Help Needed: New Desktop for Dad (recommendations please)

Flowerbomb on 02/06/2016 - 15:30
Last edited 02/06/2016 - 15:31

Hi, my dad's current desktop is this 4GB RAM Acer Aspire X5810. I just tried it, it took 20 mins to start, kept loading, the monitor kept disconnecting and it was just a frustrating experience. I would like to buy him a new windows desktop.

Requirements are:

  • Ready made desktop, no building. Monitor can be separate.
  • 8GB/16GB ram for: Sufficient for Youtube, microsoft office, transfer photographs.
  • Would like to try other brands like Lenovo or Dell, but not Acer, HP.
  • Fast start up, like Mac.
  • Optical drive would be a bonus
  • Budget less than $750

I have been looking at this. Any other suggestions or comments about how good/bad Dell or Lenovo would be great.

Thank you.

Computing

Comments

  • altomic on 02/06/2016 - 15:44
    +1

    does it run win10?

    it would probably benefit from a clean install.

    • djones145 on 02/06/2016 - 15:58
      +2

      and SSD!

    • Flowerbomb on 02/06/2016 - 15:59

      Yes the Acer Aspire runs win 10. I don't really want to touch his computer but I'll tell him. Thanks. 0

  • pinchies on 02/06/2016 - 16:26
    +1

    If you want it be fast and stay fast it really MUST have an SSD. No ifs, buts or maybes. Unfortunately, its very unlikely that you will find an SSD in a prebuilt system for less than $750.

    Your options are really either to:
    a) buy a prebuilt system and upgrade the HDD to SSD - we could give you advice on how to do that.
    b) increase your budget for a system with SSD
    c) buy a used/ex-rental/ex-office machine with a built in SSD

    E.g.
    option b) http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/131572350178
    option c) http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/151585741639

    • Flowerbomb on 02/06/2016 - 16:40

      Thanks for the advice :) Didn't know what a SSD was, so option B it is. I couldn't find SSD desktops on the dell website, only the inspiron laptops. How much will I need to increase my budget by, ballpark is fine? Thanks again.

      Edit: thanks for the links!

      • rodericb on 07/06/2016 - 08:12

        You might like to have him put whatever documents, files etcetera onto a USB drive as a backup and then do a clean install of Windows. The instructions should say how to do a 'recovery', which should give you the option of doing a clean install. Then look on the internet for a guide on removing bloatware from the computer. Slow boot up is caused by all sorts of stuff starting itself up, checking for updates and then sitting there running, consuming system resources.

        With 4Gb that computer should run pretty well for the tasks you describe, if you do a recovery/clean install.

  • scotty on 02/06/2016 - 17:44

    Go checkout Dell Outlet and there are some cheap Optiplex (Dell's Business desktop computers). For example DFO-3634260OP is "As New" OptiPlex 3040 at $699 with i5-6500T, 8GB RAM, 120GB SSD & Windows 10 Pro. No optical drive though. There are lots of "As New" and "Refurbished" units there with 1 year Dell warranty.

    • Flowerbomb on 02/06/2016 - 18:02

      Yes I saw that before :) And it has the SDD as pinchies suggest which is great! Very good suggestions. Thank you! However, it says "no wireless", what does that mean? Can't connect to wifi?

      While I have you here, what do you think of this monitor: 24" monitor for $151
      Specs are here: http://www1.la.dell.com/vc/en/corp/peripherals/dell-e2416h-m…
      Thanks again

      • pinchies on 02/06/2016 - 18:42
        +1

        With monitors, there are IPS monitors, and then is are everything else. IPS monitors have excellent colour accuracy, but are more expensive than the other types. An easy way to identify them is they always have a wide viewing angle of 178º, whereas all cheaper monitors always have a much more limited range of claimed 150/160/170º. That monitor is fine, but it is not an IPS monitor.

