advice for computer numpty

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need to update my old PC from pre historic times and havent got a clue anymore. anybody recomend any online stores? is windows still the OS of choice ?? 8.1. Dont download music, films or stuff so big HD not important but wants the minimum processor/ram needed so its not obsolete too quick
thanks
 
You can always build your own - probably using the existing case.

I have just knocked up a spare with a very cheap Asus M5A78L motherboard which takes DDR3 (memory) and popped in a 3 Core AMD Athlon CPU.

Add a HDD of choice and use your old DVD R/RW. All you need then is a PSU ( I bought one of those new £10 posted jobbies ) and a decent free OS like Linux Mint.

ps - my other pc has a Dual Core and DDR memory and works just as quick for basic tasks but the DDR3 and 3 Core should give a bit more usage before becoming obsolete.
 
Building isn't hard, if you enjoy fiddling, but otherwise the Zoostorm range from ebuyer isn't a bad start.
Low cost, some can come without an operating system, so you could install your own flavour (Windows 7/Linux etc).

Personally I'd aim for i3/i5 so it's on par with current machines and will run proudly for a while (or go i7 and you'll be flying for years).
 

Sharky

Legendary Member
Location
Kent
Before upgrading your desktop, have a good look at portable devices - laptops and smart tablets etc. With wire less printers and blue tooth connections etc, the importance of a desktop pc is getting less. Make sure it comes with wifi, Bluetooth and hdmi sockets, then you wont go far wrong.
good look,
Keith
 

swee'pea99

Squire
First question, why?

Seriously. Given what you say about what you need it for, there's no compelling reason to go for a new one. Indeed, it could well be counter-productive...you could end up wasting an age learning how to use the damn thing.

Have you thought about simply backing up anything you need from it (probably not much, by the sounds of things....get yourself a 8Gb USB stick for a few quid off ebay) then reinstalling Windows? Again, ebay, for the necessary discs if you don't have them. You'd probably be surprised how much fster it would run, plus you could take the opportunity to take the back off and get rid of all the dust that's clogging it up inside.
 
OP
OP
busdennis

busdennis

Guru
First question, why?

Seriously. Given what you say about what you need it for, there's no compelling reason to go for a new one. Indeed, it could well be counter-productive...you could end up wasting an age learning how to use the damn thing.

Have you thought about simply backing up anything you need from it (probably not much, by the sounds of things....get yourself a 8Gb USB stick for a few quid off ebay) then reinstalling Windows? Again, ebay, for the necessary discs if you don't have them. You'd probably be surprised how much fster it would run, plus you could take the opportunity to take the back off and get rid of all the dust that's clogging it up inside.

mainly because its so slow and all windows disks are lost a long time ago
 

Cycleops

Legendary Member
Location
Accra, Ghana
The sales of PCs are sinking and not without reason. Why don't you consider a tablet or similar. You said what you didn't do but didn't say what you do do! I haven't used my laptop sine I got an iPad mini a few months ago. Alternatively look at one of the Microsoft Surfaces devices. http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/products/surface-pro-2 http://techcrunch.com/gallery/microsoft-surfaces-the-surface-pro-3-we-go-hands-on/slide/3/ If you still think you need a laptop get one of the new Ultra-books with a SSD hard drive, faster start up time and access. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2400007,00.asp
 

IDMark2

Dodgy Aerial
Location
On the Roof
I set my similarly tech-shy parents up with a Chromebook. It looks and operates like a laptop as far as they are concerned, runs cool and quiet and not every aspect of the OS only works online now. They can access their holiday pics, share them on their TV, write an email to me and friends every now and then and use it to access the bank. I just copied their old files out of the old dead laptop and put them on a small (it's huge capacity as far as they're concerned) external drive, they just use that as their backup drive now. Less than £250 altogether and no more free tech support (looks for wooden object to touch).
 

swee'pea99

Squire
mainly because its so slow and all windows disks are lost a long time ago
Backup your files, then take the back off and hoover out the dust, then install this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Microsoft...ting_Software_Software_SR&hash=item4624a297be

Unless it's *really* ancient, you'll be amazed how transformed it'll be. (My PC - this one - is probably a decade old, but it's as fast as I need it to be.)
 
Older smaller pcs just don't cope with modern websites and the amount of data you handle just surfing the net so yes I agree they just get old.
The pc/laptop/tablet debate is worth looking at and may be time to change. I work on my pc and type quite a bit so really need a desktop. I hate laptops or tablets but it may be right for you.
Have a good look at what they do these days. It may open up a world of stuff that you may enjoy.
If you are sticking to a pc then you can just get the "box" bit quite cheaply. they are really giving them away. £200 will get a great bit of kit. Laptops will cost more. Tablets also.
Rather than chasing around to get it £20 cheaper I found some sale deals at PC world to be very good. You then have their help desk on hand if you have problems. Also they come full of the operating system and ready to go. If you are not into this sort of thing then the bit of backup is good to have.
 
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