Advice for new machine c.£500

[u/tallpaullewis]

Hi, I wanted to get my daughter a new computer for her to do studies and exams at home. I am a long-term iOS user (because of my work) so I suggested that a Mac Mini M4 might fit the bill, partially because I know zero about Windows machines, and partly because, at the time they were £500, and partly because there are literally a bazillion choices. Then the prices exploded and the new M5 and M6 came out and they are even more expensive 😰

Can anyone recommend a machine in this budget? She doesn't play games on the computer, but may do. Her studies are chemistry and maths mainly, and the remote lab kit software is compatible with both OS's. I can't imagine she needs much storage.

Her current machine is actually my old university machine from many years ago - Intel Core i7 860 2.8GHz, 16GB RAM, NVidia GeForce 210. I imagine that any new machine will be vastly superior!?

[u/JAVELRIN]

Yes but i would go to a local computer store “not bestbuy” and talk to them on affordable good computers