Solved Looking for new Desktop $300-$400

[shortmantuff]

Hey Guys,

My parents are looking for a new desktop for their home. They don't need anything special as all they do is play the preinstalled games and use the internet on their computer. Microsoft word is desired as well but 2007 is just fine (if it would be cheaper to purchase seperately that is fine as well). Anyone know of a good, reliable desktop within the $300-$400 price range?

 

[UnknownReverent]

Hey Guys,

My parents are looking for a new desktop for their home. They don't need anything special as all they do is play the preinstalled games and use the internet on their computer. Microsoft word is desired as well but 2007 is just fine (if it would be cheaper to purchase seperately that is fine as well). Anyone know of a good, reliable desktop within the $300-$400 price range?

Where are you going to purchase the desktop? Online or in a store? A list of places that you're willing to buy from would be helpful. I'm assuming there's no personal preferences on hardware either.

 

[pparks1]

Do they already have a copy of Microsoft Windows to put on this new computer? That's nearly $100 of the build price if you have to buy that for them.

 

[edwar]

Personally I'd go with a Dell. New if the cost fits or from there Refurbished site. Some of the Refurbs still have some of the original warranty left as they are Off Lease units coming back from corporations that usually get the top level warranty service.

In years past I have bought several Notebooks that still had 1+ year of warranty left with Onsite Next Business day service. On one such system they replaced everything but the bottom case. It was a new computer when they got done.

 

[shortmantuff]

Hey Guys,

My parents are looking for a new desktop for their home. They don't need anything special as all they do is play the preinstalled games and use the internet on their computer. Microsoft word is desired as well but 2007 is just fine (if it would be cheaper to purchase seperately that is fine as well). Anyone know of a good, reliable desktop within the $300-$400 price range?

Where are you going to purchase the desktop? Online or in a store? A list of places that you're willing to buy from would be helpful. I'm assuming there's no personal preferences on hardware either.

I would be willing to purchase in a store or online. I've currently checked tigerdirect and newegg online but just wondering what you thought. I do like Asus computers but they are a little more pricey than the other competition.

 

[shortmantuff]

Do they already have a copy of Microsoft Windows to put on this new computer? That's nearly $100 of the build price if you have to buy that for them.

I would buy a computer that already has Windows 7 loaded. Unless you are talking about Microsoft Office in which that case I would have to purchase that.

 

[UnknownReverent]

Hey Guys,

My parents are looking for a new desktop for their home. They don't need anything special as all they do is play the preinstalled games and use the internet on their computer. Microsoft word is desired as well but 2007 is just fine (if it would be cheaper to purchase seperately that is fine as well). Anyone know of a good, reliable desktop within the $300-$400 price range?

Where are you going to purchase the desktop? Online or in a store? A list of places that you're willing to buy from would be helpful. I'm assuming there's no personal preferences on hardware either.

I would be willing to purchase in a store or online. I've currently checked tigerdirect and newegg online but just wondering what you thought. I do like Asus computers but they are a little more pricey than the other competition.

I honestly don't like Dell, so I wouldn't recommend that. That's my opinion though. As for buying one in general, just make sure it does have a warranty. I made that mistake when I bought my refurbished laptop. I'll take a look around. For stores, what do you mean? Like Best Buy and so forth?

 

[edwar]

After looking at the Dell site they do have some for just under $400 but without a monitor. So I doubt you will find any that included a monitor in that price range. At least not new.

Do your parents now own a computer? If they do what is wrong with it? Why not just fix and or replace the part or parts in that one and reinstall the OS on it.

 

[UnknownReverent]

After looking at the Dell site they do have some for just under $400 but without a monitor. So I doubt you will find any that included a monitor in that price range. At least not new.

Do your parents now own a computer? If they do what is wrong with it? Why not just fix and or replace the part or parts in that one and reinstall the OS on it.

I forgot to ask if a monitor was needed.

 

[shortmantuff]

After looking at the Dell site they do have some for just under $400 but without a monitor. So I doubt you will find any that included a monitor in that price range. At least not new.

Do your parents now own a computer? If they do what is wrong with it? Why not just fix and or replace the part or parts in that one and reinstall the OS on it.

I forgot to ask if a monitor was needed.

All I want is tower. They already have a monitor.

 

[UnknownReverent]

After looking at the Dell site they do have some for just under $400 but without a monitor. So I doubt you will find any that included a monitor in that price range. At least not new.

Do your parents now own a computer? If they do what is wrong with it? Why not just fix and or replace the part or parts in that one and reinstall the OS on it.

I forgot to ask if a monitor was needed.

All I want is tower. They already have a monitor.

You can easily find a tower in that range.

 

[kbrady1979]

I have had success with Tigerdirect on their refurb units. I personally have had a refurbed HP that was refurbed from HP and not a third party supplier and it works great to this day, I retired it because I built me a custom rig. They sell several refurbed brands as well. I would look there.

Having a closer look, Newegg seems to have really stepped up their game on refurbished PC's, several to choose from in that price range. An AMD based system will be your best bang for the buck........ie, more RAM and bigger hard drive.

