Decent & Cheap Desktop

[Racheya]

My Student Finance money comes in in a few days and I'm going to be buying myself a desktop PC. I'm looking around for something with 4GB RAM, 500GB+ and then a screen of around 20/22" size. I'm looking for as cheap of a setup as I can without scrimping too much on quality. So do you guys have any ideas for desktops/screens that are good?

 

I'm not interested in trying to build my own, by the way.

 

I've been looking around and these piqued my interest:

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/compaq-sg3-350uk-black-09312066-pdt.html

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/samsung-bx2231-22-widescreen-led-monitor-07908175-pdt.html

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/aoc-2036sa-20-widescreen-lcd-monitor-04050682-pdt.html

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pavilion-Slimline-S5728uk-Desktop-Pentium/dp/B004NSUT8I/ref=sr_1_14?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1304516129&sr=1-14

 

Or maybe this for an all in one:

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/hp-pavilion-slimline-s5770uk-p-desktop-pc-with-20-monitor-all-in-one-printer-08702330-pdt.html

 

Does anyone have any better places I should be looking? Or anything. I just need ideas and thoughts :)

[OldJoe]

I personally don't like PC World, bunch of clowns that run those stores in my country.

But as i'm not an Anglo-Saxon, i can't think of any UK stores atm.

 

If it's only normal business and some RS, that computer is fine. Altho Compaq is a bit so-so.

Make sure Win7 is 64bit.

 

I'll leave it to someone else to comment about screens.

[armybuilder]

Scan. There not many decent pc stores in the UK.

 

But i would look at the small sellars

[Ermy]

Have you had a look at the refurbished base units that pcworld/currys/comet offer? They have a hefty saving just because they broke for someone else but have been fixed up.

 

I've have my refurbished base unit for 2 and a half years now, started on vista now on windows 7. Only ever broke in the first two weeks because of some bug in the manufacturers software.

[Guy]

This doesn't look too bad, although it doesn't come with dedicated graphics so they may be a little slow, especially if you are considering playing RS. Saying that, most computers around your price range don't come with dedicated graphics - although I've heard they have progressed well in recent years. 6GB of RAM on that o.O

 

Here are some others to consider (I'm using a budget of ~400 pounds)

http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?prodID=B545357

http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?prodID=B572525

http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?prodID=B547466

 

Monitor wise, I've heard good things about the BenQ E2220HD (cheapest price here)

 

It seems most computes come with 500GB instead of 1TB as default. You should definitely use www.froogle.co.uk (google shopping) to search for cheapest prices on things like monitors - that Samsung one you linked I could find on an alternative website for 20 quid less.

 

A word on prebuilt computers - make sure you uninstall all of the junk that comes pre-installed, it will only slow you down. As I said, I don't claim to be any kind of expert on graphics, so someone else will have to fill you in on whether you'll want a dedicated card.

[OldJoe]

This doesn't look too bad, although it doesn't come with dedicated graphics so they may be a little slow, especially if you are considering playing RS. Saying that, most computers around your price range don't come with dedicated graphics - although I've heard they have progressed well in recent years. 6GB of RAM on that o.O

 

Here are some others to consider (I'm using a budget of ~400 pounds)

http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?prodID=B545357

http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?prodID=B572525

http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?prodID=B547466

 

Monitor wise, I've heard good things about the BenQ E2220HD (cheapest price here)

 

It seems most computes come with 500GB instead of 1TB as default. You should definitely use www.froogle.co.uk (google shopping) to search for cheapest prices on things like monitors - that Samsung one you linked I could find on an alternative website for 20 quid less.

 

A word on prebuilt computers - make sure you uninstall all of the junk that comes pre-installed, it will only slow you down. As I said, I don't claim to be any kind of expert on graphics, so someone else will have to fill you in on whether you'll want a dedicated card.

This one and chuck in another memory stick.

[Racheya]

I like the monitor you suggested, the 22" one was about £60 for half an inch :P I think I'll go with the BenQ monitor but I can't decide between that and a screen my friend suggested at 24": http://www.scan.co.uk/products/24-iiyama-ple2409hds-black-widescreen-lcd-monitor-1920x1080-10001-300-cd-m-2-ms-vesa I'm not sure if that's too big or not :P

 

And unless there's a better one suggested, I'm thinking of going for the compaq: http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/compaq-sg3-350uk-black-09312066-pdt.html

 

I'm gonna order in a few days so I'm still open to ideas. Does anyone have any ideas for a good, comfortable keyboard? But again, I don't want to splash out loads.

[Guy]

I like the monitor you suggested, the 22" one was about £60 for half an inch :P I think I'll go with the BenQ monitor but I can't decide between that and a screen my friend suggested at 24": http://www.scan.co.uk/products/24-iiyama-ple2409hds-black-widescreen-lcd-monitor-1920x1080-10001-300-cd-m-2-ms-vesa I'm not sure if that's too big or not :P

 

And unless there's a better one suggested, I'm thinking of going for the compaq: http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/compaq-sg3-350uk-black-09312066-pdt.html

 

I'm gonna order in a few days so I'm still open to ideas. Does anyone have any ideas for a good, comfortable keyboard? But again, I don't want to splash out loads.

