Which desktop pc package for £350 max?

grumpycrab

Qwiksilver wrote: »

lol grumpy is on the case already. good man.

If the OP decides they really need wireless - its all yours! lol. The last "setting up wireless" ran for quite a few pages...

Qwiksilver

Have a look at this monitor. Good value and full hd. There are others alternatives on this site so if you want advice post the link and i will have a look.

http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/monitors/22inchmonitors/nov-nlcd22.html

As far as the internet connection is concerned that may well end up costing you a few quid to boost the signal to a usable level for streaming etc (which i assume your son would want).

An option and a cheap one would be the following (provided your router has ports to accept it).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20m-RJ45-Cat5e-Ethernet-Network-LAN-Cable-Patch-Lead-/250782230114?pt=UK_Computing_NetworkingCables_RL&hash=item3a63c92662

They come in a variety of colours and if you get a couple of packs of cable grips you can run iy along the skirting boards or up the stair wall into his room. I know its not the most practical but it will give him a secure connection and get him online on Xmas day.

Good luck and hope it goes well. Feel free to ask any questions.

TakeThis

grumpycrab wrote: »

That is a very good price. Note the operating system is Windows XP Professional (available through downgrade rights from Genuine Windows® 7 Professional).

Where does it state that it is XP Pro?

jac29

Thank you Qwiksilver and Grumpycrab for your replies. The one i have ordered is slightly different. It's a mini tower (rather than slim). Has windows home premium rather than professional, hard drive is 1TB SATA III. Processor is inter core i3-2120(3.30GHz, 3MB) and it has 16xDVD+/-RW Drive rather than the blu-ray...I was in such a rush not to miss out, I saw the one second from the bottom of the page and thought it was it. Still, it does seem to offer all I was looking for at a very good price.

I have had a quick look at the monitor and it looks good. Will look properly when i get a minute. I will also need to get a keyboard/mouse/required leads to make them work, so any pointers as to which will do?...

It will definitely have to be made wireless. We live in a really old house with three floors and it's going to be in a top bedroom. So, I need to know which wireless card and how to use it!!

As for knowing anyone techie...why do you think i came here?!? The most techie person i know is the son receiving the pc and i can't ask him for help for obvious reasons!! Good job you're here.

Finally, the signal on the top floor isn't the best. My oldest son has a laptop up there and struggles to get a signal at times. Should i consider updating my router? Can i get something to boost it? I have an Echolife HG520s which my pc is plugged into in the living room on the ground floor.

Thanks yet again for giving me your time and expertise x

gonzo127

realistically you will want something like this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-PA211KIT-200Mbps-Powerline-Ethernet/dp/B004INVKP4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323850064&sr=8-1 - bare in mind this is a wired access point so would need some short ethernet cables

or

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-WA730RE-150MBPS-Wireless-Extender/dp/B003UZFSDG/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1323958300&sr=1-1 - this once set up should be placed about half way between your current router and the place you want it, and basically will repeat the wireless signal giving a bigger range

or

http://www.amazon.co.uk/1001Cables-metre-Network-Ethernet-Cable/dp/B000HWY304/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1323850322&sr=1-2 - basically make it wired and run the wire around/through the house

donny-gal

Just another thought, if you have not had a router from T-Talk, you may be able to get a new one free for a phone call to them (calls to their customer service are free from a TT line), and extending your contract for 12 months, I have just done this and got my package for half price for the next 12 months too. Signal strength could be better with a new router (no guarantee though). DG

grumpycrab

TakeThis wrote: »

Where does it state that it is XP Pro?

"Specs here" But I see "HP Pro 3125" lists Windows 7 Professional. Great price even for a refurb.

TakeThis wrote: »

If I were in that position, I would perhaps get this HP Pro 3125 for £184.98 (specs here)...

grumpycrab

jac29 wrote: »

It will definitely have to be made wireless. We live in a really old house with three floors and it's going to be in a top bedroom. So, I need to know which wireless card and how to use it!!

jac29 you don't have to use wireless. gonzo127 provided a link as follows.

gonzo127 wrote: »

realistically you will want something like this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-PA211KIT-200Mbps-Powerline-Ethernet/dp/B004INVKP4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323850064&sr=8-1

Basically the electrical wire in your house is used as a network. The Powerline pack contains the items ticked in the diagram below. You need an extra plug socket near your router and another spare near the new PC in the top bedroom.

Downstairs you connect one Powerline to your router with the provided (1 meter) ethernet cable.

In the bedroom connect the other Powerline to the new computer using the other provided (1 meter) ethernet cable.

Mumstheword

I've got a similar problem.....but not as big a budget!

I just need a desktop unit, to replace one which is very slow and always has been. It's one which has been added to and messed about with over the years. I used some great advice on here and went thru a lengthy process to speed everything up, which helped, but it's still terribly slow on the net. So - I have a monitor and keyboard, I just want a pc.

Does this look any good? http://www.ebuyer.com/251310-zoostorm-desktop-7873-1036

I dont even want to spend that much if I can help it, but realise you get what you pay for!

My son can put an OS on for me, so I dont need to spend extra on that. I dont really need 1TB hard drive - it's only for internet browsing and storing some basic admin files, but I'd like something that can start up and change web pages fast!

Sorry to hijack this thread - I dont want to start another as it will stand out and this is a gift idea!!

Thanks!

Mumstheword

Is the above one worth extra money over the refurb HP one mentioned above at £184?