Escy

If I was to spend about 400-600 on a PC (needs to include monitor, keyboard, etc), where on the net would be the best place to buy one?

Terry Tibbs

dell.co.uk you'll get a lot for your money.

Ish

Buy the components and build it yourself is the best way.

If you want to buy a built system then try these clickable links:-

EBUYER
ARIA
SCAN

Or try a local small independent pc shop as they usually do some good deals

Escy

I can't build one myself, don't know enough about them and don't want the hassle of putting it all together.

BM08

Those links are very good

I wouldnt get one from dell, there overpriced

DanRSturbo

What are you going to use it for ??

B16

iTrader: (4)

Find a mate who knows computers and go to a computer fair, I did and got a lot for my money.

GARETH T

just buy one from dell,,, its wont have amazing performance, but it should be reliable and come with xp

GrahamM

Look for the deals at Dell, i bought a Dual Core P4, 1GB Ram, 19" TFT, DVD,Windows Media Centre 2005, printer,etc and delivered for £399. It's a very nice machine and can play the HD channels currently on Freeview. I watched the World Cup in HD on my 88" projector screen with it.

UBster

without doubts www.meshcomputers.com , have been winning awards in the the comp mags for the past 10 years, really decent PC's I have recommended a lot of friends and family buy from them and they have all been very happy.

BM08

actually i forgot about mesh, this guy at work keeps harping on about them

stonehavencossie

what he said

im an IT Analyst and i couldnt recommend them enough

good warranties

UBster

special offers are always good

Key Features:

Intel® Pentium® D Processor 805 Dual-Core
HT Tech.(2.66GHz ,2x 1MB Cache, 533MHz)
Genuine Windows® XP Media Center
ASUS P5RD2-VM Mainboard
1024MB DDR2 533 Memory
250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive
128MB ATI Radeon Integrated Graphics
19" Professional TFT LCD Monitor with
DVI & 8ms response time + Speakers
Sony 16x Dual Layer DVD Writer
5.1 Channel Surround Sound Audio
Logitech Desktop KB & Optical Mouse
Classic Warranty-3 Years parts & lab.


£499.00 inc VAT
(£424.68 ex VAT)

Good warranty, none of this PACKARD BELL shite you get from pcworld when no one tells you they've gone bump twice in the last decade.

Escy

I'd like one thats good enough to play Half-Life 2 which i've had since new and not been able to play.

Not really big on PC games, so other than that just general programs like Word and Photoshop.

I want a big HDD as I have loads of music and movies I want to put on it.

I've seen some cheap ones on ebay like this.... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Athlon64-3700-...QQcmdZViewItem


I assume thats put together with loads of cheap and shit components?

UBster

Same as me at scc.com

UBster

Escy - Seriously I wouldn't go near that pc on ebay

Escy

UBster, that one you listed is this one... http://www.meshcomputers.com/Default...DUCT&KEY=73770

Will it be alright for playing Half-Life 2 at a decent speed? Also, is it 64 bit?

UBster

If you want to play HL2 the whole pc is great apart from the gfx card, let me find you one with a goodun. 2 ticks

UBster

Matrix² Premier M2
Key Features:

Great Value Home/Office PC
AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 AM2 3800+
with HyperTransport™ Technology
Genuine Windows® XP Media Center
ASUS nFORCE 430,Firewire PCIe Mainboard
1024MB DDR2 Memory
250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive
512MB Nvidia 7300GS PCI-X Graphics
19" TFT LCD Display with
Digital, Multi Media & 8ms response time
Sony 16x Dual Layer DVD Writer
5.1 Channel Surround Sound Audio
6 USB, 2x 1394, GB LAN
Logitech Desktop KB & Optical Mouse
Classic Warranty-3 Years parts & lab.


£599.00 inc VAT

Its the graphics card that bumps the price up, the pc above is a great deal.

To make a comparison the gfx card in the one you posted on ebay costs about £18 a Geforce 6100

the 7300 in the mesh one is nearer £85, the same goes for all the parts in the ebay one, then in 6 months when it breaks you stuffed, im sure last time i talked to one of the tech guys at mesh he said they are making/shifting around 500 pcs a day with very good customer service, if you dont know about pcs its the worst thing when it goes wrong so you want to pick the phone up and go "oi, come round here and fix your fckin pc"

Escy

I can't find that one on their website, did you build it?

I think i'll get a PC from them.

UBster

edited****, its DESKTOPS then VIEW ALL PCS.

Hope you do

mike23

mesh are evry good machines using quality components, also that has a duel core processor from amd very good for the price.

Hockney

If I was buying a PC Mesh would be the only place I would look for one

kevandalice

you can't get HD using freeview, you need sky HD or telewest HD

rs shawn

Is there much difference in the processors: Athlon vs Pentium ?
Been looking for an upgrade for a while, but never sure who to use & what I need

BM08

Generally Athlons are better for gaming, the only pentium to get near the Athlon in performance is the new "Core 2 duo", but thats brand new and costs a fair bit, but Athlon prices have come down because of this

I got a Athlon 64 x2 4200 a few weeks ago, so thats dual core( 2 processors) each running at 2.2GHZ, it pisses all over my old 3.0GHZ intel celeron(same makers as pentium)

That pc for 599 above is very good, get a fair bit for your money and it will play halflife no probs

rs shawn

Don't do PC gaming, so not bothered about that.
I was looking at the first two Matrix ones: 3200+ and the Inspire M2.
Both similar spec, but one has 19" screen.

BM08

http://www.evesham.com/products/inde...8-A6963E27248F

Have a look at that, cheaper and its an AMD If you can stretch to the 2nd one then thats even better, get 17" screen aswell.
Theres no point spending any more if you dont intend to game.

P.s evesham are very good, they have a show room near me

rs shawn

Not too keen on the cheaper one (and only 15" screen). Prefer the mesh items..altho temp added one to cart to check on total costs & get charged £5 VAT on delivery on top of the £40 !!