Question:
Hi, I've got a laptop but want a desktop to do uni work on, because of my bad posture at the desk, and my laptop is a mac so cant play many windows files. I was wondering if anyone has or has any advice about buying the following computer. Id like to spend as little as possible, but obviously want a quality product!
£289.99 EI SYSTEM 105 DESKTOP PC - INTEL CELERON D 352 PROCESSOR + 15"TFT MONITOR
(035723)
# Intel Celeron D 352 Processor
# 3.2MHz, 533MHz FSB, 512MB Cache
# Genuine MS Windows XP Home Edition
# 256MB DDR RAM
# 80GB Hard Disk
# CD ROM Drive
# Integrated Graphics
# 6 USB Connections
# 1 PCI Slot
# 15" TFT Monitor
Answers:
The processor will run XP fine. 80GB hard drive will also be sufficient for uni work. I would however suggest to get an extra 256MB to be able to work comfortably.
People might find me weird, but if I was to buy this PC, the main problem for me would be the monitor: a 15" TFT screen is just too small and you're not going to make your eyes a favour.
If the PC is slightly slow, I can live with that. But if I have to wear out my eyes on a small, low quality, cathodic monitor, I do mind since that's the only pair I have for my lifetime.
Answers:
I would recommend similiar to wha Cricri is saying.
Get 512Mb for Xp and then it will work well
otherwise its personal choice on 2 things.
15" monitor? if it suits you then fine otherwise i find minimum 17" or bigger a good size
Cd-rom - It wont play dvds or burn dvd's/cd's if you can live with that then go for it.
Answers:
for 349.97 (+del) you could get something a bit better:
or if that's too much £299.94 (+del) would at least get you a slightly better processor, 512mb ram and a 15.4" monitor:
hope that helps!
Answers:
Just to echo the general sentiments, 256 just isnt enough. 512 should be your minimum. Id check to see what the lowest spec Dell is available with 512. Apart from that, it looks fine for light use.
Answers:
thanks for your replies, on dell for £346 i can get
Components
PROCESSOR AMD® Sempron™ Processor 3400+ edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Basic - English edit
HARDWARE SUPPORT Collect & Return, 1 Year Service only edit
MONITOR Dell™ 17" Value Flat Panel (SE177FP) - UK/Irish edit
MEMORY 512MB DDR2 533MHz Memory edit
HARD DRIVE 160GB (7200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive with 8MB DataBurst™ cache edit
OPTICAL DRIVE 48X CDRW/DVD-ROM combination Drive edit
GRAPHICS CARD Integrated nVidia® GeForce® 6150 LE graphics edit
Accessories
KEYBOARD Dell™ Black Entry Quietkey USB Keyboard - UK/Ire (QWERTY) edit
MOUSE Dell 2 Button USB Scroll Optical Mouse - Black edit
FLOPPY/MEDIA DRIVES No Floppy Drive edit
MODEMS Dell™ v92 Data/Fax Modem
SOUND SOFTWARE Integrated 7.1 Channel High Definition Audio edit
SPEAKERS No Speakers edit
Services & Software
SECURITY SOFTWARE No Security/Anti-Virus Protection - English edit
MICROSOFT SOFTWARE Microsoft® Works 8.0 - English edit
PHOTOGRAPHY SOFTWARE No digital photo sharing or editing software selected. edit
Also included with your system
Gedis Bundle Reference List D03C15a Dimension C521
Shipping Documents C521 English Documentation with UK Power Cord
S&P Flyer DHS Inspiron / Dimension Flyer
Order Information Dimension Order - UK
Standard Warranty Collect & Return, 1 Year Service only
Money Off Savings Save £30 inc VAT
Dell Internet Order Dell Internet Order.
SYSTEM MEDIA Dimension Resource DVD for Vista (Diagnostics & Drivers)
the first tesco link looked good, but im not sure about the processor? all i know is intel pentium 4!
il try to find some dell discounts on the other forum as well..
im a student so if anyone can recommend anywhere to get me a better deal- id rather buy from a shop tho so that i can personally take things back and speak to a manager if there are problems...
