I need help buying a new PC

MikeG

Now. Do it now.
MikeG
Joined
Sep 22, 2012
Messages
24,804
Location
UK
My 9 or 10 year old PC has got to go. I need a replacement, and I need some help, because I have no idea at all about these things.

I run Autocad and Photoshop, with the latter being secondary. I don't do gaming, or stream videos. Apparently I need 64 bits, but don't have a clue what this means. I very occasionally need to run CDs, mainly to retrieve old archived stuff. I do need lots of USB ports, and I guess it needs to run Windows 10. I don't really want to spend more than about £400.

What do I need, and where do I look?

Thanks in advance. :)
 
MikeG said:
My 9 or 10 year old PC has got to go. I need a replacement, and I need some help, because I have no idea at all about these things.

I run Autocad and Photoshop, with the latter being secondary. I don't do gaming, or stream videos. Apparently I need 64 bits, but don't have a clue what this means. I very occasionally need to run CDs, mainly to retrieve old archived stuff. I do need lots of USB ports, and I guess it needs to run Windows 10. I don't really want to spend more than about £400.

What do I need, and where do I look?

Thanks in advance. :)
Click to expand...

With those demands, go after the looks. What I mean is that you will be hard put to find a new PC that does NOT meet those requirements. Only problem might be "lots" of USB ports. Most laptops have around four, but you can get a small USB multiplier box (that's not what they are called, but..) very cheap. If you only use CDs occasionally, and are looking for a laptop, you might consider getting a nice slim and light one without the drive and then buy an external drive.

All will run Windows 10. Make sure to specify 64 bits, but it will not be a problem.

Do you plan on re-using your current monitor? In that case you need to make sure it is compatible. Should be no problem, but..

Hans
 
If your current PC is 9 years old, one thing that might affect you are your drivers and software compatibility. Which version of AutoCAD? Do you have a printer? Plotter? Scanner? You may or may not be able to get drivers for older peripherals, so upgrading your PC may entail upgrading other hardware and software as well.
 
Get a refurbished Lenovo ThinkCentre. No need to buy new PCs these days as processor power almost isn't an issue anymore. I have my eyes on something like this to soon replace my now easily over ten years old ThinkCentre (bought refurbished as well). That's obviously a shop in Germany (and not the one where I will buy mine, they are too 1337 to deliver with Win10 ;)), but there will be similar in the UK as well.
 
Ironically crashed (for the third time today!) immediately on posting that.........

Thanks for the responses. I no longer need a plotter, so that's not an issue. Printer.....yeah, I'm due a new one of those too. My current monitor is about 3 or 4 years old, so I assume that should be compatible. How could I tell?
 
Here are the Autocad system requirements:

Operating System
Microsoft® Windows® 10 (requires AutoCAD 2016 SP1)
Microsoft Windows 8/8.1
Microsoft Windows 7
CPU Type Minimum Intel® Pentium® 4 or AMD Athlon™ 64 processor
Memory For 32-bit AutoCAD 2016:
2 GB (3 GB recommended)
For 64-bit AutoCAD 2016:
4 GB (8 GB recommended)
Display Resolution 1024x768 (1600x1050 or higher recommended) with True Color
Display Card Windows display adapter capable of 1024x768 with True Color capabilities. DirectX® 9 or DirectX 11 compliant card recommended.
 
That computer should be fine (it's almost impossible to buy a new computer that doesn't fit your basic requirements), and the monitor should be fine as well. However, depending on how large or complex your CAD drawings are, you may want to see if they can chuck in a little more RAM. If you are using multiple layout tabs, or fancy annotation, AutoCAD can be a memory hog, even more so if you are using any of the rendering features.
 
:)

I've managed really well with 34GB for nigh on 10 years. I occasionally dump excess photos to an external hard drive. That capacity looks vast to me!!
 
MikeG said:
:)

I've managed really well with 34GB for nigh on 10 years. I occasionally dump excess photos to an external hard drive. That capacity looks vast to me!!
Click to expand...

in light of WannaCry ransomware worm, you should get win 10, and that requires more space than you might have used so far.

But in any case, it make sense to keep the SSD as empty as possible and move data to an HDD.
 
Hokulele said:
That computer should be fine (it's almost impossible to buy a new computer that doesn't fit your basic requirements), and the monitor should be fine as well. However, depending on how large or complex your CAD drawings are, you may want to see if they can chuck in a little more RAM. If you are using multiple layout tabs, or fancy annotation, AutoCAD can be a memory hog, even more so if you are using any of the rendering features.
Click to expand...

Excellent, thanks. Are you suggesting 16GB RAM?

On the same page is this with more RAM and 1TB harddrive, but what looks like a slower processor. Firstly, are there issues with refurbished machines? And secondly, would the slower processor be a problem?
 
The Great Zaganza said:
in light of WannaCry ransomware worm, you should get win 10, and that requires more space than you might have used so far..........
Click to expand...

Ah, right. I'd sort of assumed that the operating system would take much the same capacity as XP.
 
AutoCAD isn't processing intense. Revit is a little more processor dependent, but I assume you aren't using that. If it were a choice between more RAM and storage, or a faster processor, I would go with RAM/storage for your needs. The rule of thumb is processor speed for design calcs, RAM for drafting/rendering.

As long as the refurbished machine comes with a decent warranty, I wouldn't worry.
 
MikeG said:
:)

I've managed really well with 34GB for nigh on 10 years. I occasionally dump excess photos to an external hard drive. That capacity looks vast to me!!
Click to expand...

