Dell Desktop Deal - Vostro 270 $599 Delivered. Advice, suggestions on how it stacks up? :-)

• 

  zelda707 on 20/06/2013 - 12:45

  if your dad is only doing basic browsing and rhis would definitely be enough

  I bought this recently and its fast enough for basic uses

• 

  _Bruce_ on 20/06/2013 - 12:53

  It is definately enough, but for that type of use you will really notice the difference an SSD makes, more so that the CPU in this. You can always add an SSD later though.

• 

  Riczter on 20/06/2013 - 14:29

  +1 for SSDs

• 

  mrmarkau67 on 20/06/2013 - 16:09

  Windows 8 works a lot better than Windows 7, and will probably be even better over time. If he misses the Start menu (like I do) there are add-on options available. Also, get an SSD to boot from. For the kind of usage you describe, you could scrimp on the processor to afford the SSD.

  You can usually get better value from a local white box suppplier than Dell. But Dell's in-home 3 year warranty is hard to beat - so if you decide on Dell, take advantage of it.

• 

  srhardy on 21/06/2013 - 07:56

  throw in a GTX 660ti or ATI 7850 and you can happily game on this and while an ssd is great for boot times, it makes little difference for in game play

  • 

    _Bruce_ on 21/06/2013 - 16:58

    Just as well there was no mention of playing games on ti then?

    Also I find long load times in games very frustrating.

  • 

    scrimshaw on 23/06/2013 - 16:47

    . Does general internet use, burning, downloading but nothing out of the ordinary.

• 

  ethereal88 on 23/06/2013 - 11:56

  Single channel RAM is rubbish for that price, I'd build a better G1610 system for quite a bit less with no bloatware. Plus, some Dell's are a nightmare to upgrade with non standard parts. Or, you can add $70-ish for a build fee at MSY:

  • G1610

  • 8GB RAM kit

  • Any B75 board

  • 128GB SSD

  • 500GB/1TB dump drive for files

  • CX or Neo Eco for the PSU

  • Pick a case with USB 3 internal on the front panel

  • Win 8 for a $100, faster all round then 7.

  Done.

  • 

    _Bruce_ on 23/06/2013 - 12:05

    Single channel RAM is rubbish for that price

    Makes next to no difference.

    I'd build a better G1610 system

    Better than an i5? What are you on about?

    • 

      ethereal88 on 23/06/2013 - 15:53

      Think - better case, better PSU, and an SSD. The OP doesn't need a quad in the first place and a self built system would be better balanced and cheaper.

    • 

      scrimshaw on 23/06/2013 - 16:49

      It is a desktop for general use. The longevity of the desktop is not going to be a issue. He probably won't make any major upgrades to it in the next 4-5 years anyway.

      If he were a gamer, then sure, mobo, GPU, CPU and PSU upgrades would need to be performed on a 2-3 year cycle and in this circumstance I would say it's better to get a whitebox computer.

      However most mum-and-dad type of users will use a desktop as it is until it becomes fully obsolete, without making any major upgrades. They will just buy another desktop when it reaches end of life.