 

[Solarstarshines]

Where are you going to purchase the desktop? Online or in a store? A list of places that you're willing to buy from would be helpful. I'm assuming there's no personal preferences on hardware either.

I would be willing to purchase in a store or online. I've currently checked tigerdirect and newegg online but just wondering what you thought. I do like Asus computers but they are a little more pricey than the other competition.

I honestly don't like Dell, so I wouldn't recommend that. That's my opinion though. As for buying one in general, just make sure it does have a warranty. I made that mistake when I bought my refurbished laptop. I'll take a look around. For stores, what do you mean? Like Best Buy and so forth?

BestBuy is one of the worst places to buy a pre built pc

Try Microcenter or Fry's you will get more bang for your buck

 

[UnknownReverent]

BestBuy is one of the worst places to buy a pre built pc

Try Microcenter or Fry's you will get more bang for your buck

I don't even remember the last time I even went to Best Buy. The only thing I use anymore is Newegg.

 

[dsperber]

I'd recommend the Lenovo Outlet store.

Excellent value there.

Use the boxes on the left to narrow down what's available, based on your requirements.

 

[dsperber]

Incidentally, just a few weeks ago my mother's PC died and I had to replace it pronto. She needs even less than your parents do.

Ran to Best Buy and they had a 4GB Dell Inspiron i660s (500GB hard drive, USB 3.0) on sale for $329. Perfect. Could use a little bit of a graphics upgrade, so for another $40 I installed an ATI HD5450 (1/2-size, fanless, 1GB).

Just checked and that machine is still on sale online at Best Buy (no shipping), for the same price. Check your local store.

 

[shortmantuff]

I would be willing to purchase in a store or online. I've currently checked tigerdirect and newegg online but just wondering what you thought. I do like Asus computers but they are a little more pricey than the other competition.

I honestly don't like Dell, so I wouldn't recommend that. That's my opinion though. As for buying one in general, just make sure it does have a warranty. I made that mistake when I bought my refurbished laptop. I'll take a look around. For stores, what do you mean? Like Best Buy and so forth?

BestBuy is one of the worst places to buy a pre built pc

Try Microcenter or Fry's you will get more bang for your buck

Thanks for the websites Solar. I found this computer. It looks pretty good and is rated as a high end CPU on cpubenchmark. Let me know what you guys think...
Micro Center - Computers, Electronics, Computer Parts, Networking, Gaming, Software, and more!

 

[dsperber]

Looks pretty good... but if your parents are "gamers" then I don't know if the onboard Intel graphics (they don't mention the number) is ok. You could certainly try it and see.

Also, that graphics chip has VGA and HDMI as its output, which will only support up to 1920x1080. Don't know what your monitor is so this may be fine. I prefer DVI, which can support larger resolution monitors (e.g. 1920x1200). Also, DVI has the "screw-down" connector, rather than HDMI which "dangles" and often falls loose (causing "sparkles" on your monitor, as a typical symptom).

But I myself have taken to installing an upgraded video card in new "entry level" machines I build for friends/family, and the fanless ASUS Silent 1GB ATI HD5450 (at about $40) has been terrific. This is not a high-end card, but it's better than the onboard Intel HD Graphics I'd say (especially on its RAM). And it has a DVI connector as well as HDMI, along with VGA.

That ACER machine has one available PCIe x16 slot, so that's fine. Also, the ASUS HD5450 is 1/2-size, which is what you require in that "small form factor" machine (the card comes with an additional replacement alternate "small" backplate, so that it can be installed in either full-size or small-size computer cases). The "small" backplate will reveal the DVI and HDMI connectors, losing the VGA (which normally is not an issue).


Otherwise, it looks good. USB 3.0 support and HD Audio, 4GB, and a decent CPU. Also 7200 RPM 1TB SATA drive (no expansion capability for a second drive, but that won't be important for you).

 

[kbrady1979]

That looks to be a good deal. The on-chip graphics will probably run anything they want it to. One thing I would do, it's overkill, but I would see what kind of RAM it has in it when you get it there and order another stick just like it. It has 1-4gb stick in it with 3 empty slots......get another 4gb stick, same frequency, CAS, etc and throw it in the other slot. 8gb, dual channel......should never have any problems with memory capacity after that. I only say that because you can get a stick of RAM for that for probably $20 or less! The benefits being double capacity, and being able to run a synchronous dual channel configuration.

 

[Solarstarshines]

I honestly don't like Dell, so I wouldn't recommend that. That's my opinion though. As for buying one in general, just make sure it does have a warranty. I made that mistake when I bought my refurbished laptop. I'll take a look around. For stores, what do you mean? Like Best Buy and so forth?

BestBuy is one of the worst places to buy a pre built pc

Try Microcenter or Fry's you will get more bang for your buck

Thanks for the websites Solar. I found this computer. It looks pretty good and is rated as a high end CPU on cpubenchmark. Let me know what you guys think...
Micro Center - Computers, Electronics, Computer Parts, Networking, Gaming, Software, and more!

That's a great deal if you ask me ,I bet they will see a big jump from what they were using before