        Its more expensive but if your dad really wants to do any kind of photo editing, something like this is a better option:
        http://www.msy.com.au/vic/malvern/peripherals/16184--aoc-ips…

        Wifi you can fix by adding a USB wifi dongle to the back of the computer. E.g. http://www.msy.com.au/vic/malvern/network-device/13637-netge…

        • Flowerbomb on 02/06/2016 - 20:09

          that's a great idea thanks! :)

  • [Deactivated] on 02/06/2016 - 18:23
    +1

    I recently bought a used Dell optiplex 790 sff i5 2400 4gb ram 500gb hd. $180 from one of those computer places will tons of them that advertise on eBay. I put in 16gb ram $25 from msy I think it was. Installed Windows 10. Starts up real quick (Maybe 10 or or seconds) and performs great for all I have tried (internet, documents, photos, vidoes, youtube - no games). Could be worth a look if you are considering 2nd hand and want cheap but functional!

    I'd also add that for all I do, I notice no difference at all between this and my brand new high spec work computer.

    • Flowerbomb on 02/06/2016 - 20:31

      wow that's quite a good deal! I might consider this for myself, not for dad as I prefer to gift new. Thank you!

  • nahi11 on 02/06/2016 - 21:18
    +1

    Looking at the specs (Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz - 4GB ram), this is still fine (in terms of hardware) for everyday tasks and should not take more than 5 minutes to load on Windows 10.

    I think there is bloatware that accumulates over the lifetime of a pc.

    • Noblejoker on 04/06/2016 - 12:00
      +1

      This!
      Why not try buying an ssd - which you can resue anyway - and some cheap ram and put in this machine
      If that machine is so slow I susect the hdd is fading
      Reinstall Windows 10 (clean install) and I bet this feels like a new machine
      Maybe add a nice new monitor and kb and boom
      Worst case - keep this for yourself and buy Dad new

      • Flowerbomb on 06/06/2016 - 11:47
        +1

        Hi, I'm new to ssd so really appreciate your help. This is kind of a silly question, but if I buy a ssd to replace the stock hdd, does that mean I need to reinstall Windows again or get a new licence if I don't have the recovery disk?

        • Noblejoker on 06/06/2016 - 13:39

          2 choices

          1. you can clone the existing set-up onto the new HDD
          2. reinstall windows + programs on the new drive

          Most people recommend #2 as it sets up the SSD correctly
          (I can't remember the technicalities - google it)
          Also you can then just make the existing drive a 2nd drive and retain all your data
          Remember I reckon that old drive my be slowly dying - back up

  • Organised Chaos on 03/06/2016 - 09:59

    Dare I say it, warranty issues can occur if you buy from eBay, sometimes it can be a little hard to get your machine looked at by a company that only exists in the ether. Have a look at MSY.

    Student/home upgrade pack.
    The stock i5-4460 $535
    A SanDisk ultra 2, 240gb ssd is $99
    And extra $ 30 or 70 for 8/16Gb ram
    Windows 10 -$140
    Upgrade to 1 tb hard drive -$10

    All up with 8gb and ssd is $814
    No ssd -$715
    16Gb ram $755

    All prebuilt, burnt in and tested.
    And more to the point, warranty issues are local.

    Just my 2 cents

  • codename47 on 07/06/2016 - 10:32

    Hi,

    I did a cheap build for a mate recently with AMD Apu series and it was all up for about $400 (no OS). If you know how to build you can go and get the items yourself and build one. (you can message me and I can provide you the list of items you need)

    Otherwise, Centrecom has one budget core i5 CPU with no OS for 639.

    Specs:

    Product Type: Home/Office
    Product Model: Budget S I5
    Processor: Intel Core i5-4460(3.4GHz) 6MB LGA1150
    Intel H81 Express Chipset
    Integrated Intel Graphics Processor

    RAM: 8GB 1600 MHz DDR3
    SSD: 120GB Solid State Drive SATA III
    HDD: 1TB 7200 rpm High Speed SATA III Connection
    Optical Drive: DVDRW - BLACK

    Warranty 1 year

    All you need is get a Windows Disk to load OS and you are good to go.

  • epicttiimm on 07/06/2016 - 19:42

    I got an Intel NUC i3 for my mother and she is really happy with it. I had to put in 4GB RAM and a 64GB SSD, but it's plenty coz she only does email and office. Boots up to Win10 in 3 sec. Total ~$800 including an LG 25 Ultrawide.

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