NationStates Jolt Archive

Thanks to my old PC being bust, I need a new PC before May or I may have to leave NS... Which I don't think my mind could cope with. This is my only outlet, my only voice...

I earn about £370 a month from my job. half of that goes to my mother in rent. And I spend almost all the rest on college and Work related things. Here's the thing. I need to gain enough cash by may or I'm screwed. Any advice? Even somone selling a PC of respectable quality would do!

:( -Desperately seeking help, your pal TIN.

*Dreams*

http://telecom.roksa.ru/img/pc.jpg

MMMM.... PC... come to me...

Thanks to my old PC being bust, I need a new PC before May or I may have to leave NS... Which I don't think my mind could cope with. This is my only outlet, my only voice...

I earn about £370 a month from my job. half of that goes to my mother in rent. And I spend almost all the rest on college and Work related things. Here's the thing. I need to gain enough cash by may or I'm screwed. Any advice? Even somone selling a PC of respectable quality would do!

:( -Desperately seeking help, your pal TIN.

Do a build, man. Its the best way to get the most bang for your buck. You might even be able to salvage aprts out of your old machine(cd-rom, monitor, etc.)

I could sell you my little brothers pc... he might not notice that it's gone.
How does.... £15 grab you?


Couldn't you get a room or somewhere studenty that has a smaller rent than what you pay your mother? I can't actually sell his pc, because then he'd want to use mine.

The only thing worth salvaging is the CD drive. I might be able to obtain a new system soon via my sisters boyfriend, but the boyfriends brother is trying to steal it too.

Thanks to my old PC being bust, I need a new PC before May or I may have to leave NS... Which I don't think my mind could cope with. This is my only outlet, my only voice...

I earn about £370 a month from my job. half of that goes to my mother in rent. And I spend almost all the rest on college and Work related things. Here's the thing. I need to gain enough cash by may or I'm screwed. Any advice? Even somone selling a PC of respectable quality would do!

:( -Desperately seeking help, your pal TIN.
No mother should force their child to pay rent! :mad:

Couldn't you get a room or somewhere studenty that has a smaller rent than what you pay your mother? I can't actually sell his pc, because then he'd want to use mine.

I think that £170 a month is much cheaper than the £70 a week rent for hastings shitty, scummy flats.

No mother should force their child to pay rent! :mad:


I thought I was the only one left who would never charge family for anything... I used to think that I was the norm, and then found out I was most certainly the exception, in that regards.

I think that £170 a month is much cheaper than the £70 a week rent for hastings shitty, scummy flats.

I've never looked into it, but I thought it was a hell of a lot cheaper than that for something that people can live in.

The only thing worth salvaging is the CD drive. I might be able to obtain a new system soon via my sisters boyfriend, but the boyfriends brother is trying to steal it too.
If you are daunted by the task of building one, don't be. If you can follow an instruction manual, use a screwdriver, and know how to plug and unplug stuff, you can build a machine. All you'll need is advice on which parts to get.

No mother should force their child to pay rent! :mad:

Actually it is a unwritten rule of parenting. From 18 upwards, force them to pay rent.

i use the pcs in college. speaking of which, it's time for me to go home, good luck.

The only thing worth salvaging is the CD drive. I might be able to obtain a new system soon via my sisters boyfriend, but the boyfriends brother is trying to steal it too.
It can't be that bad. You must have a working monitor, keyboard, mouse as a minimum surely.
If the HD has crashed it can often be reformatted which will partition off the bad sectors. Ask around and find a friend with a windows XP install disc. You can use your old CD key if you had XP before or borrow a key if you do that kind of thing.
Replace your motherboard and processor with a kit from watford or Novatech.
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/Bundles.html
They start at about £100 for an AMD 2.2 with built in graphics, sound etc.
Stop thinking you need an Alienware beast. Most of us can get by on a simple 2.0 or 2.5Ghz machine and still manage to play most games.
Good luck (you shouldn't need it. It's pretty idiot proof)

What happened to your computer? Perhaps you only need to swap a few things.

It can't be that bad. You must have a working monitor, keyboard, mouse as a minimum surely.
If the HD has crashed it can often be reformatted which will partition off the bad sectors. Ask around and find a friend with a windows XP install disc. You can use your old CD key if you had XP before or borrow a key if you do that kind of thing.
Replace your motherboard and processor with a kit from watford or Novatech.
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/Bundles.html
They start at about £100 for an AMD 2.2 with built in graphics, sound etc.
Stop thinking you need an Alienware beast. Most of us can get by on a simple 2.0 or 2.5Ghz machine and still manage to play most games.
Good luck (you should need it. It's pretty idiot proof)

Let's just say my old system outdates windows 95.

