What type of desktop PC runs fastest?

caprikid1

Personally I ditched desktops years ago as I liked the flexibility of a laptop

Cisco001

That CPU is too slow. Not enough RAM.
used 16GB DDR4 2666 260pin RAM is £18 + delivery at CEX

ButterCheese

I bought a used mini-PC off Ebay for £80.  Intel core i5, 8gb ram, WIN11 already installed.  It is 5 years old but is like lightening compared to others I have used.  There are loads of companies who sell 5 year old pc equipment from offices, as most larger companies get rid after that time (like us in the NHS, the repair contract is void after 5 years). 

It's tricky to buy a new PC now without spending hundreds - as most of them are higher spec for higher price (e.g. for gaming and CAD etc).  You can't get many budget ones unless you get a laptop, and cheap laptops have another host of potential problems. 

Heedtheadvice

Given the info provided I would now go with Matt's recomend.

You have the other options above but even then you will have a slow machine...and it is knocking on a bit too!

You can reuse your SSD and the keyboard/mouse if you get a machine with spare HD slots or even use it as an external for one backup but do not rely an that alone as SSD are reliable but fail without notice.

A lot of that boot time could well be down to the the slow network speed when it is looking for updates etc. I currently have an DEll PC i5-3470 cpu that is quite elderly now and is fine for most general things except the most complex activities  and non gaming geeky stuff./ It even copes with audio editing/mixing which is quite demanding. 13 seconds boot time to logon but as I have a lot of apps usually a minute or two to settle from a cold start once a day, after that fine. Anything you buy new along similar lines would knock spots off mine, You hardly need the fastest (waste of money) and you broadband will be holding you up most for logon.

I like the Dell outlet, those machines are returned or refurbished by the manufacturer and are certified to like new so very low risk. Unfortunately desktops are expensive at present but laptops start at £300 but they would not be my preference. Lots of other 'outlets' to consider though.

SurferDan

Heedtheadvice said:

A lot of that boot time could well be down to the the slow network speed when it is looking for updates etc.

More likely down to the PC loading stuff at startup that it doesn't need to or doesn't need to load at all eg manufacturers bloatware.

Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Del) and click on the "startup" tab to see what is loading when the PC starts and disable everything that is not essential. Better still install Glary Utilities (it's free) and look at the startup section. It not only tells you what is loading at startup but also how much of a delay it causes and if it is safe to disable it. 

BFBW

ellectrastar said:

My desktop PC is beyond slow. Loading up, loading apps, everything. My internet is slow too but that’s because it’s copper. I don’t think this would affect the speed the PC runs at normally. 

I bought it in 2020 and don’t use it for much, just basic Microsoft Word and Excel and browsing. Not a load of apps on it or gaming. I’ve tried all the suggestions on speeding/cleaning it up to no avail. 

I’m guessing it maybe just old? So was looking at buying a new one. But I’m clueless when it comes to the info on them so thought I’d ask here - what is it that I need to look for to ensure it works fast? Because I’m about to launch this one out the window and don’t want to get another one and it be the same.

Contrary to what you are being told here, your issue is not with too little RAM nor the processor,(even though their relatively low specification doesn't help) but the fact that device is fitted with a 'traditional' hard disc drive. 1TB.
They are S L O W.
Swap that with a Solid State Drive and life with your PC will change dramatically. Adding more RAM will hardly make any difference at all. Adding the SSD AND more RAM is ideal.
SSD from around £20(NVMe and/or SATA) and an 8GB DDR4 2400Mhz module for £6 from CEX.
https://uk.webuy.com/product-detail?id=SMEM8G2400260

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-_rWEy8dcQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmEbHOQcGOA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHl7BIuH1NU

Ibrahim5

You need adequate RAM. I would say 8GB for 64 bit Windows. If you use CPU benchmark that will give you the best idea of CPU speed. The J4005 is lower power, soldered in with a heatsink, so uses less energy, can't be upgraded and is silent but slow as a result. SSDs are always measured in capacity but it's the SPEED which you should look at. 

Neil_Jones

BFBW said:

ellectrastar said:

My desktop PC is beyond slow. Loading up, loading apps, everything. My internet is slow too but that’s because it’s copper. I don’t think this would affect the speed the PC runs at normally. 

I bought it in 2020 and don’t use it for much, just basic Microsoft Word and Excel and browsing. Not a load of apps on it or gaming. I’ve tried all the suggestions on speeding/cleaning it up to no avail. 

I’m guessing it maybe just old? So was looking at buying a new one. But I’m clueless when it comes to the info on them so thought I’d ask here - what is it that I need to look for to ensure it works fast? Because I’m about to launch this one out the window and don’t want to get another one and it be the same.

Contrary to what you are being told here, your issue is not with too little RAM nor the processor,(even though their relatively low specification doesn't help) but the fact that device is fitted with a 'traditional' hard disc drive. 1TB.
They are S L O W.
Swap that with a Solid State Drive and life with your PC will change dramatically. Adding more RAM will hardly make any difference at all.

The SSD will help.  Adding more memory will help even more -

4Gb of memory is the bare minimum for anything these days.

Virtual Memory is still a thing, and even an SSD being used for Virtual Memory is still slower than actual memory.

Heedtheadvice

@BFBW has a valid point if it is a spinning hard drive as an Solid state drive will be much better....

However posts indicate it is already an SSD..? That needs clarification but given the age overall it needs a bit of careful decision. If upgrades ((SSD and memory) primarily can be done for under £50 that could really be a no brainer especially if it is Win 11 compliant.

Also have to agree it is worth looking at the start up apps and add to check there are not two virus checkers both running.

Lots of 'tweaks' but we still do not know for certain the exact contents of the machine and other questions that have been asked of the original poster.....

Let's stop the guesswork until ellectrastar answer to be explicit " I’ve tried all the suggestions on speeding/cleaning it up to no avail. " what all those have been. Only then maybe should we suggest further suggestion of just answer the basic question ( that has had one answer!) as to what is the "fastest" machine though I doubt if that is what the OP wishes to know....

Heedtheadvice

You have made some valid suggestion BFBW but you also try to discredit other posters. not nice.

Either you have a crystal ball or are just plainly making assumptions. Why do you assume it is still a PC with a rust spinner. It may have been sold like that but::

Post #1 "tried "all the suggestions" to speed up. Fitting SSD would be the first and best suggestion ( as you have said, but not the only thing to do). Post#3 "Is a PC like this...probably is this" - a PC with SSD fitted! 256GB SSD.

Grumpy questions if it already has SSD fitted...a very valid key question.

BFBW later posts and assumed traditional HDD is in the machine.

Other suggestions will have a speed impact too even though a fast SSD would have a big impact  - if not already fitted. They are all potential improvements.

Telling other to educate themselves....I humbly suggest you take your own medicine and learn to suggest from what is known (facts) rather than saying your assumptions are 100% correct when the OP has not yet clarified.

 Basing things on evidence/factual knowledge is all part of self education is it not?

I have a Dell Optiplex 7030  that I am writing on approx date of 2018. Tell me 100% does it have a traditional HDD or SSD)...don't guess now!