So What Desktop Would You Buy?
I'm looking into buying a new desktop and wondered what other WA users use. I have always purchased Dell computers and at present I'm using a Dell Latitude E 6540 with an Intel i5 processor and 16 GB of RAM on Windows 10. This laptop has been exceptionally good and after five years it still runs perfectly.
I'm currently looking at a Dell XPS desktop model with a Intel i7 processor 16 GB of RAM, which I will upgrade to 64 GB, and also has 2 TB of storage. I'm looking for something long lasting and powerful where I can add extra memory if required.
I was thinking about a i9 processor, but a friend told me that there have been some security issues with these processes and because of this they can lose 40% of the power which actually defeats the object of purchasing an i9 processor in the first place!
I wonder what desktop computer you use and what your experience has been please? I guess many of us use laptops including myself, I love the portability of a laptop. However, I'm looking for something where I can have something permanent on my office desk with two screens, I will obviously keep the laptop for moving around.
Thank you for reading.
Roy
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I have the Dell XPS with the i7 and I love it. Not being a tech wiz I also did purchase the tech support for 5 years which is fabulous when I have an issue or just a question about the computer and or any of the software. It was a bit pricy when I got it but well worth it.
Hello Darlene,
Thank you for taking the time to reply to my blog post, I do appreciate it.
Incidentally, I was looking at the Intel i7 processor, the computer comes with 16 GB of RAM but I will upgrade it to 64 GB. Apparently, Dell used to build to your own spec, however, I guess this was probably to uneconomic for them, but at least they provide the space to upgrade.
They offer four years of support here in the UK, I guess the warranty may vary from country to country.
I hear you regarding the price, my laptop wasn't cheap, but was actually worth every penny for the amount it gets used and the trouble-free running over the past five years.
Wishing you every success Darlene.
Roy
Yes, I also got the 64 bit and love it. I also decided to get 2 monitors as it makes it easier to have both screens on with stuff open esp when I am doing research for a post. Good luck with your purchase.
This is going to sound silly, but whenever I buy a PC, I prefer a gaming one.
Mainly because they have more power, memory, and capabilities than all the other PCs. You don’t have to worry about graphics cards either so if your work requires any graphic design, you know the PC can handle it.
If I see Nvidia or Radeon graphics cards on a computer, I already know that it can handle monumental tasks.
You can use the PC for games if you want, but they are perfect if you use them for business. Anything you do that isn’t game related will be a walk in the park for a gaming PC. Not to mention that they are long lasting
The two main issues are that they look a little childish and that they are more expensive than the other PCs. The prices have dropped drastically over the years though.
Hello Ibrahim,
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment on my blog post, I do appreciate it.
I understand fully what you're saying as initially, I didn't look at the Dell XPS model as I thought it was a gaming computer! However, after doing some research and speaking to Dell it seems like a great product for someone like myself who wants a powerful computer.
I just checked the spec out and it does come with an Nvidia graphics card, which is good news.
I have never actually tried using a game on a computer, however, it does give peace of mind knowing that this type of machine can handle most tasks.
Thank you for your help and have a great day.
Roy
Sounds like you know a thing or two! I have just a few tips. First of all, get yourself an SSD. They are significantly faster than hard drives, and will speed up your whole system. If you don't know what they are, just Google it, there are tons of articles online. They are a little more expensive, though, so some people (like me!) use a small (200 gb) SSD for main programs, and then a larger hard drive for extra storage. Regarding the i9, they are more powerful than i7, but unless you do stuff on your computer that will benefit from every last drop of performance, it's not really necessary, and they cost a lot more. The security issues did in fact cause most Intel processors to lose some performance, but it's not a whole lot, and most people won't even notice a difference. Also, for your processor, instead of i7 or i9, look into AMD Ryzen processors (e.g. Ryzen 7), as they are just as good, if not better than Intel (e.g. i7) and are usually cheaper.
Happy shopping!
P. S. I myself actually built my own computer. It's a great learning experience, and it's quite satisfying, but if you're looking for reliability and technical support down the line, stick with Dell. There are also some companies, notably Maingear and Origin, that make computers that are usually more expensive, but they look nicer and their customer support is a lot better.
Hello Manu,
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog post, I do appreciate it.
I hear what you're saying big time, very helpful indeed to have the confirmation. The desktop that I'm looking at has a 512 GB SSD and then a traditional 2 TB hard drive, so I'm assuming it saves to be SSD first and then the hard drive works in the background?
It's interesting what you said about the Intel processors as my laptop was not running 100% due to the CPU running high which I thought was probably a Windows 10 issue, but maybe it was Windows 10 trying to protect the system. This was happening I guess about six months ago.
I have looked into AMD processors and I believe they are very good and help to keep Intel on their toes! However, it doesn't appear that Dell fit these processors on the particular models I am looking at.
