Looking for a new PC

[Blackal]

I'm not wanting a super-expensive machine, but have the following ideas:

Windows 7Pro
Current standard Intel processor.
8-16Gb RAM
2GB Video Card with dual DVI outputs and HDMI
DVD Writer
Single HDD 1TB (and space to fit caddies for files)
Sound card not critical

No monitor required

I've had a look at the MESH website - and they have some good prices with reasonable custom facilities. I'm looking at around £600 from MESH, which seems enough of a budget to spend.


Anyone dealt with them since being "re-floated"?

Any other recommendations?


Cheers!
Al

 

[JohnnyOldBoy]

I have been using Quiet PC to build a new system.

Size is not an issue for me, I am trying to reduce noise and power consumption. I am treating myself to a solid state drive to use as my C: drive.

 

[ymfb]

Try

Www.novatech.co.uk. We have been buying good quality, well specced but well priced pc's for probably 8 yrs. service and support has been good too

 

[Blackal]

I have been using Quiet PC to build a new system.

Size is not an issue for me, I am trying to reduce noise and power consumption. I am treating myself to a solid state drive to use as my C: drive.

Thanks - that'll be COMPUTER PLANET Had a look, seems good.

Try

Www.novatech.co.uk. We have been buying good quality, well specced but well priced pc's for probably 8 yrs. service and support has been good too

I always remember them as producing budget (but good) machines (many moons ago) - will have another look at their site - cheers

Was also looking at Cyberpower (steered there on a review of Mesh).....

Thanks

Al

 

[Pip_UK]

I bought my last custom build from PC Specialist and was very satisfied with the purchase experience and the PC. You have to wait a bit longer for your PC (mine took about 3 weeks) but you can be very specific with your requirements.

Even if you don't buy from them, their online build configurator will calculate the power consumption your selected components will collectively demand, so you can spec an appropriately rated power supply.

 

[Blackal]

Thanks Pip,

I had found their site today, and worked my way through a conceptual system.

(it's amazing how the price climbs - almost unprompted )

I bought my last PC from Scan Computers - very pleased with them, too. However - you realise that you don't need a huge spec, just decent video card and multiple monitor capability.

Thanks

Al

 

[Backmarker]

Given your spec I would check out Palicomp. Not a company I have personally used (I buy corporate kit, different requirements), but I have heard good things about them from other people.

 

[Blackal]

Given your spec I would check out Palicomp. Not a company I have personally used (I buy corporate kit, different requirements), but I have heard good things about them from other people.

Just had a brief look at their site and their recommendations in computer mags - interesting....... thanks

Al

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

what is it that your doing with the PC? You seem to have a lot of memory in there.

 

[Blackal]

what is it that your doing with the PC? You seem to have a lot of memory in there.

Err - I forget..........

8-16 GB RAM Doesn't seem a lot?


Al

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

It's huge for a home PC. I run exchange servers at work with 600 users on 16GB of ram. 4GB is your average good spec for a home PC 8GB is where you would go if your working on really big stuff like databases and possibly big video editing although I have never seen any more than 6GB being used while I am editing hour long videos. 2GB video card is possibly excessive as well since you don't know what your using it for. I only mention it because you seem to be budget concious so if you cut down on those you can either save or go up in the processor which you will definably notice.

Edit, You probably know this already but you didnt specifically mention it. You will need to get 64bit windows for anything over 3.5GB of ram. Another place you can save or add is do you actually need windows pro? For home use it adds nothing as its intended for business so has extra security functions that can only be used when connected to a domain. Home premium has all the features your likely to use at home and saves a few quid as well.

 

[Blackal]

I'm usually operating with several applications running, including very large PDFs (converted from CAD) - which can take an age to render.

It's not really a home PC - just the one I use for work when not on my laptop. I require a minimum of two monitors (1920 res minimum) with DVI input.(I already have the monitors).

I don't do video editing.

I'll revisit the RAM requirement, but no - I am not on a budget, only what I justify to myself.

Al

 

[redcastle]

I've just built one for a customer very similar to your spec. Use an I7 processor and load it with RAM. Ram is cheap at the moment so daft not to.
The only thing I would specify would be a 250GB solid state drive for the programs and operating system and use the 1TB for storage, it's easy to change the default saves to the second drive. The speed of the SSD drives is staggering. The one I just built boots to the desktop from cold in 25 seconds

best of luck with it

 

[stolzy]

Current MacPro with as much ram as you can get in it.

Cheapest PC you'll ever buy.

 

[cookie]

Current MacPro with as much ram as you can get in it.

Cheapest PC you'll ever buy.

i make that £2829

 

[Posh Pete]

Our IT tech builds PCs for colleagues. I'll have a word if you like ...

 

[stolzy]

i make that £2829

Yep, and you'll never need to buy another PC for years.

In the days when I was forced to use Windows I changed machine every year, sometimes more frequently than that. My current MacPro is now 7 years old and I still have absolutely no inclination to change it.

Like the old adage, "No such thing as cheap shoes"

 

[Monsieur]

Interesting thread

Any idea what the following would cost

I'm looking for a home PC that has a good enough graphics to play the very latest games such as call of duty etc, has a large enough hard drive for normal home use (photos, video, documents etc) and is fast enough to cope with the latest windows.

 

[Pukmeister]

Interesting thread

Any idea what the following would cost

I'm looking for a home PC that has a good enough graphics to play the very latest games such as call of duty etc, has a large enough hard drive for normal home use (photos, video, documents etc) and is fast enough to cope with the latest windows.

I built my son a good spec gaming PC using parts from Novatech for around £600.

For COD etc you will need a powerful graphics processor, I prefer the ATI RadeonHD series over the Nvidia. If buying a Radeon for gaming, the second digit in the code is the one that tends to determine its power, you'll need at least an X8XX series radeon HD to get good frame rates.

A 1 TB HDD is pretty cheap to buy and more than large enough for home use.

Get 8GB RAM or preferably more.

The latest processors from AMD are a hell of a lot cheaper then the Intel Core i3/5/7 processors and although they supposedly aren't as powerful, I can't tell the difference but I can feel my wallet is a lot fatter.

Sons PC Spec:

ASUS mainboard with AMD785 chipset
AMD FX6100 6-core processor (core multiplier unlocked)
8GB DDR3 RAM
1GB Powercolor AMD Radeon HD 6870 Graphics card
600 Watt Gaming power supply unit
1TB Western Digital Black SATA HDD
Samsung Blu-Ray rewriter
Novatech gaming case

He gets frame rates of 125fps at full resolution/detail settings playing Black Ops 2, Sniper Elite V2 etc without any over clocking. Next step will be water cooling and overclocking of the processor.

 

[Monsieur]

Lot of info - thanks

Know of anywhere that would sell similar all ready made?