Going to buy new computer (UK)

[El Bourricot]

Ok basically my family has decided to finally invest in a new computer, we need it, and it should last for at least a few years. We are thinking about a desktop with flat screen, however don't know where to look. Maybe a laptop seeing as we have wireless. Atm we're tempted by Dell, but seeing as no member of the family is an IT expert, I humbly ask you guys for advice seeing as you do that for work.

Upper price margin is 2000 pounds (GB).

Thanks in advance!

[Max Veteran]

?2000 will get you a very decent system.

If you want to purchase a pre-built PC, go with Dell.

If you want my opinion, build one yourself. It will be cheaper and maybe even faster.

Off the top of my head, for ?2000 you should be able to get yourself a P4 3.2Ghz, 1GB RAM, Radeon 9800 Pro graphics, 17" TFT monitor.

[El Bourricot]

Well considering my actual skills in electronics I recon I better not build it myself. So are there any good pre-built systems apart from Dell? I've been told to try www.vantage-direct.co.uk, don't know if it's very good though.

[TheLegendOfMart]

www.evesham.com

Just bought my laptop from them, they are still building it, but they have nice prices

[XanDaMan]

Mesh! - http://www.meshcomputers.com/updated/index.htm

VERY good computers at nice prices. Since your limit is so high, youll be bale to buy anything. They even tell you what components are used (And they aint el cheapo components either)

[Max Veteran]

HP are quite good, but I think Dell is the cheapest by far.

Take a look at this system:

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products...c=uk&l=en&s=dhs

Customise it to your needs.

P.S: Your link does not work.

I would reccommend a desktop over a laptop...

[dougkinzinger]

Dell. Dell UK rocks.

[Groovedude]

personally i dont think laptop would have a long lasting time. *thinking future upgrade etc*

take a look here:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/OcUK_Systems.html

"Ultima" Pentium IV 'Northwood' 3.4C GHz (800FSB) HyperThreading System (FS-005-OC)

- Intel Pentium IV 'Northwood' 3.4C GHz (800FSB) HyperThreading CPU - Retail

- Abit IC7-Max 3 "Canterwood" (Socket 478) Dual DDR400 Motherboard

- GeIL 1GB (2x512MB) DDR Golden Dragon PC3500 CAS2.0 Dual Channel Kit

- 200GB Maxtor 8mb cache SATA 150 Hard Drive

- ATI Radeon 9800XT 256mb AGP 8x Graphics card

- Pioneer DVR-107 8x DVD?RW drive

- Creative Audigy 2 ZS 7.1 THX - Retail

- Silver Floppy Drive

- Coolermaster Silver WaveMaster Case

- Antec TrueBlue 480W ATX Power Supply

- Metal Braided Rounded Floppy Cable (0.5m)

- Metal Braided Rounded Ultra ATA100/66 IDE Cable (0.45m)

- Metal Braided SATA Cable

Price:> (?1,498.13 Including VAT at 17.5%)

or have you considerd building yourself. ?

im sure you can pick up a monitor for ?5:) :)

[TheLegendOfMart]

I wasnt telling him to buy a laptop, i was saying that ive bought mine from evesham, they do desktop gaming pcs as well, they dont seem to be uber expensive either.

[Groovedude]

I wasnt telling him to buy a laptop, i was saying that ive bought mine from evesham, they do desktop gaming pcs as well, they dont seem to be uber expensive either.

i wasn't refering to you my friend lol..

i was refering to cofrog 1st post. :happy:

[El Bourricot]

Ok also take into account I'm moving to Uni in 2006 (taking a gap year in between) and I'll probably take this computer with me then, which is why I asked about laptops.

[furby]

Dell. Dell UK rocks.

Possibly biased comment :laugh:

[HoochieMamma]

Well considering my actual skills in electronics I recon I better not build it myself. So are there any good pre-built systems apart from Dell? I've been told to try www.vantage-direct.co.uk, don't know if it's very good though.

Learn to build the PC yourself you will save ALOT of money and it will be better than any Dell PC for the same price

[+Batfink Subscriber²]

Sell you soul to http://www.alienware.co.uk/ :alien:

Fast & Expensive

[El Bourricot]

I remember hearing about Alienware's computers: "expensive eye-candy monsters which break apart in 2 months".

[imtoomuch]

I have a Dell 8250 desktop computer and I love it. My experience with Dell desktops and laptops has been great. They're reliable computers and they have a wide variety of models to suit any budget. I'm guessing for 2000 pounds you could get the Dell 8300, which is a model that's newer than mine. You maybe could even go for the XPS which is Dell's performance computer.

[xXTOKERXx]

Note:

With dell major upgrades or tweaking is VERY difficult

[~Bull}{Dog~]

I'm not sure who told you that about Alienware but thats the first time I have heard anyone (other than myself) say a bad word about em.

If you really need to buy a pre-built machine then go for a big name with a decent support package. You will be paying a lot more than you would if you were building yourself so you may as well get as much warrenty time as possible out of em.

2 grand will buy you a very nice machine from somewhere like Dell or HP/Compaq. If you go for a business model you can lose things like crappy bundled printers and usually get a nicer looking machine.

Note:

With dell major upgrades or tweaking is VERY difficult

Depends what you mean by tweaking, and even the Dell small desktops (depending on what you get of course) have an AGP slot. and a couple of PCI slots for extra hardware.

I do know what you are getting at, but thats a problem with practically any OEM...

[Edit]

This one looks alright, even had me interested for a while :)

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products...c=uk&l=en&s=dhs

Edited May 4, 2004 by ~Bull}{Dog~

[xXTOKERXx]

sd ddr, been told its not that great, im even using it, but ive been told many times to upgrade to standard DDR

[Max Veteran]

sd ddr, been told its not that great, im even using it, but ive been told many times to upgrade to standard DDR

SD DDR and DDR are the same things. Anything with DDR in is the same. They only come in different speeds (PC2100, PC2700, PC3200)

[Snarl]

I have a Dell Dimension XPS, Spec in my Sig, and I love it, fast and stable :)

[cjb1118]

I have a Dell 4600C, works great for me ;) ...