Howdy
Found a pallet of the Dell 990 stock basically the same as this previous deal which was pretty popular. https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/354830
Taking advantage of the 5% off brings the price down to $208.05
If the 10% off promo goes ahead tonight that will be even better.
Quick Summary
Core i7 2600 3.4GHz (4C/8T)
8GB RAM
500GB HDD
They have 7 Pro COA's but will be Imaged with Windows 10 Pro.
Seems fine, I got one of these in a prior deal, no issues with Win10.
Dummy question here, I have similar one running Win7, how do you upgrade to win 10? I have tried to use usb disk to refresh install Win10 with Win7 code but failed.
Windows reads the license key off the computers BIOS for these.
The free upgrades have ended, unless you use assisted technologies, in which case the free upgrades don't have an end date.
On that note, they never check if you use assisted technologies, as there's no way to even tell, and the installation is the same as it was before when they did the free upgrades for everyone, with the only difference being the upgrade isn't being forced on users anymore.
@BradleyDS2:
That free upgrade link for assisted technologies shows this..
"Thank you for your interest in Windows 10. The free upgrade offer extension for Windows 7 and Windows 8 customers who use assistive technologies expired on December 31, 2017."
:-(
What do you mean "but failed"?
I just installed fresh Win10 using a Win7 key off a COA and it worked perfectly.
Are you sure you had the correct edition? (Home, Pro)
@xywolap: Crap, before I posted that I checked and it had the instructions and was allowing it, must have been cached. Sorry to let you down.
Two possibilities still remain that I can think of at the moment, those are the following:
1: Use a usb stick to fresh install Win10 with a Windows 7 or 8 key (usually works but didn't for David)
2: Use Windows 10 Media Creation Tool on the computer you wish to upgrade, and supply a Windows 7 or 8 key (Reports of this working in Feb 2018)
There's a last possibility I can't find any information about online, so it likely doesn't work, but I've had luck doing stuff Microsoft wouldn't allow if they knew about (not piracy) due to how poorly they implement everything (kind of like Nintendo, except Nintendo is actually good at doing something), so I'll report back later with whether my idea works or not, and if it does I'll provide instructions. Please keep in mind that while the method I'm thinking of is legal etc it will only work temporarily if anyone at Microsoft has half a brain as it is likely a violation of their T&Cs.
If none of these methods work, then you'll need to stay on your current OS or resort to piracy. To outsiders, please note that neither I nor anyone else on OzBargain condones the practice of piracy (with an exception to those who vote $10 license keys to the front page).
@BradleyDS2: Hell yes! Microsoft sucks at everything, so I was able to make a third method within a few hours. Download and install this (made by yours truly) and it should upgrade any Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 computer to Windows 10. I won't disclose how I made it, and I request that if anyone else can work out how I did it that they don't say anything so that Microsoft is less likely to block it.
I request that you don't share it around online until a week from now, as I will be sharing it in a week as I'm not sure how easy it will be for Microsoft to block this method, and I'd like you guys to be able to upgrade before Microsoft blocks this method and I have to make another one. Feel free to share it with friends and family before then.
The file is an installer that will install 3 possible upgrade methods, the default of which is a Windows 7, 8, 8.1 to 10 upgrader than I've customised and theoretically should work forever. The installer is perfectly safe, feel free to test it in a VM or perform a virus scan on it like I have here on Virustotal with 0/64 detection.
@xywolap: Booya! I'll copy/paste what I've posted below. Short version is that I've made a custom method for upgrading which should never expire, and I've just tested to work 100% successfully for me.
@BradleyDS2: Hell yes! Microsoft sucks at everything, so I was able to make a third method within a few hours. Download and install this (made by yours truly) and it should upgrade any Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 computer to Windows 10. I won't disclose how I made it, and I request that if anyone else can work out how I did it that they don't say anything so that Microsoft is less likely to block it.
I request that you don't share it around online until a week from now, as I will be sharing it in a week as I'm not sure how easy it will be for Microsoft to block this method, and I'd like you guys to be able to upgrade before Microsoft blocks this method and I have to make another one. Feel free to share it with friends and family before then.
The file is an installer that will install 3 possible upgrade methods, the default of which is a Windows 7, 8, 8.1 to 10 upgrader than I've customised and theoretically should work forever. The installer is perfectly safe, feel free to test it in a VM or perform a virus scan on it like I have here on Virustotal with 0/64 detection.
Can anyone advise whether this has wifi connectivity or does it need to be connected by ethernet?
It won't have WiFi
From specs in the link :) …. connectivity is ethernet. Buying and installing a wifi card is easy and cheap, though.
