Help me choose my first computer!

Avenger · Posted Sat 17 Jun, 2023 8:29 AM

Hi everyone,

I’ve not PC or console gamed in years and frankly have no idea

a friend at Overclockers UK told me the cheapest I can get is £1300

i only want to play ST:Online, ST:Infinite etc and use it for things like MS word etc

I was hoping to spend £600 max - UK only machines obviously

not bothered whether it’s a laptop or a desktop - I just haven’t the foggiest where to start or what sort of capability of machine I will need to run these games without it being clunky and laggy!

please advise!

Jestersmith · Posted Sat 17 Jun, 2023 8:48 AM

Building or Buying

Avenger · Posted Sat 17 Jun, 2023 9:08 AM

Buying sorry! I don’t rate myself building anything! Lol

Jestersmith · Posted Sat 17 Jun, 2023 10:21 AM

Thats why he quotes so much then desktops will push up more if you also need things like monitor kb and mouse and so on you APU Can bring price down also that will allow for upgrading as you go along with things like adding a GPU and Better CPU

Desktops
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ocuk-...fs-1eu-og.html is something to get you up and running

https://www.ebuyer.com/1695584-xenta...m-rtx-xg-d5062

Laptops
https://www.amazon.co.uk/HP-15-fb002...995850&sr=8-11

https://www.amazon.co.uk/MEDION-ERAZ...996158&sr=8-14

Petrarch · Posted Sat 17 Jun, 2023 11:12 AM

Something else to bear in mind depending on what you're thinking, I read last night a rumour that Intel will be doing a product refresh in October so if that plays out, it could help push the prices down a bit of the older chips if you're not looking for top flight parts.

Avenger · Posted Sun 18 Jun, 2023 7:56 AM

It might be worth mentioning I have no existing system, I have literally nothing so upgrades are out of the question it would have to be totally new for everything!

- - - Updated - - -

would you recommend desktop over laptop? Or is the performance about the same do you think?

Originally Posted by Jestersmith

Thats why he quotes so much then desktops will push up more if you also need things like monitor kb and mouse and so on you APU Can bring price down also that will allow for upgrading as you go along with things like adding a GPU and Better CPU

Desktops
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ocuk-...fs-1eu-og.html is something to get you up and running

https://www.ebuyer.com/1695584-xenta...m-rtx-xg-d5062

Laptops
https://www.amazon.co.uk/HP-15-fb002...995850&sr=8-11

https://www.amazon.co.uk/MEDION-ERAZ...996158&sr=8-14

Bedders · Posted Sun 18 Jun, 2023 11:57 AM

In terms of laptop vs desktop:
If you don't need the portability, you will get more power for your money with a desktop. In addition, you can choose display and keyboard much easier than on a laptop where they're fixed.

Avenger · Posted Sun 18 Jun, 2023 2:36 PM

I have a desk in my office, you’d recommend a tower then?

Originally Posted by Bedders

In terms of laptop vs desktop:
If you don't need the portability, you will get more power for your money with a desktop. In addition, you can choose display and keyboard much easier than on a laptop where they're fixed.

Novalance · Posted Sun 18 Jun, 2023 3:22 PM

I'd like to weigh in and say desktops the way to go for games like STO. if your playing any MMO you tend to stay in one spot for along time and having a desk and a chair to sit at I have found infinitely more comfortable than handling a laptop. I recently Upgraded my Entire rig. Built it myself after watching some videos on Youtube and getting advice from friends. Honestly it was so much easier than you would think, it also saved me alot of money by not getting a pre-built.
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/FxtpZw
Hope that link works, its a rough list of the parts I'm currently running (changed the ram for the non RGB Version to shave off about £50 from the total and I paid alot more for the RX 6650XT than they cost nowadays!)
Seriously I cannot stress how easy this was to put together by someone with relatively little experience like myself!

*edit* forgot to mention this PC is also very capable as a workstation, MS Word, Multiple Webtabs, and media playing while you work is a breeze, thing doesn't even break a sweat!

Jestersmith · Posted Sun 18 Jun, 2023 4:13 PM

I agree with what Bedders says

Ah Mentioned User Novalance am I a friend

Something a little more future-proof with AM5 CPU and DDR 5 also includes a Monitor

Take the monitor off and the price is a little closer to Novas still costing more at £880 but £1025 Throw a cheap mechanical Amazon kb @ £20 and a mouse you can get some decent branded mice for £20 so looking £40 all in on them and you got something that will last a while and again a little cheaper again but still more than Novas with a slightly better CPU

AM4 5800X https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/znK3Vw

AM5 7600 https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/TjhtVw This has a cheaper board in the A620 but I doubt you plan on overclocking it has a few other limitations but none that I suspect you would be overly bothered over

And this can be changed at a later date also when better boards are cheaper or you see a bargain to replace it with.

Jestersmith · Posted Sun 18 Jun, 2023 5:25 PM

links should work now

Arlu3n · Posted Sun 18 Jun, 2023 9:28 PM

Building yourself is 100% the way I recommend too. Just as Novalance said, it's actually not that complicated. And it will drop the price, because pre-built computers spike the prices because they can just set the price they want, justified or not.

Just keep in mind that you will need to spend additional money on peripherals, such as monitor, kb and mouse. Jestersmith already has a monitor included in the partpicker link.

Novalance · Posted Mon 19 Jun, 2023 8:39 AM

Just a side note, Prebuilds are shipped complete. they put some kind of foam packing inside the Tower to protect the components but i've seen many a video where they have still arrived damaged, which was the 2nd reason I decided to build my own, 1st reason was it was cheaper!

Jestersmith · Posted Tue 20 Jun, 2023 7:57 AM

Just to throw a spanner in the works if you really are concerned with building and want to get a pre-built this is a decent offer

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/scan...0b3a1da6cd933a

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