"future proof"

Disco Boy

Disco Boy

Disco Boy

Soldato
Joined
4 Aug 2009
Posts
5,310
Location
London
Yes it's a very annoying phrase. But I think it sums up best the nature of my problem. I am in charge of buying a new pc for my parents, their uses are really minimal, web browsing and word processing, as well as storing photos etc.

I want to get them a computer that will last, the one being replaced is a 3.4GHz pentium D from 2006. It's getting replaced because it's a bit slow these days.

It's between specs like these:

~440 Mini Tower i7 3770 6gb 1600 1tb 1gb GT620 w7 Pro 64bit

~350 Desktop i7 2600 8GB 1333 500GB w7 HP 64bit

~290 Mini Tower i5 2400 4gb 1333 500GB w7 Pro 64bit

So I guess my question is... Do you think that the top one will last much better than the bottom/ middle ones? Will they be much snappier in 3-4-5 years time? Price isn't a huge concern because it's a business purchase, but there's no point in spending more for the sake of it...
 
Last edited:
For the usage described I’d stick with the cheap option. The difference in price would be better spent on a SSD than the faster processor.

If the machine is fast enough now, it’ll be fast enough in five years for the same tasks.
 
While the Pentium D is FAR from being known as a decent CPU...but for the kind of usage you mention, I honestly think it would be good enough to just add a SSD to the existing system and it should fly (even with that CPU). Also, make sure there are at least 2GB of ram. This will cost the least and meet the requirement. If you must upgrade the system as well, even some like a bargain G530 CPU together with a low price board that has SATA3.0 support would be plenty.

I would suggest just get a fast SATA3.0 SSD for now and install that and see how it goes, if still not happy, then can upgrade the rest of the systems. i5 Sandy/Ivy is by FAR overkill for that kind of usage.
 
Last edited:
If it isn't going be used for any thing extreme why not go for the i5 option would be a lot cheaper, an meet your/there needs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom