Buying a SECOND-HAND Computer

What to look for...

When it comes to buying a second-hand PC as opposed to a new PC then there are a number of ways to start –

•          You can visit your local computer ‘doctor’ shop or person and ask if they have something that would suit your needs
•          Investigate the internet – namely eBay or a specialist in second hand PCs or Macs
•          You can ask around the office or your local school/church and see if someone is replacing their PC and wants to sell their current computer or perhaps even give it away
•          Investigate the local free advertising papers for computers going cheap or put in a wanted ad

Now all of the above are risky, even if you are being offered a warranty, and let’s discuss why:

The PC Doctor/Shop

If you visit your local computer ‘doctor’ or PC shop, then you are entering an environment where they are making earning their living by (legitimately) explaining to people that they really should get a new PC instead of keeping that old XP or Vista machine as the upgrade costs are going to be close to the price of a new machine and that they will be still be limited after upgrading by the older components in the system. All true. But then the computer shop winds up with a lot of old PCs and when you walk in and they say:

“So, what do you use your computer for?” and you say

“Browsing the internet and a bit of email.” They will say

“Well we have this refurbished PC here that I can give you a 90-day warranty with that is easily capable of handling the Internet and email.” Once again, all true. But you are going to wind up with a PC that has been replaced because it is getting on in years and the computer doctor has on reinstalled back to factory settings and installed a Firefox browser onto so that it appears to run OK with the modern Internet pages. The 90-day warranty is a risk they can probably take as the hardware is unlikely to fail in that period and if they install sensible antivirus software with certain settings, when it does go wrong they can charge you all over again. Not the best option unless you can be sure they are offering you a relatively new PC…

eBay and the Internet

OK then so what about eBay and second hand computer shops? Well the first question to be asking yourself is how these people come to be in possession of these machines. Are they a specialist PC recycler? If so then they may be getting machines from the local schools and councils – you would not believe the stuff government operations throw away – or they might deal (like we do) with reselling assets on behalf of insolvent companies to recover monies for the creditors. In these cases, then you can often find a good deal if you make sure that the various components – RAM, CPU and Hard Disk – are all up to scratch. A good option here is to find out where the system came from and what environment and period it was in use for; this information can give a good steer on what to avoid.

Then we come to something like eBay. Buying from an individual selling by auction will probably be the only way to get a good deal as everyone else is there for the money. If someone has recently replaced a PC or has gotten one from work etc. and you feel that the listing can be trusted, then that is always a good sign. All of the refurbished PCs will have been taken from companies that have replaced a whole range of PCs because maintenance costs have become too expensive which is not good if you are looking to keep a PC for a while as there is a good chance it will go wrong within months as other computers that they purchased in the same batch have started to play up.

Your friends and their friends

Asking around at the office and amongst friends can be a safer option but you must be sure that the PC is set back to factory defaults using the onboard utility or accompanying disks and that the system is functioning as it should before parting with any money.

What should the PC exhibit as far as specifics are concerned?

Right, now let us have a look at what the specifications should be for a good computer to be used on the internet and for email etc.

•          Windows 10 – it has built in antivirus and is much more future proof than anything else which is important
•          At least 8GB RAM
•          At least a quad-core CPU – you can look up the CPU online from its number and you do not want anything from before 2012
•          Solid State Hard Disk (an SSD) which makes for much faster operation in every way
•          1GB Graphics card for even normal operation is the minimum without wanting to play games
•          USB 3.0 or better as this gives a good indication of how old the core components of the machine are – these ports should be in blue or light blue

OK so what about a Gaming PC?

•          Windows 10 – once again to alleviate concern about antivirus and future proofing and to make sure it is compatible with the latest games
•          16GB RAM  - this is perhaps not necessary for most of the current games but it will also guard against winding up with a PC that you cannot upgrade above 8GB
•          Quad-core i7 processor from at least 2015, so make sure you look up the CPU type on the web
•          Solid State System Disk (SSD) and at least 3TB Gaming disk- the modern games take up a lot of room so you will need a disk to install of the games onto alongside your SSD system disk to avoid the disk filling up and impacting performance
•          2GB Graphics Card which is a minimum now as many are now 4-8GB and this makes a lot of difference!

We are excited to announce that we are currently adding domain names to the sircles Store for resale.

These domain are based on the American Motorhome Hire and Sales vertical markets.

Here is a complete list although some may be sold. Please check the catalogue on the sircles Store

When you are looking to start a business or move into a new premises then it is definitely worth considering what options are available for the internet connection. Some business premises are serviced and include internet already but with most it is left up to the admin or support staff to requisition their own connection.

Most SMEs use ADSL2+ - broadband to you and I - to connect to the internet which is great as the download speeds are usually pretty fast and in the most part people judge internet speeds on how quickly pages load from the internet. Now that we are seeing many more SMEs use 'the Cloud' as a major part of their activity it is becoming more useful to have larger upload speeds so that Office365 or Google Docs do not appear as sluggish. This is where FTTC or 'fibre' as it is commonly referred to become important. FTTC - fibre to the cabinet - is only available if your new office fulfil BOTH of the following conditions:

1. Your exchange has been readied for VDSL/FTTC/BT Infinity/Virgin Fibre (all the same thing)
2. Your offices street cabinet has been equipped with a fibre connection from the exchange

You can find this out fairly easily by looking up your postcode/house number or BT line number on https://www.samknows.com/broadband/broadband_checker

BT Infinity/Fibre connections offer much greater upload speed - currently up to 20MB - and download speeds - currently 100MB - and cost very little more than ADSL2+ conventional broadband. If you have 10-50 people in your office then this can make a noticeable difference to your internet response times and increase productivity and staff morale.

N.B. Check with the existing provider to make sure that the closest cabinet to your office is fibre enabled or - if you have no service with anyone currently - speak to BT or another provider in advance to check available services before you sign your lease.

Once you have your new service you will need a VDSL/FTTC router and sircles currently recommend the Vigor 2860 VDSL range.

The Vigor 2860 comes in various guises:

1. As the 2860 VDSL/ADSL router that will connect to your existing LAN (Local Area Network) which has many great features to protect and streamline your business such as comprehensive VPN and firewall filtering
2. The 2860n which also includes n-band wireless for fast connectivity
3. The 2860 Vn which includes support for analogue phones and lines as well as VoIP
4. The 2860n Plus which also allows for ISDN connectivity as a backup
5. The 2860 Vn Plus for all of the above

using a combination of these technologies - VDSL internet and The DrayTek Vigor 2860 range - you can have an enterprise quality internet service for extremely reasonable prices.

Have a look at our range of Vigor 2860 routers or call us on 0844 880 1618 to discuss your options.