Advice on Desktop PC

[StarTrekDoc]

Not sure you want all that firepower. Ssd for what? Pro is nice, but if you're just doing finances, iTunes, video streaming , no need for ssd or expense on pro if not desktop sharing or remote desktop or advanced stuff.....lots of bells and whistles on that machine....if you like filled loaded machine, sure.

http://deals.dell.com/category/special#current-deals

Lots of capable desktops here that saves a bunch. If no photo editing or video editing....Celeron is fine. Xps is their performance line and even that one 600 on sale.

[CM]

StarTrekDoc wrote:

Not sure you want all that firepower. Ssd for what? Pro is nice, but if you’re just doing finances, iTunes, video streaming , no need for ssd or expense on pro if not desktop sharing or remote desktop or advanced stuff…..lots of bells and whistles on that machine….if you like filled loaded machine, sure.

http://deals.dell.com/category/special#current-deals

Lots of capable desktops here that saves a bunch. If no photo editing or video editing….Celeron is fine. Xps is their performance line and even that one 600 on sale.

Click to expand...

Well, SSD was recommended here and bogleheads for speed as well as other attributes (quieter?). My current PC takes a year and a day to boot up and apparently the new one will boot rapidly if it has SSD. That would be nice.

I had the impression that Pro entails much less hassle. It's $50 more. That would be worthwhile if the PC experience is significantly smoother.

I want an enjoyable and trouble-free experience, but I'm not a sophisticated buyer so may be prone to spend too much. I did downgrade the processor because there is consensus that better processor will make no difference.

I'll check the deals in your link. (That will make my wife happy. She can't believe I intend to buy the 34" monitor. :-)).

[StarTrekDoc]

Ssd is definitely faster. There are hybrid drives out there with a small 32gb ssd for the boot and then storage for the remainder on standard hdd. 7200rpm hdd is plenty fast. I would guess a lot of bloat on your 2009 Smithsonian pc that sliwed it down.

As for storage, I learned the hard way....keep cloud storage in addition to local. We lost our external due to it tipping over and lost two years of photos...now have phones all auto load to Dropbox and Amazon photos from there as double backup. Minimal local use now

[Dreamgiver]

I didn't think people still used a PC    once you go Mac you never go back!

[gonc]

I bought one of these last year and have been very happy with it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EZH6782/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Its a "barebones" PC in a very small casing (Intel also makes these). You have to add your own memory, hard drives and operating system. Its a nice middle ground between building your own PC from scratch and the overpriced fully built boxes. Took me about 20 minutes to add my memory and hard drive. Installing Windows 10 to a blank hard drive is also relatively straightforward. I had a Mac die on me, so I just took the RAM and hard drives from that old machine and plugged it into the Asus box. I don't do any gaming or run programs that require a lot of horsepower, and the performance has been great with an SSD as my boot drive.

Also, if you work for an academic institution, check to see if you can buy Windows 10 Education. It is essentially Windows 10 Pro with a few more features. I got a copy for $10 from my institution's online store.

 

 

[Hatton]

I am surprised at the number of docs building their own pcs.  Who knew?  I use Apple products.  I like that the phone, iPad, and laptop (MACBook pro) all are similar.  I have PCs at my office but I use my MacBook. I just left the apple store because I am treating myself to a new IPAD for my big birthday (60).  The question is IPADpro or original.

 

 

[CM]

hatton1 wrote:

I am surprised at the number of docs building their own pcs.  Who knew?  I use Apple products.  I like that the phone, iPad, and laptop (MACBook pro) all are similar.  I have PCs at my office but I use my MacBook. I just left the apple store because I am treating myself to a new IPAD for my big birthday (60).  The question is IPADpro or original.

 

 

Click to expand...

Happy Birthday!

[RogueDadMD]

I've been a computer nerd since I was 7. I grew up at the time for it to be natural (the 1980s). As a kid if I wanted to use a PC I actually had to know how it worked. DOS and all.

To play a game against someone on another computer we had to build and troubleshoot our own LAN.

I even ran a BBS for awhile.

[janettebournes]

Kamban wrote:

Hate to say this but all this comparison between “Apple is great and PC crashes all the time” is when we had Windows Xp. When Win 7 came along, especially the Pro version the difference narrowed considerably. Now with Windows 10 Pro the operating system of Windows has even overtaken a Mac. Apple is resting on its laurels of Steve Jobs days. The integration between a Windows tablet and laptop and PC is so seamless. A iPad has a totally different OS compared to a Mac.

Windows biggest failing has been multiple manufactures of hardware. There are so many cheap $299 laptops from Best Buy that wil crash because it has poor components and not meant to support a robust Win 10. It is stupid to compare that to a $1500 Apple Laptop. If you get a $1500 hardware laptop or desktop and install a Win 10 Pro you will get much better performance. And an open system, not closed one like Apple where they want you to do how they want it.

