Build for parents

[Prokart2000]

Hi guys 

 

So my parents want a pc to do general surfing of the web and office work like word/Excell based applications. They are not heavy users but the PC needs to be small so I would say mini itx.

 

Budget is £280 with Windows (not sure if you can get Windows cheaper anywhere)

 

Could you come up with a build to suit the criteria and price?

 

Thanks

Pro

[karsnoordhuis]

you could also get an older hp/dell office pc.

not expensive, small form factor and cheap

if you want new you could also have a look at a nuc, even smaller. you can get windows for 30 euro orso

[Prokart2000]

Just now, karsnoordhuis said:

you could also get an older hp/dell office pc.

not expensive, small form factor and cheap

if you want new you could also have a look at a nuc, even smaller. you can get windows for 30 euro orso

I will have a look on eBay, a nuc is a great idea but how are they on performance? I know it's only office but it needs to be able to do it for at least 5yrs

 

[Trustadz]

Do you already have peripherals for the computer? Screen, mouse, keyboard, etc. Might be better to spend the money on a laptop or so? Maybe chromebook?

 

Goodluck with that budget and 5 years tho. It'll be slow as a snail to start with.

[Prokart2000]

3 minutes ago, Trustadz said:

Do you already have peripherals for the computer? Screen, mouse, keyboard, etc. Might be better to spend the money on a laptop or so? Maybe chromebook?

 

Goodluck with that budget and 5 years tho. It'll be slow as a snail to start with.

Peripherals are not required, it's only 5 yrs doing web browsing/office

[Prokart2000]

14 minutes ago, Trustadz said:

Do you already have peripherals for the computer? Screen, mouse, keyboard, etc. Might be better to spend the money on a laptop or so? Maybe chromebook?

 

Goodluck with that budget and 5 years tho. It'll be slow as a snail to start with.

 

16 minutes ago, karsnoordhuis said:

you could also get an older hp/dell office pc.

not expensive, small form factor and cheap

if you want new you could also have a look at a nuc, even smaller. you can get windows for 30 euro orso

I have saw some Dell optiplex on eBay that are refurbished that seem like a good deal, would this be something good?

[Jurrunio]

Just now, Prokart2000 said:

 

I have saw some Dell optiplex on eBay that are refurbished that seem like a good deal, would this be something good?

I have seen youtube videos where people do office work on Pentium 4 systems just fine. I'd say these old pre builts should be good enough

[brob]

2 minutes ago, Prokart2000 said:

Peripherals are not required, it's only 5 yrs doing web browsing/office

A legal copy of Windows 10 is more than a third of the budget. The budget is not realistic for a DIY PC.

 

Something like http://www.dell.com/uk/p/inspiron-15-3552-laptop/pd?oc=cn55232&model_id=inspiron-15-3552-laptop barely fits the budget.

[Prokart2000]

4 minutes ago, brob said:

A legal copy of Windows 10 is more than a third of the budget. The budget is not realistic for a DIY PC.

 

Something like http://www.dell.com/uk/p/inspiron-15-3552-laptop/pd?oc=cn55232&model_id=inspiron-15-3552-laptop barely fits the budget.

 

4 minutes ago, Jurrunio said:

I have seen youtube videos where people do office work on Pentium 4 systems just fine. I'd say these old pre builts should be good enough

I have found this on the Dell outlet, it seems very good for the price http://m.dell.com/h5/m/uk/SecondaryInventorySearch?p=%2FOnline%2FSecondaryInventorySearch.aspx%3Fc%3Duk%26cs%3Dukdfh1%26l%3Den%26s%3Ddfh%26sign%3DPXhcOSHtr1T4IOw%2fPR7UdYbdzisrVUphLqJvZnMrxxVdnzI3IHjWdLIkrmP%2fbBjSc%2bzj0b3t4ko8B%2bdSTOUwK%2b7gEmkftA60t4ymsjQmuwnKhzxQvALKrOtzu%2bEY81zk6XrMkcN1hWEyCRkypf5f%2buyyCP14Ijujdv2myqmxvzYrM6vMtm9%2bnIoEUoI8LKCIi3FZrxWUd8CW%2b%2bdjP9rNUqHCKnoJHwfgKrotg8mWr4%2fsZRwBefBU2v5BAxRql4du

[brob]

1 minute ago, Prokart2000 said:

 

I have found this on the Dell outlet, it seems very good for the price http://m.dell.com/h5/m/uk/SecondaryInventorySearch?p=%2FOnline%2FSecondaryInventorySearch.aspx%3Fc%3Duk%26cs%3Dukdfh1%26l%3Den%26s%3Ddfh%26sign%3DPXhcOSHtr1T4IOw%2fPR7UdYbdzisrVUphLqJvZnMrxxVdnzI3IHjWdLIkrmP%2fbBjSc%2bzj0b3t4ko8B%2bdSTOUwK%2b7gEmkftA60t4ymsjQmuwnKhzxQvALKrOtzu%2bEY81zk6XrMkcN1hWEyCRkypf5f%2buyyCP14Ijujdv2myqmxvzYrM6vMtm9%2bnIoEUoI8LKCIi3FZrxWUd8CW%2b%2bdjP9rNUqHCKnoJHwfgKrotg8mWr4%2fsZRwBefBU2v5BAxRql4du

Looks like a good deal.

[Jurrunio]

1 minute ago, Prokart2000 said:

 

I have found this on the Dell outlet, it seems very good for the price http://m.dell.com/h5/m/uk/SecondaryInventorySearch?p=%2FOnline%2FSecondaryInventorySearch.aspx%3Fc%3Duk%26cs%3Dukdfh1%26l%3Den%26s%3Ddfh%26sign%3DPXhcOSHtr1T4IOw%2fPR7UdYbdzisrVUphLqJvZnMrxxVdnzI3IHjWdLIkrmP%2fbBjSc%2bzj0b3t4ko8B%2bdSTOUwK%2b7gEmkftA60t4ymsjQmuwnKhzxQvALKrOtzu%2bEY81zk6XrMkcN1hWEyCRkypf5f%2buyyCP14Ijujdv2myqmxvzYrM6vMtm9%2bnIoEUoI8LKCIi3FZrxWUd8CW%2b%2bdjP9rNUqHCKnoJHwfgKrotg8mWr4%2fsZRwBefBU2v5BAxRql4du

Yes indeed. You can add an SSD to shorten boot time if you like

[karsnoordhuis]

16 hours ago, brob said:

A legal copy of Windows 10 is more than a third of the budget. The budget is not realistic for a DIY PC.

 

Something like http://www.dell.com/uk/p/inspiron-15-3552-laptop/pd?oc=cn55232&model_id=inspiron-15-3552-laptop barely fits the budget.

I can get a legal copy of windows 10 for just €30 ($35 orso)

[brob]

6 hours ago, karsnoordhuis said:

I can get a legal copy of windows 10 for just €30 ($35 orso)

Lucky you. Is this deal available to the general public?

[karsnoordhuis]

On 12-7-2017 at 4:05 PM, brob said:

Lucky you. Is this deal available to the general public?

yes https://www.digitallicense.nl/windows-10-home-nederlands-oem-32-64-bits only problem: its a dutch licence, you could try kinguin

[brob]

5 hours ago, karsnoordhuis said:

yes https://www.digitallicense.nl/windows-10-home-nederlands-oem-32-64-bits only problem: its a dutch licence, you could try kinguin

It appears the link is for an OEM version. I have no idea if Microsoft has different OEM license agreements for European releases, but the English language version available from their site is very specific about the license being for commercial system builders only, not valid for DIY (do it yourself) builders.

[Prokart2000]

On 11/07/2017 at 3:20 PM, karsnoordhuis said:

you could also get an older hp/dell office pc.

not expensive, small form factor and cheap

if you want new you could also have a look at a nuc, even smaller. you can get windows for 30 euro orso

I got a older office pc and i was wondering what upgrades could be done to it.

 

Current specs: pentium e5400, 2gb ram

 

I was thinking: q6600 and an extra 2gb ram (I presume this works from quick research)

 

The problem is i believe the psu is 220w and the q6600 draws 105w so it could be quite strenuous. Also i would have to get the exact same stick of ram to upgrade or it could cause difficulties right?

 

Thanks Again

[brob]

18 hours ago, Prokart2000 said:

I got a older office pc and i was wondering what upgrades could be done to it.

 

Current specs: pentium e5400, 2gb ram

 

I was thinking: q6600 and an extra 2gb ram (I presume this works from quick research)

 

The problem is i believe the psu is 220w and the q6600 draws 105w so it could be quite strenuous. Also i would have to get the exact same stick of ram to upgrade or it could cause difficulties right?

 

Thanks Again

Add an ssd as the primary drive.

 

A q6600, 4GB memory, and an ssd will be within the psu envelope. Tight, but adequate.