Good Desktop PC Under Around £500

loonygooner

Hi good folk of MSE.
I am seeking your greater knowledge about buying a PC for about the £500 mark.
I am happy buying any brand that has a good reliability and would apprecitae it for general use although my son will use it for gaming although nothing extreme (Age of Empires/Civilisation).
I have noted previous comments concerning the Dell Vostro and XPS which look pretty good, I have also had a Mesh and my current PC is a JAL. What is everyones opinion that has Dell and where is the best place to buy.
Most importantly what is the best spec I can get for £500?

All help appreciated.

timestar

I have bought both desktop and laptop from Dell and been pleased with both. I know that Dell get a hard time in the reviews - but when you sell in the numbers that they do there will always be some issues. Mesh make some nice machines but they also get slated on some review sites.

f1charlie

Check out the Dell deals on www.dmxdimension.com.

It makes it fairly easy to see what you can get for your £500.

loonygooner

f1charlie wrote: »

Check out the Dell deals on www.dmxdimension.com.

It makes it fairly easy to see what you can get for your £500.

Used the link shown and the Dell Vostro looks pretty good, but is it worth paying a little extra for the XPS?

Like the look of this for £429.00 http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukbsdt1&l=en&oc=D074107&dgc=AF&cid=5213&lid=122757

f1charlie

I've got a Vostro. Only bought it a couple of months ago, but it's amazing to see what you get extra for the same sort of price in that time. Remember to add on VAT to that price. The XPS will cost a bit more for the same spec because you get a fancier case, but I think that's really the only difference.

loonygooner

f1charlie wrote: »

I've got a Vostro. Only bought it a couple of months ago, but it's amazing to see what you get extra for the same sort of price in that time. Remember to add on VAT to that price. The XPS will cost a bit more for the same spec because you get a fancier case, but I think that's really the only difference.

Charlie,

Was your Vostro a 400 series.
It seems that the Vostro are good but like most hot blooded males I want more power and stamina so the XPS keeps winking at me.

My head tells me to go for the Vostro but the XPS, with the additional features looks more future proof and love the window on the top looks great for usability.

f1charlie

Yes, a 400 series. If you've got the money go for the XPS - you know you want to!

Or just to confuse things, look at the Inspiron series - basically the same as the Vostro but in silver (and more trialware stuff installed as standard).

I just specced the XPS to as close as I could get to the Vostro you are looking at (actually a slightly less powerful CPU in the XPS) and it came to £669 inc VAT, so about £160 more.

loonygooner

f1charlie wrote: »

Yes, a 400 series. If you've got the money go for the XPS - you know you want to!

Or just to confuse things, look at the Inspiron series - basically the same as the Vostro but in silver (and more trialware stuff installed as standard).

I just specced the XPS to as close as I could get to the Vostro you are looking at (actually a slightly less powerful CPU in the XPS) and it came to £669 inc VAT, so about £160 more.

Charlie,
Do you have a link to the computer that you have as I assume that you are more than happy with it? Is there anything else that you wish you had added?
Wifey thinks we should meet for a beer :beer: or 6????:rolleyes:

f1charlie

Things have obviously moved on in that short time! I notice that the model you are looking at is the 410MT and the case is bigger than the 400MT I've got and I can't really find one that matches exactly. Probably the closest model in the Vostro range is this one:

http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukbsdt1&l=en&oc=D074119&dgc=AF&cid=5213&lid=122757

but by the time I change it so that it gets close to mine, it's getting towards the price of the one you've chosen, but your spec is still better. I think that model looks a good price. That's the trouble with looking at these damn computers there's always something better - if only I spent a bit more or waited a bit longer I could have got a better graphics card or more memory, etc, etc.
I probably don't tax my computer much (no games) so it's OK for me so far.