CJ Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 Hiya folks After last weeks news re the cancer treatment, it now looks as if I will be staying in the UK for longer than originally anticipated. That now means I am after a pc or laptop to use at home and with a dongle as opposed to a router via a phone line. Now for the hard part! I also need one that is as cheap as chips and have a hdmi output or the facility for me to add one. I don't need a monitor as due to a lack of space I need to run it through the tv and the spec of the machine doesn't need to be high as all I want to use it for us surfing the net, downloading torrents and the occasional word doc. So, other than budgies, is there anything going cheap out there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 If you don't have any luck on here then ebay is worth a try. I would search for desktop PCs for maximum bang per buck, and limit your search to collection-only items within say 50 miles of you. That will cut down the bidding competition and hence the final price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted November 1, 2011 Author Share Posted November 1, 2011 Thank you friend. I've been having a look about but my problem centres around needing a machine that can play through my tv hdmi input. This is important due to a lack of space at my new flat. I have even thought of getting my pc sent back here from Kos as it may well be a cost effective way of obtaining a well specd unit - especially if I can tag onto another van delivering household items back here for someone returning to the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imi Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 I do have a laptop on offer but no HDMI, if your TV has VGA then you can link up ANY laptop to it without any issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 If you PM me your postcode, I'll have a quick look on ebay to see if there are any candidates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted November 1, 2011 Author Share Posted November 1, 2011 Unfortunately imi, the tv only has scart x 2, hdmi, composite and component inputs - no VGA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 Unfortunately imi, the tv only has scart x 2, hdmi, composite and component inputs - no VGA. You could use one of these? Link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 You could use one of these? Link Only if the PC has Svideo-out. The only trouble with any analogue TV input is the quality of the signal. Virtually everything is unreadable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 This looks worth considering: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/compaq-presario-sr50-19uk-/280764158759. It's modern-ish (there's lots of ancient PCs going for silly high money on ebay), collection only from near you, and the motherboard has a PCIe x16 slot. The spec is here: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/documentSubCategory?tmp_rule=62970&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&cc=uk&dlc=en&lc=en&product=3397528 I'd expect to pay up to about £100 for that PC. It won't have HDMI out as standard, so you'd need to add a PCIe graphics card that supports it, something like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MSI-NX8600GT-Graphics-Card-DDR2-HDMI-DVI-TV-Out-and-Dual-Link-DVI-/160674006948 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imi Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 Unfortunately imi, the tv only has scart x 2, hdmi, composite and component inputs - no VGA. A converter like this would do the job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imi Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 This is the laptop that I have for sale. Currently running Ubuntu Linux - can easily put back the original Win Xp install http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?241595-IBM-T40-Laptop-with-WinXP-SP3-Complete&highlight=IBM+T40 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted November 1, 2011 Author Share Posted November 1, 2011 I may be talking through my posterior here (and let's be honest, it wouldn't be the first time) but I always thought that a convertor from analogue to digital didnt actually work. As for the laptop, whilst it looks a good buy it is probably out of my budget when I add in carriage to wales Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imi Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 I may be talking through my posterior here (and let's be honest, it wouldn't be the first time) but I always thought that a convertor from analogue to digital didnt actually work. As for the laptop, whilst it looks a good buy it is probably out of my budget when I add in carriage to wales I use the above (very similar) to connect a work PC (VGA) to a 65" screen (HDMI) without any issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 I may be talking through my posterior here (and let's be honest, it wouldn't be the first time) but I always thought that a convertor from analogue to digital didnt actually work. As for the laptop, whilst it looks a good buy it is probably out of my budget when I add in carriage to wales Convertors work fine bud, it's the analogue to digital cables that don't work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted November 1, 2011 Author Share Posted November 1, 2011 I use the above (very similar) to connect a work PC (VGA) to a 65" screen (HDMI) without any issues. I stand (or in this case sit down ) corrected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted November 1, 2011 Author Share Posted November 1, 2011 Convertors work fine bud, it's the analogue to digital cables that don't work Ah, I knew I had read somewhere that something like that didn't work too well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted November 2, 2011 Author Share Posted November 2, 2011 This looks worth considering: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/compaq-presario-sr50-19uk-/280764158759. It's modern-ish (there's lots of ancient PCs going for silly high money on ebay), collection only from near you, and the motherboard has a PCIe x16 slot. The spec is here: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/documentSubCategory?tmp_rule=62970&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&cc=uk&dlc=en&lc=en&product=3397528 I'd expect to pay up to about £100 for that PC. It won't have HDMI out as standard, so you'd need to add a PCIe graphics card that supports it, something like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MSI-NX8600GT-Graphics-Card-DDR2-HDMI-DVI-TV-Out-and-Dual-Link-DVI-/160674006948 Thank you my friend. It is only about 3 miles from where I live and I have sent them a message asking if I can come along and see it boot up and working before making a bid. I am hoping the lack of monitor lead and pick up only will put a few off and allow me to steal it on the cheap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imi Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Good Machine. seems like he doesn't have a Monitor Cable so wont be able to show it to you working, best to take a cable with you and perhaps even a monitor just to be sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted November 3, 2011 Author Share Posted November 3, 2011 Good Machine. seems like he doesn't have a Monitor Cable so wont be able to show it to you working, best to take a cable with you and perhaps even a monitor just to be sure. I've been in touch with him and have to ring him this evening to arrange a meet to try the machine. Who knows, he / she may decide to do a deal there and then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted November 3, 2011 Author Share Posted November 3, 2011 A friend has recommended looking at http://www.pcxuk.com as they do cheap deals for people on benefit. I have emailed them to ask if they could arrange for the pc to have an hdmi output as opposed to supplying a monitor and await their response. Do you folks think the spec is ok? Or should I just try and get the one on ebay that's local to me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imi Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 The eBay one is a better spec than the gbp90 one on their website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted November 3, 2011 Author Share Posted November 3, 2011 The eBay one is a better spec than the gbp90 one on their website Thank you muchly. I could probably get it a Lou cheaper than the £99 they are looking for too as I think the testing and collection only will put a lot if people off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 Col, if you're willing to accept i'd like to offer you whatever cash i make from my for sale thread here minus postage, to put towards your pc fund, its not a lot but may help you get a better pc i have solid interest in the headlights and piping so far so it'll be about £70 so far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted November 3, 2011 Author Share Posted November 3, 2011 Col, if you're willing to accept i'd like to offer you whatever cash i make from my for sale thread here minus postage, to put towards your pc fund, its not a lot but may help you get a better pc i have solid interest in the headlights and piping so far so it'll be about £70 so far My friend, I don't know what to say. I am not ashamed to say that i am sitting here with tears in my eyes as the offer that you have made and the many other acts of kindness are overwhelming. Now, before I take you up on your offer, I will go and see the pc that is advertised on eBay and find out how much I may buy it for. I will then now if I have to increase my very limited budget. Please don't think I am being ungrateful. I just don't want to take money under false pretences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 No problem Colin, i have no such thoughts If that pc turns out to be no good for you at least you have a bit of scope to find something on eBay which doesn't have to be local, as the money is in my payapl account so can always be used to get something online. Best of luck with today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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