new desktop pc + processor advice please

ih8stress

Been deliberating for ages about a new pc and decided to wait and get one with W7 installed.

Building one myself is out of the question. Buying refurb or secondhand likewise.

Need it for the usual: surfing, emails, storing and editing photos (corel paint), word processing, very occasional old style games like tetris (if I can find them).

Don't really want to try a Dell as differing tales re. service and upgrading etc.

Have seen the following:

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.207-1665.aspx

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@2046993391.1264011257@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccfdadejgmijhkgcflgceggdhhmdgmi.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=921749&category_oid=


I seem to remember reading somewhere that some processors are prone to overheating (AMD ?), so am I best looking at Intel Pentium's as opposed to AMD Athlon, AMD Phenom, or Intel Celeron ones?

Sorry for all the questions but you guys have been brilliant at helping in the past

My budget is around £300-£400.

JasX

ih8stress wrote: »

Don't really want to try a Dell as differing tales re. service and upgrading etc.
.

you are talking nonsense, always compare to dell for the value you're getting as they are a solid reliable brand who get it right 99.99% of the time (they just sell so many the 0.01% does get vocal from time to time)

debitcardmayhem

JasX wrote: »

you are talking nonsense, always compare to dell for the value you're getting as they are a solid reliable brand who get it right 99.99% of the time (they just sell so many the 0.01% does get vocal from time to time)

Agree I used them when I was at work and I have a Studio 540 at home 9 months old and v pleased, (tempting fate:D)

ddoris

Well dell do use carpy m/boards and they used to use different psu's,I don't know about nowadays.
If you want to upgrade cpu they usually charge more for the replacement part than it costs, even tho' you have already paid for one cpu.
dell just buy the cheapest components they can - if they can save 50p on a component they will -I don't think dell make any components ,so they are just as reliable and solid as their suppliers.
Their business plan is to trap customers into their supply chain. hp play the same game but there aren't as many people who say bad things about them??

bazster

I always buy Dell, always had great value and great service.

I'd run my business with a quill pen, parchment and an abacus rather than buy anything from either PC World or Tescos.

ih8stress

Thanks for the input so far. I have noted the comments and will include Dell in my searching.

Any thoughts on the 2 computers listed, please?

Any feedback with regard to the processors, please?

turbobob

I'm sure the Pentium E5300 will be up to the job for what you need. Note any modern processor is prone to overheating if its not cooled properly, Intel or AMD. It costs the same as an Athlon X2 250 which performs a little higher. Not much in it though.

Comparison here http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=96&p2=98&i=2.3.4.5.6.25.26.27.28.29.30.31.32.33.34.35.36.37.38.39.40.41.42.43.44.45.46.47.48.49.50

ih8stress

turbobob: thanks for the link.

Been looking at these pc's:

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0634275489.1264371749@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccladejhgeffkhcflgceggdhhmdfhk.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=004762&category_oid=-37542#productInformationSection


http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0634275489.1264371749@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccladejhgeffkhcflgceggdhhmdfhk.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=921749&category_oid=-37542#productInformationSection

http://direct.tesco.com/product/default.aspx?r=207-1665

The second one is £120 dearer than the first one, having 2g RAM more, and built-in WiFi. Does this sound about right? And is it necessary?

The third one obviously requires a monitor, keyboard and mouse also. I have been unable to find out any more details about this one. Just wondered how it compared to the other two?

Money is a big factor but obviously I want to get the best I can afford for my needs as it has got to last.

After I've sorted out which pc, I can then start shopping around for the best deal.

ih8stress

just bumping this, please

turbobob

Looking briefly the Medion looks better value but they will all cope with office tasks. 4gb ram with the 64bit OS is a bit more future proofed than 2gb, but the cost difference between the two Compaq models seems excessive if those are the only differences. 2gb DDR2 can be picked up cheaply. If you need wireless you can add it through a USB adaptor cheaply.

ih8stress

Thanks for the response turbobob. I did wonder if the HP was wildly overpriced in comparison to the Compaq.

I appreciate your advice on buying extra ram cheaper and getting a usb adaptor for the wireless.

The only experience I have with Medion is an old crt monitor which I've had for about 5 years now but I must say I've had no problems with it.

Does anyone know much about this Medion pc? I have been unable to find any detailed info on it, despite googling and going to the medion website.

Thank you to everyone for the advice so far, it's much appreciated.