It's interesting that you have built your own computer, it is something that I would really like to do, however, I don't have the expertise or knowledge or time at the moment! Maybe it is something that I can do at a later date, as you mention, I can imagine it can be extremely satisfying and rewarding and a great learning curve too. I do also like the idea of technical support, especially when I'm trying to get things done quickly.
I wish you every success and thank you so much for taking the time to reply.
Roy
Thank you!
Let me explain the SSD a little more. It doesn't take the place of RAM, which is your computer's short-term memory. Instead, it offers faster long-term storage for things that need it. When you get the computer, Windows 10 will be on the SSD, which will make your computer boot faster, run faster, etc. The rest of the SSD's space, you would use mostly just for programs, which will load faster and run better because of the SSD. The hard drive is for storage of stuff that don't need the fast speeds an SSD offers, or for very large files and programs that will waste all of the SSD's space, so all your pictures, documents, large games, etc. should go on the hard drive.
When you save things to your computer, you can generally choose whether you want to save to the SSD, or to the hard drive. It makes no difference to your computer, which just thinks that you have 2 drives attached, one larger than the other. But to you it does, because the SSD is faster, but has less available space.
Thank you for wanting to know more about your computer! So many people take these amazing machines for granted, we should all do our best to learn more about them.
All the best.
In a previous life, as a side hobby/hustle (for want of a better word) I used buy old desktops and laptops and refurbish them. This happened more through luck as I won an auction for ten desktops that had been stripped, ready to sell the parts. The owner had obviously given up on the idea, so it was left to me to try and put them back together in the hope of recouping my outlay.
My 'drive' for doing this wasn't for the money, quite the opposite. I wanted to be able to show that you could have a quite capable computer for very little cost. I didn't like how they were being sold through the mainstream outlets. 80% of most computers capabilities were not being utilised by the user.
I have carried on with that 'thinking' to the present day, in so much as the one I'm currently using does what I ask of it. (Packard Bell OneTwo M3700 Dual-core 2.3Ghz 3GB Ram)
I'm sure there will come a time when I need more processing power or memory, maybe once I get into video editing but for now it's adequate. The majority of the software is 'Open Source'
My laboured point is that I look at systems now from a reverse angle. What don't I need and work backwards from there.
I've always found Dell to be reliable with a great support set up.
I like your idea of buying with a view to upgrade. Some motherboards with allow for better processors as well as ram.
A desktop with a separate 'Video card' takes some of the pressure off the system, worth bearing in mind maybe.
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog post and also giving me a very comprehensive and interesting answer.
I have always liked the idea of trying to build my own desktop computer, maybe it's a project the future, I do find the subject very fascinating! It is very interesting in what you are doing, I'm sure if you have the knowledge you could build quite a powerful desktop computer for not very much money, I'm sure all the parts are available individually.
I have always been someone who likes machinery overpowered and over-the-top build quality rather than the other way round! Normally when I upgrade a computer it is because I need more power, having said this my laptop is very capable, there are just a few occasions when I'm uploading to YouTube video and for example, I might want to use Dragon NaturallySpeaking at the same time, which takes a reasonable amount of power.
Apparently, Dell can supply a desktop in different size cases, I will go for the largest case as space is not an issue and I like the idea of having space to add an extra hard drive et cetera.
Thank you for mentioning the video card, I will look into this.
Wishing you all the best.
Roy
All good. Plenty of info through other comments as well, great response. I hope you do a follow up with the spec that you decide on, interesting to see how it improves your user experience, as it were.
Hello Jim,
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog post, I appreciate it.
My first two PCs were desktops, back in 2001. It's interesting that you use mainly your phone, I try and avoid using my phone for Internet stuff unless I really have to, I just find it too fiddly and slow! However, my wife uses her smartphone more than her laptop, different things work for different people.
Enjoy the rest of your day.
Roy
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog post Sandikazi. I have never owned the Lenovo but have always imagined them to be very good computers, I'm glad that XPS is working well.
Enjoy your day.
Roy
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I have used Dell and HP desktops in the past although the one I am now using was custom made. There is such a choice these days. I have SSD and standard hard drives.
Derek
Hello Derek,
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog post, I do appreciate it.
Did you prefer the Dell or the HP Derek? Out of interest how did you go about having a custom machine created?
James has given a very interesting answer below.
Have a very good day thank you for your help.
Roy
I just Googled computers UK and checked out prices of ready-made and custom made machines Roy. I then adjusted the spec to what I could comfortably afford while getting the best possible machine.
As I have monitors mice and keyboards I didn't replace them. I am more than happy with my purchase and I got a machine that is good for my use.
Derek
Thank you for your reply, Derek. This sounds like a very good idea, especially as you didn't need keyboards and screens et cetera. I will take a look into this, your advice is appreciated.
Enjoy the rest of your evening.
Roy