Looking for a basic PC around $500

Forums › Desktop computing › Looking for a basic PC around $500 - suggestions?

1 | 2

sdavisnz

1017 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 310

Trusted

#1242381 19-Feb-2015 14:54

ive got a 3 year old sony vaio with an i3 / 4gb ram / 128 SSD/ radeon grapgics that ill sell you for $450. with windows 8 installed.

Voice gives context

networkn

Networkn
32871 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15468

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1242383 19-Feb-2015 14:54

The HP 6200 with an SSD would make your eyes pop out of your head. They are awesome. We have sold them for a long time (and all series of HP Business machines).

Hard to Beat at that price.

mattwnz

20520 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4797

#1242391 19-Feb-2015 15:00

Dynamic:
mattwnz: If they are looking for something that will last 3 plus years that is really reliable, windows 8, 4GB of ram, and and i3 or 5 processor with an SSD, then it maybe a new one will be the best solution, such as some of those lenovos.

I'm happy to argue the for a 3ish year old computer with an SSD added - particularly if it is a reliable business series machine, not some of the rubbish sold to consumers.

My home computer for example is a 5 year old ex-lease HP Business Series computer (E6600 CPU, 4Gb RAM, 256Gb SSD) that I would argue runs better today than it did when it was new because of that SSD. I have no plans to replace it any time soon, and I've just put a 28" UltraWide LCD on it which the onboard graphics (via DisplayPort) are coping with just fine for web surfing, facebook games, youtube, etc.

Yes that is the thing, some of these 3-5 year old PCs are better speced than the newer ones being sold now, because windows resource requirements have reduced. Windows Xp with all it's patches, performs like a dog compared to windows 10 on the same PC I have found.

gzt

18689 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7827

Lifetime subscriber

#1242393 19-Feb-2015 15:00

dynamic

I've also purchased several used HP business 6000 series machines for friends and relations. Like.

leemillerau

38 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 5

Subscriber

#1242446 19-Feb-2015 16:04

Hi all

Thanks for the good suggestions and discussion so far - forgot to mention that I already have a recent screen (bought last year) and OK keyboard, mouse, basic speakers so I'm not really in the market for an all in one

gundar

488 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 80

Trusted

#1242452 19-Feb-2015 16:09

I bought a couple of these for a software demonstration and they worked just fine:

http://goo.gl/nqdRpe

To be clear, I used them to manage/control security video feeds and systems for a three week period without problems - usually something we get actual servers to do, but given the shorter timeframe and simulated load of the test, they did well.

If you are in the Waikato area, I have a few ex-lease Dell 755s (Intel Quad Core Q6600, 4GB RAM, 160GB Disk, Radeon HD2400) that I am periodically putting onto Trademe in the $120 area, $200 with SSD. There are a few great bargains in the ex-lease market, you would do well in the $250 range and still have change for a memory upgrade and a modern graphics card.

Good luck.

Dyson

Shop now for Dyson appliances (affiliate link).

leemillerau

38 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 5

Subscriber

#1242940 20-Feb-2015 11:16

Dynamic: If my sister came to me with this request, I would get her one of these (because in my considerable experience these machines are highly reliable) with an SSD. Boot from the SSD and keep the 500Gb drive as storage for data. You would need a short SATA cable and some double-sided tape to stick the SSD in place or buy an adapter tray to screw in the SSD.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/desktops/no-monitor/auction-848162112.htm

Hi all

Thanks for help

- it has made things a lot clearer for me and I'm particularly appreciative of Dynamic for his recommendation and for everyone's discussion/support for his suggestion.

I have found this on Trademe which looks comparable - http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/desktops/no-monitor/auction-849396042.htm

It looks as though the i3-4130 CPU should be noticeably better performance than the i3-2120 in the original recommendation.

Any comments - are they close enough in performance that the price comes into consideration or is there any particular benefit in going with one instead of the other?

lxsw20

3689 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2175

Subscriber

#1242947 20-Feb-2015 11:28

Looks fine. Add an SSD and it will be a great little machine.

Dynamic

4016 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1853

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1242950 20-Feb-2015 11:30

Nice machine - I have this model with the i5 processor at work and fitted an SSD to it. Runs like greased lightning.

Interestingly I had a comment from one of our software suppliers the other day about an application that we rent but the software is based on one of our servers. He commented that it was one of the fastest installations he has ever worked on - and he was surprised when I told him that it was a 5 year old server. The SSD fitted to it for that application must be making a difference. :) The server also has 50% more than the recommended RAM.

“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

1 | 2