New Motherboard or Computer and What Spec?

[paul.deitch]

Current spec is AMD A4-4000 APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics 3.00 GHz, 16.0 GB RAM

Since the 1980s I used to build my own computers ordering the components that I needed. But I haven't done it now for may be 10 years.
I'm no longer up to date or interested in what's what.
The PC which I only use for email and browsing has started randomly crashing. I've replaced the PSU and cable, checked drivers, SSD hard disk checked, reinstalled Win10-64, checked memory. Still happening. Yes I regularly do anti-virus checking etc and everything is backed up twice.

So should I buy a new motherboard/processor or complete new computer? Which ever one, what sort of spec will I need for comfortable email/browsing?
Thanks.

[Arnold Cunningham]

For normal use, I’d absolutely just buy off the shelf medium spec, pre built, these days. It all be good enough.

[paul.deitch]

Thanks. What is a medium spec?

[Arnold Cunningham]

Would you consider laptop? For general use Laptops are so good these days, unless someone has a specific need of a desktop, I'd use laptop. Even if you have big screen and keyboard plugged in (which is what I do on my work laptops).

For a decent all round laptop that I'd give one of our team, I'd go 14" screen.

For pure email and web browsing, but also assume you want microsoft windows - this'd do:
https://www.lenovo.com/gb/en/laptops/lenovo/studen...

But that is a bit "low" spec - I'd go up a bit from that to at least this:
https://www.lenovo.com/gb/en/laptops/thinkbook/thi...
Or this:
https://www.lenovo.com/gb/en/laptops/thinkbook/thi...

(which are both still "run of the mill" laptops - nothing snazzy, just functional like an employer work would give you)

But for myself, I spend all day on a computer and I like the yoga stuff : https://www.lenovo.com/gb/en/laptops/thinkpad/thin...
For you, it sounds like that is overkill probably?

Anyway, these are just some ideas. So many to choose from and so many different choices an options when 90% of it would do what you need.
Dell also do loads of options, we use them at work too.

[.:ian:.]

What's your budget?

11th gen intel i5, 16gb ram and pcie gen 4 nvme ssd will be stinking fast. £350 maybe.

[Arnold Cunningham]

Yeah, you can get a lot for a little these days.

[paul.deitch]

.:ian:. said:

What's your budget?

11th gen intel i5, 16gb ram and pcie gen 4 nvme ssd will be stinking fast. £350 maybe.

That would do fine but I need a desktop... any recommendations?

[colin79666]

Dell 7090 Micro/i5-10505/16GB Ram/256GB SSD/Windows 11/B
£280, 24 month warranty
https://uk.webuy.com/product-detail?id=sdes7090mic...

Lots of similar options on there for sub £300. Mid range desktops have never been so cheap.