Desktop PC's

nikolas812
nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
edited March 2009 in The Clubhouse
I need to find a Fast PC for my dad and intend to buy one in the next few hours.

He has and old Dell and would like to stay with Dell.

I have a cap of $150 to spend. All I need is a tower but anything else would be a plus.


His old Dell has around a 700MHz processor. All he uses it for is Internet and pictures mainly. But its kind of slow sometimes. Especially on start up. So I want to get him something as fast as possible.


Heres what I was looking at. What do you think?


http://cgi.ebay.com/1-FAST-DELL-2-8-GHZ-P4-PC-Desktop-Computer-WIN-XP-PRO-3_W0QQitemZ110366887241QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDesktop_PCs?hash=item110366887241&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318


Any advice or opinions would be appreciated.



Nick
Post edited by nikolas812 on
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Comments

  • sophie
    sophie Posts: 511
    edited March 2009
    can he try reinstalling windows from a dell disk? i would have him try that and see if his computer becomes faster. if it does have him wait untill he has more cash and buy something better.

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  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited March 2009
    sophie wrote: »
    can he try reinstalling windows from a dell disk? i would have him try that and see if his computer becomes faster. if it does have him wait untill he has more cash and buy something better.

    Payton



    Thats not the problem... He got a virus a while back and we completely restored the computer back to factory specs. It was like new again but still slow...


    I don't know much about computers but I have to think its his processor. I have a Sony vio with the same operating system but a 2.4Ghz processor. And my computer would smoke his any day of the week. My start up time takes about a 1 minute versus his 10 minute startup. Plus it just takes longer to process things after the fact...


    Theres no waiting for more money. We need to move his computer out to our business and he just needs to get something for home. And he wants the best he can get for $150.00 no more.



    Nick
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  • renowilliams
    renowilliams Posts: 920
    edited March 2009
    It would run better if you were to blow out the existing partitions, format then do a clean install of say windows 2000 pro. Make sure you extract the drivers first though. The dell oem install, like all oem installs are basically crap. You would be surprised how much faster it would run. You can download a copy of windows 2000 or xp pro of the torrents and burn it.


    Good luck
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  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited March 2009
    Thanks


    But the issue is not about making the old computer faster. But about finding a new computer for his home. I was more interested in knowing if the one I was looking at on ebay was a good deal.. If not. Could someone point me in the direction of a decent one for $150.00


    The old computer is going out to the shop. It doesn't matter if its slow or not.


    I just need to find something decent for his house..



    Nick
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  • Ender
    Ender Posts: 603
    edited March 2009
    Um... the computer you have right now is probably worth around $150... maybe only a little less... Where do you live? Maybe we can find something on CL for you (kind of doubt it though).
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  • Kex
    Kex Posts: 5,151
    edited March 2009
    $150 is not a lot. There are plenty of choices if you double or triple that, even new, but at $150, you are really looking at the used market. That thing on eBay does look decent enough, and the seller's feedback looks pretty good too ... maybe it'll do the job!

    For more speed, try and get 2GB of RAM. That seems to be a minimum for fast operation with WinXP.
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  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited March 2009
    I'm so confused. Has anyone looked at the computer on ebay I have linked? It seems to be a whole hell of a lot better than the one he has. And they have been selling for about $150.00


    It doesn't have to be new and preferably from ebay. Warranty is not much of an issue either.


    Decent computers on ebay for $150.00 seem to be a dime a dozen. I paid a $150 for my Sony Viao and I have never been happier.. I don't see why I would have to go to my local CL?


    Maybe I don't know what decent is?:confused:


    Is there something I'm missing? He just uses it for Internet, pictures and an occasional movie.



    Nick
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited March 2009
    If it's a solid seller and represented accurately, that is a good deal for the desktop on ebay. As someone mentioned earlier, 2GB of RAM would be better than 1GB, but as long as it's not used for anything too memory-intensive and he doesn't run 4 programs at once, 1GB of RAM should still serve his needs just fine. I have 3GB of RAM in my laptop, but with running firefox with 9 open tabs, AIM, iTunes, and a game I'm using just barely over 1GB.

    Sure, it's not the greatest computer ever, but I see nothing wrong with it, especially for that price.
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  • BigMac
    BigMac Posts: 849
    edited March 2009
    Does not look to bad at all for $150.00. Good for the basics and the occasional movie for sure. I would add the $25.00 option to upgrade to 2 gigs ram.......will help the movie run better if there are some background tasks going on. If it does turn out to be a dud let me know and I will go have a little talk,lol. I am only a few minutes away.;)
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  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited March 2009
    audiobliss wrote: »
    If it's a solid seller and represented accurately, that is a good deal for the desktop on ebay. As someone mentioned earlier, 2GB of RAM would be better than 1GB, but as long as it's not used for anything too memory-intensive and he doesn't run 4 programs at once, 1GB of RAM should still serve his needs just fine. I have 3GB of RAM in my laptop, but with running firefox with 9 open tabs, AIM, iTunes, and a game I'm using just barely over 1GB.

    Sure, it's not the greatest computer ever, but I see nothing wrong with it, especially for that price.




    Thats everything I thought also. Just wanted to see if somebody thought the same. The seller seems reputable. I thought the 1GB of Ram was OK. Two would be better but I think one will be fine for him. He's not very computer savvy and only has one program opened at once at best. Like I said. He doesn't know how to do much with it. Except upload pictures form his camera and use the internet. Barely. And check his email. Sometimes he might watch a DVD on it. Anything over $150 just wouldn't be worth it to him.


    I think I'll just keep watching the current one on ebay..



