Looking for a Cheap Desktop for Low-End Tasks

Lklaw81 on 25/11/2015 - 10:28

Please help me out with getting a friend a new computer for basic tasks - browsing, word processing and similar office tasks. It will also need to be able to connect to an external hard drive and USB printer (already owned). Budget is around $700.

She's adamant that she wants a 20"+ screen and full keyboard - so no laptops, and no tablets.
Desk space is minimal, so neat install & cabling is very desirable.

My two options so far:

  1. Buy a refurbished all-in-one desktop from eBay, Graysonline etc, give it a clean Windows 10 install.

This is the simpler option - it should be virtually plug and play. Depending on purchase price, budget might permit me to swap in an small SSD. But it's hard to find one with an i3, which I consider to be a minimum for the workload. I'm wary of Celeron and A4-equipped machines since I'm not familiar with their performance.

  1. Build an i3 NUC (or similar SFF) and mount it on the back of a monitor/TV screen, with wireless keyboard/mouse combo.

This gives me total control over components, reasonable processing power for the money, SSD is within budget for good performance.
Downsides: need to buy Windows license from Reddit to fit within budget, 2 power cables, 2 power switches, a mess of cabling behind.

Any comments, suggestions? Any good bargains you've found?

Any help would be appreciated. I have about 2 weeks to find something suitable.

Computing

Comments

  • ode1online on 25/11/2015 - 11:55

    Plenty of good deals IMO on ebay for ex lease stuff

    I bought an ex lease i3 from ebay and happy with it
    Came with Win 7 key, 4GB ram and 250Gb HDD
    It was a fresh install, I updated to win 10 and gave it to my parents
    Perfectly fine PC!

    I had monitors(S) and cables etc anyway and bought a new MS desktop keyboard and mouse
    Their version of office still installed on win 10.

    So for me the second hand small factor pc was a perfect alternative to there XP core Duo (ARGH)

  • CLoSeR on 25/11/2015 - 12:30

    MSY www.msy.com.au

    • klaw81 on 25/11/2015 - 12:33

      I am aware that MSY exists. Did you want to bring a particular product to my attention?

      • CLoSeR on 25/11/2015 - 12:34

        They have some of the cheapest builds available; sure you can find a decent priced budget system if you prefer new.

        • klaw81 on 25/11/2015 - 12:42

          I have already looked at their builds - the only system that comes close is their Brix i3 package, which comes with a dodgy monitor I don't want, and it's already over budget at $730.

          I am happy to do the build myself, but I'm looking for suggestions on alternatives. Or shops that offer something suitable for less than $700.

        • watwatwat on 25/11/2015 - 13:45

          @klaw81:

          Well… buy a different monitor.

          And you said "around $700"; not "hard $700 budget".

    • klaw81 on 25/11/2015 - 12:35

      I saw that one, and it's exactly what I'd like. But it's too expensive for my stated budget of $700.

      If nothing else comes up, I'll be recommended that she just buy that one…if it's still there.

        • klaw81 on 25/11/2015 - 12:48

          Saw that one - it looks good, and it's definitely an attractive option at that price. Although the processor is a few generations old, it's not that far behind current models in anything except energy use.

          I would probably upgrade to 8Gb RAM and 120Gb SSD to give it a bit more zing.

          Here's another one I'm looking at:
          http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Dell-OptiPlex-9020-AIO-All-in-One…

    • klaw81 on 25/11/2015 - 14:05

      Good pickup - those look good. But the sale condition "available by pick-up only. No courier or postage available" rules it out for me, since Melbourne is a very long way from here.

  • pclyne on 26/11/2015 - 07:31

    Consider looking on your local Freecycle site. You're bound to find something close to.the specs you want (probably without the monitor though)

    If you were in maitland then you could have one of my spares…

  • WT on 26/11/2015 - 15:57

    I5 nuc www.shoppingexpress.com.au/buy/intel-nuc-nuc5i5ryh-i5-5250u-…

    I would just rip the win 7 key of tpb. But thats just me.

  • klaw81 on 27/11/2015 - 09:19

    Thanks for all your suggestions folks. I found an all-in-one yesterday via Gumtree at a good price, so problem solved.

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