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I agree about choosing a desktop over a laptop - overall just more performance when comparing the two.
Here's a link to the Dell site (their XPS line): https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/scc/...ice-descending (full line, priced high to low). They have packages with the latest hardware and software, which generally should last for many years without the need for any upgrades.
Note that there are links to 'customize' (next to where 'Specs' is listed) that would allow you to make changes to a configuration to see what the overall cost would be. Also listed are options for selecting various levels of support, plus different software packages they offer.
I had purchased a Dell XPS years ago that lasted until an unfortunate static electricity encounter fried the motherboard (keep vacuum cleaners away from the PC's housing!). It was quite the machine until that happened, and lasted for many years with great performance. Next machine was put together using https://pcpartpicker.com/ - ordered all parts and built it with the best parts that fit into the budget. Still going strong today Great option for someone that wants to build their own.
That might be the highest budget anyone has ever proposed here. You certainly don't need to go over $2,000.
I'll give you flat out 3 recs.
How about an AIO (All In One)? https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/desk...iahbts7720gdsx
No doubt someone will post and tell you why an AIO is SUCH bad idea. Fact: they're not. The first gen AIO's weren't upgradeable easily. These are. And let's face it: how many upgrades have you done on your current computer? How many times do people upgrade a laptop? They don't.
Upgradagbility is no reason to avoid an AIO.
This is a 27 inch, i7 13th Generation, 32GB Ram and a TB SSD and it has the pop up webcam which is super cool. This is going to last you a very long time.
I have 3 of these at the office, older though. They're fantastic.
Quality traditional XPS here: https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/desk...thcto8960rpl02
Advantage to this one is it has a higher end video card. Not SUPER important to the non gamer but it does take some of the work off of the processor. Never a bad thing.
If you're looking for something a little different, and like to support the 'little guy'...Digital Storm makes some amazing rigs and you won't find better US BASED customer support in the industry. And they aren't all super expensive either. Did I mention the customer support is LIFETIME as long as you own the rig? Name one other company doing that?
That might be the highest budget anyone has ever proposed here. You certainly don't need to go over $2,000.
I'll give you flat out 3 recs.
How about an AIO (All In One)? https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/desk...iahbts7720gdsx
No doubt someone will post and tell you why an AIO is SUCH bad idea. Fact: they're not. The first gen AIO's weren't upgradeable easily. These are. And let's face it: how many upgrades have you done on your current computer? How many times do people upgrade a laptop? They don't.
Upgradagbility is no reason to avoid an AIO.
This is a 27 inch, i7 13th Generation, 32GB Ram and a TB SSD and it has the pop up webcam which is super cool. This is going to last you a very long time.
I have 3 of these at the office, older though. They're fantastic.
Quality traditional XPS here: https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/desk...thcto8960rpl02
Advantage to this one is it has a higher end video card. Not SUPER important to the non gamer but it does take some of the work off of the processor. Never a bad thing.
If you're looking for something a little different, and like to support the 'little guy'...Digital Storm makes some amazing rigs and you won't find better US BASED customer support in the industry. And they aren't all super expensive either. Did I mention the customer support is LIFETIME as long as you own the rig? Name one other company doing that?
- the CPU is killer fast.
- you actually get a discrete proper video card which future proofs any graphic intensive tasks.
- 16 GB of RAM, which is the perfect amount for OP (and 2 sticks so dual channel).
The only thing I would add is a traditional magnetic hard drive, 8TB. Easy to do yourself and cheap.
The 1st choice is prettier and cleaner, but the 2nd choice you get a lot more power and future proof.
To the OP - you don't really have to spend that much $$$ for what you use the computer for. If you like, you can probably downgrade the CPU to a current i5 (instead of i7).
But Peregrine's choices are top notch and if you do buy the 2nd choice, you will be the envy of many computer geeks, it's powerful enough to last you for a long time.
Quality traditional XPS here: https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/desk...thcto8960rpl02
Advantage to this one is it has a higher end video card. Not SUPER important to the non gamer but it does take some of the work off of the processor. Never a bad thing.
OP, this is what you should get The only thing I'd say to upgrade on this is to opt for the dual drive + the 2tb SATA HDD for additional $180.00. This is a very good computer at a very very good price.
I've got to the point where it is time to purchase a new computer to repalce/supplement the one I have now.
I'm leaining towards to purchasing a laptop, even though I would prefer a desktop, due to the fact that the location where I use the computer has no physcial internet connections.
I would use it for limited work at home (Microsoft Office/Word/Excel/power point), internet surfing, emails, watching you tube, social media, personal writing, and some light game playing (Games as such as Civilization type games, Hearts of Iron and games like that, Simulation games such as Simcity and Buzz Aldrin’s Space Program manager.) I would use a console system for more intensive games. I would use a streaming device to watch streaming services as opposed to the computer.
Work may require me to view videos/listen to recordings on occasion, so an optic device might be desirable, either a Blu-ray/Dvd or flash drive.
I'm getting older and my eyesight is not getting any better, so I would lean towards to one with a larger screen. I would also like it if I could have a mouse with the computer, I find that easier.
I'm looking for something that wouldn't bankrupt me.
The purchase would be sometime in the next two months.
What suggestions do the peanut gallery have for what particular computer/specifications I should consider getting?
With your budget, I suggest you buy from Costco. Their warranties are very good. And easy returns, within reason, of course. If you're not a member, get a day pass.
I suggest you get 32GB of RAM, 1 TB SSD, and decide if you need an i7 CPU or if an i5 will do.
If at all possible, I would prefer a desktop as opposed to laptop. As to budget, I'm looking at something between 1000-2000, but I do have some wiggle room upwards.
You're more than good at that budget.
Since there's some gaming I would go with
Processor: Intel i5 or Ryzen 7 or better. Stay within 2-3 generations. For Intel that means 13, 14, 15 (13400, 14400, etc) or up.
RAM: 16 Gig. You can survive with 8 but just get 16.
SSD: 512 gigs, gives you some room to store games.
Graphics: Discrete graphics, something in the 3050 or 4060 area. It's more than you need but if you decide you want to pick up something that's more graphically intense, a 3050/4060 will play anything if not on the highest settings.
Should be able to get it in the $900-1,200 range.
Laptop/desktop is really just preference. You'll spend less on a desktop than laptop + dock and get a bit more performance. Laptop you get the flexibility. With a dock it's really just a desktop at that point since you're using a normal desktop external mouse, keyboard, monitor(s). Silly to pay for flexibility that you won't use though so just get a desktop if you won't use the laptop as a laptop.
Optical drives, I got rid of them a while ago. I have an external USB drive somewhere, not sure where. At one point I built a computer and realized the optical drive I'd been transplanting from machines use the old IDE cables an everything had switched to SATA. I figured I'd buy one but then never got around to it. I had the external USB drive that I used to occasionally need since my work laptop didn't have one and I'd sometimes get video recording that way. I haven't needed in probably five years though so at this point I couldn't tell you where it is. Stuff just gets thrown up on one of the cloud services now rather than sneakernet.
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Great option for someone that wants to build their own.
The only thing I'd say to upgrade on this is to opt for the dual drive + the 2tb SATA HDD for additional $180.00. This is a very good computer at a very very good price.