Considering a Complete Hardware & Software Overhall

[Homer J Simpson]

Okay, so current set up is:-

• Quad Core AMD PC with a Samsung 830 SSD both a few years old
• Windows XP Pro (32 Bit)
• Office 2003
• Running several email addresses via IMAP in Outlook and on mobile

Current PC has 4 users set up on it, which I want to reduce to just 2, one for work and one for normal home use.

I'm looking to upgrade for a few reasons.......

• Win XP support will soon stop and potentially leave my system vulnerable.
• Latest versions of Office allow converting files directly to PDF (form what I can gather) without the need to use a 'print to pdf' type function.
• IMAP doesn't seem to be working so well for me (hosted via tso host), an email today took over 8 hours to come through to me (it was only 2MB), so I'm not sure if this is a TSO host issue. However, each account does have a few GB of data in them and this is likely to continue to grow, not sure if it's this that is slowing it all down.

I don't play games and don't do any graphic design/editing etc. But still looking for a nice fast/powerful system that can handle multiple applications running at the same time with no lag.



I'm looking to have a general upgrade of all my systems to make things a little faster, more secure and generally benefit from the updates available form new systems.


I don't like the idea of learning a new system, mainly Windows & Office with their new layouts and ribbon etc.


Based on my current set up and use (basically emails, internet, spreadsheets and word docs), would you say I need to upgrade or is there little point?


Anyone else in the same boat, or recently upgraded have any tips/advice?

 

To be honest, and probably not the advice you'd want from someone who is in the computer-sector.....I'd not rush out to buy a replacement for something that is working fine at the moment.

1) Your system, whilst a few years old, is more than capable of running office-type of tasks, which is all you are throwing at it.
2) Windows XP will stop receiving updates, but will be around for a little while yet. I'm not a fan of just upgrading because there is a newer version, I like to ensure there is a point to it, so I'd wait just a little.
3) Is the PDF issue that big a problem that you need to change your whole system? Personally I'm using Office 2010, but have stuck with PrimoPDF on my PC out of habit (and the fact I use it for other apps too).
4) Your IMAP email problems are not likely to be a direct result of older PC hardware setup, more than likely something just needs amended in your settings, or there is an issue to be resolved wherever you host your emails.

Certainly, if you want to upgrade by going out and buying a complete new system - it will be better, it will run faster, it will be more up to date..... but will it affect your working life in any progressive manner? Probably not

Take a look at adding a little RAM into the system you have, give it a wee boost. Maybe perform a deep system cleanup (if you can, otherwise a local IT repairman will do this for £30 or £40).

Once you've considered all the above, and are still convinced you need to buy new..... then at least you have justified it properly to yourself

 

[Homer J Simpson]

Already got as much ram as xp will recognise and regularly keep system clean with ccleaner, regseeker.

I used to defragment but don't now that I'm on SSD. Although must admit don't use the ssd utility software much, but doubt that would make a huge difference in speed.

 

[hmig89]

I think a system being dropped by Microsoft is more than enough reason to upgrade, businesses will continue you to use not because they may want to but just because the roll out to a large business is done in steps. With large businesses they will have firewalls in place and blocked website which prevent viruses.

A home user or small business may not have such an infrastructure in place. Point being just because the system will continue to be used does not mean it is safe. Anti virus software will help to a degree.

I would get a dell optiplex from what you have said above with at least a core i5 processor and with 64 bit windows this would allow you use use 8gb of ram or much more if needed. 8gb should be enough ram from what you've said above. I would also suggest office 2010.

I know you said you don't like learning a new system but you are going to have to do it at some stage.

In terms of email, for your business email I would suggest Microsoft Excahnge or google apps depending how much you want to spend.

I would not use an SSD as your main drive, SSDs are good they are fast but install windows on it and that it. use a SATA hard drive for all your work and applications. I see SSDs recommended so much of the time without people knowing that they maybe only good for 10,000 writes. The reason why you may not be getting the full benefits of your SSD drive maybe to due with the SATA controller speed of your motherboard.

This all depends on how much you are willing to spend and what the requirements are, what apps do you have open at once?

 

[Homer J Simpson]

I usually have Outlook, excel, word and firefox open.

When it comes to firefox, I can sometimes have several windows and several tabs in each one open. Not too often, but when I do, I could have 30+ tabs all running at once across several windows.

I forget to say I've got a 1TB internal SATA drive for backing up the SSD. But otherwise everything is currently installed and running of the SSD.

Would also look to have a PC with USB 3 and the newer/faster SATA capabilities and upgrade the drive to make full use of it.

Budget, probably about £1k for a top end system & software - only need barebones, as I've already got wide LED screen, keyboard, mouse, speakers etc.

Would possibility want to use multi screen, not because I need to, but just because I've tried it before and it was pretty nice not to have to toggle between programmes. On that note, I notice excel now opens several workbooks all in one window, whereas before each workbook opened in it's own window, which I preferred as I could ALT & TAB toggle between them. How do the new versions of excel deal with opening multiple windows?

I don't use google apps at all, I don't really trust google or anything in 'the cloud' (other than my IMAP email as don't know any other way, exchange is still cloud though I know).

looking to start making encrypted, incremental backups and storing them offsite too, just to be safe. In fact, I'm very tempted to encrypt my entire system but read that this doesn't work so well with SSD, something to do with the trim function?

