I need a cheap PC.

DarkNinja

Member
I'm not looking for a gaming PC. I'm looking for a good PC that does email, internet, forums, music, papers, and streamed videos. How much should i spend? And, as the topic states, I'm wondering if Best Buy is too overpriced to be worth it. If so, where should i buy one? What should i look for in a PC (I mean parts)? What company should i focus on (HP, Lenovo, etc. I don't know about this stuff.)
 
Really you won't need much. A processor, some RAM, and operating system (windows if your using Netflix, others will work on anything), A keyboard, a mouse, internet, and a hard drive. You really don't need much to do that. A single core would pull it off.
 
Really you won't need much. A processor, some RAM, and operating system (windows if your using Netflix, others will work on anything), A keyboard, a mouse, internet, and a hard drive. You really don't need much to do that. A single core would pull it off.

OK cool. So how much should i spend? What items should i specifically look for? (For example, what processor?) What store should i buy from? I mean i could go to my nearby Best Buy, or order from Newegg.com, etc.

Is i3 processor something to look for? I see some PCs use Pentium processor...but i have one on my PC, the Pentium D, and it heats up (My current PC is having problems).
 
wolfeking, are there good deals for prebuilt ones? Even if i found videos that talked about how to build, i don't have a working PC that is guaranteed to work so i can watch those videos while building it.
 
eh, if he wants one it will do the job, but really there is no need for it. its just wasted money in my eyes. "looks at a i7 and gtx 480" never mind. :(
 
Something like this would be fine http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883103447 quad-core Athlon II with 4GB of RAM. Would be fine for just what you need.

There are likely other options too but take a look at that. :)

Yeah, there are lots of options. Kind of hard to decide.

Let's say i suddenly have the desire to play PC games...not the heavily graphics ones, but maybe Batman Arkham City. If i were to change the GPU somehow, would i be able to play it?

I don't know if i will play games, though.
 
Hmm that's probably not the best PC for a GPU then, case is small form factor so a graphics card wouldn't fit unless you got a low profile one and that's a hassle.

Something like this would probably be better if you maybe want to upgrade the GPU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883108704 but bear in mind if you did upgrade the GPU you'd also need to upgrade the power supply too.

What about the PC i just posted from staples? And is it better than what you posted? And the PC you posted isn't good for better GPU?
 
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Your Staples link doesn't work for me. The Lenovo I posted would be fine for a better GPU, the only problem I can see besides the power supply is the fact that the RAM bays may get in the way of the graphics card. Will quickly have another look and see if there's anything better for you.
 
Yeah that would have been a good choice. Could have replaced the 6450 with something better and then had a nice little rig there.

Remember too you'd need a new PSU if you were to upgrade the graphics card. The PSUs which OEMs put in their machines tend to be really cheap and not really intended to power high-end stuff.
 
Yeah that would have been a good choice. Could have replaced the 6450 with something better and then had a nice little rig there.

Remember too you'd need a new PSU if you were to upgrade the graphics card. The PSUs which OEMs put in their machines tend to be really cheap and not really intended to power high-end stuff.

Should i do with the PC you recommended? I don't know much about PCs, but they look very similar when i look at them.
 
If you can spend $450-500, which would include Windows if thats what you want - less if it isnt,,take a look at this video and see if you would be willing to put 6 parts inside a case, which would involve putting the parts in the only place they will go and using just a phillips screwdriver in some places and the cables are all keyed to fit one way in one place. We can show you the parts and help you.
Building gets you quality on all the parts and waranty for each part would be 1-7yrs vs 1yr for the whole prebuilt., plus, you'd never want to buy a prebuilt again, nor would you want to. And you would know your pc.
If you can do ^this price range for your uses you'll have a screaming machine and if down the road you did want to get a video card all you would have to do it plug it in. No changing ps or anything else. With a prebuilt you will get cheap quality on the most important part, power supply.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPIXAtNGGCw
 
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