Best new computer?

[Bigcat123]

Hey guys and sorry in advance if you think this is a inappropriate post (Couldn't think of anyone else to ask )!

Anyway, I am 13 and in the family we have a 8 year old dell PC which is up for changing (FINALLY!)... I was all for a Alienware though my Parents say (Because it is all branded as gaming) that I will use it for games only and no work... So, I have to come up with a family desktop that I can play Minecraft and higher end games on that isn't explicitly branded as 'Gaming'!

Anyone got any ideas? My dads idea was to get a Desktop and a laptop so both my brother and I can do work at the same time... The joint budget would be around £1200 with Microsoft Office for both (£70 x 2 unless it comes with it NOT a trial!) and a monitor for the desktop (Best part of a £120)...I think that I have to stay in the main brands like (HP, Dell, Lenovo, Acer etc etc etc) and the worst part is that they will not let me build my own!

Please Please Please can someone suggest something within ^ the constraints? I would be really grateful for some expert opinions!

Thanks so so so so much!

[RaTTuS]

2x raspbery PI
2x USB keyboard mouse SD card
2x http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B006 ... ROKL5A1OLE&
1x http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-UE22D50 ... 005FVJ5GO/

[Bigcat123]

Except the Raspberry Pi RaTTuS!

This is a family PC that needs to be a bit more powerful than the Pi

[Mortimer]

When people ask me this question and want to use a brand machine, more often than not the cheapest box available from the likes of Dell and HP is more than enough oomph for their needs, i.e. Internet browsing, email etc. As soon as you need more grunt than the base model, then you are clearly needing it for gaming, video/photo processing editing on a reasonable scale or a scientist/engineer. Which probably puts you back into the same predicament as the Alienware choice, doesn't it?

Of the games you want to play, which of them has the highest requirements for the machine to run it on?

[Bigcat123]

I don't really have a specific game in mind... All I want is that say 6 months down the line I don't kick myself because the computer we bought can't handle this program or whatever! Spec wise I was thinking: Intel I5 as a minimum... A decent graphics card (Again not expensive but can run through games like Just Cause 2 on say recommended)... 1TB hard drive as a minimum.... 6 or 8gb of RAM.... And HDMI connection

Is that too much to ask within the price range we are looking at?

Thanks

[Bigcat123]

Windows 8 would be nice too!

[Bigcat123]

And keyboard and mouse... They need to be taken into account!

[jamesh]

I bought an small Acer Aspire AX1301 desktop from Ebuyer a few years ago and am still using it. Was about £250 I think, ex monitor (£120 max). Does everything I need, but I don't 'hardcore' game. Might not have the fastest CPU or graphics card in the world, but works fine. I'd be cautious about getting anything too state of the art - something behind the leading edge should be more than adequate. Check out Ebuyer and Dabs to see what offers they have on.

[JustThisGuy]

My advice has always been to

1) write down a list of what the computer will be used for
2) find the software that will do those jobs (including gaming)
3) then start looking at the hardware

From reading the top post, while gaming is clearly important you haven't given enough thought to the other things this box will be used for. Or at least you haven't mentioned the list here.

And please for your own sake do not buy an HP as they certainly aren't the company they started out as and seem to be sliding downward as we exchange messages.

[toxibunny]

My suggestion would be to spend 350-400 on the laptop and the rest on the desktop. Make sure the desktop has a good motherboard so you've got an upgrade route for when it becomes too old to run the latest games (this will happen exactly a week after you buy it). Play hundreds of awesome games on it including your artsy indie stuff and the top ten lists of the last 5 years. Consider anything older than that to be 'retro' and enjoy those too. Save up some money for a newer graphics card about a year to eighteen months down the line, or ask for one for a christmas/birthday present.

[elatllat]

...Make sure...you've got an upgrade route...

forget that, just get the cheapest thing you can that will do the job you need it to.
pata lasted 9 years, usb2 8 years, etc
By the time you want to upgrade in 5y there will be nothing worth saving from your old system.

[emcsquirreled]

forget that, just get the cheapest thing you can that will do the job you need it to.
pata lasted 9 years, usb2 8 years, etc
By the time you want to upgrade in 5y there will be nothing worth saving from your old system.

