Desk top PC

paddyrg

I'm going against the grain here, but look at a laptop as an option. You can still plug in a USB mouse and external monitor (maybe requiring an adaptor depending on the sockets available), but you don't need to as you have the built-in keyboard and screen.

Back when I had a Vista desktop, the thing cost me best part of a grand, now a £200 laptop is more than capable of doing what it did, plus is far more convenient and fast more pleasant to use.

Or even spend a little more and fit an SSD, which will make even a cheap laptop seem quite perky (you can then store photos on the removed hard drive, just put it in a caddy) - someone can do the fitting for you, or you can wait and see if you even feel you need it (speeds up the startup time and programmes opening).

That Vista machine was the last desktop I bought, since then there's simply been no need as I just get a new laptop now and again. What was a £350 machine a few years ago is now a £180 machine, there are some amazing deals to be had.

worried_jim

I had the same issue with my 8 year old Vista Acer PC recently and I simply doubled the Ram from 2gb to 4gb RAM -unfortunately this is as much as it can now take- for about £20 and it transformed the machine. I think I will get another few years out of it.

wongataa

ERICS_MUM wrote: »

Another ditsy question - is Win 10 always loaded or do I have to do that myself ?

If you buy from a major retailer Windows is usually pre loaded. In any case the product description should tell you if Windows is pre loaded or not.

gonzo127

if you are buying new, you will need to decide between cost, size and performance, such like the medion one is pretty good for the money, but its medium sized

if you want something SMALL then you have something like http://www.dinopc.com/shop/pc/configurePrd.asp?idproduct=2468&qty=
which with windows 7 added in (customise page - windows 7 can still be upgraded for free to windows 10 if you wish to) is £400 ish, but has more than enough power for everyday usage

or you have something like this http://www.dinopc.com/shop/pc/configurePrd.asp?idproduct=2593&qty= which has a much weaker processor than the one above but comes in at like £250 ish

sorry to edit those two small PC's are both 4 inch by 4 inch http://www.dinopc.com/shop/pc/Evolve-M50-190p2468.htm

takman

NiftyDigits wrote: »

May I suggest that you refrain from posting nonsense?

Adding more RAM to an old computer is a very overrated method of improving the performance. I have a computer that is 5 years old and after doubling the RAM their was basically no increase in its performance.

This method is only effective when you are running programs that require more RAM than you have or are multitasking. But it will not speed up loading times of programs unless it has always been deficient in RAM, which would mean it has always been very slow.

NiftyDigits

takman wrote: »

Adding more RAM to an old computer is a very overrated method of improving the performance. I have a computer that is 5 years old and after doubling the RAM their was basically no increase in its performance.

This method is only effective when you are running programs that require more RAM than you have or are multitasking. But it will not speed up loading times of programs unless it has always been deficient in RAM, which would mean it has always been very slow.

Without knowing anything about the spec of the PC, you may a sweeping comment that simply isn't true in most cases.

The OP stated " It's very very slow even for opening websites"... Even on an eight year old PC the two main causes are likely malware or a lack of RAM.
My nine year old PC arrived with 512MB of RAM and Windows XP.
The OP claims hers is eight years old. Vista was introduced nine years ago. Unless she has increased the RAM along the way, the likelihood is that it is low on RAM. In addition to this, there may be the bloat from the original install, that a clean install would solve.

P.S. I'm posting this on my nine year old PC(Feb 2007)...it now has 2GB of RAM and a £20 graphics card. Plays Full HD video and handles everyday tasks with ease.

Cisco001

Option 1 - upgrade existing machine, but stuck at Vista.
We'll need to know your existing spec to make any recommendation.

I will suggest you download CPU-Z and tell us what is the existing CPU, Motherboard and how much RAM

Option 2 - new machine. I don't really recommend those INC. I would recommend laptop than those.
If you go for another SFF desktop, I suggest you get i3 6100 with DDR4 RAM, you will be looking at £300

Option 3 - used PC from ebay.
You can get second hand 2nd gen i5 PC for about £150 from ebay. But don't really recommend if you lack of knowledge on PC.

NiftyDigits

The OP is certainly taking her time to choose

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4766737
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5201850

Inner_Zone

Windows 20 will be out by the time the OP upgrades.

frank777

New Desk top - Have you checked if your monitor is compatible with Windows 10? Have you got a Printer - check 1st or you may be sorry. New Drivers are available (what a joke) look before you leap and budget for the extras?