Rob_Corsa
Member
Registered: 4th Apr 02
Location: Derbyshire
User status: Offline
|
I'm looking at buying a new PC and will pay upto £340. I need it for Internet/Emails and Photoshop.
I've seen the following Zoostorm PC's at Argos but unsure if they are any good?
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/273938.htm
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/273974.htm
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/273936.htm
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/273945.htm
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/273939.htm
Are there any specific processors I should be aiming for or avoiding?
I would like to be able to create a backup(on DVD's) image of the hard drive so I can restore it all at a later date should something go wrong, can both Windows 7 and 8 do that?
I've not heard anything positive about windows 8/8.1, is 7 a better option?
I assume the Dell 17" monitor I have will be fine to work with any new PC, it has the 24pin plug on it?
I had looked at a Dell Inspiron 3000 but was put off by it being delivered from China/Poland once ordered.
|
evilrob
Premium Member
Registered: 16th Mar 12
Location: Your mum's house
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Rob_Corsa
I'm looking at buying a new PC and will pay upto £340. I need it for Internet/Emails and Photoshop.
I've seen the following Zoostorm PC's at Argos but unsure if they are any good?
Can't really buy a bad PC these days; the main thing will be the level of support if anything goes wrong. I'm sure the build quality will be pants but as long as the processor/motherboard/RAM etc. are of a decent spec you'll be alright.
quote:
Originally posted by Rob_Corsa
Are there any specific processors I should be aiming for or avoiding?
4th Gen Core i3 at a minimum, ideally 3rd/4th gen i5 or i7 if you can find one on budget. Avoid anything with AMD, Celeron, or Pentium in the name.
Amazon seem to have Zoostorm i5-based machines for around your budget if you like the look of them (the two that are within budget don't come with Windows preinstalled though, so if you don't have your own copy of Windows knocking about already, this probably won't be any good; the cheapest one with a copy of Windows weighs in at £380ish):
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=sr_nr_p_n_feature_keywords_4?rh=n%3A340831031%2Cn%3A428651031%2Ck%3Acore+i5+desktop%2Cp_n_feature_keywords_six_browse-bin%3A2748825031%2Cp_89%3AZoostorm&sort=price-asc-rank&keywords=core+i5+desktop&ie=UTF8&qid=1395871442
quote:
Originally posted by Rob_Corsa
I would like to be able to create a backup(on DVD's) image of the hard drive so I can restore it all at a later date should something go wrong, can both Windows 7 and 8 do that?
Yes.
quote:
Originally posted by Rob_Corsa
I've not heard anything positive about windows 8/8.1, is 7 a better option?
Windows 8 is fine once you get used to it. People are just resistant to change. The desktop experience will be improved in the next update.
quote:
Originally posted by Rob_Corsa
I assume the Dell 17" monitor I have will be fine to work with any new PC, it has the 24pin plug on it?
That 24pin connector is known as DVI and should be fine.
quote:
Originally posted by Rob_Corsa
I had looked at a Dell Inspiron 3000 but was put off by it being delivered from China/Poland once ordered.
Everything's made in China these days; I imagine Dell have a cheap-to-run warehouse/distribution centre in Poland which serves Europe.
I'm sure John will be along with some cracking eBay Dell refurb deals shortly.
[Edited on 26-03-2014 by evilrob]
|
Cavey
Member
Registered: 11th Nov 02
Location: Derby
User status: Offline
|
I'd rather buy from ebuyer or dell than Argos tbh, probably cheaper from either of those too.
A lot of people on here recommend Dell, and specifically dell refurbs for a bit cheaper
|
John
Member
Registered: 30th Jun 03
User status: Offline
|
Dell have completely changed their model from just in time to seemingly having stock which comes from a combination of China and Poland as you've seen. I've not noticed a difference in quality from them being built in Ireland so far.
Refurbs with 3 year warranty are good value.
Its mainly the Dell warranty that sells it for me. This is slipping a bit now though. They'll still replace broken bits no problem but the days of getting them to replace anything for a tiny reason are gone (understandably).
|
jamied
Member
Registered: 27th Oct 03
Location: Marbella,Spain Drives: C63
User status: Offline
|
Have to agree with John, dell are very good at what they do and prices are reasonable.
|
Tiger
Member
Registered: 12th Jun 01
Location: Leicestershire Drives:Astra VXR
User status: Offline
|
Ive had a Dell Studio XPS i7 950 for years now and its a cracking PC for what I need it to do.
|
