O/T - PC spec for a student

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Am being forced to get my 14 year old a new PC (can't get the right coal for the old one any more). have done some research and think that this will be an OK spec - can anyone confirm this for me please?

Usage: school work, word processing, music, internet, no gaming, no processor heavy apps.

Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 2.2GHz
1GB DDR2 (I will add another GB - cost about £15)
2 x 512MB ram
250GB SATA hard drive
DVDRW
Vista Home Premium
19" TFT P193W Monitor
Intel GMA 3100 graphics

£320 inc vat delivered - seems to be an OK pc to me for the money.

Next step up is £100 more but has:

PHENOM 8450 X3 processor
320GB SATA
NVIDIA® GeForce 8200 up to 896MB graphics

I expect to have to replace it with a laptop in a couple of years but don't want a lappy right now.

Your expert views as always really appreciated.

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

looks more than adequate to me. should last a good few years that one.

 

[Wardy]

Sounds more then okay for the jobs you have listed. You may not be able to add the extra 1gb though since there are currently 2 x 512mb in there. So you may be forced to buy 2 x 1gb to get the 2gb.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Thanks chaps. Would be delighted to get away with around £300 for the PC and a monitor!

 

[Barnet Seagull]

Looks pretty decent.

 

[Skint Gull]

I expect to have to replace it with a laptop in a couple of years but don't want a lappy right now

Why?

 

[SNOOBS]

Why no gaming

 

[gullshark]

I'd just get a laptop now, to be honest but that spec looks reasonable. As others have said you might want to make sure the 1GB upgrade won't cost more than £15 seeing as its already using 2 slots of 512.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Why?

My impression is that you pay more and get less when you buy a laptop. She doesn't need portability right now, so didn't think the extra cost was worth it right now.

Once at Sixth Form she may need a lappy, but technology will have moved on by then - so it's something I'm happy to look at in a couple of years.

No gaming? She doesn't play computer games - and as I understand it you need a better graphics card and more processing power for that. It's functionality we don't need - so it's cost we can avoid. Is that wrong?