If you have a good external, then that 240GB SSD will be quite nice. Down the road you may want to get a new external before your old one bites it. They are cheap as chips.

I don't know anything about that brand.
 
Dr. Keith said:
If you have a good external, then that 240GB SSD will be quite nice. Down the road you may want to get a new external before your old one bites it. They are cheap as chips.

I don't know anything about that brand.
Click to expand...

I was so sure you were going to suggest I make a new one myself out of wood....... :D
 
Hokulele said:
AutoCAD isn't processing intense. Revit is a little more processor dependent, but I assume you aren't using that. If it were a choice between more RAM and storage, or a faster processor, I would go with RAM/storage for your needs. The rule of thumb is processor speed for design calcs, RAM for drafting/rendering.
As long as the refurbished machine comes with a decent warranty, I wouldn't worry.
Click to expand...

Brilliant advice. Thanks for this. That's gone on a post-it note on the wall.
 
MikeG said:
I was so sure you were going to suggest I make a new one myself out of wood....... :D
Click to expand...

I assumed it would be installed in a new case with proper dovetail joinery. You really need me to suggest it?

The SSD does make a huge difference in the user experience and I would push the ram as far as you can in your budget. But I defer to Hoke and others who actually know what they are talking about.

Is this to run the air horns? Will the ducks even hear them from your office?
 
since your old machine lasted that long, you might consider just getting a good Mini-PC if you know you won't tinker with the components later - smaller, quieter, usually cheaper.
 
The Great Zaganza said:
since your old machine lasted that long, you might consider just getting a good Mini-PC if you know you won't tinker with the components later - smaller, quieter, usually cheaper.
Click to expand...

I don't even know what one of these is. Could you link to something?
 
Dr. Keith said:
I assumed it would be installed in a new case with proper dovetail joinery. You really need me to suggest it?

The SSD does make a huge difference in the user experience and I would push the ram as far as you can in your budget. But I defer to Hoke and others who actually know what they are talking about.

Is this to run the air horns? Will the ducks even hear them from your office?
Click to expand...

:D:D Nom/ don't nom? I'll ponder a minute........
 
Build your own! I did it. It's fun, educational, and you end up with a clean machine that runs like a dream, free of bloatware! Join us, it's blisssssssss!
 
Ill add (although you are probably already aware) that the current versions of photoshop are subscription only. So if you were using an older version that you didn't have to pay for monthly I would look at salvaging that.
 
Your budget is somewhat limiting. My advice would be to prioritise power supply (PSU) over nice-to-haves like solid state discs (SSDs). I would never go for a refurb, you just don't know what you're getting, but that's up to you. After exhaustive research of UK suppliers (and several purchases) I recommended UK Gaming Computers. Click on one of those and you can configure pretty much anything. These guys are the business.
 
If you buy a refurbished Lenovo ThinkCentre you know what you get: A Lenovo ThinkCentre. A seller of refurbished computers who grants a decent warranty will be as interested as you are in quality, that's why the successful ones often have a very limited offer of brands, and Lenovo (formerly IBM) is usually prominent among them.
 
MikeG said:
Ironically crashed (for the third time today!) immediately on posting that.........

Thanks for the responses. I no longer need a plotter, so that's not an issue. Printer.....yeah, I'm due a new one of those too. My current monitor is about 3 or 4 years old, so I assume that should be compatible. How could I tell?
Click to expand...

Our latest Win10 laptop has ONLY HDMI for external video. The monitor I got for another machine three or four years ago has RGB and DVI. That's not a deal breaker as you can get an HDMI to DVI cable -- they're electrically compatible but have different connectors. If your monitor has only old fashioned analog RGB, you could be out of luck. Worth checking.

Interestingly, the laptop itself has 4K resolution, but if I send it to a bigger monitor via HDMI, it seems to be only 1080P.
 
Interesting that the phenomenal requirements I looked for years ago are now basic, standard stuff. I might have to look at a new one, too.

But it's such a pain to transfer all the programs. Yes, I occasionally like to go back and play something from 2003.
 
TragicMonkey said:
Build your own! I did it. It's fun, educational, and you end up with a clean machine that runs like a dream, free of bloatware! Join us, it's blisssssssss!
Click to expand...

The wooden box is the bit I would do well. The rest.............I have no idea at all how these damn things work. There is a genie inside somewhere, isn't there?
 
baron said:
Your budget is somewhat limiting. My advice would be to prioritise power supply (PSU) over nice-to-haves like solid state discs (SSDs). I would never go for a refurb, you just don't know what you're getting, but that's up to you. After exhaustive research of UK suppliers (and several purchases) I recommended UK Gaming Computers. Click on one of those and you can configure pretty much anything. These guys are the business.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll have a look.
 
MikeG said:
The wooden box is the bit I would do well. The rest.............I have no idea at all how these damn things work. There is a genie inside somewhere, isn't there?
Click to expand...

Just be sure not to release the magic smoke that makes it all work!
 
Just make sure that whatever computer you do buy has some USB ports up front. This is so that if someone gives you a thumb drive and says look at these photos you can plug it in, look at the photos and then hand it back without moving from your chair. Ditto with anything else you only want connected to the computer for a short time such as backup drives.
 
Can I possibly be the first person to say "get an iMac"?

I was a rusted on Windows user for many years. It took me a while to adopt a computer which simply does everything you need with no fuss whatsoever.
 
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