Need expert opinion on this computer - Would you buy it?

[Breeze54]

IBM ThinkCentre 8172 Intel Refurbished Desktop PC -

Intel Pentium 4 3.2GHz, 512MB DDR, 80GB HDD, Windows XP Home Small Form Factor,



Price: $169.99

Specifications
Condition: Off-Lease

Operating Systems: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition

Platform: PC

Orientations Allowed: Vertical
Horizontal

Form Factor: Small Form Factor (SFF)

Bays: 1 - 5.25" Drive Bay
1 - 3.5" Slimline Drive Bay

Internal Bays: 1 - 3.5" Drive Bays

PS/2 Keyboard Connectors: 1

PS/2 Mouse Connectors: 1

Serial Communication Ports: 2

Parallel Ports: 1

USB Ports: 8

LAN Ports: 1

Audio Out Jacks: 2

Line In Jacks: 1

Microphone Jacks: 1

VGA Ports: 1

Processor Brand: Intel®

Processor Class: Pentium® 4

Processor Speed: 3.20GHz

Processors Supported: 1

Processors Onboard: 1

Memory Type: DDR

Total Memory: 512MB

Capacity: 80GB

Optical Drive Type: DVD-ROM / CD-RW Combo

Communications Description: Integrated LAN Support

Interface Type: RJ-45 - Ethernet Connector

Data Transfer Rate: 10Mbps
100Mbps

Mouse Type: Standard

Buttons: 3

Connection Type: PS/2

Keyboard Type: Standard

Connection Type: PS/2

Height: 3.35"

Width: 12.25"

Depth: 15"

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:shrug:

What aren't I seeing?

[canetoad]

1. It seems like good value

It depends on what you want to do with it.

I don't particularly like the small boxes - not enough space to blunder about inside it. 512 ram will run XP, word processing, internet, excel, image editing, but not big programs or newer games. Buying more RAM may be pricey, but once again, depending on your use, it may be adequate.

No room for adding additional hard drives, but plenty of USB ports compensates.

Looks like it comes pre-loaded with XP. Not having original OS disc is a disadvantage. I would definitely want to reformat before using it.

In all, I'd say it was a pretty good buy.

[Breeze54]

3. Thanks, canetoad.. Does that mean I can't add any more memory to it?

I just want it for e-mail, surfing the net, storing pics,

burning CD's/DVD's and watching movies online.

Maybe to play a few online games but don't really play any yet.

Oh, and I have MS Office full version I'd like to load.

Should I get a bigger computer, as in RAM and CPU spped?

I have a little more $$ to spare but I saw this and the price seemed good to me!

[RoyGBiv]

10. Which version of Office?

You most likely can add memory and should. Just make sure you're getting the right kind as this is older memory that it uses. That would be my only concern. I ran an XP Home computer for awhile with only 512MB, and it didn't annoy me too much, but having 1GB was definitely an improvement.

What you've got there, btw, is the same thing I'm using right now at work basically, with the exception of the 1GB memory, which I do have here. It's a mass-produced computer to be leased/sold to an office in bulk. They're not fancy, but they work. This thing isn't going to win any speed records, but I do all the things you mention and a few dozen more constantly here.

. . .except when I'm slacking off and posting on DU ... but then I *do* have all that running in the background. :)

[Breeze54]

11. I have Office 2007 and it's upgradeable, I think?

I don't have it loaded on this Dell Optiplex GX150, I got for $30.00 used (obviously!), as it's about to die and the whole HD is almost full... almost all 9 gigs of it and the fan or the HD is making very loud buzzing sounds... ugh! I know it's about to die and I'm trying to find a decent computer asap but I can't afford to shell out $1000.00. But may be able to go for @ $500.00 +/- and minus would be on the + side! :P Now I'm thinking maybe I should just check out an HP... I saw some in that price range on Tiger Direct today. I really hate this. Trying to weigh which is the biggest bang for my buck and is going to be upgradeable for a couple of years, at least. There's a lot I'd like to do on a computer but haven't had one that was fast enough or had enough Ram or HD space to be able to even know what's the best choice... Ugh! I really hate 'shopping' for computers! LOL! I saw some that were amazing sounding but really expensive for me too. I wish I was rich but my money tree died... years ago! LOL!

[RoyGBiv]

13. If ~$500 is your budget, don't get that ...

You can get *a lot* more bang out of that amount of money, and it sounds to me like you want to do more than just sit and use e-mail and a web browser.

If you were into building your own system, I'd suggest that. I built my base system (minus monitor, sound system, and high-end graphics card) for around that two years ago and got a damn fine system out of it. I've thrown a helluva lot more money into it in the years since, but that's 'cause I'm a freak who treats his system like an erector set.

Anyway ... look at Tiger Direct or Newegg (yes, I know I trashed them recently, but I'm trying to make peace). There are many new or newish systems for around $500 with a lot more horsepower, memory, storage, etc.

Look for items like DDR2 memory, at least a dual-core processor (Intel or AMD), 250GB hard drive minimum, 1GB memory minimum with four memory slots available, PCI-E graphics slot. Many of the pre-built systems have motherboards with built-in graphics, but if you have the slot available, you can always get your own card later for the upgrade.

If you get an HP/Compaq, etc. you'll be locked in to some things that can be annoyances for upgraded, i.e. the cases they put these things in, but then you'd have that anyway with the system you have here and not really a lot of room for upgrading.

I asked about the version of Office because it takes up more space and more horsepower to run, not a lot more really, but I've experienced performance problems on P4 systems with not enough memory.

