Help please with the choice of a new tower Pc less than £500-00?

Bonhomie

TUVOK said:

Bonhomie said:

There are so many low cost options out there, that will more than suffice for you, that it's difficult to narrow them down.
Of course you can buy new and pay more to no avail. What's the spec of your current workstation?

Device name Hpz210i5-PC

Processor Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E31225 @ 3.10GHz   3.10 GHz

Installed RAM 4.00 GB

Device ID BC352DDE-F097-49C2-A2DD-4F3CBAEF47A9

Product ID 00330-80000-00000-AA311

System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

Pen and touch No pen or touch input is available for this display

Edition Windows 10 Pro

Version 22H2

Installed on ‎20/‎09/‎2020

OS build 19045.3208

Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19041.1000.0

That's what I can find for my PC.
Sorry if I seem unsure about PC specs but approaching 80 years old and never having any teaching about PC's, just picked things up over the last 20 years as I go along, but it's not the best way to be able to understand PC spec's.
Thank you for your help, and I'll try to compare the specs, researching as I go along what they all mean. 
 

Your current CPU is rated more powerful than the one in the £220 ACER

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Xeon+E3-1225+@+3.10GHz&id=1198

Does your PC have a solid state drive installed?

No need for you to do much research. Your needs are few. You didn't reply to Cisco001...would you consider a Used/Refurbished PC?

Secondly, why do you wish to upgrade? Is something lacking?

Cisco001

TUVOK said:

Bonhomie said:

There are so many low cost options out there, that will more than suffice for you, that it's difficult to narrow them down.
Of course you can buy new and pay more to no avail. What's the spec of your current workstation?

Device name Hpz210i5-PC

Processor Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E31225 @ 3.10GHz   3.10 GHz

Installed RAM 4.00 GB

Device ID BC352DDE-F097-49C2-A2DD-4F3CBAEF47A9

Product ID 00330-80000-00000-AA311

System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

Pen and touch No pen or touch input is available for this display

Edition Windows 10 Pro

Version 22H2

Installed on ‎20/‎09/‎2020

OS build 19045.3208

Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19041.1000.0

That's what I can find for my PC.
Sorry if I seem unsure about PC specs but approaching 80 years old and never having any teaching about PC's, just picked things up over the last 20 years as I go along, but it's not the best way to be able to understand PC spec's.
Thank you for your help, and I'll try to compare the specs, researching as I go along what they all mean. 
 

You probably be able to upgrade RAM and SSD. But if you are not comfortable to do it yourself, getting new PC is a good option

However, that lenovo on ebay likely to be one of the cheaper option.

If you want to purchase from store, I could look something up for you from currys/ argos/ costco up to £500. Or something cheap from CEX. 

Cisco001

To upgrade existing PC, 

1. get 2 sticks of 4GB DDR3 1333 desktop RAM from local CEX £1 each
2. assume you don't have SSD. SSD are really cheap these days. 500GB is only £20
3. back up your data from existing PC. Then get a usb drive, download windows and create a bootable drive.
4. disconnect old HDD, install new SSD
5. Go to BIOS and change boot from usb, install new windows.

New PC 
Costco (£15 to joint online shopping)
https://www.costco.co.uk/Computers/Desktops-PCs-iMacs/AWD-IT-Volt-4-AMD-Ryzen-5-16GB-RAM-500GB-SSD-Gaming-Desktop-PC/p/427886

Argos (Costco one with better spec)
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/1123302?clickSR=slp:term:desktop computers:1:59:2

Currys (Those 2 above easier to upgrade if needed)
https://www.currys.co.uk/products/lenovo-ideacentre-3i-7.4l-desktop-pc-intel-core-i3-256-gb-ssd-grey-10240994.html

Bonhomie

Cisco001 said:

To upgrade existing PC, 

1. get 2 sticks of 4GB DDR3 1333 desktop RAM from local CEX £1 each
2. assume you don't have SSD. SSD are really cheap these days. 500GB is only £20
3. back up your data from existing PC. Then get a usb drive, download windows and create a bootable drive.
4. disconnect old HDD, install new SSD
5. Go to BIOS and change boot from usb, install new windows.

New PC 
Costco (£15 to joint online shopping)
https://www.costco.co.uk/Computers/Desktops-PCs-iMacs/AWD-IT-Volt-4-AMD-Ryzen-5-16GB-RAM-500GB-SSD-Gaming-Desktop-PC/p/427886

Argos (Costco one with better spec)
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/1123302?clickSR=slp:term:desktop computers:1:59:2

Currys (Those 2 above easier to upgrade if needed)
https://www.currys.co.uk/products/lenovo-ideacentre-3i-7.4l-desktop-pc-intel-core-i3-256-gb-ssd-grey-10240994.html

I'm not sure the spec of the Currys device is correct. AFAIK Intel CPU appended with a F need a graphics card. I guess it's an i3-12100, rather than an i3-12100F.

I'm not sure the young gentleman would appreciate the transition from a staid workstation to the garish lighting of a gaming PC 

TUVOK

Cisco001 said:

Would you consider used?

Lenovo ThinkCentre M75q-1 Tiny Desktop PC AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE 8GB 256GB SSD £150

This should last you few years.

Not sure about buying used, had a bad experience some years back with a used tablet.
I could perhaps explain the problem to the computer shop I bought the Pc from and see what their price is for what ever new parts etc needed. Only fear is that there would still be a number of parts which would be 10+ years old!

TUVOK

Bonhomie said:

TUVOK said:

Bonhomie said:

There are so many low cost options out there, that will more than suffice for you, that it's difficult to narrow them down.
Of course you can buy new and pay more to no avail. What's the spec of your current workstation?

Device name Hpz210i5-PC

Processor Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E31225 @ 3.10GHz   3.10 GHz

Installed RAM 4.00 GB

Device ID BC352DDE-F097-49C2-A2DD-4F3CBAEF47A9

Product ID 00330-80000-00000-AA311

System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

Pen and touch No pen or touch input is available for this display

Edition Windows 10 Pro

Version 22H2

Installed on ‎20/‎09/‎2020

OS build 19045.3208

Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19041.1000.0

That's what I can find for my PC.
Sorry if I seem unsure about PC specs but approaching 80 years old and never having any teaching about PC's, just picked things up over the last 20 years as I go along, but it's not the best way to be able to understand PC spec's.
Thank you for your help, and I'll try to compare the specs, researching as I go along what they all mean. 
 

Your current CPU is rated more powerful than the one in the £220 ACER

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Xeon+E3-1225+@+3.10GHz&id=1198

Does your PC have a solid state drive installed?

No need for you to do much research. Your needs are few. You didn't reply to Cisco001...would you consider a Used/Refurbished PC?

Secondly, why do you wish to upgrade? Is something lacking?

Although I am not gaming or any thing using vast memory etc, my Pc 'freezes' at times, this is despite pruning start up of any non needed programs. I do tend to 'hop around' sites first thing in the morning and it just cannot keep up with the change of sites, so not sure why this is.

Bonhomie

TUVOK said:

Bonhomie said:

TUVOK said:

Bonhomie said:

There are so many low cost options out there, that will more than suffice for you, that it's difficult to narrow them down.
Of course you can buy new and pay more to no avail. What's the spec of your current workstation?

Device name Hpz210i5-PC

Processor Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E31225 @ 3.10GHz   3.10 GHz

Installed RAM 4.00 GB

Device ID BC352DDE-F097-49C2-A2DD-4F3CBAEF47A9

Product ID 00330-80000-00000-AA311

System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

Pen and touch No pen or touch input is available for this display

Edition Windows 10 Pro

Version 22H2

Installed on ‎20/‎09/‎2020

OS build 19045.3208

Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19041.1000.0

That's what I can find for my PC.
Sorry if I seem unsure about PC specs but approaching 80 years old and never having any teaching about PC's, just picked things up over the last 20 years as I go along, but it's not the best way to be able to understand PC spec's.
Thank you for your help, and I'll try to compare the specs, researching as I go along what they all mean. 
 

Your current CPU is rated more powerful than the one in the £220 ACER

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Xeon+E3-1225+@+3.10GHz&id=1198

Does your PC have a solid state drive installed?

No need for you to do much research. Your needs are few. You didn't reply to Cisco001...would you consider a Used/Refurbished PC?

Secondly, why do you wish to upgrade? Is something lacking?

Although I am not gaming or any thing using vast memory etc, my Pc 'freezes' at times, this is despite pruning start up of any non needed programs. I do tend to 'hop around' sites first thing in the morning and it just cannot keep up with the change of sites, so not sure why this is.

Cisco001 has already outlined the cost of the upgrade at perhaps £22; though I would get a higher standard of component, pushing the total cost up to £32.
Don't ask the computer shop about the cost of the parts, as they will charge you considerably more than it costs for you to buy them for yourself. You should only ask them how much it will cost to fit the solid state drive(SSD) and Random Access Module(RAM) that you have already ordered. They don't need to know that you haven't ordered it yet.
Only the fitting and reinstalling of the operating system.  £30 or less would still be cost effective; taking the total cost up to perhaps £62.

If the device isn't already fitted with a solid state drive, frankly that is all that you are likely to need. A solid state drive will allow your current PC to keep up with modern websites. The old spinning magnetic disk drives can struggle at times.