 

[Dotomize]

Well its sounds like you already have a good working pc, its just that it is a few yrs old.

As for maintenance, it sounds like you know what your talking about enough to understand computers. I would personally recommend if you have the time, that you look at re-installing XP OS and all the other stuff on top including AV instead of buying new, unless you really need/want to buy newer.

If you did go down the new pc route, I would recommend a Win 7 x64 bit, 6/8GB RAM, i7 processor and you could remove both your 1TB and SDD drives over to the newer machine, so HDD doesn't really matter.

The only thing I would mention, be sure that you have no viruses, cus it will slow your new machine down and then back to square one again!

 

[Nuno]

HMIG89's point about XP security as seen by other computers is a good one, as well or on top of the end of support, (bit of background here, the red bar in the graph is attacks on XP.)

Are you going to buy off the shelf or have it made? If having it made it might be an idea to have graphics support for 3 rather than the default two monitors as it sounds as though 3 screens would make life good.

I believe that the new updated W8 will be OK but W7 is a doodle to pick up after XP.

Office 2010 as recommended above is solid too.

As you seem to know your way around 'puters there is always the Linux option with Libre Office. I run an old Thinkpad on Ubuntu and it's great. Maybe keep your old machine and have a play with Linux after you get the new one.

 

[Sparx]

You don't need to spend £1k on a high spec office pc. As for excel in separate windows, you just open excel again and then open a file to have separate windows open that you can tab between.

Btw if your current pc has 4gb ram why not just get a copy of Windows 7 and do a clean install if it feels sluggish? Or upgrade, I'd recommend a clean install personally.

7 takes better advantage of ram and is a much more fluid OS compared to XP.

 

[fixitconsultants]

Getting off XP now is definitely a good idea. If it were me I would probably get a copy of Windows 7 and do a fresh installation.

I remember one of my customers having an issue with Excel 2007 opening files in the same window - can't remember if it was by design or a bug - but I remember there definitely was a workaround. I can confirm this doesn't happen in the latest version in any case.

You could potentially solve your Office/email issues in one go by moving to Office 365 - some plans provide email hosting as well as the latest full Office suite. Feel free to drop me a PM if you'd like any advice.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

Thanks all. I might borrow a friend's laptop and try Windows 7 and whatever version of office he's got, I think it's 2007.

 

[fixitconsultants]

Sounds like a good place to start! Or let me know if you want to try Office 2013 and I'll send you a link. I guess if you need to learn a new system it's best to learn the latest rather than one that's already 6 years old? :|

All the best
Jamie

 

[10032012]

I am surprised a Quad Core works with 32bit XP. I suppose SP2 onwards it would have been implemented. I doubt many applications make use of the other cores. Its an AMD which isn't as good as Intel so performance might be a little annoying at times.

Its not broken don't fix it... but you could for instance purchase a low-budget PC with an i3 core (you will need to look round for a good i3, intel floods the market with numerous version of the branded chips) with Win 7, use your SSD and 1TB SATA drive. You would need to make sure you get a restore/install disk. If you are lucky you could pick up an i5 for just under £500 but they are usually the poor i5 chip that most i3 processors seem to perform better.

I have to confess, when I upgraded the office computers with Windows 7 (instead of 8) I purchased Office 2003... does the job. Software was cheap £25 new and wrapped... pretty much only use it for Outlook as Open Office/Libre Office still doesn't have an email client. Saved thousands from not needing the Office 2010 or 2013 edition - looks better but who cares?

 

[hmig89]

Hi,

For 1k that more than enough for your requirements. I would defo recommend using 2 monitor it saves so much time.

Im not sure what the post above is on about a core i5 costing £500, you can pick up a good i5 processor for just under £200.

I think you should consider installing windows 7 and office 2010 on your computer first, and add more RAM and see how that goes. Is your PC branded from a manufacturer? Dell, Fujitsu, Packard bell etc?

The reason I ask is because you do get crappy motherboards, which manufacturers PCs

 

[Sparx]

 

[hmig89]

I see we must be very bored this sunday evening, was there any need for that, I asked open questions for the OP and also commended on pricing, hence we do not have a parrot in here,

 

[Homer J Simpson]

Is your PC branded from a manufacturer? Dell, Fujitsu, Packard bell etc?

The reason I ask is because you do get crappy motherboards, which manufacturers PCs

It's from novatech. Not sure of motherboard but would guess it needs upgrading to allow for newer processor, graphics, usb 3 etc.

 

[10032012]

Hi,

For 1k that more than enough for your requirements. I would defo recommend using 2 monitor it saves so much time.

Im not sure what the post above is on about a core i5 costing £500, you can pick up a good i5 processor for just under £200.

I think you should consider installing windows 7 and office 2010 on your computer first, and add more RAM and see how that goes. Is your PC branded from a manufacturer? Dell, Fujitsu, Packard bell etc?

The reason I ask is because you do get crappy motherboards, which manufacturers PCs

Talking about a PC - not just the processor!

you could for instance purchase a low-budget PC with an i3 core [...] If you are lucky you could pick up an i5 for just under £500