sit in your lounge on the internet. In essence, once you understand what you want to do with a PC, choosing becomes much easier. Some thoughts to get you going :-

1/. Do you want to "work" on your computer - ie. documents, spreadsheets, etc.
2/. Do you want to be able to print easily.
3/. Do you want to play 3D games?
4/. Do you want lots of ports to connect things (eg. Flybarless controllers)
5/. Do you want to be mobile with your computing (eg. laptop or tablet)
6/. Do you want to use multi-media facilities (eg. built-in webcam for chat, etc.)
7/. etc. etc.

Get this clear in your mind first - even better, make a list. Then go to a reputable supplier, and ask them to provide a solution that ticks all your boxes, and ask them to explain how/why it does this.

Hope this helps!

Tom

[tomatwalden]

PS. Unless you're doing very hardcore gaming or computational fluid dynamics to predict the weather, all but the lowliest processors will be fast enough for you. The biggest factor in percieved "slow" computers is lack of memory (RAM). The more RAM you can afford, the slicker you purchase will be.

ie. don't get hung up on getting the latest, Intel, Core-i whatever, whizzy CPU. Chances are, you'll never notice the difference.

T

[Streetluge Chris]

Hmmm your starting to lose me in tech i only have a budget of £200-250 and would like to just plug it in but if someone can come up with a spec on the bits?

Tom

1/. Do you want to "work" on your computer - ie. documents, spreadsheets, etc. YES
2/. Do you want to be able to print easily.YES
3/. Do you want to play 3D games? NO but phoenix has 3d.
4/. Do you want lots of ports to connect things (eg. Flybarless controllers)No my flying not that good.
5/. Do you want to be mobile with your computing (eg. laptop or tablet) Have old laptop and tablet.
6/. Do you want to use multi-media facilities (eg. built-in webcam for chat, etc.)NO

7/. etc. etc.



Help.lol

[PsiFox]

[QUOTE=tomatwalden;942445]PS. Unless you're doing very hardcore gaming or computational fluid dynamics to predict the weather, all but the lowliest processors will be fast enough for you. The biggest factor in percieved "slow" computers is lack of memory (RAM). The more RAM you can afford, the slicker you purchase will be.

ie. don't get hung up on getting the latest, Intel, Core-i whatever, whizzy CPU. Chances are, you'll never notice the difference.

T[/QUOTE]

I only mentioned the i7 as the real hyper threading does bring an improvement in processing video edits. Apart from that i agree wholeheartedly.

The budget the OP has now mentioned though is quite limiting for what he may want to do.

[Reality Bites]

[QUOTE=tomatwalden;942445]PS. Unless you're doing very hardcore gaming or computational fluid dynamics to predict the weather, all but the lowliest processors will be fast enough for you. The biggest factor in percieved "slow" computers is lack of memory (RAM). The more RAM you can afford, the slicker you purchase will be.

ie. don't get hung up on getting the latest, Intel, Core-i whatever, whizzy CPU. Chances are, you'll never notice the difference.

T[/QUOTE]

fully agreed with your first post but this one doesn't make sense. Surely as an architect you would understand system bottlenecks. Pointless having loads of RAM if your processor can't use it? Daft having a solid state disk on a Motherboard which can't reach the I/O speeds etc etc.

OP - For my system specs, there are three key areas. Processor, RAM and storage (speed as well as size). GPU power comes in a close fourth. You need to balance these to get the best from your system. If you have loads in one area, you'll end up with bottlenecks in others.

Decide on what you want the system for, give yourself a budget and come back for some suggestions.

Given the budget I would go with Intel based CPU's as they are better bang for buck. (quad core if possible due to your video editing requirements)....bigger GHz numbers on one CPU doesn't necessarily mean it's quicker than another. 8GB RAM as it's cheap as chips (Assuming you have a 64BIT OS). Solid state disk if the budget allows as you will see a massive gain from even the slowest SSD's. As others have mentioned, try and build the system yourself if you can. Don't be fooled by the ads which make a PC look very fast for little money. You'll find they use cheap parts in a cheap case and cheaper PSU.

As for a GPU.....you need to decide which level of power you need for your requirements. You'll always get bargains second hand due to people wanting the best and newest of everything.

SO.....let us know your budget and requirements.