| PC buying advice 18:27 - Oct 25 with 2680 views | Double_Dutch |
I know that this topic has been covered before, but I am looking at buying either a laptop or desktop for home use to perform general excel / word docs, listen to music, surf the web and, stream football / films.
I am looking at a budget of approx £500. I have been looking at the Dell outlet store, which I seem to remember that some posters have previously used. Should I be considering the scratch / dented or the refurbished option? What are the key areas I should be considering for the spec, Sata / ssd harddrive, processor, graphics, ram etc? |  | | |  |
| PC buying advice on 18:48 - Oct 25 with 2651 views | DanTheMan |
If you can get away with a desktop, I'd go with a desktop. Cheaper to buy, cheaper to prepare, you get more for your money. However if you are going to want to walk around with it (ever) then get yourself a laptop.
Assuming that you need office, you'll be wanting a Windows machine.
The main things you'll be wanting in order of preference for your activities:
- SSD: will massively help to keep the machine running well over time, maes boot times faster and loads programs faster. Definitely get this above all else.
- RAM: More the better really, means you can run more stuff at one time.
- Processor: This next although you're unlikely to really notice
- As above, you're not going to need anything more than onboard graphics by the sound of it.
Not used dell outlet before, this is basically the only thing I could find that would meet your budget:
http://outlet.euro.dell.com/Online/SecondaryInventorySearch.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukdfh1&
To be honest you might be better off buying from someone like PC Specialist where you can customise the build and get it sent to you. |  |
| |
| PC buying advice on 18:48 - Oct 25 with 2650 views | SpruceMoose |
Your warranty with Sprucey's PC Warehouse has been voided for this very public act of brand betrayal. |  |
| Pronouns: He/Him/His.
"Imagine being a heterosexual white male in Britain at this moment. How bad is that. Everything you say is racist, everything you say is homophobic. The Woke community have really f****d this country." | | Poll: | Selectamod |
| |
| PC buying advice on 18:53 - Oct 25 with 2639 views | factual_blue |
| PC buying advice on 18:48 - Oct 25 by SpruceMoose |
Your warranty with Sprucey's PC Warehouse has been voided for this very public act of brand betrayal. |
I'll try to manage my disappointment. |  |
| |
| PC buying advice on 18:54 - Oct 25 with 2637 views | SpruceMoose |
| PC buying advice on 18:53 - Oct 25 by factual_blue |
I'll try to manage my disappointment. |
More like you'll try to manage your catastrophic loss of your Harry Seacombe music files. | |
| Pronouns: He/Him/His.
"Imagine being a heterosexual white male in Britain at this moment. How bad is that. Everything you say is racist, everything you say is homophobic. The Woke community have really f****d this country." | | Poll: | Selectamod |
| |
| PC buying advice on 18:58 - Oct 25 with 2630 views | factual_blue |
| PC buying advice on 18:54 - Oct 25 by SpruceMoose |
More like you'll try to manage your catastrophic loss of your Harry Seacombe music files. |
I have those stored on several external hard drives, each of which automatically backs up to cloud storage every five minutes.
ps
Harry Secombe. | |
| |
| PC buying advice on 19:03 - Oct 25 with 2619 views | SpruceMoose |
| PC buying advice on 18:58 - Oct 25 by factual_blue |
I have those stored on several external hard drives, each of which automatically backs up to cloud storage every five minutes.
ps
Harry Secombe. |
I was referring to Harry Seacombe, the Harry Secombe impersonator. Obviously. | |
| Pronouns: He/Him/His.
"Imagine being a heterosexual white male in Britain at this moment. How bad is that. Everything you say is racist, everything you say is homophobic. The Woke community have really f****d this country." | | Poll: | Selectamod |
| |
| PC buying advice on 19:20 - Oct 25 with 2605 views | jeera |
| PC buying advice on 19:03 - Oct 25 by SpruceMoose |
I was referring to Harry Seacombe, the Harry Secombe impersonator. Obviously. |
He's pretty good as it goes.
