Q. We need a new desktop. I want something up to date and reliable which is good for checking email, paying bills, downloading videos and is inexpensive. We don't need it for video games or anything really fast like that. Where is the best place to buy a cheap computer?
A. First question is how cheap?
There are used PCs as both laptops and desktops on Craigslist and Goodwill stores for under $100.
They are not up to date and not necessarily reliable, but they function, and that is cheap.
The second is about your monitor-display, or are you using a TV that hopefully is higher resolution than x768. 720p TVs cause display issues in WIndows 8. Most computers today do not include the monitor, but do include a keyboard and mouse, and may or may not include USB speakers.
Third question is whether you go ethernet connected by cable, or do you need wireless. Some computers include wireless. Others need an added PCI card or USB stick.
Fourth question is form factor. There are towers called desktops in various sizes and go down to slimline and bookshelf and mini's. Often, you get better performance out of a low priced laptop, especially if including a display, and the laptops usually have HDMI outputs and can accept inexpensive mice, keyboards, improved speakers, and have portability.
With form factor goes the ease of upgrade or repair. In general, the larger and less integrated the system, the easier it is to repair or upgrade it.
Although you do not need high performance, we usually want the best value for the money, and a bit faster response times can't hurt. More ram is better. Larger HDD is better. CPU scores can be looked up:
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php
A second tab has graphics scores that are less important to you.
Places to buy are many in the US.
There are weekly sales of a couple of models and clearances.
Walmart, Staples, Best Buy, Newegg.com, Tigerdirect.com, Amazon.com gets you a variety and you can google a model once you find one to see if it is offered for less somewhere else.
You read a couple of surveys on quality:
2012 survey:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2020964/apple-and-lenovo-desktop-pcs-tops-in-satisfaction.html
2011 Survey:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/244481/desktop_pc_reliability_and_satisfaction_dell_and_hp_home_pcs_get_poor_grades.html
and use it as a factor, but Apple is expensive for what you get.
My sister wanted what you describe. She has a few older PCs and monitors, but wanted one where the internet worked faster and boot up faster and application responsiveness up to $500 and she ended up with a Lenovo H430 at Staples with Windows 8, a Core i5-3330 and 8GB RAM and a 1TB HDD and that met her requirements well in a tower pc.
Now, you start with a couple that meet your needs and see if you can do better:
A basic slimline Acer-Gateway for $340
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883113245
Model SX2370-UR13
A6-Series APU A6-3620(2.2GHz)
1x4GB DDR3 500GB 7200 RPM SATA III HDD
AMD Radeon HD 6530D
Gigabit ethernet, Bluetooth and WiFi
memory card reader
2USB 3.0 in back. 4USB 2.0
VGA and HDMI outputs
CPU score 2924, and graphics G3D 548
It would be nice to buy and install a second 4GB RAM card. That is easy.
$30 to $35 in a do-it-yourself
http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/memory/#t=11&v=1500&z=4096&c=90&n=1&sort=a8
Just match what it has already in speed.
It is an early 2012 CPU below an Intel i3 but still fast enough with graphics power you don't really need but is above Intel integrated HD 4000 but not gaming level. It is the new Windows 8 to get used to, but is a faster boot and shutdown. Does what you want and the price is considered cheap and size is small, but upgrading is minimal.
In Intel, whether Newegg or Walmart at about the same price, size and brand, gets an Intel G640 Pentium with 4GB RAM and 1TB HDD. The CPU and graphics are a little lower in performance but the HDD is bigger:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Gateway-SX2865-UR308-Small-Form-Factor-Desktop-PC-with-Intel-Pentium-G640-Processor-4GB-Memory-1TB-Hard-Drive-and-Windows-8-Monitor-Not-Included/22018103
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883113244
The choices are endless, so you have to narrow down your preferences and price point. Then you can just browse the online circulars and sites.
There are used PCs as both laptops and desktops on Craigslist and Goodwill stores for under $100.
They are not up to date and not necessarily reliable, but they function, and that is cheap.