Answers:
A possibly better alternative would be to buy a system from Medion for 150 and buy a 17" monitor for 100 or thereabouts, spending the remaining cash on some extra RAM(15) and a keyboard and mouse(15). 280 pounds or so..
Links:
Ignore the 'Refurbished' tag. Systems look brand new.
Answers:
Not sure why you chose that system on Dell. Isn't this one better value at 349?
ComponentsIntel® Pentium® D 915 Dual Core Processor (2.80GHz, 800MHz, 2x2MB)
Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Basic - English
Collect & Return, 1 Year Service only
Dell™ 17" Value Flat Panel (SE177FP) - UK/Irish
1024MB Dual Channel DDR2 533MHz [2x512] Memory
160GB (7200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive with 8MB DataBurst™ cache
16X DVD+/-RW Drive
256MB nVidia® GeForce® 7300 Turbocache graphics card
Intel® Pentium® D 915 Dual Core Processor (2.80GHz, 800MHz, 2x2MB)
Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Basic - English
Collect & Return, 1 Year Service only
Dell™ 17" Value Flat Panel (SE177FP) - UK/Irish
1024MB Dual Channel DDR2 533MHz [2x512] Memory
160GB (7200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive with 8MB DataBurst™ cache
16X DVD+/-RW Drive
256MB nVidia® GeForce® 7300 Turbocache graphics card
AccessoriesIntegrated Audio with Dolby Digital 7.1 capability
No Speakers
Dell™ Black Entry Quietkey USB Keyboard - UK/Ire (QWERTY)
Dell 2 Button USB Scroll Optical Mouse - Black
Internal 13-in-1 Media Card Reader
No Modem
Integrated Audio with Dolby Digital 7.1 capability
No Speakers
Dell™ Black Entry Quietkey USB Keyboard - UK/Ire (QWERTY)
Dell 2 Button USB Scroll Optical Mouse - Black
Internal 13-in-1 Media Card Reader
No Modem
Services & SoftwareNo Security/Anti-Virus Protection - English
Microsoft® Works 8.0 - English
No digital photo sharing or editing software selected.
No Security/Anti-Virus Protection - English
Microsoft® Works 8.0 - English
No digital photo sharing or editing software selected.
Also Includes
List D03E06 Dimension E520
E520 English Documentation with UK Power Cord
DHS Inspiron / Dimension Flyer
Dimension Order - UK
Collect & Return, 1 Year Service only
Save £100 inc VAT
Dell Internet Order.
Dimension Resource DVD for Vista (Diagnostics & Drivers)
Answers:
As others have said, a bit light on memory but otherwise an ok middle-of-the-road machine. Shouldn't be a problem with a 15" LCD - it's pretty much the equivalent of a 17" CRT. Next step up for me would be a 19" LCD (can't get on with 17" LCDs), but most of my WP, surfing and even work is on a 15".
You didn't mention your course - not anything needing mega-graphics is it..?
Answers:
no im doing a science bsc then on to medicine. just a machine for writing essay, downloading journals on pdfs, surfing the net etc. on dell it reccomend upgrading the graphics card for use with vista.. how much worse is vista with a low spec graphics cards?
Thanks for all your help!
Answers:
well some older onboard graphics systems won't run with Vistas new aero interface (the transparently effects and other stuff copied from mac os).
Vista would still run but these effects. In saying that I'm writing this on a laptop without aero and it works fine for my needs
Answers:
If you want a cheap machine, I wouldn't recomend Vista.
I'm still using WinXP and it does the job perfectly well.
If you are student, you might be able to install it legally for free with MSDN Academic Alliance:
Answers:
Don't opt for extra memory to be fitted by the dealer. This are often a way for them to rip you off and charge you far more than its worth.
Instead go to when you get your computer and consider installing the extra stick of RAM yourself (if you are confident that you can do this yourself).
However make sure that by opening the case and installing extra memory doesn't invalidate your guarentee in anyway, some manufacturers don't mind the case being opened but others consider the guarentee void if you open it.