PC Help, need some quick answers

This topic has 30 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 8 months ago by Bob Williams.

Viewing 20 posts - 1 through 20 (of 31 total)

1 2 →

Author

Posts
October 13, 2017 at 11:25 am #12658
RSB
Keymaster
@bdthree
Forumite Points: 5,185
My current set-up is ancient and I work in my browser a lot but some of the tasks in the browser can be crippling to say the least so I am going to get another cheap work horse. I was looking at this Link

I need one with two dvi ports but I am unsure what the above is so may need a G-Card to. I am going for the above due to next day delivery and I like amazon.

I am hoping that the above will do the work I need effortlessly. No game playing for me, just a good work horse.

My question is, what Graphics card if the above does not have dual dvi out.

Any other ideas are welcome to 🙂

Americans: Over Sexed, Over Payed and Over here, Wat Wat!
October 13, 2017 at 2:44 pm #12659
PlaneMan
Participant
@planeman
Forumite Points: 196
That’s a really old CPU.

Just having a look to see if i can find anything for about the same £ but better.
October 13, 2017 at 2:56 pm #12660
PlaneMan
Participant
@planeman
Forumite Points: 196
I’d spend a bit more and get something like this.

Be far better in the long run, I’m sure others will chip in with even better ideas.
October 13, 2017 at 3:31 pm #12662
RSB
Keymaster
@bdthree
Forumite Points: 5,185
Cheers. I have put it on the possible list. What about this one. It has the ports I need for displays, not a bad price but I know nothing about A10 cpu’s or any other cpu. Last cpu I bought was AMD 5000+ OR Sempron.

It’s from Amazon to which I am aiming for.

Americans: Over Sexed, Over Payed and Over here, Wat Wat!
October 13, 2017 at 4:27 pm #12664
PlaneMan
Participant
@planeman
Forumite Points: 196
Unfortunately another old CPU.

This one at Amazon is near as dammit the same as the other one I linked to. The CPU comparison is here.

The chipset will do dual monitor support but you may well need hdmi-dvi or similar.
October 13, 2017 at 4:56 pm #12665
RSB
Keymaster
@bdthree
Forumite Points: 5,185
Thanks @planeman I have gone for the next one up from what you first recommended, Link.

Americans: Over Sexed, Over Payed and Over here, Wat Wat!
October 13, 2017 at 6:20 pm #12666
RSB
Keymaster
@bdthree
Forumite Points: 5,185
Would it be a good idea to order a cheapo graphics card so it’s not taking up the RAM. If so what should I be going for. It’s not for gaming!

Americans: Over Sexed, Over Payed and Over here, Wat Wat!
October 13, 2017 at 7:52 pm #12669
PlaneMan
Participant
@planeman
Forumite Points: 196
I wouldn’t worry about it yet. Try it and see how it goes.

You could always dip into the UEFI and tweak the amount used if needed.
October 13, 2017 at 8:31 pm #12670
RSB
Keymaster
@bdthree
Forumite Points: 5,185
Cheers. I may even be able to make use of a VM now 🙂 It will be here tomorrow so I’ll report back but before I switch it on I’ll be putting a spare SSD in there.

Americans: Over Sexed, Over Payed and Over here, Wat Wat!
October 14, 2017 at 7:40 am #12679
Dave Rice
Participant
@ricedg
Forumite Points: 7
You’ve got 1 x HDMI and 1 x DVI so you’ll need an hdmi to dvi lead (or converter). I use Amazon Basics leads these days.

The i5’s HD 630 graphics is as good, if not better, than a sub £50 discrete card. The amount of ram 2D graphics uses is pretty tiny. If it was causing shortages of ram you’d be better buying more ram than a graphics cards.

Booting from the SSD it’ll fly. My i3 or better machines all boot in about 15 seconds.
October 14, 2017 at 7:42 am #12680
RSB
Keymaster
@bdthree
Forumite Points: 5,185
From the spec I was under the impression it had VGA as well which would do the job and give me dual screen.

Americans: Over Sexed, Over Payed and Over here, Wat Wat!
October 14, 2017 at 7:50 am #12682
RSB
Keymaster
@bdthree
Forumite Points: 5,185
I have also found that the problem I have with my old gear is CPU usage. Usually when making lets say sliders for a website the software is very CPU intensive and this is why I went for a i5 instead of an i3. I have been using my favorite laptop an asus gs2 because my PC as been screaming under the pressure. It has been a good workhorse but I need to go back to two screens now.

Americans: Over Sexed, Over Payed and Over here, Wat Wat!
October 14, 2017 at 9:05 am #12683
Dave Rice
Participant
@ricedg
Forumite Points: 7
AFAIK VGA + HDMI should be OK but I’ve never tried it.

An i5 should do all you want. It’s what Paul (Splott) went for a couple of years ago to replace his aging C2D PC for web design and I didn’t hear him moaning after that ? It’s certainly in a different league to the AMDs you were looking at.

Sorry I couldn’t comment at the time, I was still in Amsterdam with only the phone.
October 14, 2017 at 10:59 am #12684
RSB
Keymaster
@bdthree
Forumite Points: 5,185
Is there going to be any issues with Linux mint and the uefi ? Never come across it before apart from a laptop I have but I turn it off on that. That shows how old my PC’s are. I really do not liking spending on computers. They use to interest me but all my interests are web based now. Still, it needed to be done, it is the tools of my trade.

Americans: Over Sexed, Over Payed and Over here, Wat Wat!
October 14, 2017 at 4:49 pm #12699
Dave Rice
Participant
@ricedg
Forumite Points: 7
Ubuntu knows all about UEFI and has done since before W8 brought it to the masses.

Now Windows can be got so cheaply I haven’t used any Linux for ages (today I paid £3.49 for W10 Pro and £3.99 for Office 2016 Pro+). But when I did I don’t recall any problems in that direction and that would have been an Ubuntu or Mint LTS.
October 14, 2017 at 4:53 pm #12700
RSB
Keymaster
@bdthree
Forumite Points: 5,185
Can you send a link to them two Licences. May put Linux in a vm or the other way round.

Americans: Over Sexed, Over Payed and Over here, Wat Wat!
October 14, 2017 at 4:56 pm #12701
Dave Rice
Participant
@ricedg
Forumite Points: 7
W10 Pro http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322782379274

O 2016 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322705835866
October 14, 2017 at 5:00 pm #12702
RSB
Keymaster
@bdthree
Forumite Points: 5,185
Cheers.

Americans: Over Sexed, Over Payed and Over here, Wat Wat!
October 14, 2017 at 6:54 pm #12706
Dave Rice
Participant
@ricedg
Forumite Points: 7
Just activated them both, no problems. Not had a problem with these types of E-Bay purchases at all.

I love it, it’s made my system building competitive again. People can now have what they need not the closest approximation. HDDs still rule at the bottom end of pre-built PCs which is mad.
October 14, 2017 at 9:23 pm #12715
The Duke
Participant
@sgb101
Forumite Points: 5
At sub £4 for office, it seems rude not to. Grabbed one to check it out. Shame it doesn’t work on mac too! Sadly we have a mac invasion under way at my house atm. Two imac and now two mac laptops!

Dave I hope you refuse to but hdds in as primary drives. Actually I think there is a law against it.
Author

Posts

Viewing 20 posts - 1 through 20 (of 31 total)

1 2 →

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.