Hey bargainers :) I'm looking for some advice please, I currently have an i7 win10 laptop stationed at a desk and would rather sell it and get a cheapy desktop to just run a browser. Prefer low power, low noise, integrated everything, no upgrades required, LOW UPFRONT COST!! Any and all suggestions appreciated. I will be installing linux so in my mind a dual core with 4Gb ram would suffice? Thanks for help.
Ultra Budget (Used) Passive Desktop?
figarow on 01/04/2017 - 14:11
Comments
Looking for advice at this stage…
if is purely for browsing then what about a little android box? low power, ultra fast boot.
I said purely browsing because most chime in with overkill as I would rarely do other things but yes of course word processing etc and it's just too anti-intuitive via android I did look at that a while back.
@figarow: you mean like - "you need a pentium ultra-goliath -multi-dimensional -mega-thread-RBT12000 motherboard with a hyperdryne quantum state polymolyhexidonial fluid transmidified strontium core, 128gb ram, 12 Tb storage, 4 borderless 9K 128" monitors and neural connection……any thing less is shit!!"
@altomic: 9K 128" Monitors are now obsolete!!! 128GB Ram is old-school and were compatible on PC's yesteryear' X79 motherboards. Actually the MSI's X79A-GD45 supported it! Therefore 12TB Ram sounds more like it!!! lol
The monitor has been replaced by the 18K dodeca core (12) Holographic Monitors, similar to the units used in Iron Man!! :-)
But what about the bikies?
Are you in Brisbane altomic
I'm looking for a basic pc and yours sounds ideal
Pm me as i am in chermsideThat's pretty generous! I'd give you gold if this was that kind of site…
I've seen some PC boxes on Gumtree for around $70 second hand. I purchased one of them and the specs were Core i3 3220, 4GB Ram, DVDRW, 500GB HDD, AIO Graphics with HDMI out + case & PSU with Win 10 pro installed and activated. He also threw in wired a k/b + mouse (Gigabyte so not too shabby). Have a look around and you may see some of these with similar specs around.
Not too bad for an everyday beater machine :-)
CheersNice find, I live rural so would need delivery likely unless I scored something local. Would dual core suffice with firefox and multiple tabs?
Of course! It shouldn't be any issue using a dual core on browers.
The good thing about these kind of desktops is that although that the video is integrated and also optioned (PCIE slot) for a dedicated Video Card. You can also even add a dedicated Graphics card if you want more graphical horsepower. ..I guess the only issue is your rural location, that is if the seller is willing to deliver. And if so, unfortunately the cost may be around the price of the unit itself.
There is also another path if you are after a very small form factor. They are called a NUC. Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Unit_of_Computing
Here is one for sale at a computer shop: https://www.centrecom.com.au/intel-boxnuc5pgyh0aj-nuc-mini-p…
I have seen these for a little more than the desktop counterpart on Gumtree second hand for ~ $150
I guess the good thing about these computer shops, is that delivery can be arranged .. and also warranty.
It depends on how much you want to spend.
Cheers
Dual Core would suffice for 85% of everything, just as long as it is Intel's 32nm Sandy Bridge or newer.
That's the 2nd gen model, 3GHz and higher, or basically anything codename "Core i3-2100" labelled (or better).But if you could, you really SHOULD try and get a Quad-core processor. And 16GB DDR3 RAM. And a SSD to boot Windows* from.
It would mitigate most problems in the future.
I recommend the Core i7-3770… its plenty powerful, very energy efficient (22nm), and can be found on lots of cheap used office computers (eg/ Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc etc). Won't bottleneck for most applications.Here's an example:
$330 - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Dell-Optiplex-9010-i7-3770-QC-3-4…
$350 - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Dell-Optiplex-9010-Core-i7-GEN3-3…
$440 - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Dell-Optiplex-9010-Core-i7-GEN3-3…
$600 (negotiate for cheaper) - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/HP-Z220-CMT-WORKSTATION-DESKTOP-I…
$480 (Bid if lucky) - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Custom-PC-Thermaltake-Intel-i7-37…*Lots of people recommend sticking to Windows 7, but if you are patient to read some instructions, you could get Windows 10 installed instead and mitigate all the problems with Windows 10 that is plaguing users.
Although great advice, however the OP currently has an i7 and wants to downgrade to a smaller cost effective form factor.
Tbh,I don't really know why you got a neg here!
+ for me!Cheers
@vinni9284:
I think the neg was because I recommended a OEM system, or went "overkill" with Quadcore/16GB RAM/SSD… which really is mainstream these days.
Or maybe it was because I said he could use Windows 7 or Windows 10 on it…. since I missed reading the part where he said he was interested in Linux.It's a strange request, to go from a more efficient and smaller product…. to one that serves the same purpose albeit larger.
I guess the OP is less interested in the power, efficiency, or even USE of the product.
He just wants something to tinker with, for Linux.Which in that case, the OP is asking the WRONG questions in the wrong forum.
He should really be looking into actual motherboards/systems that support Linux well, and possibly in a Linux-focuse forum.
The biggest hurdle to Linux systems isn't price, or efficiency, or performance…
…its compatibility.(this coming from a guy that deleted Vista, and stayed on openSUSE for ages, who now uses Windows7, Android and macOS)
There's those PCs on a stick from Intel. Some come with Win 10, but there's some without any OS depending on your budget. I havent used one personally so cant comment on the performance, but im sure you can see some reviews on Youtube.
There's also the mini PCs like Intel NUC range or mini PCs
Here's a link to some suggestions from PC case gear.
https://www.pccasegear.com/category/1552/barebone-nuc
Not sure why you'd be making the step backwards like that, so I'll assume you're very hard up for cash. Why not a sub $200 tablet?
But I doubt you'll get the type of cash you think the laptop is worth to retain the saving in PC purchase.
Raspberry Pi 3
I'm using a 3,2 Macbook Air running Linux. It is my daily driver for dev and general. Seems to do the trick and can still process HEVC/x265 for example.
So dual core + 4GB RAM should be okay.
Steps backwards? No people, steps forwards you see this laptop is overkill for what I need and I know it is worth some coins. Being as I am in a bit of a financial pickle due to unforeseen circumstances I have decided to liquidate the unnecessary and get something that does what I need. There you go, now you know!!
I'm leaning toward a used desktop as I have a few old hard drives and sticks of ram laying around. Anyone know if a core 2 duo will run a browser ok with multiple tabs or will it struggle?
core 2 duo will run a browser
of course, even though they're quite old, they are still much more powerful than some of the mobile Pentiums and Celerons (e.g J1900 or N29xx or N3xxx)
old core 2 duo machines aren't worth much, I sold my fully working E8500 unit for about $50 on gumtree (including the Win10 operating system)
Since no one is really getting the "I want cheap and close to me", have a look at this one for $160.
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/gympie/desktops/dell-desktop-…
If you don't need the peripherals, you could resell them for extra savings?Other options:
search on gumtree or eBay for something even cheaper and get it couriered to you.
Go in to local businesses that use computers and see if they have any old ones left lying around. The machines you're looking at are pretty common as business work stations.
dude, if you're coming down to redcliffe anytime then I've got a dell box with 8gb ram you can have.