HELP I need a new desktop PC

[artie]

Here's an interesting video about getting more out of an older machine.



I might switch when support for win 10 ends.

 

[niemeyjt]

Avoid the JL one - it is a headline maker / loss leader. Avoid Pentium, Atom and Celeron processors - frustratingly slow. Get an i5 as a sensible midrange processor. AS others have said, get an SSD and a good mount or RAM (say 16Mb)

If OP is on Windows 7 then the forthcoming EOL for W10 is unlikely to be an issue. I think Win10 needs an activation code, but these are a tenner if you are prepared to download the media.

Likewise a new version of Office if you must - LibreOffice otherwise.

Also, remember MS are offering an extra year support for Win 10 for £30.

My personal view, not to everyone's tastes, are "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" and if you can, go Linux and escape the Apple / Microsoft ecosystem for ever.

You may find some corporate machines coming onto market soon that wont run W11 - another option

 

[JSW]

^^ This is the way to go, Apple and MS are just too prohibitive, it's their way or learn to jump through hoops, and be constantly annoyed at stuff you have no interest in, being installed behind your back.

I made the switch to Linux a couple of years ago, never looked back, personally I'd avoid Zorin and go for Linux Mint, far more customisable, IE you can make it look and behave how YOU want, not how Apple and MS say it WILL look.

Something like This would be perfect, ex-corporate machine, so built like a tank, I5 7th gen, 16GB RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD, 2 additional drive bays, Linux Mint would be super-fast/responsive on one of those.

 

[XTiffy]

I have two computers (excluding laptop) both HP one running Windows 10 and one 11. I have connected both to same keyboard/monitor etc. So support for windows 10 is not an issue as I access the web on the windows 11 machine. If the OP kept his windows 7 computer but added an up to date computer alongside there would not be an issue with older software.

 

[GuitardoctorW7]

I had to look up what an AIO was and to my surprise it is a Windoze version of my iMac that I have had since 2009. Poor old girl is getting little long in the tooth. I'll save a little and get a Mac mini. I can use my existing mouse and keyboard (I think) and just have to add a monitor and it will likely see me out.

The new M4 Mac mini in base config is excellent value for money

 

[HOJ]

@JSW that looks like a very good option, going to order one, thank you, I will stick with windows at this time, as i have read there may be issues with getting my SU programme active on a different platform, and the worst case would be as @XTiffy outlines I could run with both.

Thank you for everyone's input, really appreciate it.

 

[Skydivermel]

For another £20 you can get this. Much better PC all round. https://www.amazon.co.uk/ionz-Deskt...fos.23648568-4ba5-49f2-9aa6-31ae75f1e9cd&th=1

 

[JSW]

@HOJ when the new machine turns up, you could clone your existing installation using rescuezilla, super easy to use, download, copy to USB stick, boot from the stick and clone your existing installation to a new drive (SSD preferably)
Then just unplug the data cable from the motherboard, and it will boot from the new drive. You could also take a backup of your existing install, rescuezilla will compress the output to a fraction of the original size, save it to USB, spare drive, wherever. If you find you ever need it, it's a ten minute job to reinstall from the backup, bit of a swiss army knife when it comes to computer related stuff, highly recommended.

 

[Spectric]

A little caution re Windows 10. Recent rumours talk about M$ dropping support for it in 2025.

That is to force people onto windows 11 and that opens a new era in software because W11 must have the TPM module, the trusted platform module which is like a security controller within that can enable programs to run. Long term we will end up renting our software like Adobe and MS currently do with some programs and all will end being managed by te TPM. Basically it can allow different access levels to a program, you pay and the supplier provides the access needed but the program is a single program just your access can be restricted to only allow you to use certain functions unless if you want the next set you pay.

If you can build with lego then you can build a pc, the hardest part is to ensure all components are compatable and that you are not restricting performance by using certain components. Also these days many connectors and interfaces have changed so often much easier to just build a complete new PC without using parts from the old one, maybe the case and keyboard but getting a larger higher resolution monitor is also worthwhile.