It can't be that bad. You must have a working monitor, keyboard, mouse as a minimum surely.
If the HD has crashed it can often be reformatted which will partition off the bad sectors. Ask around and find a friend with a windows XP install disc. You can use your old CD key if you had XP before or borrow a key if you do that kind of thing.
Replace your motherboard and processor with a kit from watford or Novatech.
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/Bundles.html
They start at about £100 for an AMD 2.2 with built in graphics, sound etc.
Stop thinking you need an Alienware beast. Most of us can get by on a simple 2.0 or 2.5Ghz machine and still manage to play most games.
Good luck (you should need it. It's pretty idiot proof)

Hell, for that matter, if you just want somethin' that'll acess the internet. Get 'ya an old p3 or somethin. You can build a bare bonse machine for about 150$(US).

So, if you only need a computer for NS, I'm pretty sure you can get a decent used one for about 60 - 80 quid. Maybe with an OS, and if not just use your old HD.

Let's just say my old system outdates windows 95.
That shouldn't be a problem. I've updated plenty of machines for people from windows 3.1 to XP
You may need a new box as well but that's just about £25 more. The rest should fit. Backward compatibility means most stuff fits new motherboards.
have the lid off and let us know what you've got. If your CD is not connected to an IDE channel it might cause problems for instance.
An other thought might be a recycled unit. Try
http://www.environ.org.uk/computer_sales/index.php
I'm not sure if they do mail order but I know their machines do the job well enough and are complete.

Anyone know of a good site selling used PC's? I need one that can run broadband.

Actually it is a unwritten rule of parenting. From 18 upwards, force them to pay rent.

Mine don't...I voluntarily give them a bit as board but they don't force it.

Anyhow, we should start up a collection tin. Everyone put a dollar/pound/whatever in the tin for TIN :p

Hell, for that matter, if you just want somethin' that'll acess the internet. Get 'ya an old p3 or somethin. You can build a bare bonse machine for about 150$(US).

Indeed. An 800 MHz machine with 256 mb ram is more than enough if you are not planning to play new games/do graphics manipulation/compile a lot of code etc. No need for a fancy video or soundcard either. I do recommend getting a system with USB though.
Hell - you can make do with fewer MHz. if you want windows use windows 98SE (and a firewall). These cds are extremely easy and cheap to obtain. If you want something more up to date look at the various linuxflavours - which are free.

Hint: modifying Xboxes so they can run linux is quite popular. You can choose to run linux slowly and still be able to play Xboxgames, or just convert the thing to a workstation completely. However, in the latter case a custom built system may be cheaper.

Anyone know of a good site selling used PC's? I need one that can run broadband.
There must be local papers where you live, or those free trading ones. Get one of those. The internet is not always the best answer for everything.

Any computer with a relatively modern OS can make use of broadband. It's easier if the Ethernet or USB interface is integrated on the motherboard, like in many P-III's. Otherwise, there are very cheap cards available that you can add at a later time.

Anyone know of a good site selling used PC's? I need one that can run broadband.
Try this place it looks pretty good though I've never used them.
Go for the base unit and update the other bits when you get the cash together. I find maplin's OK for cheap keyboards, mice and speakers etc
http://www.bargainpc.co.uk/index.php?cat_id=4

wow thats a good site.

Tag

Thanks to my old PC being bust, I need a new PC before May or I may have to leave NS... Which I don't think my mind could cope with. This is my only outlet, my only voice...

I earn about £370 a month from my job. half of that goes to my mother in rent. And I spend almost all the rest on college and Work related things. Here's the thing. I need to gain enough cash by may or I'm screwed. Any advice? Even somone selling a PC of respectable quality would do!

:( -Desperately seeking help, your pal TIN.

