Spec(s) me help for a friend

lego

lego

lego

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I've been asked to spec up a new PC for a friend (well his dad to be more precise), However, I've received the usual answers to my "What does he use it for" / "What is his budget"questions. Being "he uses it for everything (not gaming)" and "he doesn't want to spend too much, but wants it to last 5 years and doesn't mind spending a little more" - GAH

So what i thought I would do is give 3 options (budget / mid range / higher end) then inevitably have them chop and change it. The problem is I'm well out of the loop when it comes to current tech (I'm still running a 3750), so I'm not sure of the benefits of the newer intel / amd offerings.

Here's where I need your help people of OCUK!!!

Whats Needed

  • Simply the base unit (they will reuse current monitors / keyboard / mouse / Windows key)
  • Graphics Card - I'm aware onboard will do the job perfectly in the case, but they are anal about this and want a card because the old one "lagged"? But any cheap one will do.
  • An SSD (+ possibly a larger storage drive in the higher specs)
  • No requirements on the case so whatever the budget allows


Uses - Netflix / Browsing / Book keeping / light desktop publications /emails ect

Budget - I'm not sure myself here, but if we say £350 / £500 / £700 (budget/mid/high)

Thanks in advance!
 
@lego
My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £635.54
(includes shipping: £11.70)



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Ditched the SSD for Intel's Optane Memory which will bring the HDD to the speed of SSD for boot up and regularly used Programs and will allow a much better HDD for the pricing.
Included the cheapest latest Gen Nvidia which is power eff as well as using Gold standard PSU supply .
Everything should be power eff long with a small form case, nothing special but sure it could be changed for a mini tower or something with a bit more flair.
i5's are pretty standard in work offices and show last a good while, still rocking 3rd Gen i5s in my office and I have to do CAD work on it, with no GPU to help!
As well as OCUK customer service Gigabyte have RMA/repair center for Both Graphics and Motherboards in the UK so any RMA should be a quick turn around
Could push higher HDD to reach £700

If you want to support AMD
My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £570.58
(includes shipping: £11.70)



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CPU has 4 Core and 8 threads so "should be" better at multitasking where cores over speed counts.
SSD, enough for OS and few key programs and 2TB HDD and a lower entry price

You could push to Ryzen 1600 for 6 Cores/12 thread and a larget SSD/HDD to bring it up to max £700 limit

last option, Budget

My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £461.55
(includes shipping: £11.70)



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4 core Pentium along with Bronze Grade PSU, SSHD 2 TB drive instead of Intel Optane and HDD combo
 
Last edited:
lego said:
but wants it to last 5 years and doesn't mind spending a little more"
Click to expand...
All background stuff tends to keep getting heavier on resources and such PCs tend to gather lots of autostarted background junk. (everything installed with defaults clicking next/OK...)
So in long term 4 core/8 thread AMD Ryzen would be good for keeping that background bloatware running with minimal performance penalty.
Because on such use it's not graphics card which causes eventual lagging but CPU/memory resources hogged by that background stuff.
(too filled HDD another cause)

Intel would have integrated GPU enough for such use, but they charge arm and both legs for more than four threads.
Heck, considering 4 cores was reached decade ago their cheaper CPUs being dual cores is also milking consumers.

Unless there will be lots of digicam images there wouldn't be much use for very large HDD capacity.
And this might be case where some kind SSHD migh be useful.
Because without intelligent file managing from user separate SSD and HDD might result that SSD getting filled with "low priority" data.
 
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