oli_w

i have around £400 to spend on a desktop pc which i want to use for web designing and using photoshop etc. can anyone recommend a good capable pc package as i know noting?
i cant afford to spend too much at the moment as im just starting out hence the amount i can spend, any help would be tops

Scooby Soon!

I cant advise you on what to buy at the moment but the best thing you can do when you get the PC is either remove any free junk that has put on there or if possible do a complete fresh install of the operataing system, then just install the programs you need. It will whiz along nicely it will only start to slow down when you install loads of crap on it msn toolbar, google search, bad virus scanner etc etc

oli_w

thanks mate, i was thinking about that too, just the basics as i have my laptop for all that, cheers

staffs Mike

Get a fair bit for your money with dell. Decent service with them to

Compare All UK Dell Vostro Deals and E-Value Codes | dmXdimension

Good site for deal codes but it's always worth haggling on the phone with dell

200MT and 410 LT have nice specs and aren't fussy slim line cases which tend to have worse PSU's and be a little noisey.

oli_w

thanks a lot i saw a few dells, the small spacesaver ones on the pc world website ( i told u i was an amatuer ) can u really haggle them down on the phone?

staffs Mike

Yeah you can, normally get something for free, or money knocked off or both.

When I was at my last job I used their account manager to give me a 45% discount on my new laptop tagged onto the back of a corporate order (totally legit and with VAT and everything )

Best to try and get someone in the UK though, the foreign call centres don't always want to play ball.

oli_w

cheers! just found out my dad can get discount off dell comps through work! score! what would be the best dell around 500 for photoshop etc?

staffs Mike

For photoshop, CPU grunt, CPU cache, decent amount of RAM 3-4GB and Hard drive speed helps but you won't get anything other than 7200rpm from Dell Graphics cards won't help too much but may be important if you want to play any sort of HD video later whether it be straight from your Hard drive or Blu Rey etc..

Something alone the lines of a vostro/inspiron (same thing but a different colour, price and slightly different warranties usually)

Intel Q6600/ Q9300
3-4GB RAM
500GB or more Hard drive
ATi HD2400/HD3450 PRO graphics (nothing special but good for HD playback)

oli_w

thanks again mike! been having a look and an ask around and most ppl say to avoid dell, purely on the basis i cant upgrade them myself, which is something i hadnt really thought about before. do u know of a place where i can get them to build me a specific spec pc?

bioforger

iTrader: (1)

Of course u can upgrade Dell's, that's tosh!

oli_w

but is it only upgradable by dell themselves? as in a newer package? would i be able to get a cheap harddrive or would i have to buy all dell accessories etc?

staffs Mike

You can upgrade them yourself, especially if the warranty has run out.

hard drives, RAM, optical drives, plug in cards (wifi, sound, graphics etc..).

You can even upgrade the CPU BUT, it might be tricky as some dell motherboards won't allow certain CPU's etc.. you would need to check first. But for the most part they are as easy as a normal PC to upgrade

If you want someone to build it for you there a loads of options.

If it's quality over cost you desire, then Scan Computers UK: Computer Hardware - All and look at their 3XS systems. Beware though, they do charge a lot compared to the reletive cost of components.

YoYoTech.co.uk :: House of Technology are making a come back with some very nice new gaming systems but if you buy all the parts you want from them I believe they will put it together for you

Highly customisable PC's at pretty good prices, deffinatly worth a look.
PCSPECIALIST.CO.UK - Custom PCs, Custom Computers, Custom PC, Custom Built Computers, Gaming PC

There are tonnes but my pick would be scan for ultimate customer service (they are easily the best in the UK for CS) or PC specialist on price probably.

You could always try building it yourself if you have the time. Plenty of online guides and other tech based forums around to help you with that sort of thing. Obviously if you plug it all in and it doesn't work there could be hours if not days of misery to follow lol

chrisUK300

iTrader: (10)

Some good prices from these guys

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