Even cheaper and easier to get a USB wifi dongle (than a card..) which means you don't need to open the case.
Worked for me, thanks! :)
2nd gen i7 - quite old, but for $208.05 (or $197) does indeed sound bloody cheap.
Don't know computer specs well enough though so I'll stop here.
Can anyone weigh in with some more professional thoughts?
The only things I've really seen die in these are the PSU and the CPU fan. Other than that they're pretty solid. Old though.
Replacing the PSU is a bitch on these things I heard.
The hardest bit would be dealing with the cable management, other than that it's just 3 screws and it pops out.
They're not that tough. Remove the screws, hold the clip down and it slides out. There's only two connectors onto the motherboard and SATA / optical drive power. The hardest part is actually finding a replacement. The power connector is standard ATX but a funky form factor.
@skegger: Yeh I heard the SFF PSU are custom made for Dells. So that's why you can't just replace their standard 280W PSU with a 600W one. That true?
Edit: never mind. I was thinking about the Small Form Factor version. This is a desktop.
the i7 2600 is still a great cpu that will still keep up with todays cpus
In real-world use the difference will be minimal unless you look at benchmark results all day. I've read about plenty of people still running that generation of CPU with no issues, hell I've still got an i5-2500k at home and have no issues running current games. Given that this is a $200 low-profile workstation there will be no performance issues unless you're doing some pretty complex stuff.
the i7 is only a little slower (~10%) than the i5 7600 which is a pretty modern todays cpu i'd say.
not bad for a 7 years old vs 1 year old cpu.
this is benchmarks btw in the real world it WILL be neck and neck
Yes it does.
It should, I bet it is faster than a modern 7th gen i3 in multicore benchmarks, probably close or over a to 7h gen i5. Not sure about the 8th get stuff but it should still be faster than an i3.
@dav3: can't play Battlefield One. I've overclocking to 4GHZ and online with 32 players still dips to 15fps with a 1080 (no ti)
@plague69: that's pretty strange because I can play maxxed out with a Phenom II 1055T and a Rx 480 at >40fps with 64 players
AMD must be magic then
You should get into comedy, because that's the best joke I've heard all week
@UKn0Me: Thanks. Comedy festival is in town now. I'll ask around.
Keep in mind I get over 80FPS in single player. Multiplayer is struggle town. I have everything low except for Mesh and view distance on highest
@dav3: I moved from my 2500k to a 8800k and while the fps numbers are higher it really feels a lot better than the numbers would have you believe. I guess frame time or something? never feel any micro stutters etc.
Its limited by slower ram though. Great for general browsing or a really budget gaming pc with an added gpu.
@plague69: No issues here with a mild overclock, 8GB RAM, and a GTX 970. I don't sit there watching the FPS tick over but there's no noticeable slowdowns.
I have used 2500k (4c/4t) for around 6 years now. I can play BF4 and Photoshop. No issues.
I agree, although the 2600k would have been better.
It’s still a very capable processor check out this comparison review:
https://youtu.be/gMFd0aVhVKU
Spend the savings on a great GPU and your super competitive option cheap!
Can you chuck a full length PCI-e graphics card in these?
I have a optiplex 9020 but as far as I can tell the answer will be the same. No you need the low profile cards. Common choice being the 1050Ti low profile version.
Scrap that, not sure on chassis, mine was small form factor.
This is SFF too, look into the description of the product. A 1050ti low profile would fit it probably.
only low profile
We have a fleet of these we are phasing out.
Power supplies die
no USB3
3 SATA ports but only 2 are SATA3
Other than that they have been very stable.
SFF or Dekstop?
SFF.
See yours is Desktop, so the PSU comment is not relevant.
Same M/B.
I think it's an OK buy, chuck in a SSD as that helps.
I was just interested. We deal in large volumes (very). If there is any faults with Optiplex units it's typically PSU related, and it's always SFF versions. USFF, Desktop, Tower no worries though.
It's been like this for a long time.
@Calmago: Why is SFF version PSU much weaker than the tower ones?
Also, this is a 6-7yr old unit, so the PSU would be pretty weak by now right???
Also, this is a 6-7yr old unit, so the PSU would be pretty weak by now right???
Good PSUs are as close to indestructible as you can get for PC parts, that's why reputable manufacturers will offer a lifetime warranty on upmarket PSUs.
No USB3 is the deal breaker here. Particularly if you do a lot with external storage. I wonder if there's room and a PC slot for a card.
Yes, you can add usb3 via pci-e.
