Spec Me a Work PC

meths

meths

meths

Soldato
Joined
12 Mar 2005
Posts
4,440
I'm used to building gaming PC's for myself with high end parts but my neighbour is needing a work PC.

I'm wondering what will do the job and be relatively cheap at the same time but I'm a bit wary I under spec it and then have him moaning at me for it not being quick enough.

Main use case is Excel, Word, browsing. Nothing too taxing and no great need for a multitasking powerhouse but it still needs to be fairly snappy at what it does.

Requirements are:
- £1500 max budget including monitor.
- Needs a 1440p Ultrawide monitor (doesn't need to be a top of the range oled or anything like that)
- Don't need a keyboard and mouse.
- Doesn't need a discrete graphics card.
- He says he needs "loads of storage" but I'd say a 2tb NVMe would do the job.
- I think he's got a Windows license I can use on it so that's not needed.

He's got some guy up at the computer shop along the road trying to overcharge him for an Intel i7 system (£1,500 plus VAT) but he can't tell me what i7 it is or what the rest of the machine spec is.

Alternatively I've suggested he just buys a half decent laptop and a monitor.

Not sure I want to get involved in this but any help would be appreciated. :)
 
honestly if it's "just" for work then buying a used pc off ebay or a mini-pc is much better value than a custom DIY pc
 
yep, just make sure that the iGPU can display that many pixels
(i was thinking of something like the minisforum mini-pc)
 
As OCUK don't really sell office computers, point him to the Dell website where he can spec his own.

I would go for a mid-range processor, 32GB RAM and 2TB SSD storage (or smaller SSD and buy a separate NAS). He should be happy with that:

www.dell.com

Dell Tower | Dell UK

Shop the Dell Tower desktop PC with Intel Core Processors, DDR5 Memory, Windows 11, and a compact Design.
www.dell.com
 
Get a refurbished dell /lenovo /HP ex office machine and whatever monitor floats your boat.
Anyone who tells to you need an i7 and 32gb ram for an office machine needs to give their head a shake lol.

If Intel I'd be looking at i5 gen 10 or better..
 
Bascially any Dell Optiplex or similar from the last 10 years will prob do him. Just make sure it's got 16GB RAM and an SSD.
 
Dell, HP or Lenovo. I personally lean towards Lenovo but any of those will offer a small form factor option.
 
Last edited:
meths said:
Main use case is Excel, Word, browsing. Nothing too taxing and no great need for a multitasking powerhouse but it still needs to be fairly snappy at what it does.
Click to expand...

I concur with @Fluffybob and @InkZ. He wants a reliable workhorse that runs Windows 11. Full warranty and next day repair. If you're going for a Dell, choose the Dell Pro with Core Ultra, not 14th gen, and upgrade the PSU.
 
Quartz said:
I concur with @Fluffybob and @InkZ. He wants a reliable workhorse that runs Windows 11. Full warranty and next day repair. If you're going for a Dell, choose the Dell Pro with Core Ultra, not 14th gen, and upgrade the PSU.
Click to expand...


Oh come off it.. For a bit of excel and generic office work?

An 8th gen i5 with 8gb ram and on board graphics will be more than fine.

If you're feeling fancy, a gen 12 i5 (or am4 equivalent) with 16gb ram.
 
Your off yer nut pal, you don't need all that horsepower and expense for a bit of desk jockeying.

OP should put the money saved towards an OLED screen or a fancy chair or something.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom