New PC

[pear]

I know this has been asked before, but I'm after some advice on buying a new desktop/pc

I'm currently using an old laptop which is slow, but originally purchased as I wasn't living at the farm and could take it home etc. I now have a proper office and I'm looking to upgrade and have space for a desktop. I've spoken to my local indy computer store but he lost me after a few minutes on what i was after.

So, what spec am I best to go for? No gaming or video editing etc. Just simple office stuff: Xero, emailing, inovicing, web browsing, filling out bps, cs forms etc. Its the Ram and ssd sizes I'm not sure about. I'm also after new screen and printer, but printing is limited use.

As said I'm just after some advice as to what to go for.

 

[Salt'n'Pepper]

I am in the same position and would also be grateful for some simplified advice
TIA

 

[Luke6930]

SSD is not completely essential as it is essentially the same as HDD. Some computers come with both others just one. They are the storage on which everything is stored. SSD is the faster of the two and will reduce the time it takes to turn the computer on and load times. Computers with HDD tend to be cheaper which maybe an advantage. I would reccomend around 256gb of SSD as this will be plenty if you only plan on storing small files like word documents and pdfs. For ram I would reccomend 4GB as this will be all you need for these sort of tasks. However if you plan on running any form of software you may want to consider 8GB of ram instead

 

[Boysground]

I am no computer expert but for what you want most will be fine. Spending more will just make things faster and smoother. By having a desktop I think you get better value for money.

RAM - more is better it’s what the computer uses to run. 8gb is great these days I have 16 in my desktop

SSD is a great move they are quick and getting cheaper, mine is 512 gb but all my important stuff is stored in the cloud. You can always add more storage later if you want. If you have lots of photos maybe go for more

Processor you won’t go wrong with a i5 an i3 would save a little

Screen this is actually the most important part. Get as big as you can fit in your space. It just improves everything. I have 2 27inch screens. Will never go smaller. If you think you want 2 screens will need a graphics card, less than £50 for one that will do it

I get my computer stuff from these guys.https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/
Really worth a call. No unwanted junk on the machine and they will build anything you want. Just don’t be put off by all the stuff for gamers. You can buy off the shelf or made to order

I have always found with computers a little extra spent on quality always pays. Cheapest out of pc world not always best.

Bg

 

[Steevo]

I am no computer expert but for what you want most will be fine. Spending more will just make things faster and smoother. By having a desktop I think you get better value for money.

RAM - more is better it’s what the computer uses to run. 8gb is great these days I have 16 in my desktop

SSD is a great move they are quick and getting cheaper, mine is 512 gb but all my important stuff is stored in the cloud. You can always add more storage later if you want. If you have lots of photos maybe go for more

Processor you won’t go wrong with a i5 an i3 would save a little

Screen this is actually the most important part. Get as big as you can fit in your space. It just improves everything. I have 2 27inch screens. Will never go smaller. If you think you want 2 screens will need a graphics card, less than £50 for one that will do it

I get my computer stuff from these guys.https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/
Really worth a call. No unwanted junk on the machine and they will build anything you want. Just don’t be put off by all the stuff for gamers. You can buy off the shelf of made to order

I have always found with computers a little extra spent on quality always pays. Cheapest out of pc world not always best.

Bg

Perfect advice! Totally agree on the RAM - even just Google Chrome web browser seems to consume RAM at an enormous rate these days.

 

[nonemouse]

Look on Amazon and there is plenty of refurbished (with 1 year warranty) dell computers for sale, I just got one for £140 inc vat just using keyboard and monitor from old computer.
Brother in law is an IT tech for a local school and he said that’s where the school get them from.
I’m pleased with the spec I got for the money spent.

 

[Chris F]

I've just been though this - here are 3 good specs and examples:

1 - Stone Refurbished - https://www.stonerefurb.co.uk/dell-optiplex-5040-i5-6500-3-20ghz-8gb-ram-240gb-ssd

£237.50 each



2 – Laptops Direct - https://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/len...dows-10-pro-desktop-pc-11bm002cuk/version.asp

£349.98 each



3 – Laptop Oultlet - https://www.laptopoutlet.co.uk/leno...6gb-ssd-windows-10-pro-64-bit-10tx000uuk.html

£290.83 each

 

[J B]

SSD is not completely essential as it is essentially the same as HDD.

Chalk and cheese IME.

If you are getting a desktop, then a small (250?) SSD to put the O/S on and then a bigger HDD to store the data
8Gb RAM
i3 minimum processor (or the newer one's who's name I can't remember are promising)
Don't rule out a refurb

 

[Chris F]

Chalk and cheese IME.

If you are getting a desktop, then a small (250?) SSD to put the O/S on and then a bigger HDD to store the data
8Gb RAM
i3 minimum processor (or the newer one's who's name I can't remember are promising)
Don't rule out a refurb

Agreed - I'd go SSD every time. They are so cheap and are included in all the options I put above.

 

[Timbo]

Absolutely have a 2nd HDD installed for storing data. Make sure that's where you actually save them too. Set up a Cloud backup also.
SSD of no more than 250gb for the OS. Win 10 home is adequate.
8gb Ram min.
Buy one-off Office . not 365 with recurring annual subscription!
1x22inch monitor as a bare minimum. 2x 24" better. Check proposed machine has dual monitor capability- anything semi recent will do.

