New Computer/Lap top: Advice

[paulbarker7]

Hey!

I'm thinking about buying a new computer or lap top. I've re signed up on here to ask for some advice on buying one before I actually buy it because I always rush in to buying one and end up beind disapointed with it. My budget is around £400-£600.


The main thing I'll be using it for:



Networking sites (myspace, facebook & bebo)
Downloading music/ videos
Watching videos on YouTube
Other forums
Football Manager 2009 game
Word processing

No MACs please, I'm too used to Microsoft :P

Thanks!!

[N!ck]

A laptop would suit your needs, but a PC would give you much better performance for the money. Would you be happy to custom build a PC or would you want to buy it already built?

[paulbarker7]

I think I'll go for the computer as this laptop has reall dissapointed me. I'd prefer it to be already built :P

[N!ck]

You happy buying online or does it have to be from a shop you can go to to pick it up from. And what stuff do you need with it like monitor, keyboard, mouse etc?

[Hitman]

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1193502321.123092869 0@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccefadegdjdjdflcflgceggdhhmdfog.0&chain=PC_World&seo=yes&sku=737738&channel=WEB&page=Product

I have this PC.

640GB HDD for downloads. Good CPU and good amount of RAM, so switching between programs is quick and you can load a lot. Comes with a screen and is under 500 pounds.

It's good.

[scottish]

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1193502321.123092869 0@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccefadegdjdjdflcflgceggdhhmdfog.0&chain=PC_World&seo=yes&sku=737738&channel=WEB&page=Product

I have this PC.

640GB HDD for downloads. Good CPU and good amount of RAM, so switching between programs is quick and you can load a lot. Comes with a screen and is under 500 pounds.

It's good.

Crap gfx card


i'd recommend a dell PC.

[Hitman]

Crap gfx card


i'd recommend a dell PC.
Well he didn't say he was doing any hardcore gaming... :rolleyes:

[scottish]

I'd rather get a decent gfx card for the same price than a crap gfx card though ;S

[Hitman]

I'd rather get a decent gfx card for the same price than a crap gfx card though ;S

Better gfx cards usually cost more... like everything else in the world: if its better it costs more.

[marriott0.01]

I've seen a budget PC with touchscreen and everything, ideal for the person who loves entertainment and/or playing games.

It's like a netbook, but it's called the 'nettop'. It's made by Asus and called the Eee Top.

It's not expensive and should be able to suit your needs.

[Tim.]

Just one thing i would say about buying this sort of thing, i dont think im alone when saying this is Dell is fine for the average home user, but much more and they're honestly a load of junk unless you spend a fortune covering this up.

Im on my dell now, im not buying another one ever again. But thats just my opinion others will probably disagree with me

[scottish]

From looking at the needs for the computer/laptop its an average home user-ish system he wants.

Also hitman, hence why i said another system, not the same system with a better gfx card.

[Hitman]

From looking at the needs for the computer/laptop its an average home user-ish system he wants.

Also hitman, hence why i said another system, not the same system with a better gfx card.

"I'd rather get a decent gfx card for the same price than a crap gfx card though ;S"

You said you'd rather get a decent gfx card for the same price than a crap gfx card, not system.

As you said, its an average home user-ish system he wants so what I posted is fine, most average home users dont play games with very demanding graphics.

[scottish]

You can get a computer with same/better specs for same-ish price with BETTER graphics card, which may not be the EXACT Packard Bell whatever.

If you want a computer, do you get one with an ancient gfx card or do you get one with a newer gfx card? From what i remember your one had 7300? o.0

[Flisker]

Just one thing i would say about buying this sort of thing, i dont think im alone when saying this is Dell is fine for the average home user, but much more and they're honestly a load of junk unless you spend a fortune covering this up.

Im on my dell now, im not buying another one ever again. But thats just my opinion others will probably disagree with me
Tried upgrading the dell and bios didnt let you? been there myself im just gonna get a new mobo and case then migrate most of my hardware from the dell to my own and add my own cpu i bought.

[Chippiewill]

Just one thing i would say about buying this sort of thing, i dont think im alone when saying this is Dell is fine for the average home user, but much more and they're honestly a load of junk unless you spend a fortune covering this up.

Im on my dell now, im not buying another one ever again. But thats just my opinion others will probably disagree with me

Good on you! I got a dell roughly just over a year ago and bought a HP under a year later. I had to get my Dell repaired about 5 times and I had to have 3 replacement power adaptors. What was intresting was right after getting my mobo replaced the intergrated graphics weren't werking. The dell was also the cost of £1300 so I am not sure why it was so crap. Also support is useless

[Hitman]

You can get a computer with same/better specs for same-ish price with BETTER graphics card, which may not be the EXACT Packard Bell whatever.

If you want a computer, do you get one with an ancient gfx card or do you get one with a newer gfx card? From what i remember your one had 7300? o.0
Okay well show us one then, post some links.

A newer one, but as I said, they usually cost more and you've yet to prove you can get a PC with a better gfx card (and the same specs) than the one I posted for £500.

You don't get it though... he's using his PC for basic web use, word processing, downloading and one game... I'm sure the gfx I posted would suffice for one game, so long as he isn't super fussy on graphics because I'm sure they're not all that bad.

