£300 to spend on a PC (monitor not needed)

Stormster · 20 Nov 2007 at 15:30

What's recommended?

Doesn't need to be a gaming machine... mostly used for tinternet, office apps, downloading stuff and general "old man" usage (for me dad).

I'm completely out of the loop, no idea whats on the market.. so whats good?

£300 limit (inc vat) on the main tower, he's got monitor keyboard and mouse... this looks ok for his needs, worth the money guys?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-027-OK&groupid=43&catid=964&subcat=

Cheers

YoungBlood · 20 Nov 2007 at 15:39

I would say it is, saves the hastle of building one yourself. Would'nt beable to game on that at all though without putting in a decent card. If you have a copy of XP/Vista allready then you can't go far wrong.

You *might* beable to knock a C2D system together for £300 but if it's just for net and general use I would'nt bother, and being in Stoke on Trent you could just take it back if any problems.

EDIT
Actualy looking at current prices you could knock up a decent C2D system for £300, if you use a dirt cheap graphics card.

Stormster · 20 Nov 2007 at 15:40

Exactly, I used be in the loop years ago but lost touch completely in 2005 when I decided IT wasn't for me.... but cannot be bothered anymore building stuff and being local to OcUK is convenient for warranties sake lol. Got a copy of XP for him so thats fine just the hardware we need.

Excuse my ignorance but whats a C2D system? Thanks mate

YoungBlood · 20 Nov 2007 at 15:49

C2D = Core 2 Duo

I'm no dought forgetting something in that spec.....
You would need a graphics card, but a PCI one would do if your not gaming, can pick one up for £10-20, OcUK don't seem to have any.

EDIT
Ah yes a floppy drive, so add on another £5
That would be miles better than the AMD offering, would also OC like a charm. Im 99% sure that PSU would be fine as your not running a GTX or anything crazy, im sure someone will shoot me down if I'm wrong though.

Glaucus · 20 Nov 2007 at 16:02

YoungBlood said:
Would'nt beable to game on that at all though without putting in a decent card.

you can still run games without a decent system. I agree don't get integrated graphics.

x2 4200+
2Gb ram
and a 6600GT

Non of which is overclocked.

I can still run all the games fine.
Maybe not at full res and detail. But I haven't found a game I struggle to play yet.

Alos there's no need for a floppy drive.

even modern games can be palyed fine on lower speced systems. Not everyone wants to spend 2k on a machine just to get a few extra fps and all the detail.

I would go along these lines, a more than capable machine. Not sure what gfx card is the best at that price range, so might want to chnage that.

YoungBlood · 20 Nov 2007 at 16:04

Oh Acidhell, I was refering to the fact that it has OnBoard graphics. Of course he can game if he put's in a decent card, but not with intergrated he won't.

Also your spec is my old system, and I agree 100% you can game with that. The only reason I upgraded was my S939 board let go on me.

Glaucus · 20 Nov 2007 at 16:12

YoungBlood said:
Oh Acidhell, I was refering to the fact that it has OnBoard graphics. Of course he can game if he put's in a decent card, but not with intergrated he won't.

Also your spec is my old system, and I agree 100% you can game with that. The only reason I upgraded was my S939 board let go on me.

he-he Yeh I edited I saw the intergrated graphics.

Also posted up a spec. wow computers have got cheap a spec like that for £300 :ekk:

Not sure on the graphix card, as my budget knowledge is limited.

Stormster · 28 Nov 2007 at 13:43

Hi guys, been a while since I last posted, thanks for the useful replies

Being out of the loop... which is best for a £300 system? AMD or Intel option? The old man is now on about getting a TFT in there somewhere lol so a smaller hard drive, less ram etc might be worthy compromises. I'd imagine on board graphics would be fine for the time being as he's 63, he wont be bothered about games haha. Just an internet/office machine really.

I'm not sure wether to do a bit of reading and build it myself to be honest, I've built hundreds of systems, just nothing in the last 2 yrs since leaving the industry behind.. cant believe it's hard to get into after time out! Lots of new technologies and products

EDIT: the system in my first post is still on offer.. I think it seems alright value or am I better getting a cheaper case, motherboard etc so freeing up some cash if he wants a TFT?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-027-OK&groupid=43&catid=964&subcat=