[DeelyBopper]

I'm wondering what the minimum hardware requirements should be for a general usage PC.

It will need to be cheap but adequate for general duties like office based tasks, e-mail, and Internet browsing. Would be nice if it could playback standard avi stuff and regular DVDs.

No gaming required (outside of standard browser fare).

Should still be fit for purpose for a couple of years.

[Esot-eric]

Everything you can buy today (and for the past 6+ years) will accomplish what you want.

Cheapest at Ebuyer is this system which will do what you want, once you add an OS (~£70 for Windows, free for Linux).

[emptybox]

Originally Posted by Esot-eric

Everything you can buy today (and for the past 6+ years) will accomplish what you want.

Cheapest at Ebuyer is this system which will do what you want, once you add an OS (~£70 for Windows, free for Linux).

I've got an 11 year old computer that can do all of that.
Albeit on Linux nowadays.

[DeelyBopper]

Originally Posted by emptybox

I've got an 11 year old computer that can do all of that.
Albeit on Linux nowadays.

Will it run a modern(ish) office suite well? For me that means no sense that things run sluggishly.

Probably would need to run a Microsoft OS I'll be providing this for a non Linux savvy family.

[flagpole]

Originally Posted by DeelyBopper

Will it run a modern(ish) office suite well? For me that means no sense that things run sluggishly.

Probably would need to run a Microsoft OS I'll be providing this for a non Linux savvy family.

Yes it'll do all of those things.

The things it won't do are gaming. And would not be my first choice foot video editing.

[killjoy]

Make sure it is good enough to stream the football

[Maxatoria]

generally i'd look at getting something from 2009 or so at the best value you can bargain for and if you can afford it slap it full of memory and it'll last another 5 years easy following current trends

[DeelyBopper]

I may take a look at the used market as it seems even the cheapest of new systems have ample head room.

I'm thinking the OS is going to be the biggest price factor (ruling out Linux) and might be able to snag something secondhand with Windows already on it. I have a spare monitor, keyboard and mouse so only need the base unit.

[emptybox]

Originally Posted by DeelyBopper

Will it run a modern(ish) office suite well? For me that means no sense that things run sluggishly.

Probably would need to run a Microsoft OS I'll be providing this for a non Linux savvy family.

I think this is just about the cheapest new one on Ebuyer with a Windows pre-installed (£228).

http://www.ebuyer.com/443462-zoostor...p-pc-7873-0450
If you didn't want to mess around installing Windows yourself, before you passed it on.

Amazon are selling Windows 8 Pro Upgrade edition for £45.
If you could find a way of putting XP SP3 temporarily on the one without an operating system for free, then that would give you a new one for under £200.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Windows-Pro-...0870579&sr=1-1

[DeelyBopper]

I've thought about the xp to win 8 upgrade before but weary of buying an OS off eBay (worried that the key won't work for the upgrade). Where else can I source a license?

[emptybox]

Originally Posted by DeelyBopper

I've thought about the xp to win 8 upgrade before but weary of buying an OS off eBay (worried that the key won't work for the upgrade). Where else can I source a license?

Well I think if you have to buy Windows XP as well as the Windows 8 upgrade, you'd be just as well either buying a new one with 8 pre-installed, or a used one with 7 pre-installed.

I was thinking more if you had an old copy of XP hanging about, it would be a cheap way of getting a new Windows 8 machine.

[max99]

Originally Posted by DeelyBopper

I may take a look at the used market as it seems even the cheapest of new systems have ample head room.

I'm thinking the OS is going to be the biggest price factor (ruling out Linux) and might be able to snag something secondhand with Windows already on it. I have a spare monitor, keyboard and mouse so only need the base unit.

What's the budget? There quickly comes a point where it's better to add a few quid and get a brand new machine with a warranty.

And remember, the more effort you make on trying to help someone out with computers, the more likely it is to bite you in the arse.

[joshua_welby]

Originally Posted by DeelyBopper

I'm wondering what the minimum hardware requirements should be for a general usage PC.

It will need to be cheap but adequate for general duties like office based tasks, e-mail, and Internet browsing. Would be nice if it could playback standard avi stuff and regular DVDs.

No gaming required (outside of standard browser fare).

Should still be fit for purpose for a couple of years.

The Lowest decent spec for a PC should be the Intel i3 Series of Processors or any of the AMD Processors, as these are cheaper than Intel's Processors
http://www.intel.co.uk/content/www/u...processor.html

You could buy a cheap PC for £385 from PC Specialist
www.pcspecialist.co.uk

[Fowl Fax]

The Acer Revo L80 Nettop PC from ebuyer. £149.99

http://www.ebuyer.com/395476-acer-re...c-dt-smcek-002

If you know how to use Windows you should have no problems with an O/S like Linux Ubuntu.

[John259]

If it wasn't for the need to play DVD's and video files, might it possibly be worth considering a Chromebook? Inexpensive and simple - but mostly small screens and keyboards.

[The Cricketer]

Ive got a 9 yr old PC, which is still going strong. Apart from adding to the RAM & some extra USBs, nothing else needed to be done.

Itll be a shame when I have to replace it!

[flagpole]

Originally Posted by The Cricketer

Ive got a 9 yr old PC, which is still going strong. Apart from adding to the RAM & some extra USBs, nothing else needed to be done.

Itll be a shame when I have to replace it!

when you do you wont regret it.

a new computer will genuinely be 30x faster. which is a big difference.

[DeelyBopper]

Thanks all, just won a used system off eBay. £50. Intel E6750 with 2GB DDR2. Hopefully will be alright.

[emptybox]

Originally Posted by DeelyBopper

Thanks all, just won a used system off eBay. £50. Intel E6750 with 2GB DDR2. Hopefully will be alright.

That's a good price if it's the whole system?

I paid the same price just for a motherboard bundle recently (E6600, 4GB DDR2)

[DeelyBopper]

Originally Posted by emptybox

That's a good price if it's the whole system?

I paid the same price just for a motherboard bundle recently (E6600, 4GB DDR2)

Was just for motherboard, cpu with cooler, and ram. I have a spare psu and old case and going to donate my hard drive. (Waiting for an SSD to arrive).

[Ancient IDTV]

Deleted. Didn't read posts. PC already bougth.