Cheapest place to buy a budget PC?

3rdEngineer

Hi,
I would like to buy my father a PC - my budget is £300-£400 not including the operating system which I will buy separately.  I've already purchased a nice computer monitor and all peripherals (keyboard, mouse etc.) 
It must boot fast and run fast, so I was thinking it must have a SSD and a good processor.
My father will use it for basic office work only, plus streaming some Netflix and Amazon prime.
I would like to be able to use it on the weekends too when I visit him to perhaps play a few games with decent FPS (PUBG, TF2), although this is not the most important thing, and I know how much good graphics cards cost.
Ideally it would have a small form factor - not too large as his desk is quite small.
I don't want to build it myself - does anyone have any recommendations for where I could buy one at the best price currently? I am thinking of buying from the Lenovo or Dell UK websites.

Thank you,
E

robber2

Ive found some great deals on the UK Dell outlet website in the past

grumpycrab

If you forget the games, a small format desktop with SSD should be usable.  e.g. refurb Thinkcentres for under £100 used to be common and great performers with SSD. Or this strange looking thing from Amazon for £140
https://www.amazon.co.uk/CHUWI-Computer-Gemini-Lake-Windows10-Expandable/dp/B083LGWNQT

getmore4less

The low end base unit from the games builders are well within your price range.

Check hotukdeals loads of examples. 

For basic stuff old second hand units with SSD are plenty fast enough.

3rdEngineer

Do you guys think it's possible to find something that could stream 4k (/w HDMI 2.0) for under £400?

forgotmyname

Raspberry Pi 4 can play 4K video, prices from £40 to £70.   Playing 4k is easy and cheap. Gaming on the other
hand can cost a lot.  Doesnt PUBG recommend a £400 graphics card for decent FPS?

Not much point in getting hundreds of FPS on a 60Hz monitor though.

getmore4less

3rdEngineer said:

Do you guys think it's possible to find something that could stream 4k (/w HDMI 2.0) for under £400?

There are TV that can do that for less than £400.

fred246

You have to decide properly what you want the PC for. Is it for you or your dad? It sounds like only a games machine will keep you happy. There's nothing worse than building a PC for someone "just for internet browsing". You spend hours building a great PC for their needs. "What do you think of your new PC?". "Er it's OK but we couldn't get it to run games." 

getmore4less

Often not worth building DIY these days as the system builders are doing them often at cost(or very close) of the bits and you get a one stop warranty. 

this HUKD thread had a ~£400 build
https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/awd-kolink-observ-lite-mesh-3200g-3400g-3100rx570-gaming-systems-from-ps26494-3564861

fred246

If you insist on a certain spec for the cheapest price you push the system builder into cheapest case, cheapest power supply, cheapest motherboard, cheapest hard drive. If you are happy with that OK. Otherwise make sure EVERY component is specified.

fred246

I know people who used to try to get the cheapest of everything. Lots of problems. Then they'd say "I have bought an Apple. It's lovely". That's because Apple carefully specify all their hardware. Quality hardware is available for PCs but it isn't the cheapest hardware.