Seeing as you recommended a Dell PC and two people have said its crap I guess your recommendations aren't very good.

[N!ck]

The only way to get better specs for that price including a monitor would be custom building and having a pirate OS.

[scottish]

£524.35 on PC Specialists website.

Thats with C2Q 8300 (2.5Ghz) 4GB Corsair RAM, 640GB SATA2 HDD, 6 USB ports, 22x DL dvd rw, 8400gs, 5.1 hd audio, onboard lan, 52 in 1 card reader, logitech keyboard, logitech optical mouse, 1 yr rtb, comes with power dvd, lifetime hardware technical support.

OR you could custom build (v easy)

[Hitman]

£524.35 on PC Specialists website.

Thats with C2Q 8300 (2.5Ghz) 4GB Corsair RAM, 640GB SATA2 HDD, 6 USB ports, 22x DL dvd rw, 8400gs, 5.1 hd audio, onboard lan, 52 in 1 card reader, logitech keyboard, logitech optical mouse, 1 yr rtb, comes with power dvd, lifetime hardware technical support.

OR you could custom build (v easy)
No monitor, so add another £100...

[N!ck]

£524.35 on PC Specialists website.

Thats with C2Q 8300 (2.5Ghz) 4GB Corsair RAM, 640GB SATA2 HDD, 6 USB ports, 22x DL dvd rw, 8400gs, 5.1 hd audio, onboard lan, 52 in 1 card reader, logitech keyboard, logitech optical mouse, 1 yr rtb, comes with power dvd, lifetime hardware technical support.

OR you could custom build (v easy)

20 inch monitor as well? Operating system as well?

[scottish]

can't remember screen size and tbh can't be bothered checking again; was windows vista OS aswell.

[Nick.]

It's 'Mac' lol, not MAC. MAC is media access control/a very well known make-up shop in the US of A. ;)

[scottish]

MAC = Makeup and cosmetics :P

[Nick.]

MAC = Makeup and cosmetics :P
I see, I see.... TFTI ;)

[Angel-Light]

I'd recommend www.powerc.co.uk

I got my PC for under £500, custom built to the starndards I wanted with a brill graphics card etc.

Not had any problems with it and it was built, tested and delivered within 2 days of purchasing it :)

[Cylinder]

It's 'Mac' lol, not MAC. MAC is media access control/a very well known make-up shop in the US of A. ;)

Does it matter if it's in capitals or not? :rolleyes:

I found this;
Link (http://www.aria.co.uk/Systems/Home+Range/Proteus/Gladiator+Proteus+Home+Exec+?productId=33322)

I was thinking of getting it, I got told the gfx card is a bit sucky for the price but it's okay I suppose, the gfx isn't much to me but you can always upgrade.. No OS and no monitor, but I just bought a 22" monitor for £125, so I'm sure you can find one around that price..maybe cheaper, depends what size you want.


I've looked around other sites as I'm after a base unit also. :)

[Nick.]

Does it matter if it's in capitals or not? :rolleyes:

I found this;
Link (http://www.aria.co.uk/Systems/Home+Range/Proteus/Gladiator+Proteus+Home+Exec+?productId=33322)

I was thinking of getting it, I got told the gfx card is a bit sucky for the price but it's okay I suppose, the gfx isn't much to me but you can always upgrade.. No OS and no monitor, but I just bought a 22" monitor for £125, so I'm sure you can find one around that price..maybe cheaper, depends what size you want.


I've looked around other sites as I'm after a base unit also. :)
yes it does because he said MACs, which makes to seem like initals for something. I was having a joke anyway. It's like saying oh I really love my TEL EVI SIO N (I have to put spaces or else the forum will make it lower-caps.) and my IPOD :rolleyes:

[Cylinder]

yes it does because he said MACs, which makes to seem like initals for something. I was having a joke anyway. It's like saying oh I really love my TEL EVI SIO N (I have to put spaces or else the forum will make it lower-caps.) and my IPOD :rolleyes:

But if you said TELEVISION, or IPOD. People would know what you meant, they wouldn't think IPOD stood for something because it's in capitals. Don't get worked up over nothing, apple fanboy.

[Andys]

if you haven't been put off by dell yet, i'd check out these;
http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?b=&c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&kc=DRS1G003&l=en&m_30=111787&oc=D011G03&rbc=D011G03&s=dhs

they look pretty good tbh, similar to shuttle's.

[Nick.]

But if you said TELEVISION, or IPOD. People would know what you meant, they wouldn't think IPOD stood for something because it's in capitals. Don't get worked up over nothing, apple fanboy.
I'm so offended, that was such a childish remark, the way you placed it in your sentence. I was joking in the first place, hence the lol. You're the one getting worked up, childish person.

[Cylinder]

I'm so offended, that was such a childish remark, the way you placed it in your sentence. I was joking in the first place, hence the lol. You're the one getting worked up, childish person.
I'm not getting worked up, "lol". If you was joking, why you did bring it up in the first place. You had no reason to.. why did you not pick up on the "Lap top", you still new what he meant didn't you? Yes.

You only picked up on it because it's something related to Apple: fact.

[Andys]

Guys, stop argueing - can't you continue this via pm/profile/msn or whatever? -_-