One thing to note is that if you get a new system, you're going to end up with Windows Vista, which all by itself requires more juice to function acceptably. If the system has this, I would settle for no less than 2GB of memory.

Others here have given good advice as well. Look around and pick out a few that look good to you and offer them up for comparison and opinions.

[Breeze54]

16. Great advice, RoyGBiv ~ And I'll take you up on that offer

to post my next 'choices' and get some opinions but I have to do it pretty fast... in the next
few days as this POS is dying a slow death and keeping it running is driving me nutz!

Thank You!! :D

BTW, Roy? I did build my first computer and it died due to a surge... I know... don't tell me... I should've had Usp but couldn't afford it. But I have a bare bones sitting in my closet but I fear that the PS is to old and not powerful enough anymore to service what I want now. It's been a while since I bought it. I think the PS is 330 V ? Maybe a little more, not sure but the problem is I can't see the fine print that good anymore (old computer assembler here - SMT specialist) and I'd love to build my own again but need the space and a magnifying glass now and space and lighting.

I do want to do a lot more and you're right. I might as well spend the $$ now and get what I want but which? lol!

Thanks for offering to peruse my choices or questions. I promise to keep it to a minimum. ;)

[canetoad]

14. Hey Breeze, just to give you an idea

My old computer, bought in around 1999 is still in use here at work. It's specs are:

Celeron 1100
GForce 440 (64m graphics card)
512 ram
30 gig hard drive.

It's pretty much a spare machine, but can still run older versions of Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign (albeit one at a time!) and MS office 2000 - and it still chugs along nicely.

As far as RAM goes, I've found that while newer types are very cheap for a couple of Gigs, older RAM is getting a bit hard to find and can cost a bit more than you would expect. Of course, this is Australia and it may be different in the States.

It seems that for what you intend to do, this computer may be a nice cheap way out.

Peace.

[RoyGBiv]

15. It's not different ...

I've started hoarding old 512MB DDR sticks from computers people I've dealt with are abandoning. I've still got several motherboards laying around that use them, and they're good for various purposes from time to time.

[Breeze54]

17. Getting older RAM has been a problem on my older PC's... the national stores don't have it but

I guess, if I did what Roy does, and went to computer flea markets and was able to hoard it, then I'd be OK but older RAM, in the stores, is very difficult to find, in my experience in the USA.

[hunter]

2. I like small form factor computers...

... ever since USB 2. Excluding video or memory, if your computer is lacking something you can simply plug it in.

But I'm not afraid to open up laptops either.

Make sure it's got a legal copy of Windows XP, and that it's a fresh install that's reasonably up to date, especially if your internet is dial-up. I haven't bought anything from the guys in your photo, but they've been around quite long enough that Microsoft would have shut them down if they were selling unlicensed copies of Windows.

Personally, I never worry about that because I always wipe my new Windows machines and install Linux, mostly Ubuntu. I loathe product "activation" forms or serial numbers. I want software that's always mine to do with as I please.

Ubuntu does have trouble with some proprietary stuff, and you may hate that, but my own response is to simply ignore anything requiring the use of Microsoft or Apple operating systems. No iTunes for me, although I've heard some brave backstreet code butchers have got it to work.

[Breeze54]

4. That company sells legal Windows. I already bought one computer from them

before this but it got zapped by a power surge.

I had it for 3 years with no issue's until a few months ago.

It came with the Restore CD's for XP and a one year warranty parts & labor.

But I'm just wondering if that IBM above will let me add additional memory

and I didn't see that it had video memory separate from the other memory.

I'm still looking around but that price caught me eye! ;)

Thanks! :hi:

[charlie]

5. You can add memory

Up to 1gig:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4181384&Sku=J158-DT0038

Since it only has 2 slots, try to make sure the included memory is on one stick and not 2-256meg sticks. If it's the latter, you'll have to buy 2-512meg or 1-1gig stick to upgrade, instead of just a single 512meg.

[Breeze54]

6. Thank you, charlie !!

Then, maybe they have made a sale! :D I need a new computer sooo bad!!

This one is driving me insane and has no 2.0 USB ports! :argh:!

Although, for $30.00, it got me through so far but has no speed.

[Gore1FL]

7. I wouldn't

it's an OK PC circa 2003.

[Breeze54]

8. That's a good point....

Probably not able to upgrade it much anymore.

Hmmmmm....

Thanks. I didn't buy it yet. Mulling it over

and still looking around for a deal.

[Gore1FL]

9. I don't know the price range you are looking at and what your use is

but you can pick up dell refurbs at their online outlet store for pretty cheap. I am not a big Dell fan after a little warranty run in I had with them, but you can find a core 2 duo there with a reasonable L2 cache and a decent FSB for a decent price.

[Breeze54]

12. Good suggestion.... my useage?

Well; as I said above, my usage would go up... way up, if I had fast enough equipment to handle the load. There's things I'd like to do but haven't had a really fast computer and I just got High Speed Internet and would like to take advantage of that speed! I can't on this used Dell GX150... old but getting me by for now... but it's days/hours are numbered, as we speak or as I type! ;) My price range is @ $500.00 +/-

[Gore1FL]

18. While I am pissed at Dell

you can find something for that price at their outlet.

I recommend a minimum of:

2GB memory,
256 on the graphics card
a front side bus of 1066
and 4 MB of L2 cache on the processor.

These are MINIMUMS!

My personal and professional preference is Intel Core 2 processors. I just looked now and there was a quad core 2 w/ 8MB l2 cache, 6 GB ram, a 1066 FSB, a half terabyte drive and a 256 MB hard drive for $519.