Refurbed desktop

topsales

I am looking to buy a desktop PC to replace an old laptop. I hate Windows 8 so was thinking of buying a refurb running Windows 7 or XP. I need the whole package - tower, monitor, keyboard etc. There are so many available and I am clueless - any suggestions anyone? Cheap as possible, please, as am a pensioner!

Graystreet

No one else has replies so my suggestion would be to Google "Dell Outlet", sorry I'm a newbie and can't post links.

I have never used them but have bought Dell Desktops new and they're pretty good. From what I've read you get a factory reconditioned PC and a warranty. You may need to visit fairly often to see what's available at the time as they seem to sell out rather quickly.

NiftyDigits

MandyAW92 wrote: »

You could try this site http://www.studentcomputers.co.uk/

Why??????????

slenderkitten

depends on what you are going to do with it, you should ensure that the processor is NOT a basic one as you will struggle with performance sooner rather than later. AMD processors are slightly cheaper than intel, but are good enough.

Whatever you pick, go for 64 Bit machine, 32 is the old architecture, careful on this someone may try to sell you one of these, they have limitations of 3gb of ram which is the other core consideration you will need to think about, anything less than 4gb is not worth it. 64 bit machines will start at 4gb of ram upwards.

You could also try places like cash generator and CEX and see what they have second user.

Go with Windows 7. Microsoft are getting rid of updates for Windows XP From March 2014 so STAY WELL AWAY FROM IT!

bluesnake

In windows 8, try startIsBack http://www.startisback.com/

It was recommended by Lum. To be honest I would not have believed until I tried this little prog, and how much I missed the old button. For me it was like having 7 back again.

Ectophile

I agree with slenderkitten - Win XP is now end-of-life. It's not just updates that Microsoft will stop (they did that years ago) - it's fixes for major security flaws that will end next year.

Any PC that was installed with Win 7 from new (look for the licence sticker) is likely to be new enough to have a few years of life in it.

NiftyDigits

Ectophile wrote: »

I agree with slenderkitten - Win XP is now end-of-life. It's not just updates that Microsoft will stop (they did that years ago) - it's fixes for major security flaws that will end next year.

Any PC that was installed with Win 7 from new (look for the licence sticker) is likely to be new enough to have a few years of life in it.

How will they "look for the licence sticker" from the confines of the Innernet?

Ectophile

NiftyDigits wrote: »

How will they "look for the licence sticker" from the confines of the Innernet?

Good question. If it's a reputable seller (such as the aforementioned Dell), then I wouldn't worry about it.

I was thinking more about the backstreet computer dealer who may have loaded a pirated copy of Windows onto the PC.

macman

Buy a W8 PC and just install Classic Shell on it.

bigfreddiel

buy a secondhand machine from any one of thee:

morgan computers

ebuyer

aria

install linux

job done for lt £200 all in

cheers

fj

chunter

slenderkitten wrote: »

depends on what you are going to do with it, you should ensure that the processor is NOT a basic one as you will struggle with performance sooner rather than later. AMD processors are slightly cheaper than intel, but are good enough.

Whatever you pick, go for 64 Bit machine, 32 is the old architecture, careful on this someone may try to sell you one of these, they have limitations of 3gb of ram which is the other core consideration you will need to think about, anything less than 4gb is not worth it. 64 bit machines will start at 4gb of ram upwards.

You could also try places like cash generator and CEX and see what they have second user.

Go with Windows 7. Microsoft are getting rid of updates for Windows XP From March 2014 so STAY WELL AWAY FROM IT!

1. 64 bit pc a must for reasons above.
2. Make sure it has the Win 7 64-bit OS. A bit pointless otherwise.
3. Look for the bigger case. These small form factor pcs are ok until you have to buy non standard parts like their power supplies. Adding Graphics cards can be an adventure too!
4. Look for motherboard with a minimum of 4 sata connections. It's becoming more difficult now to get IDE optical drives for decent money.
5. 4 ram slots as well. Price the type of RAM before you buy the pc. pc2100 and the like is pointless. You need recent Ram or else you're into big money.
6 Plenty of usbs!

As for where to purchase, to paraphrase An American Werewolf in London. "Stay on the road, stay off the moors".
On ebay, I would use AMI quite a lot.
Not sure about Morgan. Always found them overpriced.