Best desktop £650 - £750?

bradc

Hi,

I'm on the lookout for a desktop PC and it's currently between a Dell or an Acer as they seem to offer the best PC's.

I do like this dell http://www1.euro.dell.com/uk/en/home/Desktops/desktop-studio-mini/pd.aspx?refid=desktop-studio-mini&s=dhs&cs=ukdhs1&~ck=mn (the £599 offer).

What do people think of the processor and graphics card? I will use it daily with tasks including web design, photo editing, a few games (but I am not a big gamer at all) and normal office duties. Probably I do not need such power but would rather buy something which I can use for at least 3 yrs.

Is it overall good spec for the price?

Any other better spec PC's with monitors for similar price? (£600-£700 but I need to pay approx. £30 for wireless card for the desktop hence £650-£750 ish).

Thanks in advance.

asininity

Ever considered building your own, you'll get exactly what you're after and probably save some money too.

bradc

asininity wrote: »

Ever considered building your own, you'll get exactly what you're after and probably save some money too.

I know it can be quite simple but would prefer one ready-built as I would be scared about doing something wrong. I have never opened up a PC before!

Thanks.

John_Gray

bradc wrote: »

I do like this dell http://www1.euro.dell.com/uk/en/home/Desktops/desktop-studio-mini/pd.aspx?refid=desktop-studio-mini&s=dhs&cs=ukdhs1&~ck=mn (the £599 offer).
What do people think of the processor and graphics card?

The processor is good - I don't think you want to spend another £100 for a 0.16 GHz upgrade in speed! I don't keep up with graphics cards, so no opinion.

There are so many available PCs on the market that it is virtually impossible to say that PC X is better than PC Y with any degree of certainty.

Being aware that Windows 7 is just round the corner, I would check that you are happy with Windows 7 Home Premium, which will be the 'free' upgrade path (you just pay for tax, shipping and handling!) from Vista Home Premium. Check that you don't need domain-joining or other such networking features from this comprehensive table.

If you were one of the few people with the technical skill, experience, enthusiasm and available time to build your own PC, I don't think you would have asked the original question!

spakkker

Not many programs will use 4 cores- I would get a faster dual core eg.e8500 cpu.
The graphics card is only just middling - it's a 40nm 9400
Typical dell- no mention of their carpy motherboard specs.- this is what will hobble this system in the future.
No mention of the usual only just enough power supply.
Once dell go above their celeron base-line they charge the earth.

bradc

Thank you both for your replies.

The graphics card is not a big priority, as long as can handle DVD's and the odd game I would be happy.

I just want something nice and quick.

Does anyone have any other suggestions (not Dell or Acer).

I am happy paying this price but would like to think I have got the best I could have for my hard-earned!

Thanks.

bradc

I could wait until October for Windows 7 if I thought I could get something better. I had an absolute nightmare upgrading from XP to Vista with the free upgrade that my current laptop came were, the company involved were ModusLink who were absolutely awful.

RobTang

building your own isn't cheaper, it just enables you to get whatever you want (and its never the cheap 'n' cheerful stuff).
Plus periphearls eat big time into budgets if you cant re-use of stuff.

bradc

RobTang wrote: »

building your own isn't cheaper, it just enables you to get whatever you want (and its never the cheap 'n' cheerful stuff).
Plus periphearls eat big time into budgets if you cant re-use of stuff.

Yes I can see it's advantages.

jamesperrett

bradc wrote: »

I am happy paying this price but would like to think I have got the best I could have for my hard-earned!

DIY is almost certainly the cheapest option if you want control over what you are getting. Dell's basic systems are cheap but as soon as you start customising them the prices rocket up. If you go DIY then most of the connectors are colour coded but there are still a few things (like inserting the processor) which require a little care.

If you want decent performance ready built then I would suggest taking a look at some of the systems produced by components suppliers like Scan. You might also want to look at barebones systems where the difficult stuff has been done for you leaving you to fit the parts that are fairly easy to fit.

Cheers

James.

superscaper

jamesperrett wrote: »

DIY is almost certainly the cheapest option if you want control over what you are getting.

Depends on the price range really. At the lower end of the market economies of scale make the likes of Dell cheaper than anything you could build with equivalent or even the same components. At the higher end and most likely in the OP's budget range I'd agree that building your own is cheaper but then again "cheaper" is a subjective term when you factor in personal "hassle", support etc.