You pay your mother rent? :confused:
There has to be a store in England that sells pc's on a 12 month payment.
You know, pay a litle every month until you have payd all the price.

wow thats a good site.
Yeah like I said, looks OK but I'd use your Visa card to pay so you're protected. If you use pay pal there is a con going on where your goods are promised for delivery after 28 days. At day 28 you phone to ask where it is and they say "problems in despatch wait a week more" you never see your gear and the 30 day paypal money back promise has run out.
Simple rule if delivery is more than a week use Visa if less then pay pal is fine. If it doesn't turn up by week 2 then claim your money back from paypal.
The thing is this stuff is (relatively) unwanted crap. With a brain you realise it's fine for what you want but joe public always seems to go to PCWorld and buys the fastest thing there at 30% APR and is still paying when it's well out of date. Start out of date and you've got no unrealistic expectations.

Thanks to my old PC being bust, I need a new PC before May or I may have to leave NS... Which I don't think my mind could cope with. This is my only outlet, my only voice...

I earn about £370 a month from my job. half of that goes to my mother in rent. And I spend almost all the rest on college and Work related things. Here's the thing. I need to gain enough cash by may or I'm screwed. Any advice? Even somone selling a PC of respectable quality would do!

:( -Desperately seeking help, your pal TIN.
no! you can't leave! NS has you for now and forever more!

we could all donate £10 towards the "TIN's new PC fund" on PayPal... :)
(if earning enough by then is a problem, which i guess it would be.)

I don't trust PC world. My mate bought all his dodgy stuff there.

You pay your mother rent? :confused:
There has to be a store in England that sells pc's on a 12 month payment.
You know, pay a litle every month until you have payd all the price.
Dell (http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/desktops_Q1_W4_dimen_3000_D03306E?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs) do that. hired purchase. good name too - trustworthy.

no! you can't leave! NS has you for now and forever more!

we could all donate £10 towards the "TIN's new PC fund" on PayPal... :)

you know I would, but I don't have paypal.

Is there any way I can pay with a debit card?

Is there any way I can pay with a debit card?
I believe paypal can be used for that, yes (never done it myself though). It also doesn't require a creditcard in many countries - it can be used as a "bankaccount": you put money on it through a normal wire transfer from your bank, and then use paypal to pay.

Let's just say my old system outdates windows 95.
Dude, the computer I use at home still has the monitor, mouse, and floppy drive from my old 486. I just bought a new case, motherboard, processor, cdrw drive, video card, and put the bitch together. It's cheaper than buying a whole new computer and it works. I got a hard drive out of a computer somebody was throwing away.

i (or one of us) could build you a pc pretty much at cost. i made this one im using now (almost top of the range - Athlon 64 3200+, GeForce FX5950 (vivo ed... shit), 768 mb ram, xp home, dvdrw, fancy case) for about £500. plus screen, but you could keep your current screen too

Is there any way I can pay with a debit card?
pay for what?
you know I would, but I don't have paypal.
paypal is free to set up & takes just a month to verify (can be quicker if you go to your bank). besides i have a paypal account and would be willing to take donations for you and buy the pc, or transfer the money from my account to yours (the money would actually be in my real bank account so we'd have to keep close tabs on the dough)

just an option

I believe paypal can be used for that, yes (never done it myself though). It also doesn't require a creditcard in many countries - it can be used as a "bankaccount": you put money on it through a normal wire transfer from your bank, and then use paypal to pay.

So I can connect paypal to my bank account? Can you give me the address?

Dell (http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/desktops_Q1_W4_dimen_3000_D03306E?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs) do that. hired purchase. good name too - trustworthy.
Dell are OK as long as you've got a warrentee. Once it runs out they're crap.
They sell cheap(ish) but they are very basic systems and well out of date.
'Spose you get what you pay for but they're not doing you any favours

paypal is free to set up & takes just a month to verify (can be quicker if you go to your bank). besides i have a paypal account and would be willing to take donations for you and buy the pc, or transfer the money from my account to yours (the money would actually be in my real bank account so we'd have to keep close tabs on the dough)

just an option

Sounds a bit much to be given a tenner...

Build it yourself.
I built a second-tier (Near top of the line) computer for $500, of course I had the monitor and such, but I suppose you do as well.
I would suggest keeping a bit of extra, if your case is particularly old, since this might lead to overheating.

But yeah, I got a Radeon 9800 PRO 256, 512mb of RAM, a new motherboard, a new case, cool shiney fans, and little lighty bits for the case.
I am assuming your monitor, CD drives, disk drives and all the other basic non-chip related stuff is still good.
IF your hardrive is a problem, its easy to fix. A mid-level (80gb) hardrive costs around $20 here.

I like the sound of pure metals idea... but no-one can trust anyone on the net. so oh well. you'll be lucky if more that 3 people donate a tenner.

