PC for around £500 or less

lightisfading · 9 December 2012 at 8:21AM

Hi all,

After having massive ongoing problems with my computer, it seems to have finally bit the dust. I could spend yet more time and energy trying to find the offending part but I have really just had enough of it (also I'm getting a bit of a pay bonus this month which may be my one chance to get a new one).

So.. I'm looking for an off-the-shelf base unit. I use it for gaming, regularly but not in a dedicated, need the best machine kind of way. That said it needs to run new games. I also use photoshop infrequently, along with all the normal stuff like Office, movies etc.

Quieter would be preferable, as it's in my bedroom and I use it for netflix/iplayer as TV too. But I've got used to sleeping through it.

I don't need monitors or any other peripherals. I do run dual monitors as well.

I do want to be able to upgrade it as necessary in future (I can only do the easier case-open stuff myself, but my brother can help).

Budget is around £500 max, preferably more like £400.

I live in Brighton so ideally somewhere I can get to easily. I would REALLY prefer to buy from a bricks-and-mortar shop as I need it ASAP!

silkcutblue · 9 December 2012 at 11:01AM

What kind of games? SIMs/WOW is going to need a diff kind of GPU than COD II.
Dual monitors - what connections do your screens have?
Do you have an OS or would the PC need to be pre-loaded?
Do you need Office?

All of these things change the cost.

If you are committed to buying from a bricks and mortar shop then I'll leave those questions there to help those answering as I would only recommend online shops like Overclockers rather than rip off merchants PC World/Currys, etc.

closed · 9 December 2012 at 12:44PM

what problems

lightisfading · 9 December 2012 at 1:06PM

Problems - issues with crashing as well as sound, but we've had issues narrowing down a cause as it only happens after extended gaming - so believed to be graphics card, power supply or even RAM. That said the discovery of melted cables inside is pointing towards power supply!

Usage - gaming, mostly FPS (ie BF3).

Software not an issue, I have/can install all of that.

The monitors both have the older type connection (gone blank on the name sorry) - for some bizarre reason as one of the monitors is only a year or two old. I've been using adaptors with no problem though so either are fine.

I'm not 100% fixed on it being a bricks-and-mortar shop, but I want/need it ASAP. Also delivery times are a major issue unless I get it this week while I have time off.

I suppose at the money I'd probably save buying online it'd still outweigh the cost of next day delivery?