O/T Where to buy a PC

[Roger King]

For various reasons I need to replace my desktop PC. I don't need the monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, etc, and it is mainly for home office use with some use of Photoshop and lightroom, so no need for the latest mega graphics card.

 

For someone who uses computers, but isn't an expert at what goes on "under the bonnet", what's the best place to buy these days? Do I go to John Lewis, a manufacturer direct, or is there an online retailer who can be trusted?

 

I will just state that I won't touch PC world, Dixons or Currys (all part of the same group) with a barge pole, having had an appalling customer experience with them - so bad, that ten years on I haven't spent so much as one more penny with them.

 

Ta

 

Edited by - roger king on 5 May 2012 21:34:34

[Shad]

Novatech in Reading are good. We buy a lot of base units from them at work and I've built my last couple of home PCs with parts from there. Good kit, nice people

[michaeljclark]

Hmm, from a personal point of view (working as I do in IT), I'd use either Dell or Lenovo (for example we use Lenovo M91p in the office: i7 CPU, 8Gb RAM 160Gb SSD's - they are rapid and an excellent all round PC)

 

Of course if you fancy a "generic" PC then perhaps Overclockers UK - who I use along with Scan for bits and bobs.

 

I will venture into PC World, but only to pick stuff up that I have pre ordered

 

Mike

 

Edited by - michaeljclark on 5 May 2012 21:56:37

[charlie_pank]

pcspecialist.co.uk

[Andy Lef]

 

chillblast

 

v good selection

[Lee Fowler]

I have good spec second user ones for around the £100 mark. 2.2 dual core, 2gbram and 80gb hdd. HP7900 small form factor.

 

Lee

[dannylt]

I've bought quite a few from pcspecialist, and would also recommend for a home PC - no quibble advance returns for starters. I found it was cheaper than buying the bits yourself! Overclockers are ok too, and quietpc for any extra bits have great customer service. There are plenty of dodgy outfits out there!

[Fil M]

Dell, lots of them out there, easy to get parts, easy to get fixed,cheap to run. Thats why lots of businesses use them.

[Roger King]

Guys, I should have mentioned that Dell is a no-no as well. Having spent £3000 on a laptop with them that had a faulty screen and been told "we've had your money and we are not prepared to do anything about the fault" (and yes, that is near as dammit verbatim) I wouldn't touch them with someone else's!

[charlie_pank]

You don't need to worry about parts for desktops. They're no more or less compatible regardless of the badge on the box (unless it's a Mac)

[elan_fan]

Give us a clue Roger, how much do you want to spend. Here's a couple to thumb up or down

 

 

 

Overclockers

 

or

 

HP Computers

[Chris Cardwell]

Roger

 

I recommend Computer Planet who also build customer-defined systems. As already mentioned desktop systems are built using standard parts so they can be quickly repaired by yourself or a local expert.

 

With an a cheap HP computer I got used to changing the power supply in 30 minutes.

[Roger King]

Thanks guys,

 

I'll look into your suggestions

[AlC]

Another vote for Chillblast . Just be careful to compare spec of different models - they sometimes have the same spec, different name & different price. I suspect this happens because they create a new model for a magazine test, and prices have fallen, yet the spec remains the same, and they continue selling the old model as well as new. But they are very flexible on what components can be included, and are pretty quick to deliver.

 

Al

[Mucus72]

Www.apple.com/uk

 

Mac mini. Why bother with lesser devices at all? And Apple service is fab.