Sounds a bit much to be given a tenner...
ah but a tenner from each (willing) person on NS with a paypal account could go a long way.

that dell one was £270ish, get 27 people you know on NS to donate just a tenner and you're sorted :)


edit: yeah 27 sounds like a lot. dunno, maybe you should do a pledge drive (do a poll & see how many people might be willing to donate or something). i can put myself forward as being trustworthy to handle the money in my account. i'd have to check exactly how it works on paypal though - exactly how one can take donations and precisely where the money goes, and how to get it moved (i know you can easily move ££ between paypal accounts, but i dont know about between real bank accounts... if the donation just goes through paypal into a bank account, then the ££ can be transferred by cheque or wire transfer as normal i guess :confused: )

Build it yourself.
I built a second-tier (Near top of the line) computer for $500, of course I had the monitor and such, but I suppose you do as well.
I would suggest keeping a bit of extra, if your case is particularly old, since this might lead to overheating.

But yeah, I got a Radeon 9800 PRO 256, 512mb of RAM, a new motherboard, a new case, cool shiney fans, and little lighty bits for the case.
I am assuming your monitor, CD drives, disk drives and all the other basic non-chip related stuff is still good.
IF your hardrive is a problem, its easy to fix. A mid-level (80gb) hardrive costs around $20 here.
Hardware's a lot cheaper in the states. Not worth importing though cos of the import taxs and delivery charges.

If you're willing, can you help me gather that cash? If it works we'll do a bank transfer. I don't know about paypal... do they verify it for you? Or do you have to go to the bank and register?

Hardware's a lot cheaper in the states. Not worth importing though cos of the import taxs and delivery charges.
Perhaps TIN should fly to Japan :)

So I can connect paypal to my bank account? Can you give me the address?

If your country is supported:
- Enter your paypal account (register first if needed and just skip the part asking for your creditcard details)
- Click the "add funds" tab.
- Click the "Transfer Funds From a Bank Account in [your country here]" link.
- You will then see details on how to transfer money to the account (the bank to transfer funds to differs from country to country). It takes about 3 days.

In some countries it is also possible to link your paypal directly to your bankaccount. I cannot provide you with details, since I considered that too great a security risk.

If you're willing, can you help me gather that cash? If it works we'll do a bank transfer. I don't know about paypal... do they verify it for you? Or do you have to go to the bank and register?
i'd be willing to help :)
collecting donations would probably have to be done through Paypal though as otherwise it gets crazy with cheques and bank account numbers flying about. i'm sure plenty of people here will have paypal... just a matter of extracting the money!

paypal accounts are verified - you set up an account, they charge you $1. on your bank statement this will show up as PayPal $1 and then a verification code. you type this code in and it verifies your account (not really sure what that means tho...)

paypal works with both debit and credit cards, the money is not guarenteed/insured/whatever as far as i am aware. its not an internet bank account though, just a method of transferring money from your bank account, through debit/credit card. i think this could work!

Oh to hell with it this is all making my head spin... when I finish college, I shall extend my work hours, save up, get a PC and my problems will be solved. I'll just have to go inactive and be deated for a while.

Well, I gotta go. See you all monday.

its not an internet bank account though, just a method of transferring money from your bank account, through debit/credit card.

Actually it can be both ;)

Thanks to my old PC being bust, I need a new PC before May or I may have to leave NS... Which I don't think my mind could cope with. This is my only outlet, my only voice...

I earn about £370 a month from my job. half of that goes to my mother in rent. And I spend almost all the rest on college and Work related things. Here's the thing. I need to gain enough cash by may or I'm screwed. Any advice? Even somone selling a PC of respectable quality would do!

:( -Desperately seeking help, your pal TIN.
I got a few that you could have ... if by respectable you mean able to browse the web :p

Oh to hell with it this is all making my head spin... when I finish college, I shall extend my work hours, save up, get a PC and my problems will be solved. I'll just have to go inactive and be deated for a while.
dude, i've just checked on my paypal account. i/you can set up a website for accepting donations really, really easily.

Actually it can be both ;)
gah, paypal confuses the hell out of me :p


ah there you go, the "transfer funds to your bank account" button!

TIN, it's certainly possible and easy!

Actually it is a unwritten rule of parenting. From 18 upwards, force them to pay rent.
This supposed to promote responsibility, but with this greedy culture we live in, sometimes it isn't possible.