Need a New Desktop PC

Not interested in a Mac. DS told me I should look for one with these specs: 8gb ram, 500 gB hd and Core i5 or i7. Copied that directly from his text message.

Will mostly do my emailing, banking, web surfing, etc. on it. Will not be gaming at all but still interested in a computer that goes about its business fast. Will be hooked to FIOS if that matters. Have a Microcenter within reason as well as a Best Buy and Staples. Not sure what other stores would apply but no Fryes.

Am interested in straight computer deal info (particular machine) as well as advice on how to search for a deal myself (what websites to search or word combo to search in google) as I haven't had good luck with either yet.

Thanks for any and all help.

What is DS?

Dear son

Quote from iwantitfree : Dear son

lol'd

Refer to sig.

Quote from iwantitfree : Not interested in a Mac. DS told me I should look for one with these specs: 8gb ram, 500 gB hd and Core i5 or i7. Copied that directly from his text message. Will mostly do my emailing, banking, web surfing, etc. on it.

Your Budget ? An Intel i7 is overkill for online banking. This DS sounds like his throwing you some random pc specs he saw in an weekly ad.

Micro Center -399.99 Dell i3 4GB 500GB Desktop [microcenter.com]
Micro Center - 329.99 Acer X4 [microcenter.com]
Newegg.com - 279.99 ThinkCentre Pentium 2GB 500GB [newegg.com]

Micro Center 379.99 - Hewlett-Packard A6 [microcenter.com]

Computers Deals and Coupons

Quote from FAL : Your Budget ? An Intel i7 is overkill for online banking. This DS sounds like his throwing you some random pc specs he saw in an weekly ad. Micro Center -399.99 Dell i3 4GB 500GB Desktop [microcenter.com] Micro Center - 329.99 Acer X4 [microcenter.com] Newegg.com - 279.99 ThinkCentre Pentium 2GB 500GB [newegg.com] Micro Center 379.99 - Hewlett-Packard A6 [microcenter.com] Computers Deals and Coupons

He probably just doesn't have any idea what its intended uses are.

Budget would be helpful, though.

A CPU that belongs in a netbook...
A 5+ year old refurbished system...
A CPU worse than the first one...

The HP isn't bad but it's a refurb too. Try this Lenovo [newegg.com] or this Gateway [newegg.com] new for a bit more.

Also consider Walmart: Acer [walmart.com], Gateway [walmart.com], HP [walmart.com].

Quote from SoleSoul : He probably just doesn't have any idea what its intended uses are. Budget would be helpful, though. A CPU that belongs in a netbook... A Sandy Bridge i3 belongs in a netbook? lol A 5+ year old refurbished system... The processor is 2 and a half years old, so I'm not entirely sure how the entire build could be double that. A CPU worse than the first one... The HP isn't bad but it's a refurb too. Try this Lenovo [newegg.com] or this Gateway [newegg.com] new for a bit more. Also consider Walmart: Acer [walmart.com], Gateway [walmart.com], HP [walmart.com].

lolwut?

A Sandy Bridge i3 competes with an E-450, so, yeah, it belongs in a netbook. Power concerns aside.
(This isn't to say that the E-450 is better-but they're within the same segment.)
I'll grant it's possible I may have exaggerated slightly, but my point still stands. With the refresh just around the corner, that's where I'd place it, as it is low-end.

My bad, was looking at the chipset. That chipset is incredibly old. Is that a typo, do you think?
Let's not even discuss the Pentium.

OP, your son gave you random specs. Your actual needs are VERY minimal, so let's start with your budget. How much do you want to spend, and do you also need a monitor, or just the PC? Would you consider a laptop, or do you only want a desktop?

Here's 2 from Staples: w/3 yr warranty $89.99

HP Pavilion p6-2100 Desktop PC $349.99
Video Graphics AMD Radeon HD 6410D integrated graphics
Hard Drive Size 1TB
Memory (RAM) 4GB

HP Pavilion P7-1258 Desktop PC $429.99 w/3 yr warranty $89.99
8GB installed memory
750GB hard drive

Quote from SoleSoul : A Sandy Bridge i3 competes with an E-450, so, yeah, it belongs in a netbook. Power concerns aside. (This isn't to say that the E-450 is better-but they're within the same segment.) I'll grant it's possible I may have exaggerated slightly, but my point still stands. With the refresh just around the corner, that's where I'd place it, as it is low-end. My bad, was looking at the chipset. That chipset is incredibly old. Is that a typo, do you think? Let's not even discuss the Pentium.

You have got to be kidding? Almost any PC that is 5-6 years old will handle email, web browsing, and banking. Including Pentiums. You really have bought into the Intel hype.

Thank you for the help. I think the reason my son suggested those specification is because he knows I want it to be fast and to be able to function well into the future. We typically keep our computer for at least six years. By that time the computer is usually dragging or breaking. The current one is breaking.

Trying to find reviews of this system but coming up empty handed:

HP Pavilion P7-1258 Desktop PC $429.99 w/3 yr warranty $89.99
8GB installed memory
750GB hard drive

Nothing on Staples and PCWorld and Cnet come up empty when I search. Also tried straight googling: review HP Pavilion P7-1258 without luck.

Quote from Jeffbx : OP, your son gave you random specs. Your actual needs are VERY minimal, so let's start with your budget. How much do you want to spend, and do you also need a monitor, or just the PC? Would you consider a laptop, or do you only want a desktop?

I had hoped to spend about $500 but there was nothing at the Microcenter for that price with those specs that he had given me. I don't need a monitor or printer as I will continue using the ones I have. The monitor is a flat screen Samsung. There are two printers: a brother b/w laser and a MFC495-w. The experience in this household is that laptops do not last more than 3 - 4 years. I need this to last longer than that so that is why I chose a desktop. Also, I was under the impression that there is a little more bang for the buck wiith a desktop vs. laptop. This computer also will stay in the home and not move elsewhere. I have a laptop for traveling.