Suitable office Desktop PC

discountmummy

I am in need of replacing my work desktop PC. I have been looking at the zoostorms but to be honest I am unsure what sort of spec I should be looking for.
It is for a small company, we use quick-books accounting package.
I require use of a PDF plus the usual office software, and the internet.
I would prefer one with an operating system but I don't mind either 7 or 8.
I would also like to purchase a 22" or there abouts PC monitor, but this could be purchased separately.

I would be gratefully if someone could at least point me in the direction of what sort of spec I should be looking at so I don't unnecessarily overspend. Thank you.

closed

what's wrong with the existing one?

http://www.dmxdimension.com/

Tiexen

discountmummy wrote: »

I am in need of replacing my work desktop PC. I have been looking at the zoostorms but to be honest I am unsure what sort of spec I should be looking for.
It is for a small company, we use quick-books accounting package.
I require use of a PDF plus the usual office software, and the internet.
I would prefer one with an operating system but I don't mind either 7 or 8.
I would also like to purchase a 22" or there abouts PC monitor, but this could be purchased separately.

I would be gratefully if someone could at least point me in the direction of what sort of spec I should be looking at so I don't unnecessarily overspend. Thank you.

Any modern computer will do all that with ease - Zoostorm is fine (but can have noisy fans which in an office is probably not a problem)

this would be fine:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zoostorm-7877-0095-Premium-i5-2320-Windows/dp/B006ZINMP6/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_4_S9YY

booler

I just had a quick look at Which's ratings and Novatech come second only to Apple (which are too expensive).

Have a look at this one, http://www.novatech.co.uk/pc/range/novatechlifenti26.html

grumpycrab

For a "work desktop" some of the questions I'd ask are :-
- how powerful
- how noisy/quiet
- what warranty
2 i5s I've been looking at (may be over the top) are:-

1. dinopc (terrible name but bear with me)
www.hotukdeals.com/deals/dinopc-i5-3470-desktop-windows7-2-3years-warranty-391-49-inc-p-p-dinopc-com-1469383
The basic spec (i3 and basic warranty) is £315. Don't know how quiet it is.

2. Dell. Dull but quiet and reliable. The problem with Dell is finding a good buy at the right time.
e.g. Vostro 270
http://www.dell.com/uk/business/p/vostro-270/fs?3x_page=2&filterCollapsed=false
But ideally need to wait for a free shipping code. (none available today for Dell Business/home)
(or click the 270 tab under http://www.dmxdimension.com/dell-uk/vostro-deal-comparison/ )

discountmummy

closed wrote: »

what's wrong with the existing one?

http://www.dmxdimension.com/

My existing pc has very bad shadowing, doesnt appear to be down to the monitor so it could be the graphics card as the one we have is likely to be an onboard card it could mean the motherboard also has errors on it leading to further isuues?

discountmummy

I have been given a spec I should be looking at from an IT guy we use
of:
Intel 15 Processor? does he mean i5??
8GB memory? seams alot?
Windows 7 64bit

And I will need to purchase 3 Licences of office 2010 small business edition.

The zoostorms seem a good price, my boss doesnt like dells so there out.

macman

You neither need an i5 processor or 8GB of RAM for an office PC running MS Office and QuickBooks!
A i3 with 4GB of RAM will be more than adequate for what you want to do.
W7 64 bit is fine (if you can still find it), and a 320-500GB hard drive.
Another vote for the Dell Vostro, also a very quiet machine, I've installed 4 in the last year for home/small business use.
Just check if your current software can run on W7 or W8.

John_Gray

At our charity, we buy second-hand Dell Optiplexes for about £150 or less, and keep them until they are about 5-7 years old. I've just updated them all to Windows 7 Pro 32-bit, and to 2 GB for the few who only had 1 GB. What we do with them is no more intensive that what you do - just one runs Sage 50 Accounts and Payroll.

closed

a graphics card is far cheaper than a pc, bad shadowing sounds more like a connector/lead/bent pin, post a picture.

Lum

Shadowing sounds like you're using a VGA cable to hook up to your monitor when you should be using DVI.

Swap to DVI first, if your onboard graphics doesn't have a DVI socket. then put a new graphics card in.


It's not a fault as such, just an artefact of using an outdated analogue display connection to connect two digital devices. It could be caused by interference from being too close to a mains cable, simple poor quality cable, or any number of things.