New PC - what spec needed?

pete s

pete s

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Pete
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My current desktop PC seems to be on its last legs, so I'm now thinking about a replacement. I really don't know what is what with computer terminology and specs, but I know what I need it to do. Can anyone advise what type of machine I might need and/or give me any recommendations?

My use is mostly web browsing, a bit of Microsoft office application work (Word/Excel/Publisher) and hopefully and increasing level of photo editing and manipulation (Photoshop), plus the obvious storage of said photos and digital music.

It would be nice to get something which will see me through a few years and keep up with my (hopefully) developing image processing skills.

I'd like also to get a decent screen at the same time. The printer can follow and so doesn't need to come out of my proposed budget of £1k max (although nice if it could).

Any help appreciated. :)
 
Last legs? What's up with your old machine? May be cheaper to 'chuck' some more memory in it if it is slow.

If you do buy a new machine make sure it has Windows 7 and NOT Vista, 4GB memory and a big disk for all those raw images :)

£1K will be plenty!
 
neil_g said:
intel i7 processor
at least 4gb memory although for 1k you may as well go for 6-8gb

http://www1.euro.dell.com/uk/en/hom...pd.aspx?refid=studio-xps-8100&s=dhs&cs=ukdhs1

even the top end XPS gives you enough change for a decent screen like a dell 2209WA for example.
Click to expand...

I second that

I took delivery of the Dell 2209WA last week and its a great screen
Got it on fleebay with a 5 year warranty for £200 inc del
I put in a best offer of £190 + £10 for del and it was accepted :thumbs:
Brilliant Screen
 
Thanks for answers so far.

I say last legs as it is painfully slow and the HDD sounds like it's going to expode soon. Current screen is also woefully inadequate (at least it is for decent image processing).

£1k was a guess at budget - well, that is the max I would want to spend, so if the right spec machine is going to cost less than that then great. Might as well assume the budget is for printer as well then.
 
neil_g said:
why? vistas been fine since sp1.. and on a machine of the sort of spec the OP wants its not going to be slow anyway..
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Although Vista may be fine - windows 7 hammers it for performance and features.
 
27" imac is the way forward
 
neil_g said:
true but your average user wouldnt notice though to be honest, especially on a system the OP has budget for :)
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Buying a £1000 pc and then putting an out of date operating system on it seems a bit daft - even more so considering how cheap windows 7 is. :)
 
It may only be slow due to dust blocking the air vents (overheating), no longer used files not totally removed with something like "System Mechanic" . just deleting them doesn't always completely remove them.
Internal hard drives arn't that expensive nor is upping the RAM if slots are available. For Photoshop 4gig of ram is recommended as the minimum although you can get by with less.

Realspeed
 
stokecity_m said:
Buying a £1000 pc and then putting an out of date operating system on it seems a bit daft - even more so considering how cheap windows 7 is. :)
Click to expand...

hardly out of date, vistas support lifecycle runs till 2012-2017 depending on version. if the OP already has access to vista disks when they retire the old machine its still a viable option :)
 
Having a quick look at the dell website, something like the inspirion 560MT would probably be fine. (Q8300 quad core cpu, 4gb of ram, 1Tb hard drive, £490) This leaves £500 to get you a screen, or two if you have space and probably have a few quid left for the printer.

I would advise you not to go nuts with the PC spec as i'd much rather have two £500 computers for two years each, than keep a £1k computer for 4 years.


p.s, have you considered your backup solution for your photos? might be worth setting up external hard drives or something more elaborate to keep them safe.
 
Blue Eagle said:
p.s, have you considered your backup solution for your photos? might be worth setting up external hard drives or something more elaborate to keep them safe.
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Yeah, looking into that also. Am planning an external hard drive, but as said in the original post, I am a bit clueless with all this tech! :help:
 
Snap53 said:
I second that

I took delivery of the Dell 2209WA last week and its a great screen
Got it on fleebay with a 5 year warranty for £200 inc del
I put in a best offer of £190 + £10 for del and it was accepted :thumbs:
Brilliant Screen
Click to expand...

I'll third that on the 2209WA. Just took delivery of mine for the grand total of £175 inc delivery from nrg_it off fleaBay and it's a lovely screen :thumbs:

As for a PC, I ordered this off Dell last week clicky

Core i5 750, 6GB RAM, 1TB HDD for £569, plus I got ~£40 back off Quidco. Seems like a good deal to me :D
 
neil_g said:
why? vistas been fine since sp1.. and on a machine of the sort of spec the OP wants its not going to be slow anyway..
Click to expand...

With 4GB RAM you want a 64-Bit OS. And Vista 64-Bit is as stable as a one-legged drunken epileptic standing in a rowing boat during a hurricane.
 
hollis_f said:
With 4GB RAM you want a 64-Bit OS. And Vista 64-Bit is as stable as a one-legged drunken epileptic standing in a rowing boat during a hurricane.
Click to expand...

I've used Vista x64 since before it was released (RC candidates) and it's only crashed twice in almost 4 years. Definately unstable...;)
 
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