Spec me a basic PC for browsing

[almoststew1990]

My aunt wants a new PC to replace her Windows 7 laptop which was cheapo when it was new I think it has a sandy bridge pentium and an HDD. All she uses it for is Web browsing, YouTube and Skype. She already has a tablet but would like a proper PC with a bigger screen and keyboard too.

Please can someone spec me a build excluding Windows, monitor and keyboard and mouse. She was vague on a budget as she (and me these days) doesn't really know how much to spend to get a solid basic build. Say 600? If possible can it have an m2 drive not Sata. Happy to go a generation or 2 back if needed.

For reference she is jealous of the PC I built my gran which I think has the cheapest 10 series i5 and an m2 ssd.

 

[LewisRaz]

Does it have to be new? You could get something 2nd hand for sub £100 that would rinse those basic tasks!

 

[mickyflinn]

Wi-Fi needed ?

Does auntie love RGB ?

 

[Armageus]

If it's just for browsing etc, I'd be looking at a used ex-corporate mini PC. One of the HP Elitedesk mini / Dell Optiplex Micro / Lenovo Tiny range.

You could get an 8th/9th gen I5 based one with 16GB Ram, NVMe for less than £300, then spend the rest on a nice monitor (1080P 27"?) keyboard/mouse (Decent Logitech or Microsoft office bundle?)

 

[freddie64]

Intel NUC?

 

[mickyflinn]

Onboard graphics will be fine the 12100 is a cracking quad core cpu, mobo with Wi-Fi and 1tb m2 pcie4 she wont have time to switch the kettle on.




My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x Team Group Vulcan Z T-Force 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 PC4-25600C16 3200MHz Dual Channel Kit - Grey (SKU: MY-0AK-TG) = £44.99
• 1 x WD Black SN770 1TB SSD M.2 2280 NVME PCI-E Gen4 Solid State Drive (WDS100T3X0E) (SKU: HD-58F-WD) = £69.95
• 1 x Intel Core i3-12100 3.30GHz (Alder Lake) Socket LGA1700 Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-6AK-IN) = £139.99
• 1 x be quiet! System Power 9 600W 80 Plus Bronze Power Supply **OEM NO BOX** (SKU: CA-13V-BQ) = £49.99
• 1 x Kolink Stronghold M Micro-ATX Case - Black Window (SKU: CA-068-KK) = £44.99
• 1 x Gigabyte B660M DS3H AX - Intel B660 DDR4 Micro ATX Motherboard (SKU: MB-5AH-GI) = £129.95

Total: £491.56 (includes delivery: £11.70)​

​

 

[Deleted member 77746]

if you have access to the MM there’s systems been sold all the time in there.

 

[tamzzy]

Does it have to be new? You could get something 2nd hand for sub £100 that would rinse those basic tasks!

If it's just for browsing etc, I'd be looking at a used ex-corporate mini PC. One of the HP Elitedesk mini / Dell Optiplex Micro / Lenovo Tiny range.

You could get an 8th/9th gen I5 based one with 16GB Ram, NVMe for less than £300, then spend the rest on a nice monitor (1080P 27"?) keyboard/mouse (Decent Logitech or Microsoft office bundle?)

totally this

 

[lsg1r]

Honestly, this screams 'mini pc' like a nuc or asrock deskmeet (intel or amd options here) to me.... she's not exactly doing anything that requires a 'custom build' imo...

You can grab a b660 based asrock deskmeet for around £225, this includes case motherboard and 500w psu (80+ bronze), sling in an nvme, ram and a cpu (+ cooler) and you're basically good to go....

• 1 x Team Group Vulcan Z T-Force 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 PC4-25600C16 3200MHz Dual Channel Kit - Grey (SKU: MY-0AK-TG) = £44.99
• 1 x WD Black SN770 1TB SSD M.2 2280 NVME PCI-E Gen4 Solid State Drive (WDS100T3X0E) (SKU: HD-58F-WD) = £69.95
• 1 x Intel Core i3-12100 3.30GHz (Alder Lake) Socket LGA1700 Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-6AK-IN) = £139.99

That's £480 + whatever you spend on a cpu cooler (assuming the intel one isn't good enough)....
Little wiggle room left for alternative cpu or a discreet gpu (won't be anything special though)

 

[Deleted member 77746]

Wouldn’t even bother building one save money by buying one off someone at a reduced cost. Most systems that have an SSD or NVME installed fly.