Wasn't your current PC used when you purchased it? How much did you pay for that?

Otherwise the three year old £150 device suggested by Cisco001 should last/suffice or at least some other business standard PC, such as a DELL Optiplex. I'm not so excited by his selections from Costco/Argos/Currys His Refurbished/Used selections are usually far better value and of a decent standard.

Bonhomie

TUVOK said:

Bonhomie said:

TUVOK said:

Bonhomie said:

There are so many low cost options out there, that will more than suffice for you, that it's difficult to narrow them down.
Of course you can buy new and pay more to no avail. What's the spec of your current workstation?

Device name Hpz210i5-PC

Processor Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E31225 @ 3.10GHz   3.10 GHz

Installed RAM 4.00 GB

Device ID BC352DDE-F097-49C2-A2DD-4F3CBAEF47A9

Product ID 00330-80000-00000-AA311

System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

Pen and touch No pen or touch input is available for this display

Edition Windows 10 Pro

Version 22H2

Installed on ‎20/‎09/‎2020

OS build 19045.3208

Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19041.1000.0

That's what I can find for my PC.
Sorry if I seem unsure about PC specs but approaching 80 years old and never having any teaching about PC's, just picked things up over the last 20 years as I go along, but it's not the best way to be able to understand PC spec's.
Thank you for your help, and I'll try to compare the specs, researching as I go along what they all mean. 
 

Your current CPU is rated more powerful than the one in the £220 ACER

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Xeon+E3-1225+@+3.10GHz&id=1198

Does your PC have a solid state drive installed?

No need for you to do much research. Your needs are few. You didn't reply to Cisco001...would you consider a Used/Refurbished PC?

Secondly, why do you wish to upgrade? Is something lacking?

Although I am not gaming or any thing using vast memory etc, my Pc 'freezes' at times, this is despite pruning start up of any non needed programs. I do tend to 'hop around' sites first thing in the morning and it just cannot keep up with the change of sites, so not sure why this is.

I'd like to make the point that you don't really need to take your PC to the shop to fit these items, as it's possible to do it yourself in two or three minutes. That's not an exaggeration. Perhaps a minute for a Pro.
Workstations/PC for business usage are designed for quick and easy maintenance. Side panel needs only you to disengage a chassis lock and to lift the side panel. Perhaps five seconds. RAM takes perhaps 30 seconds to slot in. Pull off connectors from the HDD and plug the into the SSD. Done. 
The task that needs a bit more involvement is the possible cloning of your old drive to the new faster drive or the clean install of Windows 10 Pro to the new drive, transferring any data that you might wish to keep. Would I entrust that task to any computer shop? No
Especially if you have any sensitive data on the drive. It doesn't mean that they aren't trustworthy.
It's why I've been pushing people here for years to learn to do these simple tasks by themselves.

Cisco001

TUVOK said:

Cisco001 said:

Would you consider used?

Lenovo ThinkCentre M75q-1 Tiny Desktop PC AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE 8GB 256GB SSD £150

This should last you few years.

Not sure about buying used, had a bad experience some years back with a used tablet.
I could perhaps explain the problem to the computer shop I bought the Pc from and see what their price is for what ever new parts etc needed. Only fear is that there would still be a number of parts which would be 10+ years old!

ryzen 5 3400 Pro release back in Sept 2019.

Cisco001

Bonhomie said:

Cisco001 said:

To upgrade existing PC, 

1. get 2 sticks of 4GB DDR3 1333 desktop RAM from local CEX £1 each
2. assume you don't have SSD. SSD are really cheap these days. 500GB is only £20
3. back up your data from existing PC. Then get a usb drive, download windows and create a bootable drive.
4. disconnect old HDD, install new SSD
5. Go to BIOS and change boot from usb, install new windows.

New PC 
Costco (£15 to joint online shopping)
https://www.costco.co.uk/Computers/Desktops-PCs-iMacs/AWD-IT-Volt-4-AMD-Ryzen-5-16GB-RAM-500GB-SSD-Gaming-Desktop-PC/p/427886

Argos (Costco one with better spec)
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/1123302?clickSR=slp:term:desktop computers:1:59:2

Currys (Those 2 above easier to upgrade if needed)
https://www.currys.co.uk/products/lenovo-ideacentre-3i-7.4l-desktop-pc-intel-core-i3-256-gb-ssd-grey-10240994.html

I'm not sure the spec of the Currys device is correct. AFAIK Intel CPU appended with a F need a graphics card. I guess it's an i3-12100, rather than an i3-12100F.

I'm not sure the young gentleman would appreciate the transition from a staid workstation to the garish lighting of a gaming PC 

I don't like those blinking RGB as well. But I do prefer 'gaming PC' as they use standard size component that easy to replace if require.