Cheap desktop

[Gooose]

Hi guys

I don’t really have a clue about computers so I thought I’d ask you pros. I’m after a cheap desktop, I’m just sorting out the spare room and want to put a computer in there for the very rare times I need it, like printing eBay labels, little bit of word (been using my work laptop), experience for my 5 year old to get used to computers, will be using Coinbase shortly for crypto trading, maybe picture printing, and general times when a desktop browsing experience is better than my iPhone which I use for 90% of tasks.

My wants are that it’s as cheap as possible, I don’t care what it looks like, it can be a refurb, second hand etc. Quick boot up. I don’t think I’ll need lots of storage memory. Lasts for about 5 years.

I have a 24 inch 1080p monitor already, I can’t see me needing 4K but I wouldn’t mind having another display.

Does such a machine exist? I wouldn’t know where to start on budget?

Any ideas?

[bigandclever]

I got one of these refurbs for a similar set of reasons.

HP EliteDesk 600 G1 SFF Desktop PC - Intel Quad Core i5-4570 3.20GHz, 16GB RAM, 128GB SDD & 1TB HDD with Windows 10 Pro (Renewed) currently £159, I paid a bit more in Feb 21.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084X48QZX/ref...

[nyt]

I bought a machine similar to this for about £300.

https://www.palicomp.co.uk/pc_of_the_week_140621


I upgraded the memory and disk with their "PROMO - DOUBLE UP - 16GB 3200Mhz RAM + 480GB SSD : +£65.00"

I already had a copy of Windows 10.



Though, for your needs, the HP posted above is probably more than enough


ETA: This week's special is: https://www.palicomp.co.uk/amd_best_buy

Edited by nyt on Sunday 7th November 09:30

[bangerhoarder]

Have a look on the bargainhardware website. Personally ai’d get something Windows 11 compatible, which they have; though it’ll cost a chunk more it’ll have a longer life.

[xeny]

Ebay is full of "refurbished" SFF ex business machines. For what you're describing, 8 GB of RAM will be enough, definitely an SSD, and you probably don't need an additional mechanical drive. Almost anything at your budget level won't officially support Windows 11, and it is unclear how Microsoft will treat those machines going forwards with things like security updates. This matters because end of support for Windows 10 is October 2025, so 4 years away.

I'd be tempted to get one with a Windows "pro" licence so you can RDP into it from another machine about the house - means you can start something off upstairs, and keep an eye on it from downstairs, for example.

[Gooose]

bigandclever said:

I got one of these refurbs for a similar set of reasons.

HP EliteDesk 600 G1 SFF Desktop PC - Intel Quad Core i5-4570 3.20GHz, 16GB RAM, 128GB SDD & 1TB HDD with Windows 10 Pro (Renewed) currently £159, I paid a bit more in Feb 21.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084X48QZX/ref...

Looks like it would tick all my boxes, I think I would get something like this then another cheapy when windows 10 gets too risky to use, for my use I can’t see the benifits of future proofing too much really

[colin79666]

Do you need Windows? A Raspberry Pi 4 4GB makes a perfectly acceptable desktop machine for some light web browsing and word processing (Libre Office).