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.
What is the current value of my desktop computer?
Q. I purchased all the parts to this computer in June 2011 (getting close to 2 years ago) except for an additional 2TB hardrive June of 2012 and the Logitech Illuminated keyboard a few months ago. Everything is still in great condition; I just have no need for it anymore and would like to sell it. I am wondering what an estimation of the current value of it would be so that I know what to sell it for? All the components brand new were originally $1060, and now all the same components would cost $999 brand new. Here are the specs/components and their current price ($999 total):
$20--1 x ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
$67--1 x Logitech 920-000914 Black USB Wired Ultra-thin Illuminated Keyboard
$85--1 x Western Digital WD Black WD5002AALX 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
$135--1 x Asus VE228H 21.5" Full HD HDMI LED BackLight LCD Monitor w/Speakers
$11--1 x IMC FX-087 All-in-one USB 2.0 Card Reader
$105--1 x AMD Phenom II X4 840 3.2GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor HDX840WFGMBOX
$50--Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm Fan, 1x Rear 120mm Fan, option Fans-2x Side 120mm Fan
$61--G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL
$115--1 x ASUS M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3 AM3 AMD 880G SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard
$135--GIGABYTE GV-N550OC-1GI GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
$110--1 x CORSAIR TX Series CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Compatible
$105--1 x Seagate Barracuda Green ST2000DL003 2TB 5900 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Thank you!
$20--1 x ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
$67--1 x Logitech 920-000914 Black USB Wired Ultra-thin Illuminated Keyboard
$85--1 x Western Digital WD Black WD5002AALX 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
$135--1 x Asus VE228H 21.5" Full HD HDMI LED BackLight LCD Monitor w/Speakers
$11--1 x IMC FX-087 All-in-one USB 2.0 Card Reader
$105--1 x AMD Phenom II X4 840 3.2GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor HDX840WFGMBOX
$50--Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm Fan, 1x Rear 120mm Fan, option Fans-2x Side 120mm Fan
$61--G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL
$115--1 x ASUS M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3 AM3 AMD 880G SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard
$135--GIGABYTE GV-N550OC-1GI GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
$110--1 x CORSAIR TX Series CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Compatible
$105--1 x Seagate Barracuda Green ST2000DL003 2TB 5900 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Thank you!
A. $300 as a starting point
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