Small, cheap System. HELP!

Pickers · 04-04-2012, 13:57

Hey guys!

Im so out of the loop these days with computing, that I would appreciate some help from guys that know their thing - thats YOU!

Basically, we are accumulating a lot of photos that would be devestating to lose, and I've been using my Dell Studio 1557 and a couple of external backup drives for everything for over 2 years now.

I just thought it may be useful to once again delve back into the desktop market and hope to pick up something reasonable for not a lot in small form factor (I've seen some really slim ones around now, but a shuttle cube thing would be about right if it permits a stabler, smoother, faster machine)

Im not looking for a high powered beast, but something which can handle accessing a myriad of folders containing photos, office documents and things and smoothly running windows. So a large size fast access HDD would be great.
I dont intend to be doing any gaming per se on it so graphics arent really a concern, although photo image processing could happen a bit. But if it could run Steam games then that might be nice for a little fps one in a blue moon!
Im beyond the desire to build systems now (cos I always end up with problems) so a ready built thing minus peripherals would be ideal.

In short, my Dell laptop (i7 1.60 GhZ, 4 Gig ram, ATI moblity radeon HD4570) does what I want, but may be aging, so a permanent desktop replacement would be 'ansome.

I cant afford to break the bank, am I expecting too much for around the £200 mark?
I have BT home hub which has a USB port so I could stick a HDD into that for central file storage, but tbh my computing days are behind me and I just want something quick and easy to maintain.

God I'm a fussy sod!

04-04-2012, 13:57	#1
Pickers Absinthe Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cornwall Posts: 2,692	Small, cheap System. HELP! Hey guys! Im so out of the loop these days with computing, that I would appreciate some help from guys that know their thing - thats YOU! Basically, we are accumulating a lot of photos that would be devestating to lose, and I've been using my Dell Studio 1557 and a couple of external backup drives for everything for over 2 years now. I just thought it may be useful to once again delve back into the desktop market and hope to pick up something reasonable for not a lot in small form factor (I've seen some really slim ones around now, but a shuttle cube thing would be about right if it permits a stabler, smoother, faster machine) Im not looking for a high powered beast, but something which can handle accessing a myriad of folders containing photos, office documents and things and smoothly running windows. So a large size fast access HDD would be great. I dont intend to be doing any gaming per se on it so graphics arent really a concern, although photo image processing could happen a bit. But if it could run Steam games then that might be nice for a little fps one in a blue moon! Im beyond the desire to build systems now (cos I always end up with problems) so a ready built thing minus peripherals would be ideal. In short, my Dell laptop (i7 1.60 GhZ, 4 Gig ram, ATI moblity radeon HD4570) does what I want, but may be aging, so a permanent desktop replacement would be 'ansome. I cant afford to break the bank, am I expecting too much for around the £200 mark? I have BT home hub which has a USB port so I could stick a HDD into that for central file storage, but tbh my computing days are behind me and I just want something quick and easy to maintain. God I'm a fussy sod! __________________ Pictures