Need to buy a new computer?

Question

I need to buy a new desktop computer, as the one I am using is about to give out on me.
I dont have a clue about computers at all, so I dont know which is the best model to buy.
I only want to spend about 300-400 hundred pounds. I do NOT want to get a e-machine computer.
Please help me!

Answer 1

How to choose a new computer?

To begin with, there are four main factors that one should view when buying a new computer and those are mobility, durability, and power. After one has compiled all the information for the three categories listed, he or she can then narrow his or her selection down to the actual device such as laptop, notebook, or desktop.

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Listed from greatest to least:
Mobility (weight/size): notebook - laptop - desktop
Durability: desktop - laptop - notebook
Power: desktop - laptop - notebook
Cost: Multimedia [graphics] - All-Around - Work [multi-task] - Home
As one can tell, the more power a device has, the less mobility it has, and the more durable it is.

If the computer is for multimedia purposes, the buyer should consider buying up-to-date motherboards and graphic cards depending on the game he or she will play. If the game is is RAM-demanding, high-graphics like most modern "entertaining" games, then a lot more should be spent for a newer product. Usually, computers that are bought with the newest hardware will become outdated in less than 2 years. The most RAM possible at the time should be bought. RAM: [4gb+]

If the computer is for work and if the person does not work in anything that would take a lot of processing speed [or if the person likes to wait for things] then he/she may consider getting one of the cheaper graphic cards and moderately new motherboards. More RAM than the personal computer should be bought for this type. RAM: [1gb - 2gb]

If the computer is for a personal computer that will not need to play the newest games at the highest frame rate, then buying a moderately old [1-2 years] motherboard and graphic card can work. Buying a computer that is 1-2 years will not be too outdated until 4 years. RAM: [512mb - 1gb]
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When you are shopping for a new computer, look at the information or the properties of each hardware that you are getting. Doing research on the product before buying it is better than walking into the store and asking the clerk because in most cases they will not know all (if any) of the information desired.

A person should buy only what they need and not more than that (unless it's RAM). If the current disk usage never goes beyond 40gb, then get a 50gb hard drive instead of the 100gb. The more hard-drive space it has, the more power it takes to run it, the heavier it is, and the noisier it will be.

Why is RAM good?**
The more RAM a person has, the more power he or she has to multi-task.

The fan is essential to the cooling down of a system. Different fans have different noise output. It is not necessary for a fast fan to make more noise than a slow fan. In most cases, bigger fans going at slower rate slows the computer more than a small fan with a high rotation rate will make less noise. There are other types of cooling devices that one can obtain such as a heat sink or a refrigerator-like cooling system.

Need help cooling down?**
There are many systems out there that can help cool down a computer, each with different costs and different installation time required.

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Remember to budget your cost! Don't find out that funds have become depleted and the shopper can no longer buy sufficient hard-drive space or RAM, otherwise look out for harsh times.

Don't always trust the mail-in-rebate that some products may have in store, sometimes you never receive the rebate or the rebate may have a catch [ie. buy 3 to get the 1 discount desired].

Don't always get the cheapest devices. Sometimes these "bargains" will cost a person more in the long run because they are unstable and do not last that long.

It is usually not necessary to always get what is the best at the moment, especially since the best will become worse come next quarter.

Answer 2

Go to www.dell.co.uk. They have some great deals at the moment on their machines and they are quite fast and very reliable with fantastic after sales service too.
Their Dimension models are cheap at the moment with £100 off lots of different ones and they start at £299 for the 3100C. It depends what you want to use your PC for on what model you buy. If it's just for games then you need one with a good fast "chip" and a fast video card. If it's mainly for surfing the WWW then speed and graphics aren't that important. The same goes for word processing and spreadsheets and other Microsoft Office applications. The best thing about Dell is that you can customise any basic PC that they have for sale by upgrading the spec as you order it. Good luck and happy computing ;-)

Answer 3

I have bought and used a Dell computer in the past two years, and I found it an inexpensive well made machine.
For the past six months I have used an HP Pavillion Media Center and I was able to customize it to exactly what I wanted. I have found support for HP excellent unlike others, but I do not know how it is there. See HP Store on line and see what is there.

Answer 4

Compare the prices of Dell and PC World in Hove. Dell do computers for under £400. And they are all better than mine!

I cannot be othered to fix up a new one. I would like a laptop though.

I would wait until the computer really gives up the ghost though.

Answer 5

Look up "Dell" they have first class computers at the best prices. I am sorry I didn't buy a Dell. and went for what I thought was a good special offer. which turns out to be an older computer in a new case

Answer 6

Get a Chieftec case and build your own. Aluminum costs more than steel.

http://www.chieftec.com/

Get a good namebrand power supply with plenty of amps and watts, motherboard, graphics card, memory, hard drive, fans, cpu. New cpu's from AMD & Intel are making last years models prices drop. Artic Silver 5 is good to use between the cpu and heatsink. There are instructions on this link:

http://www.arcticsilver.com/

Answer 7

It relies upon on your economic state at this 2d. this is lots greater low-value to purchase a sparkling battery than an entire new pc, so in case you do not desire to spend lots of money, pass forward and get the battery. That mentioned, your pc is kinda old. There are issues you're able to desire to do to extend the life of the pc, in spite of the shown fact that this is on its way out. i might probable pass forward and get a sparkling pc if this is on your funds.

Answer 8

hp or dell would be cheap enough...but i wouldnt just got for the cheapest one i did rather go for the good ones say compaq...sony or gateway.

Answer 9

Look at dell,hp,compaq,gateway,acer.

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=desktops/hp_pavilion/a1500_series&series_name=a1530e_series&catLevel=3&tab_switch=true&tab=overview

Answer 10

get a an apple computer
it comes wit software
but iz more expensive but iz worth it.....