 

[Chris F]

I did research on monitors too:

27 inch computer Screens

1 - Ebuyer - https://www.ebuyer.com/870070-xenta-27-monitor-full-hd-vga-hdmi-for-business-or-home-xe27fhd

£79.10



2 – CPC - https://cpc.farnell.com/lg/27mk400h-b/monitor-27-tn-hdmi/dp/SB07326

£115.00



3 – Argos - https://www.argos.co.uk/product/7686805

£100.00

 

[Timbo]

I did research on monitors too:

27 inch computer Screens

1 - Ebuyer - https://www.ebuyer.com/870070-xenta-27-monitor-full-hd-vga-hdmi-for-business-or-home-xe27fhd

£79.10

I would avoid the Xenta brand.

AOC 27E1H 27" Full HD IPS Monitor (ebuyer.com)

This would be the pick of the 27"s (and 24's for that matter)

 

[Chris F]

I would avoid the Xenta brand.

AOC 27E1H 27" Full HD IPS Monitor (ebuyer.com)

This would be the pick of the 27"s (and 24's for that matter)

Agreed they are cheap for a reason.

 

[Netherfield]

Chalk and cheese IME.

If you are getting a desktop, then a small (250?) SSD to put the O/S on and then a bigger HDD to store the data
8Gb RAM
i3 minimum processor (or the newer one's who's name I can't remember are promising)
Don't rule out a refurb

AMD Ryzen seem to be in the lead over Intel at the moment.

 

[pear]

Thanks for your replies, all very helpful.

I've just sent the shop some of the spec's mentioned to see what they come back with. I am more inclined to use them, I think they build everything like pc specialist, mainly for the reason, of back up if needed.

 

[Cowabunga]

AMD Ryzen seem to be in the lead over Intel at the moment.

Not important for this application where processor speed of any modern chip is likely to be more than adequate.
I'd go for a small SSD for the operating system and a few files but an internal or external 500GB hard drive for the bulk of data and photos, videos and work files. Another external 500GB for backing up regularly.
A graphics chip or card if using it for video, even for HD YouTube. Obviously a sound card and speakers. A cheap disc drive if required, but I never use one these days.

What I would suggest that nobody else has is plenty of USB ports of the faster kind, including at least two USB C fast ports.

Screen of a size that suits but of a high quality ultra high definition and ideally high dynamic range. It might not seem important but the screen, keyboard and mouse are your interface with the machine. Talking of which, cordless keyboards and mice are great, whether you use rechargeable AA batteries or built-in ones. If doing much numerical record keeping, a fully featured keyboard with dedicated numeric pad, like a calculator's, to its right hand side is worth its weight in gold.
The computer itself need not be overly expensive.

The printer needs consideration. It doesn't look as if much use is going to be made of it. An inkjet really does need to be used regularly so as to avoid blocking. A dot-matrix sounds ideal for the OP, except that there aren't many being made these days. Straight inkjet printers with no scanner are virtually given away for a few tenners, but the ink cost can be high and, as previously mentioned, they can be unreliable unless regularly used. A black and white basic laser printer sounds suitable.
https://www.printerland.co.uk/product/kyocera-ecosys-p2040dn/138594 for £160 or £245+VAT with enough toner for over 7000 pages.

 

[J B]

AMD Ryzen seem to be in the lead over Intel at the moment.

That's the one - thanks!

 

[snarling bee]

Power Computing in Bedford are good. Easy access off the A421.

 

[deleted user 837354]

Don't buy any PC without a SSD. The thing will boot up, shut down and run programs a lot faster. You will need a 128 or 256GB SDD drive to run the OS and your programs on. You likely won't need a larger one unless you need to store acres of photos or something. For documents, try to get into the habit (if you have a good internet connection) to store all your business documents and the like, all your valuable data on OneDrive or similar cloud based services. That way if the machine was destroyed in a fire overnight you will never lose your data.

You will need 8GB of RAM to run an OS, browser and many everyday applications today. Don't skimp and buy a machine with only 4GB. If you start running Xero, a web browser and other stuff all at once, you will be glad you have 8GB and even 16GB isn't daft- I'm using 6.1GB right now just running my browser with multiple tabs open alongside OneNote and Outlook.

The CPU these days is a bit of a muchness, AMD or intel are all nuts fast, any entry level or mid range CPU will riot through a typical office workload easily.

If you have the cash and the desk space, two monitors will speed up your office work big style. Got for 24 inch ones. AOC, LG etc. No point in spending huge money for office work.

 

[Bogweevil]

I don't mind refurbished/cheapo PCs for a back up ( I have two old laptops for this) - but my work relies on a good PC and my time is too valuable to valuable to spend messing around with IT stuff, so I reckon you need to spend £800 to have something worthy of the importance of the task.

I like the Dell all in ones - many of the advantages of a laptop and none of the disadvantages. You cannot update them easily but who updates computers nowadays? They don't take up much space. Portable hard drives are cheap for back ups (though I recommend a cloud backup too) and you can plug in any other peripheral you need.

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