    Nick
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  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited March 2009
    BigMac wrote: »
    Does not look to bad at all for $150.00. Good for the basics and the occasional movie for sure. I would add the $25.00 option to upgrade to 2 gigs ram.......will help the movie run better if there are some background tasks going on. If it does turn out to be a dud let me know and I will go have a little talk,lol. I am only a few minutes away.;)


    Thanks. Will do.:D


    If the price dosen't get to high I'll think I'll get the upgrade for 2GB of Ram for him.



    Nick
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  • Kex
    Kex Posts: 5,151
    edited March 2009
    nikolas812 wrote: »
    Thanks. Will do.:D


    If the price dosen't get to high I'll think I'll get the upgrade for 2GB of Ram for him.



    Nick
    How far wrong can you go, at $175 anyway (with the 2GB of RAM) ... It won't win any beauty contests, but your Dad's not going to care about that.
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  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited March 2009
    Kex wrote: »
    How far wrong can you go, at $175 anyway (with the 2GB of RAM) ... It won't win any beauty contests, but your Dad's not going to care about that.



    Exactly.






    Nick
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  • sophie
    sophie Posts: 511
    edited March 2009
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130174R
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103189
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134487
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136010
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106085
    2X http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812119026

    something from here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010090007+1295819208&Configurator=&Subcategory=7&description=&Ntk=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=

    add on ubuntu or "find" a w2k pro / xp disk.

    this should be slightly better than the dell for just a little more and in 2 years he will be able to upgrade to a dual/quad core processor and 4gb of memory for under $100.
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  • sophie
    sophie Posts: 511
    edited March 2009
    just added it up and it is $153+a case of your choice(less than $50)

    its an extra $8 if you want 2gigs of ram.
    hard drive size was a guess-will he store movies or music on it? if not he could go with a smaller one.
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  • Ender
    Ender Posts: 603
    edited March 2009
    Wow nice! That would indeed blow away Dell's $150 products. Lol. Also the desktop footprint will be smaller since it is mATX.

    I suppose the only issue is Windows XP.
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  • sophie
    sophie Posts: 511
    edited March 2009
    well for internet, pictures*, and movies Ubuntu will not be much different from windows.

    *-digital camera could complicate things until you learn how to mount external media.
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  • Ender
    Ender Posts: 603
    edited March 2009
    True. So I guess that would be up to the OP.

    Also, your rig is missing a DVD player. I believe the OP wanted one. Lol.

    Also, I think the OP already bought the comp.
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  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited March 2009
    Dude got a Dell.:cool:








    Nick
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  • Kex
    Kex Posts: 5,151
    edited March 2009
    nikolas812 wrote: »
    Dude got a Dell.:cool:








    Nick
    Good job Nikolas. I don't think you could go far wrong with that ... there's no point in over-thinking it from what you described.
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  • sophie
    sophie Posts: 511
    edited March 2009
    Ender wrote: »
    True. So I guess that would be up to the OP.

    Also, your rig is missing a DVD player. I believe the OP wanted one. Lol.

    Also, I think the OP already bought the comp.

    i know this doesent matter anymore but i had a cd/dvd player/burner as part of the 153.
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  • Ender
    Ender Posts: 603
    edited March 2009
    Hmm... Thought it was purely a CD burner. My mistake.
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  • Kex
    Kex Posts: 5,151
    edited March 2009
    sophie wrote: »
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130174R
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103189
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134487
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136010
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106085
    2X http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812119026

    something from here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010090007+1295819208&Configurator=&Subcategory=7&description=&Ntk=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=

    add on ubuntu or "find" a w2k pro / xp disk.

    this should be slightly better than the dell for just a little more and in 2 years he will be able to upgrade to a dual/quad core processor and 4gb of memory for under $100.
    That was a nice suggestion too, IMO, but I bet Nikolas preferred something that he wouldn't have to assemble himself before he "handed over the keys" to his Dad ... especially since his Dad seemed to want a Dell rather than anything else anyway.

    I might have to build one of those myself, for fun and to try Ubuntu (or some other Linux version), in the near future. I'll try and remember to get your input to see what I can get for $300!
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  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited March 2009
    Kex wrote: »
    I might have to build one of those myself, for fun and to try Ubuntu (or some other Linux version), in the near future. I'll try and remember to get your input to see what I can get for $300!




    Thats what i was thinking too..





    Nick
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  • wizzy
    wizzy Posts: 867
    edited March 2009
    Given you can buy a new PC ... for example Dell just had a 530S with an Intel E5200, 3GB RAM, burner, Vista, three year warranty, for $299 shipped ...

    I understand if there is only $150, but in a way you're not saving money by spending less now.
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  • Ender
    Ender Posts: 603
    edited March 2009
    wizzy wrote: »
    Given you can buy a new PC ... for example Dell just had a 530S with an Intel E5200, 3GB RAM, burner, Vista, three year warranty, for $299 shipped ...

    I understand if there is only $150, but in a way you're not saving money by spending less now.

    Yeah... but then you have to deal with all the crap they put on it. And their terrible computer case. And their terrible choice of RAM (often). And their terrible choice of power supply.

    But you're right. At low price points, it's better to purchase an assembled computer, almost. However, once you hit even... $500-$700, it is 100 times better to build your own computer.
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  • sophie
    sophie Posts: 511
    edited March 2009
    Ender wrote: »
    Yeah... but then you have to deal with all the crap they put on it. And their terrible computer case. And their terrible choice of RAM (often). And their terrible choice of power supply.

    But you're right. At low price points, it's better to purchase an assembled computer, almost. However, once you hit even... $500-$700, it is 100 times better to build your own computer.

    i think at $200-400 you are still better off building your own(assuming software is free)

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  • Ender
    Ender Posts: 603
    edited March 2009
    sophie wrote: »
    i think at $200-400 you are still better off building your own(assuming software is free)

    Payton

    Indeed. Assuming software is free. Lol.
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