The second is about your monitor-display, or are you using a TV that hopefully is higher resolution than x768. 720p TVs cause display issues in WIndows 8. Most computers today do not include the monitor, but do include a keyboard and mouse, and may or may not include USB speakers.
Third question is whether you go ethernet connected by cable, or do you need wireless. Some computers include wireless. Others need an added PCI card or USB stick.
Fourth question is form factor. There are towers called desktops in various sizes and go down to slimline and bookshelf and mini's. Often, you get better performance out of a low priced laptop, especially if including a display, and the laptops usually have HDMI outputs and can accept inexpensive mice, keyboards, improved speakers, and have portability.
With form factor goes the ease of upgrade or repair. In general, the larger and less integrated the system, the easier it is to repair or upgrade it.
Although you do not need high performance, we usually want the best value for the money, and a bit faster response times can't hurt. More ram is better. Larger HDD is better. CPU scores can be looked up:
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php
A second tab has graphics scores that are less important to you.
Places to buy are many in the US.
There are weekly sales of a couple of models and clearances.
Walmart, Staples, Best Buy, Newegg.com, Tigerdirect.com, Amazon.com gets you a variety and you can google a model once you find one to see if it is offered for less somewhere else.
You read a couple of surveys on quality:
2012 survey:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2020964/apple-and-lenovo-desktop-pcs-tops-in-satisfaction.html
2011 Survey:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/244481/desktop_pc_reliability_and_satisfaction_dell_and_hp_home_pcs_get_poor_grades.html
and use it as a factor, but Apple is expensive for what you get.
My sister wanted what you describe. She has a few older PCs and monitors, but wanted one where the internet worked faster and boot up faster and application responsiveness up to $500 and she ended up with a Lenovo H430 at Staples with Windows 8, a Core i5-3330 and 8GB RAM and a 1TB HDD and that met her requirements well in a tower pc.
Now, you start with a couple that meet your needs and see if you can do better:
A basic slimline Acer-Gateway for $340
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883113245
Model SX2370-UR13
A6-Series APU A6-3620(2.2GHz)
1x4GB DDR3 500GB 7200 RPM SATA III HDD
AMD Radeon HD 6530D
Gigabit ethernet, Bluetooth and WiFi
memory card reader
2USB 3.0 in back. 4USB 2.0
VGA and HDMI outputs
CPU score 2924, and graphics G3D 548
It would be nice to buy and install a second 4GB RAM card. That is easy.
$30 to $35 in a do-it-yourself
http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/memory/#t=11&v=1500&z=4096&c=90&n=1&sort=a8
Just match what it has already in speed.
It is an early 2012 CPU below an Intel i3 but still fast enough with graphics power you don't really need but is above Intel integrated HD 4000 but not gaming level. It is the new Windows 8 to get used to, but is a faster boot and shutdown. Does what you want and the price is considered cheap and size is small, but upgrading is minimal.
In Intel, whether Newegg or Walmart at about the same price, size and brand, gets an Intel G640 Pentium with 4GB RAM and 1TB HDD. The CPU and graphics are a little lower in performance but the HDD is bigger:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Gateway-SX2865-UR308-Small-Form-Factor-Desktop-PC-with-Intel-Pentium-G640-Processor-4GB-Memory-1TB-Hard-Drive-and-Windows-8-Monitor-Not-Included/22018103
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883113244
The choices are endless, so you have to narrow down your preferences and price point. Then you can just browse the online circulars and sites.
I am getting bad eye strain on the computer?
Q. I am taking a computer class and it requires me to be on the computer, I am able to take 15 minute breaks, but my eyes still kill me. I feel like I can see all text clear and everything. I also get this on video games, if I play more than 1 hour.
A. Good advice you have been given here.
Also check this good link:
It's a useful application you can install in your computer, free and i recommend it.
http://brainsuperiority.com/2011/09/eye-strain-computer/
Also check this good link:
It's a useful application you can install in your computer, free and i recommend it.
http://brainsuperiority.com/2011/09/eye-strain-computer/
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