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Depends how much knowledge you have with computer building on where to actually buy your computer, if you dont have much and you need a pre-built, then you have no choice really than to go either the big mianstream places (pc world, dell, staples, currys etc etc) or to a local independant computer shop (risky if you don't know much about the shop)

one thing i will say and i don't care if i get bashed for it, don't bother with ANY refurbed parts EVER, and dont bother with an i3 or even the lower end i5's, you had your last computer for seven years so this is an investment, go for a top end i5 at the minimum for a little bit of future proofing as they are at least quad core cpu's.

i would perosnally recommend you build it yourself as its cheaper and you can make sure it is done right with exactly what you want, but i am no moron, i understand it takes time to learn and people already have busy enough lives!

Quad core does not always benefit the end-user much, as it depends what they are doing. Very few programs are coded to take advantage of quad-core setups, which is why all-to-often, you see dual-core CPU's managing to keep up with similar spec quad-core CPU's in tests. A more efficient dual-core CPU, can easily outrun a quad-core CPU, in all but heavily quad-core optimized scenarios.

Unless you're using an application(s) that seriously requires quad-core computing, then the only real difference to most users, is increased cost and energy consumption.

I'm a power-user, yet until my last laptop eventually became too fragile to transport around (it was a 12" with 2TB hard drive space, and had lived a very hard, portable life lol), I was (and still would be) quite content with its T5550 1.83Ghz C2D. I only jumped across to Sandy Bridge because of circumstances beyond my control.

Nowadays, even i3's are that powerful, that unless you're running some high-end CAD or graphics software etc, or spending half your time at the PC rendering video, then any benefit provided by a higher-spec PC, will be outweighed by the difference in cost.

With regards building them, sometimes it works out better, sometimes it doesn't - some of Intel's top CPU's are prohibitively expensive for the end-user - sometimes, the CPU alone, can cost 2/3 the cost of buying an ready-built PC with the same CPU thanks to the economies of scale.

Hell, I have a Pentium III 1.4Ghz Tualatin in my office with 512MB PC133, which is running XP SP3 and handles everything I throw at it, even CS4, and very smoothly. The big limitation is the Intel i815 chipset cannot address more than 512MB RAM, but if it could (I actually only realised last week that I have another Tualatin compatible mobo on the Via Apollo Pro 133A chipset which could support upto 1.5GB), it would fly, that's for sure. That's a single core Pentium III 1.4Ghz with 512KB L2. You would hardly tell it is a CPU launched 11 years ago...

Just depends how you look after it, and what you're using it for. The thing even handles 720p HD video without maxxing the CPU. Never tried video encoding on it, though I suspect it will be abysmal given its lack of SSE2 etc... Will try it someday!!

We have been buying budget zoostorm machines from ebuyer in work, really good specs and value for money

Yeah, Zoostorm are pretty darn good value; they are aiming at the Acer market. Formerly built in Liverpool by CMS Computers (who got bought out in November), but are still built in Warrington. One of my best mates has worked for them for quite a few years now, he and his dad actually frequent these boards.

One of the companies I do work for, have pretty much exclusively been using Zoostorm systems for 18 months now, must have rolled-out about 70 or so upto now, gradually replacing the entire client inventory with them, and only had one failure in the past 12 months (PSU). Not perfect, but for the price, they are cracking little systems, decent build quality too. They source them from eBuyer too, actually cheaper than buying them from CMS themselves at trade price (again, economies of scale). They also supply the likes of Argos etc...

Supporting local business there AX lol.

if you go to pc world to buy one just dont expect any good advice, there advert makes out they are trained like jedi's when in fact they know f all about anything.
if you know what your after, sorted , if you want some advice dont even bother

Yeah, I have a few contacts there, can get computers with similar performance to £1500 dell machines for like £400. They are amazing, have ever only had one fail, then I just rang them direct and they picked it up and fixed it. don't feed the corporate machines like curries and pc world, will only ever buy zoostorm

Whats your budget mate?

for cheap and reliable and for what you want this is what i would buy AND dead easy t chuck together!

simples

http://www.ebuyer.com/283385-amd-ll...essor-asus-f1a55-m-le-3500-f1a55-mle-4gb

chuck that in a 20 quid case and a hard drive to suit your needs. PC for Sub 200 quid.

Budgets about £400.

Cheers for all the input guys lots to think about!

I've bought my last 2 laptops from PC and got a great deal both times. 6 months ago I bought Samsung laptop, 4gb stick, wireless printer and wireless mouse - £350. Bargain!

Sometimes I like to play with my toys the same day

You mean this Button!


Well it would help if you did

Norton when off the biol for a short time` but its all relative`I mean`the people doing the complaining either could`tn configure it or they were running it on older slower Pc`s
Regards Dell I cant fault them I always buy there monitors as there 3year premium warrantee is second to none.As for there computers ... If you look inside you'll find they are well thought out`well ventilated` built with quality hardware ` and built to outlast many other brands which makes them alright for the Man on the street but for me`I like to build my own and put my money where it matters
AVG ..agreed it sucks big time

Agree with your post Van, I could have elaborated and pointed out in detail why their machines and their customer service sucks, but the guy was being a melon and I didn't want to waste too much time on him.

And yeah, most of us that reply to posts in this section of the forum build our own machines. It's hard to recommend that to people that have never done it before though. It's a daunting task for someone that's used to just buying a tower and plugging it in.

The problem with Dell is it's always propogated by people that don't know anything better, the same way AVG spread all over the place. Just the way of the world I guess.