Is this computer any good?

Money_Grabber13579

I know it's from PC World, but generally I find they have some of the best prices and I've never needed them to do anything to my computers, so they haven't had the chance of wrecking them!

What I'd like to know is, is the spec of this one any good?

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1464354608.1260134736@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdjadeimlmijehcflgceggdhhmdfog.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=889084&category_oid=-37526

I mainly use it for general web browsing and some online games, such as those on facebook (Yes I know, I'm addicted to a stupid farm!) I would also like it to be capable of playing The Sims 3 for example, or football manager and the like. Would the graphics card be good enough to do this, and would the general spec be okay?

I know it has only got 3GB of RAM, but since it's 64bit, I can add some more later on if necessary. Any other failings that I should know about? At £400, it seems to me that this is a good bargain, but am I missing something that makes it so cheap?

Steve-o

The graphics on that are on the motherboard itself, not a separate graphics card.

The machine seems fine for your requirements, as the games you've said don't need massively powerful machines to run.

Money_Grabber13579

Steve-o wrote: »

The graphics on that are on the motherboard itself, not a separate graphics card.

The machine seems fine for your requirements, as the games you've said don't need massively powerful machines to run.

Does that limit options if the graphics needed to be updated at any stage? What about making and playing videos? I don't create my own videos from pictures at present, but may do in the future. Would that also be okay on this machine?

Steve-o

Money_Grabber13579 wrote: »

Does that limit options if the graphics needed to be updated at any stage? What about making and playing videos? I don't create my own videos from pictures at present, but may do in the future. Would that also be okay on this machine?

That machine is fine for playing and making videos or DVDs.

Having integrated graphics does not stop you upgrading to a dedicated graphics card later on, as long as you know how (or know someone) to fit it.

Money_Grabber13579

Steve-o wrote: »

That machine is fine for playing and making videos or DVDs.

Having integrated graphics does not stop you upgrading to a dedicated graphics card later on, as long as you know how (or know someone) to fit it.

Well if it ever comes to that, I may be back looking for help! I managed to fit more RAM to a laptop recently with help from on here, even though I'd never dreamt that I'd ever even open a computer case!

CHR15

The description makes no reference to a PCIe slot so there is no guarantee a graphics card upgrade is possible.

It would be worth researching this issue first.

Money_Grabber13579

Something else....what would I need to make it wireless? I know a dongle is required, but I'm always confused as to whether they are all compatible with all ISPs! I sometimes see some wireless routers and the like that say they are compatible with BT. Does that mean some aren't? Currently, we're with Talktalk. What dongle would be need, or would anyone do the job?

Donnie

In addition, there is no FireWire connection.

Donnie

Money_Grabber13579 wrote: »

Something else....what would I need to make it wireless? I know a dongle is required, but I'm always confused as to whether they are all compatible with all ISPs! I sometimes see some wireless routers and the like that say they are compatible with BT. Does that mean some aren't? Currently, we're with Talktalk. What dongle would be need, or would anyone do the job?

Almost any would do....as long as they utilize WPA encryption.

Money_Grabber13579

Donnie wrote: »

In addition, there is no FireWire connection.

Does anything actually use Firewire now though? I've got nothing that has ever needed to use Firewire, is there still accessories that use it?

robredz

A fair few camcorders, especially pro and semi pro, including HD cams still use DV tape, with a firewire connection.. It is mainly cams at the consumer end that use memory cards.