Refurbished PC for Kids < $350

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  scrimshaw on 26/04/2023 - 22:31

  +3

  Dell Optiplex chassis are categorized into 3 or 4 different form factors. Going from small to large, these are: USFF (Ultra-small form factor), SFF (Small form factor) and MT / DT (Mini-tower or Desktop).

  If you buy a USFF Micro desktop you will have zero space to put in a graphics card (it does not have a PCIE 16x slot) — which is the one component you'll need if you want the PC to handle games. The bigger MT or DT form factor is desirable if you want to throw in a regular sized GPU later on.

  If you buy an SFF chassis, you will be restricted to using low-profile graphics cards (they're smaller in both length, height and width).

  Most of these optiplexes in the mid $300 range have quad core CPU's from either Intel 8th Gen or 7th Gen.
  Core i5 7xxx Not a problem for school work and will be okay for gaming as long as it's paired with a discrete graphics card.

  This is just an example of a full sized tower with a 7th generation Intel Xeon and 32GB of RAM. Will set you back $351.12 with eBay plus. (APR202312)

  • 

    bargainhunter98 on 27/04/2023 - 09:07

    Thanks so much!
    Xeon is a better processor I guess?
    Any downside using windows 10? Upgrade to win 11 is free via Microsoft?
    Also any good value graphics card you recommend that can go with i5 7500 processor in a SFF or MT chassis?
    I don’t have eBay plus atm and can join for the saving. Any current offer there to join eBay plus?

    • 

      scrimshaw on 27/04/2023 - 10:41

      +1

      The Xeon E3-1245v6 is basically just a quad-core hyperthreaded i5 made for workstation / server. Performs like a regular Core i5-7500.

      If you have a shopback account, you can sign up to eBay Plus and get a cashback on the membership fees. Remember you can also start a free 30-day Trial that you can cancel once you're done with it.

      https://www.shopback.com.au/ebay-plus-membership

      Any downside using windows 10? Upgrade to win 11 is free via Microsoft?

      No downside, just that Windows 10 will eventually have it's support dropped end of 2025.

  • 

    bargainhunter98 on 06/05/2023 - 08:44

    With tight budget I finally got this Dell OptiPlex 7050 SFF Intel i5 7500 3.40GHz 8GB RAM 256GB SSD Win 11. It’s probably SFF and happy with this performance so far.
    Can you suggest some graphic cards that can go with this also some high rated PC games it can support now and with an additional graphics card?
    Thanks in advance 🙏

    • 

      scrimshaw on 06/05/2023 - 14:31

      +1

      The SFF has a 180 watt power supply, meaning that the GPU's you can use are very limited.

      It actually just leaves you with one good option, the GTX 1650 Low profile.
      https://www.centrecom.com.au/asus-geforce-gtx-1650-oc-4gb-gd…

      Note that video cards that occupy two slots will not fit into the PCIE 16x slot, it'll have to be inserted into the narrower PCIE4x slot.
      https://www.dell.com/community/Optiplex-Desktops/Will-the-GT…

      • 

        bargainhunter98 on 07/05/2023 - 09:11

        Great details! Much appreciate it

• 

  GordonD on 27/04/2023 - 09:56

  +1

  With new computers the price is what it costs to build them, plus a profit margin. If you want bigger and more powerful, you pay more. If you don't, you pay less.

  With refurbished computers the price is what someone will pay for one. If its relatively expensive for the specification that's because it offers what most people want. A reasonably recent processor, plenty of RAM, a decent sized SSD, the ability to fit a graphics card if they want, and the ability to upgrade to Windows 11. If its relatively cheap for the specification there's a reason. Either its too small a case to fit a graphics card, or the processor won't run Windows 11, or something. You have to know enough about computers to know whether that something is something you don't need.

  If a tower with a powerful processor is only $350 its because its a Xeon, not a consumer class Core processor, it uses ECC RAM, and it runs secure self-encrypting drives, and only has Windows 10 installed on it, not Windows 11, all of which is stuff that a person who has to ask for help on a bargain web site like OzBargain should avoid like the plague, because if they have problems they'll have no idea how to sort them out.

  Refurbished computers are by definition end of lease business machines. Most businesses buy their computers for business use, not gaming. So most refurbished business machines are not well suited to anything more than light gaming.

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  bargaino on 27/04/2023 - 15:18

  +1

  minimum i5 7th Gen processor with 8GB RAM

  easy! So long as you don't need a discrete gaming card.

  But why 7th? Its indistinguishable from 5 or 6. 8th gen made a bigger jump.
  You can get a good 8th gen laptop, or micro-PC plus monitor for $350 if you follow the deals here.

  https://www.australiancomputertraders.com.au/dell-latitude-7…

  Yuck! lo-res HD screen. Look for a 7390 with FHD.
  For ACT, check out their eBay store and deals posted here.
  https://www.ebay.com.au/str/australiancomputertraders

  How about a 7490 for $360 with code? https://ebay.com.au/itm/185254150080

  https://www.australiancomputertraders.com.au/dell-optiplex-7…

  Those micro-PCs are great as 24/7 home servers because of low power.
  But note the i5-7500T has only about the same speed as an old Optiplex 9020, with i5-4750 , which is $99 del. from lots of places.

• 

  bargainhunter98 on 27/04/2023 - 21:23

  Appreciate all your input 🙏
  I think I got some grt ideas. I’ll jot them down and go for one depending on my need eg future gaming plan or cut it down for now. Thinking

• 

  Minheim on 28/04/2023 - 09:20

  +1

  An 8th gen cpu will give you a supported upgrade path to windows 11 whereas a 7 gen will need a hack. Windows 10 however is fully supported to October 2025 in any event.