Intel 3400 Core 2 Duo 2.13GHz,1GB DDR2 Ram,80GB Sata HDD, DVD Rom, Windows XP Pro, 3 Month Wty.
Ex-Corporate Dell Desktop Computer Optiplex 745 - $209.98 + delivery (or free pickup)
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Their pictures don't actually appear to show this particular unit.. A quick google doesn't really help either.
It's either a slim desktop, with zero upgrade/expansion options, or a flexible tower. NO HELP AT ALL!
Edit: Oh wait, the specs page shows it as a slim desktop as well as having the dimensions, etc.
the slim desktops can usually be expanded with a half height graphics card can't they? Might be useful as a HTPC
Yep, add a ATI5450 video card (~$45), a clandestine copy of windows 7 (32bit), and you'll have a cheap system capable of playing full 1080 content , including MKV's at 1080p.
@ash2000: For the same price you could get a media player with HDD that is brand new, boots up quicker, have dedicated AV connectors, takes up less room and uses less electricity.
@John Dough: i think he is talking about one of those small box 3.5" media players that dont run windows.
like most things on this list
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=17…A full pc costs about $250 brand new sans windows. A few more dollars to this would increase the ram/hdd size considerably too.
@voter1: Ok, but yes not expandable, and do not record TV which is what most people would want a HTPC for in the first place.
@John Dough: yeah, but you would have to add a hdtv card to that pc as well.
you can get those tv setop boxes that also play/record media content but you'd be looking at around $300+ I think.
Actually these days, imo more people just use the play function to play downloaded content rather than deal with free to air tv.
@voter1: FYI, $239+shipping with 1tb or 1.5tb HDD at COTD recently for an Astone AP-360, plays every media codec/container/file I've seen, and records HD content! ;)
@voter1: HD Set top box with USB play/record for $60. Basic yes, but much less than $300.
Got mine for $40 delivered when they had a special.
@camelgrass: Well, in all fairness, the brief was "a cheap system capable of playing full 1080 content , including MKV’s at 1080p"; so notwithstanding the other uses for a computer, it is a fair comparison! ;)
@StewBalls: Exactly, and a computer system/HTPC is capable of a WHOLE lot more than a media player, even if it's used in part as an media player.
But yes, if all you need are the features of a media player, you're better off getting one than going down the HTPC road.
@ash2000: …and constant loud fan noise with no remote control to watch your "full 1080 content". Sure, if you want to do it on the cheap and be completely frustrated go down this path. Your better off with installing XBMC which is cheaper, provided your not pirating Windows 7.
@goober: @ Early Bird
There is no comparrion between the flexibilty of a dedicated HTPC, and a media streaming box! Two completely different products, albeit some of there functions being shared.
…and constant loud fan noise with no remote control
This is an Optiplex. I use one for my HTPC because they are so quiet.
OK, not silent, but a fraction of the noise of a generic PC.
And the remote control is $10 off ebay or DX.
Bought a similar one from Graysonline a few weeks back. If it's the small form factor box, you can only upgrade the optical drive with a notebook type drive. Are these standard at all or must I get it from Dell? Working great as an HTPC for me with an ATI card and a digital tuner (only get PCI as there's only one slot for PCIe which the graphics card is already taking).
Are there any sites that consistently offer ex-corporate or ex-government computers?
graysonline.com.au - but they suck…
What the hell is a 3400 c2d? Sounds more like a Pentium Dual Core…
3400 chipset
Typo - Specs page lists as E6400 C2D
Don't buy from graysonline. They lied and provide poor services. It is not cheap there either when you have factored in their taking and ridiculous shipping fee.
yeah isn't there like a "buyer's premium" or something as well?
@Save Medicare: Like any Auction (thats not ebay), grays do have many sales that go to stupid prices, but if you keep in mind shipping and buyers premium, there are bargains to be had.
Not much room for expansion. 3 months warranty only? Does that reflect on the confidence shown in the reliability of these refurbished products?
Desktop
Number of Bays
1 internal 3.5", 1 external 3.5", 1 external 5.25"
Dimensions
H: 15.65" W: 4.59" D: 14.25"
H: 39.75cm W: 11.66cm D: 36.19cm
Slots
2 low-profile PCI
-(H: 2.5" X L: 6.6")
1 low-profile PCIe x16 graphics
-(H: 2.5" X L: 6.6")
Optional Riser converts the PCIe and PCI to either 1 PCIe and 1 PCI or 2 PCI - variable height
-(H: 4.2" X L: 6.6")
Power Supply
280W
Network Interface - Broadcom® 5754 Gigabit Ethernet LAN solution 10/100/10005 Ethernet with Full ASF 2.0 and PXE supportI googled it and got plenty of pics for it
$200 should have included the monitor….
Desktop PC that looks ugly. THey probably bought them for 10 bucks each lol
These are no gaming PCs thats for sure.
if you add a graphics card they do ok… i've had a few of these back to the days of GX260, in fact my daughter still uses it today, they are a great little neat package.
although you do end up spending quite a bit on 'em
eg 1TB hdd 80 bux
extra ram 100 bux.
graphics card extra 50-60 bux (hard to find a half height as well)
blueray player 150 odd.and for that you can buy a pretty decent PC.. same same though.
all in all they go ok.. and you can buy bits and pieces as required which is handy.typically they come with an xp pro license too…(was better before seven came out though)
$209+16.99 ph, not a good deal for old system, with $357 you can build new pc faster and better. Bad deal for me
.. and bigger and noisier. Try pricing a quiet small form case like this new.
edited
I previously used this in my office - pretty decent PC for office work
(Now using the upgraded Optiplex 760 which I less prefer)So if you are looking for a cheap PC for home - I guess its a good Deal
I personally prefer to build one - check Whirlpool forums for detailsAppperantly you can build a brand new AMD system for approx $350 (excl monitor)
The below system (thanks to Whirlpool) will beat the optiplex 745 by miles
Unless you are a die hard Intel fan - check the below configCPU: AMD AM3 Athlon II X2 255 ~ $70 - $72
Mobo: Asus M4A78LT-M LE ~ $69
RAM: Team 2GB DDR3-1333 $47
HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB ~$60 - $69
GPU: (On-board ATI Radeon HD 3000)
Case&PSU: Thermaltake V3 Black Edition w/ 450W Litepower PSU ~ $70 - $73
ODD: Sony DVD burner ~ $25 - $27Total ~$350 (Source Whirlpool)
Plus OS and $50-$100 for somebody to build it for you (if you are comparing it to this deal).
But yes, definitely worth the few extra dollars if it's within your budget. Extra peace of mind as well with a longer warranty period than just the 3 months warranty on this Dell.
I'm not comparing, infact I like this deal so gave +ve
BTW to answer your questions
- OS - Torrent :-)
- Build - DIY, its very very easy and you could use youtube or other sites as reference
or…
OS - Ubuntu with Mythbuntu! ;)Maybe easy for you and I to build a computer, but not for the majority of consumers. I have built a few computers before, even for me by the time I get my tools out, unpack all components, assemble the computer it would take a couple hours. That's before installing OS, drivers, updating, testing system.
For the inexperienced it could take double that time. For some people their time is also worth something.
Don't forget it includes the to be obsolete windows xp pro.
Hmm… Not really a bargain. As for using it as a Media Centre, I have a Dell Optiplex GX620 as a HTPC and it's very quiet. Not DVD Player / Set Top Box quiet, but sitting 2M away from it I don't notice it.
Formfactor is tower or desktop?
I can't tell by the pictures as it appears as both a tower and desktop version are shown.