Anyone bougnt one of these recently?
Was thinking aboiut buying an i5 based one direct from HP and then adding a 3D graphics card at a later date.
What's the hardware quality like these days and do the chassis have room for expansion?
It's been a while since I've considered any off the shelf systems.
If you check the specs adding a graphics card should not be a problem later (Although I remember the days where they took out the PCI/AGP card slot to save money!!!).
Brand built PCs tend to have horrid motherboards though IMO.
Do you have a link for the one your looking at? Have you not built PCs in the past? Why the change from a custom jobby? :D
I do have the skills to build one but the main reason I don't is you have to spend weeks and expense if a part is DOA
I wouldn't even dream of buying an overpriced mass produced "brand" PC over a cheaper higher quality self built PC. God only knows what spec of motherboard and PSU are chucked into those HP's.
If you must buy something pre-built then at least buy it from the likes of Scan or PC Specialist.
Yep, just was thinking of keeping the initial cost down.
You do know that's HOW HP works right?
Initial costs = low
Warranty, insurance, service agreement = massive!
:laugh:
Why do you think they nearly went 100% service and zero product?
PS, mind you, I never had a problem with them except for drivers. However, that was cos I got the nice quality model. Not sure about others as, for example, works PCs died at about 1 or two a week in a 300 PC office. :/
I bought a HP computer under 4 years ago. Eventually I upgraded the memory, moved from Vista to Windows 7 and fitted a good quality graphics card. The mother board is a Asus and everything was built to a high standard. I'm tempted to buy a new machine and I am looking at HP factory refurbs on Ebay as that is the way I bought my old one. I have not even considered moving away from HP. ;D
I did a bit of reading following my post here, turns out having a system built is cheaper than the one I was looking at.
Also looks like there's some issues with the motherboard which is manufactured by a company called Pegatron (is it just me that thinks of Transformers :D) related to fan control and excessive noise.
The company is a spin off of Asustek which do make terrrific motherboards (have one in my current rig)
I shall probably go to Scan in the end as I've been down the road of trying to buy a cheap PC and ended up 400 quid the poorer because Fujitsu Siemens refused to replace the motherboard.
Well, with things like the motherboard that is the concern really. I think it was Dell home PCs and HP work PCs that always died. Who knows, the Dell Work PCs and HP home PCs could have been fine... :laugh:
I'd never recommend a self built to someone who does not know how to do it. But then I'd never recommend a shop built to someone who does! For example, how many BMW executive do you think drive Micras? :whistle:
Quote from: Technical Ben on Feb 03, 2012, 15:15:57
I'd never recommend a self built to someone who does not know how to do it. But then I'd never recommend a shop built to someone who does! For example, how many BMW executive do you think drive Micras? :whistle:
The ones with the larger appendages. >:D
Had I the time Ben I'd definitely build one.
As for Dell, cheap as chips components and workmanship to guarantee the highest margain possible, the XPS I had which I paid top whack for and was bashed up when it arrived and was cooking its insides proved that to me.
It appears I was not alone because every time I rang the dedicated XPS support line I was treated to a 45 minute to an hour wait and most of the staff just wanted to give me the brush off advising me to run Dell's full diagnostic program which would take 4 hours, telling them I could smell burning didn't seem to sway them.