What minimum PC spec should I be looking for?

spookylukey

I currently have an ageing Dell Vostro 200 - it has 2GB RAM and a 320GB harddrive and is running Windows Vista. The more detailed spec is: Intel (R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E4400 @2.00GHz.

It's on it's last legs and has slowed down with contstant freezing. I want to buy a new PC before this one dies so that I can transfer the content.

I only use the PC for general surfing, emails, storing LOTS of photos and occasional word/excel documents (using OpenOffice). No games etc Can anyone tell me what the minimum spec I should be looking for is please? Ideally I'd like to spend less than £300 but can pay more if that's not going to cut it for a decent machine that will hopefully be longlasting.

Thanks in advance for any input

enfield_freddy

are you happy to keep using your old monitor, k/board and mouse?

spookylukey

enfield_freddy wrote: »

are you happy to keep using your old monitor, k/board and mouse?

Well it would be nice to have shiny new ones but if it's significantly cheaper to buy a base unit alone then yes, there's nothing wrong with keyboard/monitor/mouse.

spookylukey

Have just edited original post to clarify that I don't need Windows Office as use free OpenOffice for word/excel docs.

enfield_freddy

Microsoft office , not windows office .


lots will be on pointing you to "zoom" or other tat , although they will do the job , the quality of the parts is suspect , and in a lot of cases the ability to upgrade at a later date.


if you buy a unit that uses standard "pc" parts , you will struggle less in the future


when you get a list supplied by other posters , look carefully at the CPU number , and pay attention if it has a "s" or other letter after it , those are often cut down , and in some cases soldered direct to the PCB


a reference chart for CPUs http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php




PS check dells site , http://outlet.euro.dell.com/Online/InventorySearch.aspx?brandId=1&c=uk&cs=ukdfh1&l=en&s=dfh

Fightsback

Min spec would be a pentium G3220 upwards IMHO

Something like this maybe:

http://www.ebuyer.com/660226-lenovo-thinkcentre-e73-twr-desktop-10dr000vuk

bsod

backup photo's to a usb drive (Cost less than £40) then reinstall vista using F8 to return it to full speed, they rarely die.

spookylukey

bsod wrote: »

backup photo's to a usb drive (Cost less than £40) then reinstall vista using F8 to return it to full speed, they rarely die.

I have all my photos/documents backed up to a cloud server, it detects changes and backs up as soon as any changes are made so no (or minimal) danger of losing anything thankfully :beer:

This PC is at least 8 years old now, if I reinstalled I'd have to go through the faff of getting all programs re-installed/losing certain things so tbh I'd rather buy a new one with the latest OS (with a view to upgrading to Windows 10 which I understand will be free for current 7/8/8.1 users) and go through the faff of re-installing stuff on a new PC instead, which will hopefully serve me as well as this one has.

[Deleted User]

I've had 4 Medions over the years, and have always found them to be excellent.

My latest tower (I also have a 10.1" notebook) is an Akoya E4066D.

AMD Quad Core, 6500
6GB of RAM
1TB HDD
6 USB Sockets (including 2xUSB3)
Multi-format DVD writer
4 in 1 card reader
Wireless LAN
Win 8.1

£330.

victor2

Buy Windows 7 (you'll find it on Amazon and in other places) and do a clean install with that on the existing machine, having backed up your files first of course. For the requirements you list, that should do and 7 is so much better than Vista...

getmore4less

Another Dell £200 will do the job maybe throw a bit more for more memory.


Your existing kit would be fast enough with more memory but probably time to splash out. (when was the last reinstall and a good vacuum/clean inside the case.

I have an old P4 running XP still works fine for basic stuff although it does not get used much.

Could update the existing with an SSD for the reinstall, reusable later if you do renew.