But I'd rather get a newer i5 9010 for the same price.
Excellent point.
Only 1
… and pick up only
Lol fail.
oh wow, just want to help you guys out to save a few coins and all I get is negative criticism. Oh well
Because it wasn’t that helpful and confused people look for a good deal…(i am getting one tonight if there is any left) .I didn’t neg you , but can see why some would
I think that's because you stated "No deal" which is not really valid if you've only found 1 available elsewhere cheaper.
If you'd said "There's one here a bit cheaper if you're willing to pick it up", you'd have got positive response.
But your post seemed to imply this is a poor deal - which is a little unfair IMO.
It's all in the delivery sometimes!
(I didn't neg)
i appreciate your links homr, send them only to me :p
still gaming on a laptop… :(
Can you transplant these systems into a proper case to accommodate 4 or more hard drives?
I am pretty sure there are only 2 SATA3 ports, the others are SATA2.
The Optiplex 990 includes two SATA 3.0 (6Gb/s) connectors on the motherboard across all Optiplex 990 form factors (Ultra Small Form Factor - USFF, Small Form Factor - SFF, Desktop - DT, and Minitower - MT). Motherboards containing more than two SATA connections include additional SATA 2.0 (3Gb/s) connector(s)
www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/04/sln82502/sata-30-suppo…
From what I've read up, the SFF version tend to have a none standard layout. So you wouldn't be able to install the M/B into your typical atx cases
How would this go as an always on media server/torrenting computer?
They would be fine for those tasks in terms of performance. However, I prefer to use Android Boxes like Nvidia Shield or oDroid c2 for example as they have lower power costs which will add up in the long run.
Would be great. Only draws ~20W at idle which is quite low, even by today's standards.
There's one here a bit cheaper if you're willing to pick it up in Victoria
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Dell-Optiplex-990-SFF-Intel-i7-2…
ok thanks again deestar69
Too bad no USB3.0 ports.
i wanted usb 4 :p
You travelled back into the wrong year buddy
haha
Can this handle Youtube @ 1080p or better yet 4K streams?
Useful for a Hackintosh?
Would this be a decent HTPC? Im assuming it could do 1080p but no 4k?
If I transfer C:\ to an SSD, will the Win 10 need to be re-activated?
Good as a PLEX server?
Passmark requirements for 1080p transcoding is about 2000, this CPU is about 8000, so should be!
Poah, sweet!
2600 also has Intel QuickSync, which I assume Plex Server takes advantage of.
I was running a C2D Optiplex as my server which was fine. However, I have just picked up a HP 8200 with an Intel Core i5-2500 CPU @ 3.7GHz for $100. In comparison, it is night and day. The i5 is plenty fast for 720p and I imagine for 1080 too. I would expect that the i7-2600 would be even better.
Had I not got the HP I'd have jumped on this deal.
bought one with 10% discount. thanks mate!
Listed as a Desktop and on eBay referred to as both a Desktop and a SFF.
Anyone know which is correct?
Looks like sff to me and i would pass due to non standard power supplier concern.
Yeap, going to pass on this one as I'm looking for the desktop version.
The computer is plenty fast.
But does anyone else get the feeling for every one of these old machines sold on-line another 2 end up in the tip? I know "less computer-savvy" people that buy new when their hard-drives are full…and I'm talking 3 year old laptops.
It's painful to think about the amount of computers that are dumped because their owners didn't understand them. I've had relatives complain about their computers being slow, only to find that they have every program imaginable running on startup, bringing the system to its knees. Thankfully there are recycling centres that reclaim some of that stuff.
Would a MSI GTX 560 ti fit in this one? It says Small form Factor but I'm 99% it will work.
Nah unfortunately not unless your 560 is a low profile card and you replace the psu, because a gtx 560 requires an extra 1 (maybe 2) 6pin power connector.
The ebay entry notes video output ports are "VGA and DisplayPort", but you can a DisplayPort to HDMI adapter if that's required.
is there any warranty on this?
Thanks, picked one up as a media PC. just need the HDMI/DP Adaptor.
Rep, any way to get notified for stuff like this? Missed a few deals now and these are exactly what I need :(
you can try subscribe for the deals related to the 'shop/store'
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/api/domain/16447/subscribe
![[Refurb] Dell Optiplex 990 Quad Core i7 2600 8GB RAM 500GB HDD Win 10 Pro Desktop $208.05 @ Australian Computer Traders on eBay](https://files.ozbargain.com.au/n/77/368077.jpg?h=78b5a749)
So does this mean there will be any problems with the win 10, or will it update/activate perfectly perfect?