WHICH computer - for anyone looking to buy one!!

mattersdorff

Dear MSE users,

I thought it would be a great thing to have a specific forum thread devoted to advice on the best value, best performing computers people can buy for their buck (according to three price ranges - SUB £500, £500 to £1000 and £1000+).

I'm really excited to hear the response to this thread because I'm certain there are loads of techie people out there that could give people like me some really excellent advice.

I have lived with computers since the early 1980s when my father handbuilt a PC back in the days when PCs were hardly in existence at all.

Anyway, I know how to use computers back to front but I, like most, am a total novice when it comes to knowing what constitutes the most important elements inside a PC and most importantly, what makes it work best.

Obviously, if everyone had £2000, they could go out and get a kick ar5e machine that will never freeze up and will probably last longer than the 6-12 months it takes most basic machines to be superceeded.

SO, let's get stuck into it. Firstly, I should mention that I realise that building your own PC is probably the most cost effective and best value method of buying a powerful PC but some of us don't dare to try and wouldn't know where to start anyway AND wouldn't trust ourselves buying the right stuff. But if anyone wants to suggest an achievable way of doing so, then go ahead and lend us your advice.

3 CATEGORIES, perhaps if you are replying to this thread with advice, you could put in your TITLE, the price range your advising about.

--- SUB £500
--- £500-£1000
--- OVER £1000

Some basic questions:

1. which are the best VALUE PC manufacturers out there? Dell, HP etc?
2. which are the best QUALITY PC manufacturers out there?
3. which manufacturers provide the best mix of VALUE and QUALITY?

4. What should people be thinking when considering different processor power - Core 2 Duo, Quad Core, i7 etc etc etc?
- what is the correlation in terms of improving performance between a better processor or a better graphics card AND a better hard drive?
- is there any way, non-techie people like me will ever understand the link between these three elements?

5. What is the best way of ensuring your computer LASTS? For example, it would kill me to go out there and spend £400 on a computer only to find that it starts siezing up after a year because newer programmes use up too much of it's power.
- I would rather pay £1000 today and get a machine that should last 4 or 5 years, than pay £400 for a machine that might do ok right now but CERTAINLY won't perform well in a year or 2 from now.

6. what are the minimum specifications required for GOOD performance when doing the following?
- simple internet browing, word processing, media watching etc.
- video and/or photo editing on memory-intensive programs like Photoshop CS3 or Adobe Premier Pro.
- gaming.

** OK, I think that's enough questions for now - I'd be happy for anyone else to suggest valid other GENERAL questions to add to this thread and I can edit them into this message if they're relevant.

And finally, I hope it's ok to highlight my own personal requirements.

** I have spent the last 5 years getting by working on laptops but am desperate to switch to a SUPER POWERFUL desktop PC but obviously want to spend only what is necessary.
- I do a considerable amount of large-format photo editing through Photoshop CS3 (including Bridge) and currently, as soon as I try to do something just a little bit complicated, my computer slows down to a snail pace, all but freezing under the labour of the programs processing requirements. Many tasks can't be completed because my laptop - 'you don't have enough virtual memory'.
- I should mention that I have a Core 2 Duo Samsung R20 laptop that I only bought 1 year ago. It served it's purpose on a world trip my wife and I did last year.
- I have been leaning towards getting one of the DELL Studio XPS desktops - a £999 version that comes with the i7 processor, 6000 DDR3 ram, 640mb hard drive, 512mb Radeon graphics card (upgraded from the 256mb card - costing me an extra £100) and a 23i monitor and the standard 16x +/- dvd-r read write drive.
- It's the fourth option from this page of four.
http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/desktop-studioxps-435mt?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&ref=dthp&s=dhs

What other computers should I be considering from other manufacturers.

Thanks for any advice anyone can give, I'm really excited to read your opinions.:j

Marty_J

I'd just like to be the first to mention Apple Macs in this thread.

DatabaseError

Can I be the first to mention Apple Pie in this thread?

Marty_J

DatabaseError wrote: »

Can I be the first to mention Apple Pie in this thread?

It sure looks like it!

DatabaseError

...sorry...OP...let's start again, as I find it unlikely anyone CBA creating a list such as your opening post, and "I know how to use computers back to front" including, it seems, how to change fonts, which isn't annoying in the least when I copy/paste some of your text and it all gets silly and I now end up with the wrong font...and I can't remember the forum default....so now I look silly...

So...in a simple...I have this much money...I want to do this with it, I want to run this software, I already have a monitor or mouse kinda way...can we start again?

My twopenneth will [/strike]always[/strike] usually start with "build your own", but, in your case, get your dad to build you one

Jake'sGran

For what it's worth I have never used an Apple Mac!

I've had great service out of the two Dell desktops I've had. First one cost only £100
from daughter's company. Now getting used to a Sony VAIO (grandson says it's pronounced Vayoooh... Not VA10). I bought this because it was lsited as the best at the top of the forums. Panasonic number 2. Cost £439.

DatabaseError

Jake'sGran wrote: »

For what it's worth I have never used an Apple Mac!

What a terrible admission, Jake's Gran..what would he think of you :rolleyes:

I, on the other hand, have used an apple computer, it was in 1995, the screen was green!

Marty_J

I used to have an Amstrad CPC-464 that had a monitor with a green screen. We were too poor to afford the colour one!

DatabaseError

I've used one (well, a few) of those too.
1st computer I 'owned' was a zx80 in...er..1980. 1k of ram! Then the zx81 came out, and my dad wouldn't buy me one

ih8stress

DatabaseError wrote: »

Can I be the first to mention Apple Pie in this thread?

:rotfl: Love it, you really made me smile, thanks :T

hethmar

Im not a techi, far from it - but I always thought Dell was a starter computer and snobbishly ignored it, buying all sorts including the much heralded mesh. After my last Mesh lasted all of one day and spent the next two years of its life going on more holidays than me - I dumped it, even though I had 3 years further warranty as the stress wasnt worth it.

I needed a puter quick, I went to Dell through quidco, bought a decent desk top with big discount and cash back. It arrived, I had a blue screen after a day and ominous clicking from the hard drive.:( I rang Dell, the phone was answered in a few rings (amazing, as Id spend a day redialling Mesh with any probs). I was prepared for a big argument instead I got a big apology and a new puter with all the trappings arrived in 3 days.

Since then, any queries and they are answered immediately, any probs and they are dealt with efficiently. Ive been very pleased with Dell.