Need a New Computer for a Client

[NETWizz]

I am looking for a slick deal for a client. I am NOT being a middle-man... just making an recommendation.

Requirements are that it is a desktop preferably plain without monitor. I want it to be Intel, with an Intel Northbridge and Southbridge chipset, but it doesn’t need to be a top-of-the line i7. It doesn’t need a separate graphics card or any really costly options. That said, I would like it to come with about 16 gigabytes of RAM; since, 8 is gigabytes isn’t really enough. I want it to be a quiet machine with hopefully minimal quiet fans.

Windows 10

The use case here is it is for the client’s 70ish year old mother. She does word processing, gets her email, and browses the Internet.

Currently she is on an old Pentium Core-Duo of some kind. I am not even sure it is a Core2-Duo. I really did not look further but her current computer is from 2005ish, and he is asking for an upgrade. Ordinary, I would recommend an SSD as an upgrade along with an upgrade to Windows 10, but in this case obviously a new PC is the correct recommendation.

 

[timeshifter]

https://www.costco.com/dell-inspiro...n-intel-core-i5--1080p.product.100513788.html

24" All in One, i5, 12GB RAM, 256GB SSD. I've installed a few and recommended these to others. Nice little, simple systems. Currently $849. Have been on sale for $649 and $749.

 

[Porthos]

Does it need to be new? Some clients are picky that way.

 

[NETWizz]

Does it need to be new? Some clients are picky that way.

Yes. I can not recommend otherwise most of the time. That said please not an All In One... no monitor was the request

 

[timeshifter]

All in One or regular desktop, if the monitor is as old as the PC I'd be recommending a new one.

 

[NETWizz]

All in One or regular desktop, if the monitor is as old as the PC I'd be recommending a new one.

The monitor is not all that old. It is already about a 27"; hence, no monitor requested.

 

[Markverhyden]

I'm always for supporting the local brick and mortar where possible. So I just did a search at staples.com for product they stock locally. The prices aren't exactly a bargain. My preference is for Dell and HP, but I don't really like the consumer machines.

They had a HP Slimline 290, with an i3, and it's $470. Of course I don't window shop much so I don't know if the prices got jacked up.

I do know you can get HP and Dell factory refurbs at a discount that also come with a full one year warranty.

This link is for HP business refurb with some pretty good prices. But no mention of warranty.

 

[nlinecomputers]

You should make sure you only get a system with an SSD. If you really want a fast system the hard drive is the bottleneck. Other than that almost any system will do fine. Obviously you get more longevity with a business class machine but you pay for that. A business refurb is a good compromise in price and reliability IMO.

 

[HCHTech]

The monitor is not all that old. It is already about a 27"; hence, no monitor requested.

Don't forget to confirm the computer you recommend has the correct video output to match the monitor.

How about THIS one?

 

[NETWizz]

Don't forget to confirm the computer you recommend has the correct video output to match the monitor.

How about THIS one?

Yeah something like that will work perfect.

The monitor they have has both HDMI and Display Port on it, so all should be good with any modern video output. If push comes to shove, I will eat a **** sandwich on this one and provide the $11 cable out-of-pocket being I am going to be charging about $100 to $150 to transfer everything over being it is on-site and I know them well. It's a discounted rate, BUT if my recommendation is missing something minor, I will make good by the customer.

That said, I am NOT re-selling the computer. Not making so much as $1 there. This also means it is not my problem if something goes wrong with it. If I am going to be the one called out to fix it for free, then I would re-sell it and mark it up.

I think it will be okay though because the last one is certainly 2005ish, and it is still going strong, so obviously it gets used to read emails from church on Sunday ;-)

 

[brandonkick]

The requirements and the use case in the first post don't really seem to match.... 16GB of ram for a word processor, internet browser and email checker? I'd even argue the SSD isn't necessary, but they are so cheap and so many machines just have em these days that it'd be silly not too.... plus if it's a machine I might ever have to work on that is reason enough alone.

Sounds like anything just beyond the $249 wal-mart specials with an SSD should be fine.

Shame they won't consider used either. Plenty of nice Optiplex machines that could be had for $150 on eBay that fit the use case perfectl.

 

[MDD1963]

Finally a potential use-case for an Intel 8100/9100 (or even 8400/9400 if on sale on a B365 board...?) Quad cores are considered useless by many, but, with a good low price, they can certainly fulfill email/surfing/solitaire needs for most...

No one likes paying for Noctua heat sinks, but, darn.... they are VERY quiet!

For goodness sake, put an SSD in it...! (My own 77 year old mother is again quite impressed with her old i7-2700 with a fresh Win10 install on the economical Crucial MX500, of which the 500 GB variant was more than enough for her!)