Advice on new System

 
Windows 7 is still available, even though it's now 6? years old. After install it will download loads of updates etc, though.

Windows 8.1 is the current OS that ships with new PC's now. No idea how good or bad it is, sorry.

Can get Windows 10 on a trail basis from Microsoft but if you like and keep it then i think you have have to pay for it sometime around April.

For better advise on which OS to get i'd suggest asking in the software forum :)
 
Would you choose AMD over Intel ? I guess you get more for your money with AMD ?

Also with the MB seems strange that it doesn't use DVI as a connector ? Does that matter ?

J
 
Little*Freak said:
Windows 7 is still available, even though it's now 6? years old. After install it will download loads of updates etc, though.

Windows 8.1 is the current OS that ships with new PC's now. No idea how good or bad it is, sorry.

Can get Windows 10 on a trail basis from Microsoft but if you like and keep it then i think you have have to pay for it sometime around April.

For better advise on which OS to get i'd suggest asking in the software forum :)
Click to expand...

Mainstream support on Windows 7 ended this week. It will get security updates for a few more years, but it is... pretty much obsolete.

Get 8.1, it is absolutely fine to use. If you really cannot settle with the full screen start menu with square buttons.. get one of the start menu replacement programmes for free.

Or jump to Windows 10, but be aware it does send home stuff to aid Microsoft in their development of it, which is perfectly understandable and really the goal of the free for test programme. My initial impression of it it will please just about anyone ;)

Rumour has 8.1 users get 10 for free... but nothing firm in writing from Microsoft yet.
 
Would a SSD be necessary ? I know on my machine that after installing windows and a couple of games there wasn't much space left from 120 GB...

Win 8.1 seems like the right OS...

:-)
 
Hard to go back to a normal drive after using a nice SSD, 128Gb maybe enough for the uses you listed.
 
I've left this for a few months. Almost ready to buy a new system.....Some more questions however...

1. Thinking of Win 8.1 64 bit since it will benefit from the added memory. Only worry is will old printers work with the OS. I've heard that devices after 2005 should be fine ?

2. Gigabyte MB (as in list above) is no longer available from OC. The only other AMD1 (Matx) board is.....

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-603-AS&groupid=701&catid=1903&subcat=2808

I've noticed that the Memory slot only supports single channel memory architecture does this mean that the dual channel memory won't work ?

3. Since it was January since I last posted in this thread and AMD1 seems to be phased out. Would I be better off considering another system ? Prob willing to pay about £350

Thanks

J
 
That ASUS board will work and the RAM kit will be fine, it will just be 8GB of single channel rather than dual.

Cheap case - https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-081-ZA&groupid=2362&catid=736

Better SSD - https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-072-KS&groupid=1657&catid=2101&subcat=2103

What you could also do is maybe this board - https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-522-GI and this cpu - https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-566-IN&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=567 - but the AMD system will likely have a better onboard gpu and consumes very little power.

Also cheaper DVD drive - https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CD-118-LG&groupid=701&catid=10&subcat=951
 
YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Pentium G3240 3.1GHz (Haswell) Socket LGA1150 Processor - Retail £49.99
1 x Kingston HyperX Fury 120GB 2.5" SATA 6Gbps Solid State Drive (SHFS37A/120G) £44.99
1 x Toshiba (7K1000.D) 1TB SATA 6GB/s 32MB Cache - OEM (DT01ACA100) HDD £41.99
1 x TeamGroup Elite Black 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C11 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (TPKD38G1600HC11DC01) £41.99
1 x Seasonic Eco Series 430W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £37.99
1 x MSI H81M-E34 Intel H81 (Socket 1150) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £35.99
1 x OcUK 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £19.99
1 x Zalman T1U3 Mini-Tower USB 3.0 - Black £15.95
Total : £302.38 (includes shipping : £11.25 Ex.VAT).




This CPU is likely stronger than the 5350, but both will suit you fine. Also upgradeable to i5/i7 in the future, not so much on the AM1 board. Board only has a single PCIE 2.0 16x slot, but that will still be fine for a GPU if you wanted, two SATA III ports so you could add another HDD, and then even another two on the SATA II ports
 
It's a case of. Do I go for the Pentium build. Which may cost about £25 more (including win 8.1 64 and the additional HD drive). Or the AMD build which is cheaper but may not be so easy to upgrade....

I might also decide to leave the other internal HDD (non ssd) for a bit. The price might hopefully get lower in a month or two ? Also a cheap DVD drive might be better since it won't be used that much....


J
 
HDDs havent changed prices much in the past year or two.

SSDs have crept down a bit.

That DVD I linked is the cheapest burner instock.

The AMD system will do you fine, its cheap and more than capable of running what you want from it.
 
My only other worry is the system (Win 8.1 64 bit) will have to be compatible with Epson Stylus SX218 and HP 3052 printers. I can find drivers for both these although the drivers for the Epson say Win 8. rather than 8.1 . It's a newer printer so I'm assuming it would be ok ?

Also I'm using Microsoft Office 2003. Can't tell whether this is compatible or not ?

Thanks

J
 
Win8 driver should be fine for 8.1 and it may not need a driver and is picked up by the OS anyway.

That version of office is fine I believe too, I am sure its what i have used with Win8/8.1 in the past.
 
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