[SOLVED] Looking for a budget PC?

[jameshunt614]

Hi. So long story short, I destroyed my desktop PC by downloading a piece of software to update drivers and somehow accidentally downloaded a piece of malicious Japanese software in the process. The PC is still at my brothers house pending repair.

Anyway, seeing as it is very unlikely that my PC will ever be repaired, I have been looking on eBay for a not-too-expensive replacement. I was thinking about getting it done before Christmas but obviously that option has gone out of the window now.


The minimum requirements would be:

Intel i3 processor
4GB RAM
250 GB HDD
Integrated Intel HD Graphics (I game occasionally but not that often).


The ideal specifications would be:

Intel i5 processor
8GB RAM
1tb HDD
Dedicated graphics: Nvidia 750 or higher


I have seen quite a lot of cheap second-hand/refurbished desktops made by the major PC manufacturers, such as Dell, Stone, HP etc on eBay.

I have come down to two options.

1. Get a PC that meets at least the minimum but ideally the ideal specifications. Maybe add a graphics card later as most PC’s sold on eBay don’t have one.

2. Buy a low spec PC (eg 4GB ram but only Core 2 Duo for example) for cheaper but then buy an i5 or more ram etc off eBay and upgrade the PC.


I am wondering which option you guys think would be best. I am thinking of buying the Intel i5 4460 if the PC has a processor slower/less powerful than that. The reason I choose the i5 4460 is that it is quite a good processor and I have watched some YouTube videos showing the noise the fan makes when it starts up which sounds pretty cool.


Anyway, here’s what I found so far. Some of the PCs are the traditional tower type, some are Small Form Factor (SFF). Wondering what you guys think?



Computer 1 - 3.2GHz CORE i5-4570 DELL 9020 GAMING COMPUTER TOWER PC 500GB HD 4GB DDR3 WIN 10

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-2GHz-CORE-i5-4570-DELL-9020-GAMING-COMPUTER-TOWER-PC-500GB-HD-4GB-DDR3-WIN-10/292846373375?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3Deb600c6b48974a5aad200e8ea0e14632%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D273614889559%26itm%3D292846373375&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851



Computer 2 - FAST GAMING DELL BUNDLE TOWER PC SET COMPUTER SYSTEM QUAD CORE 8GB 1TB 2GB GT710

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FAST-GAMING-DELL-BUNDLE-TOWER-PC-SET-COMPUTER-SYSTEM-QUAD-CORE-8GB-1TB-2GB-GT710/254001089948?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3D1ddb365fcf374014b7ceb8e3fa70875c%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D292846373375%26itm%3D254001089948&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851



Computer 3 - Stone-211 Tower PC 2GB Ram 160GB HDD Intel Core 2 Duo With OS windows 7 Select

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stone-211-Tower-PC-2GB-Ram-160GB-HDD-Intel-Core-2-Duo-With-OS-windows-7-Select/192451468949?var=492468048309&hash=item2ccf005e95:m:mwutRSXwNui6-SIYONnmVTw



Computer 4 - Stone PC-1103 Core 2 Duo desktop PC - 2.93 GHZ/4GB/250GB/Windows 10 Pro

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stone-pc-1103-core-2-duo-desktop-pc-2-93GHz-4GB-250GB-windows-10-pro/183351876905?hash=item2ab09f9d29:g:vH8AAOSwrh5bXzJo



Computer 5 - Stone 1103 SFF Desktop PC Computer - i3 3.1GHz,8 GB RAM, 320 HDD, Window 10 Prof

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stone-1103-SFF-Desktop-PC-Computer-i3-3-1GHz-8-GB-RAM-320-HDD-Window-10-Prof/223132538671?hash=item33f3bc572f:g:7KAAAOSwIJdbkELa



Computer 6 - HP Compaq dc7900 SFF 4GB 80GB Intel Core 2 Computer PC Desktop

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HP-Compaq-dc7900-SFF-4GB-80GB-Intel-Core-2-Computer-PC-Desktop/254033325615?hash=item3b2590ee2f:g:yMAAAOSwa3Fb7FjJ



Computer 7 - HP Z220 Workstation SFF Desktop PC Quad Core i7-3770 3.4GHz 8GB/16GB RAM HDD/SSD

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HP-Z220-Workstation-SFF-Desktop-PC-Quad-Core-i7-3770-3-4GHz-8GB-16GB-RAM-HDD-SSD/322977076274?hash=item4b32ef1432:m:myvlcJXZ0dwprCTA_OtFhuQ