It's up to you whether paying 40~ pounds more for 2 inches is worth it. If you're going to use it a lot, I suppose it may be worth it. I would. Can't say I've ever heard of the brand though.

 

With that compaq, my concern would be with the x2 245 CPU - it isn't a particularly powerful model. If you're looking for a computer for around 330 as opposed to 400 quid, I can have a look.

 

edit: Same compaq here on amazon for 20 less.

[Racheya]

I might look around for something with a bit better processor then, I wouldn't begrudge paying a little bit more but I'm just trying to work through ideas is all.

 

I've got a friend who has a 24" screen and I'll be at his house tomorrow so I might see if I think it's too big or not. I'll be using it for viewing all my DVD/anime/tv too, so perhaps getting a bit bigger screen would be worth it.

[BloodAngel]

I haven't got the time to look in great detail right now, but ebuyer usually has some really good deals on computers and monitors. I managed to pick up a 24" Samsung monitor off there a couple of years ago for £114 (£86 off). My Dad uses them a lot for computer parts and never had a problem with them.

[OldJoe]

If anyone cares, i already suggested which one to choose. It's better than Racheya's original Compaq.

[Guy]

I might look around for something with a bit better processor then, I wouldn't begrudge paying a little bit more but I'm just trying to work through ideas is all.

 

I've got a friend who has a 24" screen and I'll be at his house tomorrow so I might see if I think it's too big or not. I'll be using it for viewing all my DVD/anime/tv too, so perhaps getting a bit bigger screen would be worth it.

Yeah if you are going to watch movies/TV on it then by all means go for the bigger one.

 

I haven't got the time to look in great detail right now, but ebuyer usually has some really good deals on computers and monitors. I managed to pick up a 24" Samsung monitor off there a couple of years ago for £114 (£86 off). My Dad uses them a lot for computer parts and never had a problem with them.

Yep - I ordered parts for a friends computer off here and the service is great. RMA works well too :)

 

If anyone cares, i already suggested which one to choose. It's better than Racheya's original Compaq.

And yeah, this.

[Racheya]

If anyone cares, i already suggested which one to choose. It's better than Racheya's original Compaq.

£364 with VAT makes it more expensive than the compaq for just a bit more processing speed, and I'd need to buy a bit more RAM for it.

 

@BloodAngel - Thanks for the link to eBuyer, I'm considering getting this 24" screen now: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/227668 At £124 it's not a bad price :D

 

Also: thoughts on this? http://www.ebuyer.com/product/251310

I can get Windows 7 for free through my University since I'm on a Computer Sci course, but there's just something about the computer that unnerves me. Maybe because it's so cheap for 1TB hdd 4Gb RAM...

[OldJoe]

Sorry girl from same city as Peter Kay, missed the tax.

Your e-value computer seems to come with intel gpu (doesn't state, but says "intel based..."). And i wouldn't go with that if you want to play RSHD.

 

Saw this site recommended, but i have no idea of this brand. But it's a great deal... http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/pc/range/delta.html

 

Otherwise i didn't find anything better than the one in your first post.

[Racheya]

Sorry girl from same city as Peter Kay, missed the tax.

Your e-value computer seems to come with intel gpu (doesn't state, but says "intel based..."). And i wouldn't go with that if you want to play RSHD.

 

Saw this site recommended, but i have no idea of this brand. But it's a great deal... http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/pc/range/delta.html

 

Otherwise i didn't find anything better than the one in your first post.

I had an intel chipset on my laptop once. Bad times :(

 

I'm gonna compare that one to my Compaq, it has a better processor at least but slightly less memory (HDD space is easy to get, though).

[OldJoe]

Sorry girl from same city as Peter Kay, missed the tax.

Your e-value computer seems to come with intel gpu (doesn't state, but says "intel based..."). And i wouldn't go with that if you want to play RSHD.

 

Saw this site recommended, but i have no idea of this brand. But it's a great deal... http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/pc/range/delta.html

 

Otherwise i didn't find anything better than the one in your first post.

I had an intel chipset on my laptop once. Bad times :(

 

I'm gonna compare that one to my Compaq, it has a better processor at least but slightly less memory (HDD space is easy to get, though).

It's a lot better than the Compaq except for the hd.

But that can be fixed with getting a 2nd one or buying an external, or maybe asking them if they could put in a 750gb or 1tb instead.

Check a site like bit-tech if you'd like to know how the two computers different hardware perform.

[Guy]

Sorry girl from same city as Peter Kay, missed the tax.

Your e-value computer seems to come with intel gpu (doesn't state, but says "intel based..."). And i wouldn't go with that if you want to play RSHD.

 

Saw this site recommended, but i have no idea of this brand. But it's a great deal... http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/pc/range/delta.html

 

Otherwise i didn't find anything better than the one in your first post.

I've not had experience with that site, but I have also seen good stuff about it. That computer looks to be a great deal. I would go with this if you don't want to go with that other one I posted. Definitely do not go with that extra value one - extra value is synonymous with no-brand, which in turn is synonymous with awful.

[Racheya]

Okay so I'm going for the Novatech and the 24" screen. Thanks a lot for your help guys :thumbsup: I'm going to order it next week when I can be sure I'm around for the delivery.