I have built more than 5 desktops over the last 3 years years and all had Win 7 Pro and now have Win 10 Pro free upgrade. None of them crash. many of them go on for months on end without being powered down except for times when updates are installed. And with SSD’s they are blazing fast.

Peace. Buy what you you want. I neither hold stock in Apple or Microsoft I just want to make sure everyone is not a sheep.

Click to expand...

No offense taken at all, I cut my teeth on Windows computers (harkening back to the Windows 3.1 days and MSDOS before that), briefly switched over to a Mac in med school and part of residency before switching back to Windows until this recent round of trouble (see below)

The problem I had was with Windows 10. I'm all for automatic background updates but not if it borks your computer. (The PC I was using admittedly wasn't a high end option but was still a $1000+ all - in - one that my husband purchased)

After every round of updates, core Windows apps would stop functioning (calculator, start menu, etc). In searching around, it wasn't as rare an issue as I would have thought. A complete reformat fixed the issue until the next round of automatic background updates pushed themselves onto the computer. I'm now left with a computer that won't even allow me past the initial setup screen. Rather than replacing the HDD, we have opted to use the all-in-one as a secondary monitor for the new iMac.

I'm sure this isn't a tremendously common issue. I'm sure these issues may be eliminated with a better build. But for those who are non-tech savvy, want their hand held while they purchase a computer from a brick and mortar store, want a relatively bug-free platform, and want their hand held if issues arise at a brick and mortar location, I can see where Apple provides its value (even if it's lost on those who are techier and can assemble their own more powerful computers at a fraction of the price)

My husband is infinitely happier with the iMac. (I was too but in reading this thread, I have an itch to go tinkering with a build again, a hobby I thought I had left behind in high school )

[Kamban]

janettebournes wrote:

No offense taken at all, I cut my teeth on Windows computers (harkening back to the Windows 3.1 days and MSDOS before that), briefly switched over to a Mac in med school and part of residency before switching back to Windows until this recent round of trouble (see below) The problem I had was with Windows 10. I’m all for automatic background updates but not if it borks your computer. (The PC I was using admittedly wasn’t a high end option but was still a $1000+ all – in – one that my husband purchased)

Click to expand...

I too started with a Intel 486 and MS DOS and later Win 3.1. Had to install my own 14.4K fax modem and CD player. When one of the machines I purchased a few years later died because the Motherboard went bad and took everything down I started to build my own and install windows cleanly. Never had a problem with it except for occasional power supplies burning.

I think something is bad with your machine. I have more than 11 PC at office and home and 7 of them have Win 10. ( still keep a few with Win 7 for the Windows media player and having them as DVR). None of those ever crash after a windows update. I suspect something wrong with a memory stick or the Motherboard is going bad, since you have already done a clean format and reinstalled fresh. Maybe remove a couple of memory sticks and see if it cures the problem.

I usually buy Asus or Gigabyte motherboards in the $100-140 range and use $120 AMD CPU, a 650W Corsair or similar power supply ($65) Decent memory like Gskill and mid range graphics card costing $50-70 ( I am not a gamer), SSD on sale for $100. Maybe a case for $50. Recycle the old DVD drive, keyboard, mouse, Sound ( head phones and speakers), case fans and regular hard drives from older computers. Install OS. Worth the few hours it takes to build, knowing that very rarely will it crash. I can troubleshot a problem quickly and have a great system at half the price of Apple. Usually get components from Newegg.

Don't get me wrong. I like other Apple products. Till a few days ago I had iPhone 4s. Still have couple of iPads in the house. I feel that their desktops are overpriced, especially for an assembler like me ( can't call myself a techie).

[Kamban]

hatton1 wrote:

I am surprised at the number of docs building their own pcs.  Who knew?  I use Apple products.  I like that the phone, iPad, and laptop (MACBook pro) all are similar.  I have PCs at my office but I use my MacBook. I just left the apple store because I am treating myself to a new IPAD for my big birthday (60).  The question is IPADpro or original.

 

 

Click to expand...

Happy birthday hatton1.

[Kamban]

CM wrote:

Well, SSD was recommended here and bogleheads for speed as well as other attributes (quieter?). My current PC takes a year and a day to boot up and apparently the new one will boot rapidly if it has SSD. That would be nice. I had the impression that Pro entails much less hassle. It’s $50 more. That would be worthwhile if the PC experience is significantly smoother.

Click to expand...

Definitely get SSD. I would not recommend hybrid drives. Even if you decide against SSD that inserts in a PCI-E slot you can still get a SSD that is attached via SATA cable to the motherboard. The Samsung 256GB NVMe tht goes into PCI-e is only $129 and the SATA ones come on sale for $75.

Adding a 4 TB regular hard drive ( usually $100-125) inside is very easy, and becomes the drive to store media.Only 2 cables attach to it. A power supply cable ( and there will be extra ones hanging inside) and a SATA cable, whose other end plugs into the motherboard. Easy peasy.

