We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
New Desktop Advice Please
Options

greyteam1959
Posts: 4,710 Forumite


Current Desktop
Win 10
Probably 10 years old
6 year old 1TB HDD
4GB RAM
Just used for basic internet / videos / email / Skype etc
No gaming
It now seems a bit tired, a little slow despite doing all the 'fix my slow pc' stuff.
I thought about upgrading to a 512GB SSD & 8GB RAM, which on checking the specs would be
possible & cost around £160.
Unfortunately I don't really think it would be worth doing on a 10 year old motherboard & CPU ??
I came across this 'Renewed' machine on Amazon at a very reasonable price although
with a smallish SSD which could be upgraded fairly cheaply.
Seems a pretty reasonable deal or am I missing something obvious ??
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Window-Optiplex-Desktop-Small-Renewed/dp/B09L8GWC5J/ref=mp_s_a_1_17?crid=1U8ENPJ8EXP6C&keywords=renewed+pc+win+11&qid=1640379440&s=computers&sprefix=renewed+pc+win+11,aps,154&sr=1-17
Win 10
Probably 10 years old
6 year old 1TB HDD
4GB RAM
Just used for basic internet / videos / email / Skype etc
No gaming
It now seems a bit tired, a little slow despite doing all the 'fix my slow pc' stuff.
I thought about upgrading to a 512GB SSD & 8GB RAM, which on checking the specs would be
possible & cost around £160.
Unfortunately I don't really think it would be worth doing on a 10 year old motherboard & CPU ??
I came across this 'Renewed' machine on Amazon at a very reasonable price although
with a smallish SSD which could be upgraded fairly cheaply.
Seems a pretty reasonable deal or am I missing something obvious ??
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Window-Optiplex-Desktop-Small-Renewed/dp/B09L8GWC5J/ref=mp_s_a_1_17?crid=1U8ENPJ8EXP6C&keywords=renewed+pc+win+11&qid=1640379440&s=computers&sprefix=renewed+pc+win+11,aps,154&sr=1-17
0
Comments
-
£160 sounds far too much for a 500GB SSD and an 4GB memory stick, also what CPU?I hate football and do wish people wouldn't keep talking about it like it's the most important thing in the world1
-
CPUIntel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q8400 @ 2.66GHz
2 x 4GB memory is going to cost around £100
Plus SSD0 -
greyteam1959 said:CPUIntel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q8400 @ 2.66GHz
2 x 4GB memory is going to cost around £100
Plus SSDI hate football and do wish people wouldn't keep talking about it like it's the most important thing in the world1 -
Also, you could go for a lower capacity SSD as your boot drive and use your existing HDD for storage £25 will get you a half decent 256GB SSDI hate football and do wish people wouldn't keep talking about it like it's the most important thing in the world1
-
It's DDR2 RAMProblem is I would be upgrading a 10 year old motherboard.
Is that pc I linked to no good ??0 -
For that age a SSD and more memory will bring back some life
I run older and very usable
https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core2-Quad-Q8400-vs-Intel-Core2-Duo-E4500/m1663vsm65
Second hand memory is the way to go for DDR2
https://uk.webuy.com/boxsearch?stext=ddr2
or ebay, if lucky a local CEX may have some
The memory is a sunk cost the SSD will be reusable if you upgrade to something better
Stick a smaller SSD for IOS and heavy used files keep the HDD for the rest.
I have been looking at maybe upgrading mine
liking the look of i-5/8500 machines like the ones that pop up in this search
https://uk.webuy.com/boxsearch?stext=i5-8500
(filter in stocksale)
Still under £200 but 8th gen and 3/4 years old
or there are some 9th gen version in the £200-£300 range even an A grade(Like new) micro dell at £285
https://uk.webuy.com/product-detail/?id=sdesdel3070mi5256a
be good for another 5-10years
1 -
greyteam1959 said:It's DDR2 RAMProblem is I would be upgrading a 10 year old motherboard.
Is that pc I linked to no good ??I hate football and do wish people wouldn't keep talking about it like it's the most important thing in the world0 -
Use Microsoft's online facilities to generate a USB Windows Installation disc, if you don't have one already. I've got a link somewhere, be along with that in a minute
Take the existing HDD out, install a small-capacity HDD (minimum size 60Gb) and install Windoze to this, from the USB or other install media.
Re-install your current HDD in the machine as a secondary drive, and use this to store data. Don't store anything on the SSD, just keep the operating system there.
Put an extra 4Gb of RAM in. It should fly along after that. As was said, get a used RAM from eBay.
While you've got the lid off, take the opportunity to give it a good clean inside, clearing dust and grot from all the fans, heatsinks etc. Take suitable anti-static precautions
There may be some fiddling with BIOS to get PC to boot from USB, you may need to buy some internal cables to hook up extra drive, but it'll be WAY cheaper than a new machine.
Tutorials all over the place, but YouTube probably the most accessible1 -
Depends what's in the machine now and number of slots.
A single 4GB may not be the solution to get to 8
I have one machine that was 2+2 now 2+4 as it was a £6 upgrade as they did not have a matching pair.
I would go for mid sized SSD with space for day to day with the existing drive for irregular use stuff.0 -
Are you running 64 bit windows?No reliance should be placed on the above! Absolutely none, do you hear?0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 350.8K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.5K Spending & Discounts
- 243.8K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.8K Life & Family
- 257.1K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards