'Fast' but not 'powerful' PC.

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Looking for a new PC for mum-in-law.

It doesn't have to be able to do anything special, essentially just emails, surfing and the odd game of on-line Bridge.

So, no high-end powerpoints, graphics or nuffink - but it should be 'fast' in getting to the progs required. Just get down to the business required asap.

First thoughts are that SSD is a must? But, beyond that, what else? No high-end graphics card needed. No super-fast processor either. No jumbo RAM.

So, what? Where to look? Where to start?

Cheers.
 
Thanks folks, but it needs to be a PC so she can use her TV as a HUGE monitor, and with full-sized keyboard and mouse.
 
Chromebook with a Chromecast to the TV. Keyboard is almost normal size and use a Bluetooth mouse.

Edit: Portable as well. My mother insisted on replacing the PC with a PC when my father was alive and I'm sure she regrets that now.
 
For games such as bridge you probably wouldn't even need a graphics card!
It depends on how fast you want it to boot whether or not you can justify the extra expense of putting the OS on a SSD- for it's purpose I would have thought not. For the intended purposes you describe you wouldn't need anything fancy and you would likely find it fast enough if it is kept fairly clean.

Are you paying for it?

I would be inclined to look at something refurbished. 8gb Ram would be more than enough.

Given that the monitor is sorted how about
https://www.tier1online.com/1-ay032av/hp-compaq-8100-elite-sff-core-i5-650-3-2ghz-dvd

Probably more important, do you like your mother in law?
https://www.tier1online.com/1-xg094et-abu/hp-pro-6305-amd-athlon-ii-x2-b24-radeon-hd-4200
Still for £60, whilst it would not be "fast" it would be fast enough for browsing the internet and games of bridge. Probably even run minesweeper on max graphics!
 
No idea of budget.:(

Ryzen 3 2200G has built in RX Vega graphics £94.99p,might be a tad cheaper.

Vulcan 8gb DDR4 memory £56.95p

Motherboard could go for a small MATX bord or full ATX board, wide range out there,a cheap A320 chipset motherboard, or the newer B350 motherboard, cost £57 upto £64 depending on choice.

Gigabyte SSD 240gb £34.99p

Hard drive 2TB £56.99p

Cheap case £25

PSU. Kolink KL400 400w £30.95p

Window 10 Pro got my from here.

https://www.tweaktown.com/news/63308/microsoft-windows-10-pro-under-12-usd-free-shipping/index.html

Pointless going for DDR3 memory base pc, it's old,new boards are getting less,as are cpu's that suppport them, future proofing is the answer DDR4 & a cheap & latest B350 motherboards.

Gone for AMD, more cpu for your money than Intel cpu,the Ryzen 3 2200G is a quad core cpu, has built in graphics,
 
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KIAB said:
No idea of budget.:(

Ryzen 3 2200G has built in RX Vega graphics £94.99p,might be a tad cheaper.

Vulcan 8gb DDR4 memory £56.95p

Motherboard could go for a small MATX bord or full ATX board, wide range out there,a cheap A320 chipset motherboard, or the newer B350 motherboard, cost £57 upto £64 depending on choice.

Gigabyte SSD 240gb £34.99p

Hard drive 2TB £56.99p

Cheap case £25

PSU. Kolink KL400 400w £30.95p

Window 10 Pro got my from here.

https://www.tweaktown.com/news/63308/microsoft-windows-10-pro-under-12-usd-free-shipping/index.html

Pointless going for DDR3 memory base pc, it's old,new boards are getting less,as are cpu's that suppport them, future proofing is the answer DDR4 & a cheap & latest B450 motherboards.

Gone for AMD, more cpu for your money than Intel cpu,the Ryzen 3 2200G is a quad core cpu, has built in graphics,
Click to expand...

EDIT: TYPO ERROR previous AMD motherboard series was A350, a very good board,you might need a bios update with some boards to support Ryzen 2200G, the latest series is the B450, not the B350 as I mention in previous post, had a few new features & supports Ryzen 2200G out of the box.

Most Intel cpu's with graphics are dual core,regardless of series,like the latest Celeron G4900, compared to quad with AMD.
 
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Thank you everyone. No lack of choice there :-)

I should have said... it needs to be Windows-based as that's what she's used to. Also, money is no object as she's just sold her house and is feeling flush.

Frosty - lol - yes we get on ok, which is good since she's just moved in with us... Temporarily until we can all find a home with an annexe or more space next year.

KIAB, cheers for getting down to specs. Where would a good place be to go to have a small-form PC (like one of these 'media' units) made up to spec? Eg SSD (I think that's a must - fast boot up?), 6GB, medium graphics and stuff?
 
I never bought a ready made pc, have built all my pc's over the years.

A SSD is essential,takes seconds for Windows to load.

Quite a few firms around that build pc's like Scan,Overclockers,etc, but not cheap.
swoon.gif


Just use Overclocker's configurator, comes out a tad under £500.
 
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KIAB said:
I never bought a ready made pc, have built all my pc's over the years.

A SSD is essential,takes seconds for Windows to load.

Quite a few firms around that build pc's like Scan,Overclockers,etc, but not cheap.
swoon.gif


Just use Overclocker's configurator, comes out a tad under £500.
Click to expand...

But, it does come with a 3 year warrenty.
 
Allsorts said:
Thank you everyone. No lack of choice there :)

I should have said... it needs to be Windows-based as that's what she's used to. Also, money is no object as she's just sold her house and is feeling flush.

Frosty - lol - yes we get on ok, which is good since she's just moved in with us... Temporarily until we can all find a home with an annexe or more space next year.

KIAB, cheers for getting down to specs. Where would a good place be to go to have a small-form PC (like one of these 'media' units) made up to spec? Eg SSD (I think that's a must - fast boot up?), 6GB, medium graphics and stuff?
Click to expand...

If money no object! Then I would point towards the Dell XPS range. Latest 8th Gen Intel processors, SSD fitted, choice of screen and memory sizes, 4 year (on site) warranty option, and John Lewis do stock some of the range so she could actually handle one.
 
Pollowick said:
If money no object! Then I would point towards the Dell XPS range. Latest 8th Gen Intel processors, SSD fitted, choice of screen and memory sizes, 4 year (on site) warranty option, and John Lewis do stock some of the range so she could actually handle one.
Click to expand...

AMD latest Ryzen 2600X & 2700X both 8 Core,16 Thread, blows Intel out of the water I'm afraid for value & peformance.
 
KIAB said:
AMD latest Ryzen 2600X & 2700X both 8 Core,16 Thread, blows Intel out of the water I'm afraid for value & peformance.
Click to expand...

Maybe, but the XPS are a very nice range of machines - I am due to order one soon. Lightweight, certainly powerful enough for what is required, will easily connect to an external monitor/TV ... and excellent support to ensure AS's M-i-L does not need to bother him!
 
Allsorts said:
It doesn't have to be able to do anything special, essentially just emails, surfing and the odd game of on-line Bridge.
Click to expand...
Then you really don't need anything powerful!
If you're insistent on windows, rather than Linux, which would be suitable, then I'm very happy to recommend ccl computers.
I've had about half a dozen units from them, for various family members, over the past 6 or 7 years.
They build them on site. The build quality is good, guarantee is good, and customer service is good!
Give them a look;

https://www.cclonline.com/pc/home-pcs/

Good luck,

Regards,
Cando
 
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