Computer 8 - FULL DELL/HP Core i5 or Corei3 DESKTOP TOWER PC&LCD WIN10 &16GB 3TB OR 240GB SSD

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FULL-DELL-HP-Core-i5-or-Corei3-DESKTOP-TOWER-PC-LCD-WIN10-16GB-3TB-OR-240GB-SSD/222881496756?hash=item33e4c5beb4:m:mlmjp19yQDaRwTErcLNmOEA



Computer 9 - HP Compaq Elite 8300 SFF Desktop Office PC Build to Your Own Specifications

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-SFF-Desktop-Office-PC-Build-to-Your-Own-Specifications/223282991428?_trkparms=aid%3D555017%26algo%3DPL.CASSINI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D55148%26meid%3D286a1050a6ea41dead3716ccb89b4b05%26pid%3D100505%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26%26itm%3D223282991428&_trksid=p2045573.c100505.m3226



Computer 10 - HP Elite 8300 USFF Intel Core i5 4GB 500GB Windows 10 Desktop PC WiFi

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HP-Elite-8300-USFF-Intel-Core-i5-4GB-500GB-Windows-10-Desktop-PC-WiFi/264023479763?_trkparms=aid%3D555017%26algo%3DPL.CASSINI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20151005190705%26meid%3D17c2b0ad50124897add80ea6708a6760%26pid%3D100506%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26%26itm%3D264023479763&_trksid=p2045573.c100506.m3226



Computer 11 - HP Elite 800 G1 USFF Desktop Win 10 Intel Core i5 4th Gen 2.9GHz, 4GB, 120G SSD

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HP-Elite-800-G1-USFF-Desktop-Win-10-Intel-Core-i5-4th-Gen-2-9GHz-4GB-120G-SSD/253961938125?hash=item3b214fa4cd:g:x~8AAOSwlkpb3DbY



Computer 12 - Dell Optiplex 7010 Intel Core i7-3770 @3.40GHz 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD & Windows 10 Pro

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dell-Optiplex-7010-Intel-Core-i7-3770-3-40GHz-8GB-RAM-1TB-HDD-Windows-10-Pro/192709065585?hash=item2cde5afb71:g:SwQAAOSw-GNb2usC



Computer 13 - FAST GAMING PC - Intel Quad Core CPU  GT740  8GB RAM  500GB HDD  Windows 10

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FAST-GAMING-PC-Intel-Quad-Core-CPU-GT740-8GB-RAM-500GB-HDD-Windows-10/173685369262?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3Dc09dfef079544f1c83fec62d120a15e9%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D192709065585%26itm%3D173685369262&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851



Computer 14 - FAST DELL QUAD CORE PC COMPUTER DESKTOP TOWER WINDOWS 10 WIFI 8GB RAM 1000GB HDD

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FAST-DELL-QUAD-CORE-PC-COMPUTER-DESKTOP-TOWER-WINDOWS-10-WIFI-8GB-RAM-1000GB-HDD/272212352402?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3De098543c3bd44c75bc9b7eed09f73361%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D173685369262%26itm%3D272212352402&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

 

[volkgren]

Software cannot (well, there are rare exceptions) physically destroy a system. You should be able to format and perform a clean install of the OS. It would be much easier and cheaper to install the free demo of Windows 10 on your old PC rather than buy a different one.

 

[jameshunt614]

RE: Grandmaster I have been through this already on this forum on previous threads. My PC CANNOT be fixed. Believe me, it’s been at my brothers house for months now. If a simple format and re-install was all it took, it would have been fixed months ago.

I still don’t know how Ive managed to do it but my brother is more knowledgeable than me with computers and according to him I somehow managed to download a malicious piece of Japanese software that has not only compromised my system but his OWN computer as well.

So I am looking for a new PC. Any suggestions?


Oh... and just so you all know, I detest Windows 10 with a passion. The GUI looks crap and looks as if it was designed for a tablet PC.

I will be installing Windows 7 or Windows XP POS 2009 Edition on my new PC if it doesn’t come with it already.

 

[hang-the-9]

If you are talking about this thread http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-3818552/low-budget.html there is nothing in there about info as to why your system is totally broken with this virus. You seem to have just left it with your brother who also does not seem to know what he is doing because working on your system, if done correctly, will do nothing to his.

Best thing to do is take your system back, boot off Windows setup media and run a clean setup of Windows on that. Get some adult help if you need it.

If you just want to get another one, it's pretty easy to look at the systems and pick the one with the better CPU and video card. Don't bother looking at Core 2 Duo systems or Core 2 Quads since your list includes at least one with an Intel i5 CPU.