Better than the original even. |  |
| |
Login to get fewer ads
| PC buying advice on 19:21 - Oct 25 with 2603 views | jeera |
| PC buying advice on 18:48 - Oct 25 by DanTheMan |
If you can get away with a desktop, I'd go with a desktop. Cheaper to buy, cheaper to prepare, you get more for your money. However if you are going to want to walk around with it (ever) then get yourself a laptop.
Assuming that you need office, you'll be wanting a Windows machine.
The main things you'll be wanting in order of preference for your activities:
- SSD: will massively help to keep the machine running well over time, maes boot times faster and loads programs faster. Definitely get this above all else.
- RAM: More the better really, means you can run more stuff at one time.
- Processor: This next although you're unlikely to really notice
- As above, you're not going to need anything more than onboard graphics by the sound of it.
Not used dell outlet before, this is basically the only thing I could find that would meet your budget:
http://outlet.euro.dell.com/Online/SecondaryInventorySearch.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukdfh1&
To be honest you might be better off buying from someone like PC Specialist where you can customise the build and get it sent to you. |
What about ebuyer, no?
I used them after you recommended them and was more than happy with the outcome.
(3 years ago roughly). | |
| |
| PC buying advice on 19:42 - Oct 25 with 2584 views | DanTheMan |
| PC buying advice on 19:21 - Oct 25 by jeera |
What about ebuyer, no?
I used them after you recommended them and was more than happy with the outcome.
(3 years ago roughly). |
eBuyer is fine as far as I'm aware but they just resell other manufacturers machines.
Which is fine but I've PC Specialist / CyberPower do a better job for cheaper I've found. Don't know how they do it. | |
| |
| PC buying advice on 19:46 - Oct 25 with 2577 views | jeera |
| PC buying advice on 19:42 - Oct 25 by DanTheMan |
eBuyer is fine as far as I'm aware but they just resell other manufacturers machines.
Which is fine but I've PC Specialist / CyberPower do a better job for cheaper I've found. Don't know how they do it. |
Then I shall check them out.
You've not put me wrong so far.
Ahem, whilst you're here Daniel,my laptop's volume is still ropey despite updating drivers etc. It starts off ok then gets crackly and often lapses too. I have checked the obvious like enhancements etc.
Like I say, it was only a cheap effort almost 3 years ago so I am far from unhappy, but as the rest of it is working fine it seems a shame to replace it if it isn't necessary.
Any ideas please? | |
| |
| PC buying advice on 20:06 - Oct 25 with 2562 views | DanTheMan |
| PC buying advice on 19:46 - Oct 25 by jeera |
Then I shall check them out.
You've not put me wrong so far.
Ahem, whilst you're here Daniel,my laptop's volume is still ropey despite updating drivers etc. It starts off ok then gets crackly and often lapses too. I have checked the obvious like enhancements etc.
Like I say, it was only a cheap effort almost 3 years ago so I am far from unhappy, but as the rest of it is working fine it seems a shame to replace it if it isn't necessary.
Any ideas please? |
So it's OK when you first turn on the PC, but after some use it goes crackly?
Is the PC otherwise running at full speed? The sound / graphics can stutter under high load.
The only other thing I can think of is that the speakers might be going. You could test this by using a pair of headphones or speakers, attaching them to the laptop and seeing if it exhibits the same behaviour. | |
| |
| PC buying advice on 20:44 - Oct 25 with 2516 views | jeera |
| PC buying advice on 20:06 - Oct 25 by DanTheMan |
So it's OK when you first turn on the PC, but after some use it goes crackly?
Is the PC otherwise running at full speed? The sound / graphics can stutter under high load.
The only other thing I can think of is that the speakers might be going. You could test this by using a pair of headphones or speakers, attaching them to the laptop and seeing if it exhibits the same behaviour. |
I'll try those things Dan and get back to you.
Thanks. | |
| |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
