new desktop PC needed for elderly dad

400ixl

Vitor said:

By specifying a tower, you're automatically going to be offered only high-end gaming PCs with fancy graphics cards etc which ups the price. 

No you aren't, that will be a selection, but many businesses still buy relatively basic desktops. Doesn't make them cheap though.

Cheap Chinese mini PC's with older low power 4th Gen Haswell processor first launched in 2013 rarely last that long. The SSD is also way to small if you are multi booting or running VM's as the OP's father does. That thing may do as an IoT PC but nothing more than that really.

moneysaver1978

I have been following this thread as I needed to purchase a new computer for my elderly mother - the only difference with requirements is that she's not interested in tinkering or Linux. And the budget is lower than £400-£500.

She's had an Acer SFF tower which have been great for many years but it is now time to upgrade.

I was thinking minimum spec of i3 or even i5 (or similar) but the ones I saw were over the budget or just not suitable (too big, unknown accessories, etc.)

I settled for https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C5BM397H?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details based on @alanjuk post - it arrived a few days ago and I have no complaints so far.

Bonhomie

moneysaver1978 said:

I have been following this thread as I needed to purchase a new computer for my elderly mother - the only difference with requirements is that she's not interested in tinkering or Linux. And the budget is lower than £400-£500.

She's had an Acer SFF tower which have been great for many years but it is now time to upgrade.

I was thinking minimum spec of i3 or even i5 (or similar) but the ones I saw were over the budget or just not suitable (too big, unknown accessories, etc.)

I settled for https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C5BM397H?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details based on @alanjuk post - it arrived a few days ago and I have no complaints so far.

Operating system is listed as 'OS', but reviews state that Windows 11 Pro is installed.
You write that you thought of a minimum spec of i3 or i5, but your post indicates that you bought a Celeron. 

moneysaver1978

Bonhomie said:

Operating system is listed as 'OS', but reviews state that Windows 11 Pro is installed.
You write that you thought of a minimum spec of i3 or i5, but your post indicates that you bought a Celeron. 

Yes that's correct. Windows 11 Pro is installed and the processor is N100. I previously looked at https://www.johnlewis.com/hp-slim-s01-af2004na-desktop-pc-intel-pentium-silver-processor-8gb-ram-256gb-ssd-dark-black/p110659741 but according to benchmarks, the N100 is more powerful.

Granted the N100 isn't better than an i3 or i5 but for the price, it just cannot be beaten. I have been impressed with the speed. I have installed Office 365 (as I have subscription) and everything works. I haven't been able to find any issues so far.