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Scifer · Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 9:31 am Post subject: Time for a new PC

Finally got my pay-cheque and I've decided to spend £500 to £600 of it on a new desktop PC.

Seeing as my last computer purchase was nothing short of a disaster smothered with failpaste, I'm doing my research this time. If I'd seen the reviews about the Rock Pegasus 710 laptop, or known that Rock's tech support has the organisational skill of a headless chicken, I wouldn't have spent over £800 on it for a year-and-a-bit's operational service. Confused

I'm not afraid to admit when something is technologically beyond me. Working out the best PC I can get for up to £600 is one of them. I am aware of what all the specs and figures mean, but upon reading the reviews for some of these PCs (that I thought looked good, at first), it seems that not all the processors, chipsets and graphics cards deliver the goods for the amount of money they're worth -

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/advent-cbe1401-04153059-pdt.html
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/acer-aspire-x3810-refurbished-mini-pc-04590814-pdt.html

At the moment, this chap looks like the best value for money, but only because I can't find any negative reviews of it -

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/advent-centurion-cpd1301-04153050-pdt.html

This one looks quite good too, but it looks like it needs a dedicated PCI video card, from the comments added below -

http://www.bestcovery.com/hp-hewlett-packard-compaq-presario-cq5210f-mini-tower-desktop?whybest=1&best=47953

Ash and I are planning to spend a weekend building a PC worthy of Eisenguard, but the concept of a store-purchase warranty is also very tempting. I am extremely paranoid about my technology exploding in my face ... now, thanks to Stone Computers. >.>

Anyway, it would be nice to have a template for us to follow, when it comes to motherboards, processors, graphics cards, etc. I've already got a dual-screen monitor setup, mouse, keyboard, speakers, etc, so no need to worry about those - I'm just interested in the desktop unit itself.

Just remember, my budget is anything up to £600 and I'm looking for something I can work and play on. Any suggestions? Smile

-=Sci

Kit Fox · Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 9:49 am Post subject:

You should still build it yourself. Almost all hardware vendors offer some kind of warrenty for the parts you get from them.
Granted you'll have to do the replacing yourself if something fails, at least you are getting a machine custom to your needs.

EXan · Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 9:58 am Post subject:

I would go for the advent. The stats look good and a dedicated graph-board is always preferable.

But try to find out some of the stats of the motherboard. See if it has a good chip-set. (NVIDIA or ASUS) But those are personal preferences. So that if something blows up after the warranty is gone you can replace and upgrade some stuff.
It has DDR2 which is getting old and it says 4G max. the DDR2 isn't really a issue but it is being replaced with DDR3 and up. As for 4G don't know if they mean that all the slots are already full or that 4 really is the max of the board.

Hope this helps.

Or what kit just posted.... Razz

anthony · Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 10:42 am Post subject:

I've never liked HPs consumer-oriented PCs...

Sure, the HP Compaq dc7900 Small Form Factor' I use at the office has a pretty shabby graphics card, but that was disabled a while ago, when I stuffed a dual-output card into it.
What 'business-oriented' PCs offer is robustness and better support.
(Mostly HP tech support is pretty good, but I feel they take you a bit more seriously if you have a more 'serious' PC)

Styx · Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 11:09 am Post subject:

Something else to keep in mind HP tech support (Here in the states anyway) is farmed out to India so be prepared to say "What?" a lot.

Styx · Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 11:50 am Post subject:

Hey I work tech support for MSI we're still in the states

Kit Fox · Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 12:08 pm Post subject:

All foreign tech support centers have an american supervisor. Just ask for him/her right off the bat.

Styx · Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 12:27 pm Post subject:

Um no, I tried that once all I got was some Hindu fella named "BOB" Rolling Eyes

Kit Fox · Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 12:51 pm Post subject:

Haha... I never had a problem with it. I'm the guy they wish would never call Smile

Styx · Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 1:05 pm Post subject:

You mean someone who knows a thing or two about computers and knows when they are feed you a pile of B.S.?

Hawke · Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 1:07 pm Post subject:

I would say build it yourself...buy the parts from Newegg. It is way cheaper than going through an OEM retailer such as HP. Im rebuilding my PC for around $1200, but if I got the same PC all put together from a retailer I would be paying somewhere around $4500 and up. I really suggest building yourself.

Kit Fox · Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 1:29 pm Post subject:

tijn · Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 2:34 pm Post subject:

Hawke · Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 12:03 am Post subject:

Syrius · Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 12:41 am Post subject:

Gateway does all their tech support here in the USA, at least during the day. At the risk of sounding like a shill, I am very happy with them.