Please help a retard buy an ok PC

[Not Really Here]

Is there anything better out there for the money?

Not up for building one. I am, after all, a retard when it comes to all this stuff.

Look up 'budget PC build' on YouTube, building a modern browsing machine only requires connecting 6 things, and you have an all new machine.
Really, I can't express how simple doing this is, watch like 5 budget build videos.

 

[Betonhaus]

If you have a local classifieds like Facebook Marketplace it might be worth it to look through it for used gaming systems that are in your price range. It helps if you know if your local sellers would try to fuck with you or not, and make sure you verify that everything works - stick to the low end of your budget just to be safe.

The best computers I've gotten were used Lenovos - I've had two used Thinkpad X1 laptops and a ThinkServer and they have all ran like a champ.

If you're not confident that you won't be tricked or make a bad choice, then avoid buying used.

What do you classify as Retro? as most systems will be able to run the Dolphin emulator but PS3 emulation is still sketch.

The computer you linked to has an Intel N100 cpu, which is pretty common in cheaper mini pcs. Here's one that is only ￡116.16 with 16gb ran and 512gb ssd, I wouldn't pay ￡300 for a computer with that cpu (make sure it has a windows license, unless you will be running Linux)

 

[mindlessobserver]

 

[The Ugly One]

Here's a mini with an 8-core Ryzen:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TRIGKEY-Mini-PC-S5-5700U%EF%BC%88Up/dp/B0CF11XF3K/ref=sr_1_18?qid=1707873848&refinements=p_n_feature_twenty-nine_browse-bin%3A50870096031%7C50870103031&rnid=50870090031&s=computers&sr=1-18

 

[Betonhaus]

Also make sure you look up what the cpu and GPU performance are of the options you're looking at

https://nanoreview.net/en/cpu-compare/intel-processor-n100-vs-amd-ryzen-7-5700u

 

[Bravefart]

Hi all, thanks for the advice.

I started to look at refurbished business pc's but I lost interest after about an hour or so. It's just not something I'm into.

I ordered the Geekom and when I went to pick it up from the delivery locker thing the parcel looked like it had been drop kicked all the way from China.

There was NO bubble wrap or extra packing, just a cardboard box. If you buy anything from Japan it will be double wrapped and packed really well but it looks like if you buy a (cheap) pc from China it gets fuck all protection. Needless to say it was all just remains. They are being returned to sender.

So while I think I'm going to end up getting something similar it's not going to be from these jokers. Ah well.

 

[SSj_Ness (Yiffed)]

A refurbished Steam Deck is $279 at GameStop, that's a pretty good choice.

 

[Betonhaus]

Hi all, thanks for the advice.

I started to look at refurbished business pc's but I lost interest after about an hour or so. It's just not something I'm into.

I ordered the Geekom and when I went to pick it up from the delivery locker thing the parcel looked like it had been drop kicked all the way from China.

There was NO bubble wrap or extra packing, just a cardboard box. If you buy anything from Japan it will be double wrapped and packed really well but it looks like if you buy a (cheap) pc from China it gets fuck all protection. Needless to say it was all just remains. They are being returned to sender.

So while I think I'm going to end up getting something similar it's not going to be from these jokers. Ah well.

I would like to point out that the geekom has an Intel N100 cpu, which is the same as the GK3 from Aliexpress I linked to that was 100lbs less in price.

You functionally paid more for a product that was effectivly identical with the same level of build quality.

The biggest difference is where you bought from. I don't know where you found that site, but it's not a reputable brand. They will likely make getting your refund incredibly difficult if not impossible, which is why they're are satisfied shipping things with no packaging. In comparison Aliexpress has become a rather large reseller brand like Amazon, and although the products may be generic and sold under different brand names they're expected to work as advertised, as Aliexpress has an excellent return policy. If you recieved a package from ali that was damaged or destroyed you are garenteed to get a refund as aliexpress wants you to be a repeat customer. The shipping times are longer, yes, but it will eventually get there (and the shipping times get much faster for items over 50lbs or so).

 

[Bravefart]

Apologies for not updating you all but real life got in the way for the last few days.

I should have mentioned this but I ordered the first PC from Amazon. I returned it no problem and had a look at videos on youtube comparing the Intel and Ryzen cpu's. The 5800H seemed to do the job so I bought one, again from Amazon.

And it works! Dreamcast, Gamecube and PS2 all work perfectly at 1080p and apart from forgetting that Finalburn Neo doesn't like xbox controllers so I had to use Retroarch it's all been really easy to set up. Well, except for trying to map Wiimote motion controls to analogue sticks. Don't bother.

Even better, some kind souls have made running the Model 3 emu Supermodel really easy as you can see HERE on youtube. So if you want to play Scud Racer or Daytona 2, or one of about a dozen fishing games, you can do it in no time.

Next will be Xbox then I will try some actual PC games but that can wait. I'm on a total Blue Skies In Games nostalgia kick just now.

If Windows 11 wasn't such a colossal pile of spyware bullshit the whole process would have been pretty painless.

Thanks again for you all taking the time to help me out.