 

[trvlr]

thank you for the update re' ryzen and M$ OS (Win 11 in this case). Also I run Mac systems entirley these days. My 2010/11 Macbook Pro is way out of date - stuck on the predecessor to Catalina; but no issue there as I really don't use anymore. I have a Mac Mini (2012 vintage) and it's stuck at Catalina. I boot that from an external SSD (for reasons various, and no bearing on discussion here). I like the older Minis as one could upgrade the HDD, Ram and who knows what else. Sadly these days most kit comes with glued in (aka soldered) HDD (or equivalent; and RAM likewise; with no end user options to upgrade stuff. Which having said... I will at some time in the near future go for a new Macbook (probably Pro as it has more ports than the standard model - though not that many more).

Re' ant-virus... I used to be a mod on a now sadly long gone forum (computing.net); and anti-virus was a frequent topic. General consensus amongst the pest control/removal cognoscenti was that BitDefender was the best (runs on M$ OS, Mac Os, and Linux). There is a freebie version - you simply have to check updates (definitions etc. ) manually; whereas the subscribition does it all for you. They have assorted deal worth investigating - multiple licenses/OS etc.; and a very good VPN. Computing.net was an independent site for yonks, but then fell into the Toms Hardware site; before disappearing...

 

[HOJ]

when the new machine turns up, you could clone your existing installation using rescuezilla, super easy to use, download, copy to USB stick, boot from the stick and clone your existing installation to a new drive (SSD preferably)
Then just unplug the data cable from the motherboard, and it will boot from the new drive. You could also take a backup of your existing install, rescuezilla will compress the output to a fraction of the original size, save it to USB, spare drive, wherever. If you find you ever need it, it's a ten minute job to reinstall from the backup, bit of a swiss army knife when it comes to computer related stuff, highly recommended.

Might need some help on that, I did a full back up over the weekend, to a separate hard drive.
New box should be here tomorrow, but won't get chance to do anything till Wednesday, I'll post an update then.

 

[mondo]

Read this thread with interest, understood maybe 5%. What would be your recommendation for someone who, at present, has a Lenovo Idea Pad with an i7 processor running Windows 11 who is fed up with MS tech support and subscription model. What I need is a computer that will let me send and receive emails, visit chatlines, order from Amazon, Ebay and Craigslist, look at newsfeeds, talk to someone in tech support and occasionally print out a letter without having to pay for a subscription for everything. I use Duck Duck Go, Gmail and Proton Mail with Mcafee anti-Virus and an Adblocker.

 

[artie]

I am far from an expert but I have played around with PC, for many years.

I would suggest installing a linux distro alongside your win11. Maybe that's not possible in 11 but I did it in 10 so maybe. Someone else will know I'm sure

Mint is recommended by many, Zorin is supposed to be similar to windows to use.

Linux, whichever distro you choose will do all the things you require for free with the bonus of being faaaaar less likely to get a virus.

You can try it and if you need something from windows, just reboot to windows.

After you've suitably tried it out you can either go 100% to whichever you prefer or keep the dual boot.

 

[JSW]

Read this thread with interest, understood maybe 5%. What would be your recommendation for someone who, at present, has a Lenovo Idea Pad with an i7 processor running Windows 11 who is fed up with MS tech support and subscription model. What I need is a computer that will let me send and receive emails, visit chatlines, order from Amazon, Ebay and Craigslist, look at newsfeeds, talk to someone in tech support and occasionally print out a letter without having to pay for a subscription for everything. I use Duck Duck Go, Gmail and Proton Mail with Mcafee anti-Virus and an Adblocker.

Which Model of Lenovo Ideapad is it? If it only has a single drive, IE no m.2 NVMe + SSD, then I'd reconsider dual booting Windows and Linux off the same drive, if you ever decide one or the other isn't to your liking, you'll find it's the devils own job to remove, say Linux and leave Windows installed, ExplainingComputers explains why Here Watch this first before doing anything else.