[Zaphod]

janettebournes wrote:

Kamban wrote:

Hate to say this but all this comparison between “Apple is great and PC crashes all the time” is when we had Windows Xp. When Win 7 came along, especially the Pro version the difference narrowed considerably. Now with Windows 10 Pro the operating system of Windows has even overtaken a Mac. Apple is resting on its laurels of Steve Jobs days. The integration between a Windows tablet and laptop and PC is so seamless. A iPad has a totally different OS compared to a Mac.

Windows biggest failing has been multiple manufactures of hardware. There are so many cheap $299 laptops from Best Buy that wil crash because it has poor components and not meant to support a robust Win 10. It is stupid to compare that to a $1500 Apple Laptop. If you get a $1500 hardware laptop or desktop and install a Win 10 Pro you will get much better performance. And an open system, not closed one like Apple where they want you to do how they want it.

I have built more than 5 desktops over the last 3 years years and all had Win 7 Pro and now have Win 10 Pro free upgrade. None of them crash. many of them go on for months on end without being powered down except for times when updates are installed. And with SSD’s they are blazing fast.

Peace. Buy what you you want. I neither hold stock in Apple or Microsoft I just want to make sure everyone is not a sheep.

Click to expand…

No offense taken at all, I cut my teeth on Windows computers (harkening back to the Windows 3.1 days and MSDOS before that), briefly switched over to a Mac in med school and part of residency before switching back to Windows until this recent round of trouble (see below)

The problem I had was with Windows 10. I’m all for automatic background updates but not if it borks your computer. (The PC I was using admittedly wasn’t a high end option but was still a $1000+ all – in – one that my husband purchased)

After every round of updates, core Windows apps would stop functioning (calculator, start menu, etc). In searching around, it wasn’t as rare an issue as I would have thought. A complete reformat fixed the issue until the next round of automatic background updates pushed themselves onto the computer. I’m now left with a computer that won’t even allow me past the initial setup screen. Rather than replacing the HDD, we have opted to use the all-in-one as a secondary monitor for the new iMac.

I’m sure this isn’t a tremendously common issue. I’m sure these issues may be eliminated with a better build. But for those who are non-tech savvy, want their hand held while they purchase a computer from a brick and mortar store, want a relatively bug-free platform, and want their hand held if issues arise at a brick and mortar location, I can see where Apple provides its value (even if it’s lost on those who are techier and can assemble their own more powerful computers at a fraction of the price)

My husband is infinitely happier with the iMac. (I was too but in reading this thread, I have an itch to go tinkering with a build again, a hobby I thought I had left behind in high school )

Click to expand...

This is a tremendously common position if you buy an all in one, they are trash! The one I bought couldnt even keep up with typing, it was absolutely infuriating. You would start to type and it would just not do anything, it was nuts. Worst cpu ever. I think theres just something wrong with that genre.

I've not had any issues with Win 10 that I can think of.

[Zaphod]

Kamban wrote:

CM wrote:

Well, SSD was recommended here and bogleheads for speed as well as other attributes (quieter?). My current PC takes a year and a day to boot up and apparently the new one will boot rapidly if it has SSD. That would be nice. I had the impression that Pro entails much less hassle. It’s $50 more. That would be worthwhile if the PC experience is significantly smoother. 

Click to expand…

Definitely get SSD. I would not recommend hybrid drives. Even if you decide against SSD that inserts in a PCI-E slot you can still get a SSD that is attached via SATA cable to the motherboard. The Samsung 256GB NVMe tht goes into PCI-e is only $129 and the SATA ones come on sale for $75.

Adding a 4 TB regular hard drive ( usually $100-125) inside is very easy, and becomes the drive to store media.Only 2 cables attach to it. A power supply cable ( and there will be extra ones hanging inside) and a SATA cable, whose other end plugs into the motherboard. Easy peasy.

Click to expand...

Totally agree. You can even have an external hard drive, it doesnt really matter at the beginning.

You dont need a large ssd, just get one. They also last a lot longer and less likely to break.

I think thats the ssd I have, its amazing (m.2).

[resident_1]

I got a 27" iMac 4 years ago and couldn't be happier.

https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/imac/27-inch

I think a good monitor is the Dell Ultrasharp 25" (paired with a PC that has i7 processor) and the price is good too:
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-UltraSharp-U2515H-25-Inch-LED-Lit/dp/B00SPWPF1O/ref=sr_1_4?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1499054905&sr=1-4&keywords=dell+ultrasharp

Of course you can go all out and get the new samsung 49" curved monitor
https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Screen-LED-Lit-Monitor-LC49HG90DMNXZA/dp/B072C7TNC5
https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Screen-LED-Lit-Monitor-LC49HG90DMNXZA/dp/B072C7TNC5