Planning to replace my desktop PC.

Mainly do internet, word, excel, sage accounts and a bit of photoshopping so don't really need the bees knees - but still like to zip along.

There is a Cyberpower system in todats ComputerActive - AMD A-3650, 8mb memork, 1TB DVD combo, 22" monitor @ £499 that looks like the job.

Is it worth adding a small SSD and having the OS loaded on that, also using this for virtual memory and any spare space for some program instals?

Yes, totally transformed my laptop.

Going to sort on for my desktop in the next few weeks.

I've often wondered if these are any good:

http://www.ebuyer.com/222310-seagate-500gb-momentus-xt-2-5-hybrid-ssd-hdd-sataii-7200rpm-32mb-cache-st95005620as

Best of both worlds as I see it. . . speed, and capacity (in theory!).

An SSD transformed my desktop machine, which while it isn't slow is getting on a bit. Program's load faster, windows boots fast and it's generally really nice to use. Make sure if it's going to be a system drive that of get at least 80gb plus in size. Windows 7 will grow over time and it's nice to be able to install all your most used applications omit.

An SSD transformed my desktop machine, which while it isn't slow is getting on a bit. Program's load faster, windows boots fast and it's generally really nice to use. Make sure if it's going to be a system drive that of get at least 80gb plus in size. Windows 7 will grow over time and it's nice to be able to install all your most used applications omit.

I would experiment with having a second drive and putting the page / swap file on that.

Solid state drives have a limit on how often a physical storage area on a drive can be written to before it stops working. To get around that the clever circuitry on the drive maps the logical file locations around on the drive to spread the write activity. I'm just thinking it might be good to put that background stuff onto a drive where the activity won't knacker it. (obviously with a laptop you have no option since there is usually just one drive location)

I am more worried about the PC you have seen for £499! Especially when you can get something like this for the same money:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005COIYQG/ref=nosim/?tag=hotukdeals-21

SSD will make a hell of a difference - i am waiting for the prices to come down before i buy one!

+1 on pagefile on a different drive though.

I am more worried about the PC you have seen for £499! Especially when you can get something like this for the same money:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005COIYQG/ref=nosim/?tag=hotukdeals-21

SSD will make a hell of a difference - i am waiting for the prices to come down before i buy one!

+1 on pagefile on a different drive though.

Good find, however touch screen on a desktop is no interest to me. The Cyberpower system has an extra 4 mb RAM and the latest AMD processor range, benchmarking well above the i3 2100

http://www.computeractive.co.uk/ca/review/2102232/cyberpower-ultra-triton-school-desktop

http://www.cyberpowersystem.co.uk/system/Ultra_Triton_XT/

Edited 17 September, 201114 yr by slider

Good find, however touch screen on a desktop is no interest to me. The Cyberpower system has an extra 4 mb RAM and the latest AMD processor range, benchmarking well above the i3 2100

http://www.computeractive.co.uk/ca/review/2102232/cyberpower-ultra-triton-school-desktop

http://www.cyberpowersystem.co.uk/system/Ultra_Triton_XT/

Ram is neither her nor there. Can be had for about £30 for 4GB sticks.

'Mainly do internet, word, excel, sage accounts and a bit of photoshopping so don't really need the bees knees - but still like to zip along'

Why would you need 8GB of Ram for this? Only thing would be PS but you aren't going to use anything near this on that. I have 8GB in my work laptop and run the OS and 3 Virtual Machines and still have RAM to spare!!

Touch screen is a bonus, no-one is forcing you to use it, although download Windows 8 Developer preview and you might be wanting it

It was only listed as an example of price - you can get many cheaper - take a look on Dell Outlet. What is your budget?

I would say drop a level on the Processor and RAM and put that towards a SSD.

I've often wondered if these are any good:

http://www.ebuyer.com/222310-seagate-500gb-momentus-xt-2-5-hybrid-ssd-hdd-sataii-7200rpm-32mb-cache-st95005620as

Best of both worlds as I see it. . . speed, and capacity (in theory!).

If the hybrids perform per this vid, i.e. 15 -20 sec difference between solid state and hybrid boot times, then, I'd say the economics wins the case for equivalent sizes:-

< £100 for 500 GB hybrid . .

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=701&catid=14&sortby=nameAsc&subid=1894&mfrid=

> £500 for 500 GB Solid State Drive . .

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=701&catid=14&sortby=nameAsc&subid=1427&mfrid=

No brainer.

Nick

Edited 18 September, 201114 yr by Clunkclick

I'm going to wait a bit for the prices to come down, plus tests are showing that the ssd are burning out within a few years (new technology) so when that's all cleared up then I'll buy, but you can't argue with the performance of it!

I have a foot in both puddles.

Got an old iMac 2 core duo with a partition for Windows XP (which could be any ie Windows 7)

Upgraded from Tiger to Leopard £85, upgraded to Snow Leopard £26 and a future upgrade to Lion another £25.

Whereas upgrades of Windows means new machine with it installed.

I installed Windows XP OS for £80 onto iMac, with the future possibility any other Window OS upgrades.

I am not totally sold on Apple anymore than Windows, but having both on same machine is so damned convenient, the way I use them both.

The Apple iMac I have can not be bought around £500 second-hand of course,

add the cost of the Windows 7 OS, you then would have a good fast best of both worlds machine, which can be upgraded easily and more cheaply.