...and I reply from a 10-year-old system still running fine as my main desktop...

[RaTTuS]

Windows 8 would be nice too!

no don't - seriously
Win7 will be fine
you can get the 3 pack home edition for good prices

[toxibunny]

...Make sure...you've got an upgrade route...

forget that, just get the cheapest thing you can that will do the job you need it to.
pata lasted 9 years, usb2 8 years, etc
By the time you want to upgrade in 5y there will be nothing worth saving from your old system.

My point was that he wants to play games on it but his parents won't buy him a gaming machine. This way he can get a PC, play some newish games on it, and then 'sneakily' upgrade the graphics card later on.

I definitely wouldn't recommend getting the cheapest thing possible - you're likely to end up being stuck with a lemon and no possibility for change for (as you say) 5 years. Get a decent motherboard and if you do find you need more ram or a faster processor or a new graphics card, it's likely to be far more accommodating...

Just my 2p.

[morphy_richards]

I used to go to pc fairs in the "olden days". Pay two quid or something to get in then would buy motherboard, case, CPU(s) etc etc etc . And build my own system from scratch. It was good because it meant you could mix and match to fix requirements with budget.
Do those things still happen and if so are they still worth it?

[pygmy_giant]

Dunno - the people I see doing it build high performance PC's with spoiles on the back and smoked out windows.

I hear there's a company calling themselves Commodore that still make sexy looking machines: http://www.commodoreusa.net/CUSA_Home.aspx

[morphy_richards]

. the worst part is that they will not let me build my own!

. Get a decent motherboard and if you do find you need more ram or a faster processor or a new graphics card, it's likely to be far more accommodating...

Do you know what, the more I think about it the more I think you should (constructively, positively and respectfully) argue with them to allow you to build your own computer. Assuming your parents are basically rational there are so many good reasons for you developmentally in terms of skill and self confidence to make one. Add on to that the fact that components if bought from reputable vendors will be under warranty, rather than the whole computer as a single entity, each seperate component will be which in many ways is better, and you would have the extra benefit of not being held to ransom by a jobsworth if something goes wrong, you'll have the skill to sort it yourself.
and if at some point you are going to have to upgrade it anyway you might as well start as you mean to go on.
If you look at suppliers carefully you might be able to beat a big name company for price against performance in specific areas.
What possible counter arguments could there be?

Why don't you do a bit of research into what's needed for your games, source some components, bring the list here and let us all help you to add ammo to your reasons why you should be given the job of building the family computer yourself.

[SN]

'Gaming' ...

I'm going to suggest DON'T do that - just stick to an XBOX or PS3 - otherwise you're chasing your tail trying to keep up on the hw front - especially graphics card

Once you cut Gaming out any old PC built in the last 5 years will pretty do what you want - and so I would suggest a couple of laptops instead - from the usual suspects at PC World (Dell, HP, Compaq, Acer, Samsung etc)

[MadHorseman]

'Gaming' ...

I'm going to suggest DON'T do that - just stick to an XBOX or PS3 - otherwise you're chasing your tail trying to keep up on the hw front - especially graphics card

Once you cut Gaming out any old PC built in the last 5 years will pretty do what you want - and so I would suggest a couple of laptops instead - from the usual suspects at PC World (Dell, HP, Compaq, Acer, Samsung etc)

Only problem with that approach is who pays for the second TV??

I'd also go for the self build, but due to what appears to be a minefield of different processors, mobos & memory, a triple bundle fom someone like Aria (no connection) might be a good idea???

[hayesey]

It's a real shame they wont let you build your own PC since it's a bit like Lego Duplo in terms of how hard it is to plug stuff together, most people seem to think that a PC is some kind of impossibly complicated thing inside the case (the same attitude exists for cars too). I guess this attitude these days is why the Raspberry Pi exists though!

Anyway, would they be open to getting a custom system assembled by the likes of Aria or CCL (I'm assuming you're in the UK)? That way you can get a system more like you want and can choose specific things like motherboard etc... It comes with just the same 12 months warranty any new PC comes with.

Perhaps you could try explaining to them that "gaming" simply means high-spec in the desktop PC world and high-spec could also be considered to mean lasts-longer (before it is too underpowered to cope with software)?