Last time I had a Windows-based tower, I built it myself in 2003.

Been on macs since then, but I need a good Windows tower.

Anybody have personal experience with what to avoid?

Thanks.

2/24/2017 6:31:54 PM

Quote :

"but I need a good Windows tower"

for what?

2/24/2017 6:38:29 PM

the homeschool software we are using requires windows

2/24/2017 6:43:01 PM

There's not really anything bad out there, just some systems have shortcuts like only one memory stick or no ssd, or a junk video card for $100 when onboard is all that's needed. They all do it, so it's just looking at a specific system and see what's in it.

Boot camp not an option on the Mac?

A basic i3 system with 8gb of RAM will be fine for most households.

[Edited on February 24, 2017 at 6:49 PM. Reason : Ththth]

2/24/2017 6:47:50 PM

I don't want to boot camp because I use my computer a lot at home, and I don't want to buy a mac for the boys (each), and I've heard of some performance issues when bootcamping with the software being used.

I thought about building, but I don't know if that will be cheaper because I'll have to build two.

2/24/2017 7:03:27 PM

Building works on higher end, but not necessarily on low end due to the os cost. https://pcpartpicker.com/list/xwhCqk is pretty damn good for $400, but a dell or HP would give you a warranty.

2/24/2017 10:21:20 PM

I'd buy an intel nuc

2/25/2017 7:33:29 AM

I just bought a Skull Canyon NUC for work. I know they run Windows well, but I've only tried Linux.

Been pretty great: https://www.amazon.com/Intel-NUC-Kit-NUC6i7KYK-Mini/dp/B01DJ9XS52

2/25/2017 10:12:30 AM

This is decent:

https://slickdeals.net/f/9799295-dell-inspiron-3650-desktop-pc-intel-core-i5-6400-quad-core-8gb-ddr3l-1tb-hdd-gt-730-2gb-hdmi-wifi-win-10-429-99-free-shipping-staples

2/25/2017 11:58:32 AM

Stop homeschooling your children, you're probably doing a terrible job

2/25/2017 6:30:00 PM

I've got an Acer E15 laptop that I just turned on (first time since last april) and it's very slow, but it should work.

2/25/2017 8:47:10 PM

Quote :

"Stop homeschooling your children, you're probably doing a terrible job"

You're the one who just comma spliced two sentences

2/25/2017 10:15:05 PM

all good links, thanks!

2/27/2017 3:37:08 PM

Is there a good desktop that will help prevent comma splicing two sentences?

2/27/2017 5:32:01 PM

Dell XPS. Get a refurb off slickdeals if you can find one. Do not skimp on specs. Underpowered windows machines are very painful to use. You can throw two monitors on it and have a great workstation.

I am using one that is 6 years old and only thing I have done to it is upgrade to an SSD. I think I paid around $579.

I do not think you save any money building anymore. With Dell you get easy OS upgrades because all of your hardware will get recognized by the OS. Dell.com always has updated drivers too.

3/7/2017 9:35:16 PM

This is expired. The same deal pops up all the time though.
https://slickdeals.net/f/9817567-dell-xps-8910-desktop-i7-6700-8gb-ddr4-1tb-hdd-gt-730-2gb-win-10-pro-620-free-shipping?src=SiteSearchV2_SearchBarV2Algo1

I fucking love mine. My wife got me a Mac Mini for Christmas and I took it back. I use a Mac at work but there is no way I could get a system this nice for the same budget on Apple.

3/7/2017 9:43:05 PM

here you go!
https://slickdeals.net/f/9866324-dell-xps-8910-desktop-i7-6700-16gb-ddr4-1tb-hdd-gtx-750ti-dvdrw-win-10-pro-690-free-shipping-less-w-amex?src=sticky

3/16/2017 7:54:27 PM

What in the world. Is a NUC the Raspberry Pi of Windows computers?

3/17/2017 9:15:19 AM

^ looks more like a Mac Mini to me. I tried the mini Dell and it was so slow I had to send it back. Had nothing on it but Windows 10 and Google Chrome and still would not run.

3/17/2017 12:31:08 PM

http://www.logicalincrements.com/#

3/19/2017 10:40:12 AM

Might be too late by this point, but why not just run Windows via Boot Camp or Parallels? If you already have a reasonably-powerful Mac, it would save you some $.

3/22/2017 2:51:42 PM

Quote :

"I don't want to boot camp because I use my computer a lot at home, and I don't want to buy a mac for the boys (each), and I've heard of some performance issues when bootcamping with the software being used."

3/22/2017 10:17:15 PM

Quote :

"I do not think you save any money building anymore. "

Depends on what you want. If you want something that can play games and not be godawful in a few years building is still the way to go without paying nosebleed prices.

If you need something for word, powerpoint, excel, and the internet, yeah it's going to be very similar to prebuilts in price and performance minus the support. The upside is you'll have less installed total garbage on a built rather than a retail machine.

3/25/2017 12:37:59 PM

building is purely for enthusiasts. there's no fiscal incentive to do it. I can buy a 6700K 16gb machine for $700 and that includes an OS license and warranty. add the video card of your choosing and you're good to go. you can't come close to that building on your own.

3/26/2017 3:42:15 PM

^this.

3/26/2017 9:53:42 PM

^^But building your own can mean 5 yr to lifetime warranty on parts, plus getting better quality parts. My last gaming PC was around $900 all-in, including a good video card.

3/29/2017 10:05:46 PM

https://slickdeals.net/f/10088072-dell-inspiron-3650-desktop-i7-6700-16gb-ram-2tb-hdd-amd-radeon-r9-360-wifi-dvd-rw-599-with-f-s

4/25/2017 11:29:24 PM

How about this? Any good?

https://slickdeals.net/f/10047120-dell-inspiron-3250-desktop-w-keyboard-mouse-intel-i3-6100-4gb-ddr3-1tb-hdd-wifi-win-7-10-pro-279-f-s?src=SiteSearchV2_SearchBarV2Algo1

4/27/2017 8:52:00 PM

Less decent than the stuff we recommended above.

If you're just looking for an internet machine for 2-3 years then that will be fine.

4/27/2017 9:08:10 PM

Looking for one on Black Friday.

10/9/2018 9:46:45 PM

too early to see what's going on, and with a shortage of Intel processors it's not looking like there will be great deals for any of those.

10/10/2018 10:01:01 AM

I just want the crypto mining to die so you can get a reasonably priced GPU again.

10/10/2018 4:28:50 PM

^those prices have gone down a lot lately. The new 2080 series is expensive, but the 10x0 stuff is not bad at all for what they deliver.

10/10/2018 4:31:30 PM

Still way more than before the crypto boom.

10/10/2018 5:04:37 PM

As opposed to wanting a bad desktop?

[Edited on October 12, 2018 at 1:00 PM. Reason : ?]

10/12/2018 1:00:04 PM