Opinions on PCs

[cguil_uk]

I plan to replace my PC (listed below) which is getting a bit old and and past it. I would welcome peoples' opinions on getting a replacement.

What are people's views on the Dell XPS range and ACER?

Recommendations welcome.

 

[Ian]

Before making any suggestions on a new PC, can I ask what you'll be using it for? Do you do any gaming or CPU intensive work, or just general browsing? That system still looks pretty reasonable for general usage .

edit: Also, what sort of budget did you have in mind?

 

[cguil_uk]

Before making any suggestions on a new PC, can I ask what you'll be using it for? Do you do any gaming or CPU intensive work, or just general browsing? That system still looks pretty reasonable for general usage .

edit: Also, what sort of budget did you have in mind?

Not more than £1K

Online Gaming - Runescape etc. - I have Talk Talk modem broadband

Genealogy - Research - family history related sites

Photography - related sites - photo reviews etc.

email & general browsing

General networking - Facebook & Myspace

 

[floppybootstomp]

Not more than £1K

Online Gaming - Runescape etc. - I have Talk Talk modem broadband

Genealogy - Research - family history related sites

Photography - related sites - photo reviews etc.

email & general browsing

General networking - Facebook & Myspace

Then the machine you have is still perfectly respectable, I'm using more or less the same specced machine myself.

Unless you are into the latest games that do benefit from latest technology and you're experiencing no quirks during usage, stay with what you have for a while.

You may benefit from a new graphics card but I doubt it.

Similarly, you might consider a new better quality larger monitor.

I would not recommend Acer at all and I'm not fond of Dell.

If I was buying a ready made machine I'd buy from Novatech or OCUK and Scan are worth considering.

Seriously, until your computer starts to show signs of weakness in some areas, stick with it.

Have a holiday or put the money into an ISA plan instead

 

[V_R]

As the others have said, that fine for what you need.

If you really wanted to upgrade, then you could get a Q6600 quad core and a newer GPU. (ATI 5770 maybe?)

Depending on the current BIOS the Motherboards BIOS may need upgrading to the latest one to accept a quad BTW.

 

[Anon_F]

We bought from Novatech last year and 6months of ownership have been fine.
A few niggles with the case, but it's how it works that matters most.

With our last pc it still was not working after 6 months.
We will not shame them anymore as their not worth it!!

 

[cguil_uk]

Then the machine you have is still perfectly respectable, I'm using more or less the same specced machine myself.

Unless you are into the latest games that do benefit from latest technology and you're experiencing no quirks during usage, stay with what you have for a while.

You may benefit from a new graphics card but I doubt it.

Similarly, you might consider a new better quality larger monitor.

I would not recommend Acer at all and I'm not fond of Dell.

If I was buying a ready made machine I'd buy from Novatech or OCUK and Scan are worth considering.

Seriously, until your computer starts to show signs of weakness in some areas, stick with it.

Have a holiday or put the money into an ISA plan instead

Similarly, you might consider a new better quality larger monitor.

Any recomendations please? - preferably TV compatible (HD ready) & inbuilt webcam if possible.

 

[Abarbarian]

What size monitor do you want ? I have not read a review of a monitor with a built in webcam. Laptops have them but I have never come across a desktop modle with one though I am sure that there must be some.

 

[Taffycat]

Looking around, it looks as if quite a few of the monitors with built-in cameras, have been discontinued, or else are out of stock. However, there are a few listed HERE others here might have opinions about their quality, so I'd wait to see what their verdict(s) might be. My only experience of built-in cams has been with a laptop.

 

[cguil_uk]

What size monitor do you want ? I have not read a review of a monitor with a built in webcam. Laptops have them but I have never come across a desktop modle with one though I am sure that there must be some.

A decent size monitor for gaming & photography set., I would imagine to be in the order of 17"+ or thereabouts.

The inbuilt Web cam was an afterthought so forget about that please. I actually have an MS webcam anyway.

 

[Abarbarian]

What is your budget ?

 

[floppybootstomp]

What Is your budget?

From post # 3:

Not more than £1K

Online Gaming - Runescape etc. - I have Talk Talk modem broadband

Genealogy - Research - family history related sites

Photography - related sites - photo reviews etc.

email & general browsing

General networking - Facebook & Myspace

 

[floppybootstomp]

A decent size monitor for gaming & photography set., I would imagine to be in the order of 17"+ or thereabouts.

The inbuilt Web cam was an afterthought so forget about that please. I actually have an MS webcam anyway.

You already have a 19" monitor yet you talk of a 17" monitor

If you're going to upgrade a 22" Monitor is the best value/quality for the money.

I don't know of any monitors with inbuilt webcams, though they may exist for all I know.

About playback of HD movies - I don't know.

Interesting question.

Do computer monitors play back HD signals? Their quality is generally better than most LCD TV's but I don't know if they're capable of HD playback.

Note to myself: research.

 

[Abarbarian]

If it helps at all, I'm ordering one of these for me sister.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/178965

I did look at this which is cheaper at E-Buyer.

http://www.dabs.com/products/iiyama...28550000-52980000-4294956336-47950000#bundles

and also this but decided it was too big,

http://www.oyyy.co.uk/product.php/8...ossy-black--/d8406dad51615c11991da77545fd2cb1

an also at this as it had a fancy feature aswell as good specs,

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Disp...n+LCD+Monitor+-+Glossy+Black+?productId=39699

 

[cguil_uk]

Thanks Guys I will let you know later what I have decided :-D