 

[Terry - Somerset]

Fifty years ago when I was a lad the diversion of choice was cars (or women) and how to make them go faster or more economically. I could rebuild and service SU, Zenith or Weber carbs. Drill out jets to reduce consumption. Knew which exhaust or silencer would make the best noise. Skim a cylinder head, port the intake and exhaust etc etc etc.

It seems that these manly skills have been displace by chips, operating systems, anti-virus, processor speed, RAM, boots, discs, SSD's etc etc etc

I am an IT philistine. I can work out most things if I want to but it takes time. I asked my BiL (ex IBM) what to buy - "you don't need anything fancy unless you are into gaming, photo editing, etc".

A Pentium i3 processor is what I bought. Together with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. It does all I need - browsing, online shopping, etc. Cost ~£300. Occasionally a bit slow (a few seconds) on large spreadsheets but not painfully so.

I have a Family Office sub which having grown up in "pay once and run it for 10 years" era seems expensive. But I make a lot of use of spreadsheets and some word processing. Most of the rest don't get used but at least I know they will all work together when required.

I use Windows 11 - billions around the planet also use it and they can't all be wrong - even if some more obscure bits cause some professionals (and incompetents) some trouble from time to time.

I rely upon the embedded security software and have done for a decade or more. It avoids the cost and conflicts with proprietary systems, use some discretion over links and websites visited and have had no problems.

For me the aggro involved and the cost saving by transitioning to a Linux based, SSD with optional boots, and a low/zero cost office pack equivalent is probably overkill. KISS - keep it simple stupid is the most helpful of acronyms!!

 

[Spectric]

These days following an upgrade you want to do a clean install of your actual programs so that it loads all the latest drivers and everything gets setup properly, trying to use a hardrive clone is often more hassle than it is worth providing you have all legitimate software. I keep a file that details all my software and license details because it is just much easier once a new machine has been built and all the BIOS setup with the OS running to just download each program as a new install. Once that is done I either copy my work drive to a new workdrive or if it is current spec then just use that. Also do not overlook the AMD processors and make sure you use a quality motherboard because some can have issues especially with the power supply VRM and a few with layout, I seem to always use Gigabyte mobo's with AMD CPU and have had no major problems, it is the older AM4 socket with a six core 5600x CPU running at about 4 Gig with 16 Gig of RAM. Here you only want two sticks of RAM even if your board can take four unless it can use dual channel mode. The only program that gives speed issues is MPLAB but I suspect that it is not using all the CPU cores.

 

[XTiffy]

Mondo,
In an earlier post Artie, recomended a video. The chap is a bit of a geek (!), with a slightly odd delivery style (even to us Brits) but he is extremely good at explaining computers and not just linux but all flavours. He is Explaining Computers.com. He did a video on the mini pc, which in the states, I seem to recall him mentioning a price of $100 (rather more here). Watching a series of videos of his will help you to understand rather more.

 

[Chubber]

No one has mentioned Libre Office to escape MS pay to type etc. I find it more than acceptable as an alternative for Word, Excel. Draw etc and it's free to download.

 

[artie]

No one has mentioned Libre Office to escape MS pay to type etc. I find it more than acceptable as an alternative for Word, Excel. Draw etc and it's free to download.

I've been using it for a long time.

I had a look through my installed programs and noticed nothing windows specific so I downloaded the Zorin .iso put it on a usb stick booted from it and did a fresh install.
Just fiddling around with passwords etc now. I'll try it for a while and see how it goes.

 

[JSW]

If you want to have a play with various Linux distro's before committing to installing one on a hard drive, I'd recommend Ventoy
It's a bootable USB that allows you to drag and drop ISO's (Zorin, Linux Mint, Ubuntu, Linux Lite, etc etc)
Boot from the Ventoy USB stick, then try a distro before actually installing.

This is a screenshot of my Linux Mint desktop, not a fan of clutter, so the only desktop icon is a shutdown button (top left) just for speed of access, transparent panel (taskbar) that auto-hides when an app is in focus, custom date and time, custom start menu, etc