Ancient Rebuild

[TStep]

I have an old Dell XPS 600 lying around that I want to spruce up and give to parents for internet browsing. They certainly are not power users. The board is limited to 4gb ram (which I have in the junk box). Also limited to P4 era cpus (no C2D), so I was thinking of tossing in a Pentium D 945 lying around. From various benchmarks, the PD 945 is in the ballpark of some notebook/laptop cpus. Has a 7800 GTX gpu already. The only purchase would be a 2nd hand ssd for around $30. It has XP, but I have a windows 7 home to install if it'll take it.

Anyone have anything like this going on? All they would do is browse some websites for recipes, sports info, forums, etc. Any fatal flaws I'm not thinking of?

 

[whm1974]

You might want to install Linux Mint Xfce edition to it if Windows 7 doesn't work. I would advised against using Windows XP as it is way outdated and unsupported.

 

[pjmssn]

If the computer will only be used for internet browsing, email and light office work, then a light version of linux is definitely the way to go. You will likely get smoother performance and all the software will come pre-installed.

 

[Rifter]

If the computer will only be used for internet browsing, email and light office work, then a light version of linux is definitely the way to go. You will likely get smoother performance and all the software will come pre-installed.

This is what i would do as well.

 

[TStep]

Light stuff would be all that's going on I suspect. I'm not overly familiar with the various linux offerings. What would be closest to windows in the gui interface? I'd need to learn it quick, then teacher my parents. I'm familiar with open office and several other programs that would interface well with the more popular offerings.

 

[Iron Woode]

Light stuff would be all that's going on I suspect. I'm not overly familiar with the various linux offerings. What would be closest to windows in the gui interface? I'd need to learn it quick, then teacher my parents. I'm familiar with open office and several other programs that would interface well with the more popular offerings.

I would post that question in the *nix subforum here.

personally, I like PClinuxOS but YMMV.

 

[whm1974]

Light stuff would be all that's going on I suspect. I'm not overly familiar with the various linux offerings. What would be closest to windows in the gui interface? I'd need to learn it quick, then teacher my parents. I'm familiar with open office and several other programs that would interface well with the more popular offerings.

Xfce or Mate would be best for older hardware.

 

[TStep]

Appreciate the suggestions.

 

[JackMDS]

Win 7 Home should work on it.

As for Linux. Well if you are young Enthusiasts you will mange.

Otherwise, imagine a non enthusiasts mature person that need to do, or communicate with his/her peers. They and some of their friend might know how I do do things with Windows (and may be an iPhone).

You say Linux and the only thing that comes in their mind is that you do not know how to pronounce Linus Pauling.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Has a 7800 GTX gpu already.

You may want to add some form of new(er) GPU. Doesn't have to be anything fancy, but for browsing and/or video hardware acceleration will help that P4 tremendously. Cuts down on power consumption too.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I know, you hate to throw out good hardware, and there's merit in keeping the old stuff alive. But seriously, look around. You can get refurb Core2Duo 3.0Ghz machines with 4GB of RAM and a small HDD, WITH OS, for $50-70 if you look carefully and check out Newegg's online sales, when they have a refurb sale.

Or look at ebay, you can get SFF models of older business-class Dell units, fully-functional, and most importantly WITH A GENUINE INTEL QUAD-CORE CPU, 2nd- or 3rd-gen i5, for as low as $110-130, if you look around. Again, generally, WITH OS, (or at least, WITH COA, and with the proper installation media, you can re-install the OS).

The modern web is rather script-heavy (use an Ad-blocker, or several), and you really owe it to your folks to get them something non-crappy. Those older business quad-cores, have quite a bit of grunt left in them, and they're hella cheap, because they're everywhere.

I mean, you could pay Newegg $300 for one, in a nice package with a keyboard and mouse and a one-year warranty, if you prefer that route. But if you're into ebay "adventures", and don't mind installing your own OS copy, then you can save mucho coin.

I would get one of those quads, with or without OS (but with COA), and install a decent little 120GB SSD, and re-install the OS on that. That will be like a rocket to them, and you may never have to buy them another PC, ever.

Edit: If you do decide to go the P4 route, then yes, definitely install some flavor of Linux. Linux Mint 18.2 Cinnamon is popular. Depending on which P4, it may or may not be able to take a 64-bit OS. If it CAN, then go that route.

Don't waste a good copy of Windows 7 on a crappy old P4 rig. Plus, if it's PATA, it could be a pain to stick an SSD into.

Like I said, check out Newegg's 2nd-gen or 3rd-gen quad-core refurb i5 rigs, or ebay. Look for i5-2400, i5-2500, i5-3330, i5-3470, i5-3490, etc. Don't worry about the drive size too much (and don't overpay for what will likely turn out to be a server refurb 2TB HDD, if you get one that big, with bad sectors and years of runtime), because you'll just put a new SSD in.

Edit: Yes, I have some experience actually doing this.
http://www.portvapes.co.uk/?id=Latest-exam-1Z0-876-Dumps&exid=thread...re-rig-off-ebay-and-thowing-in-a-gpu.2512054/

 

[TStep]

Larry, have been looking at the out-of-service or refurbed C2D and early model i-series machines and workstations, but what fun would there be in doing the sensible thing. After looking at used parts pricing, sensible thing seems to be parting out the XPS 600 and fleabay it if I don't think the linux will work for the parents. In any case, I'll probably wind up with an early i-series something.

 

[mindless1]

I would not install Linux on a system that the owner/user can't maintain. As far as the hardware, is this going to be their primary method of computing?

Remember that all hardware has a lifespan and that has now outlived its lifespan. It also has terrible performance per watt so with much use, the power bill goes up.

IIRC, a 7800GTX has programmable shaders, some hardware acceleration, but ugh, even more power wasted if they're not into 3D gaming (albeit older games of course). Combine that with a need for more airflow, noise, more frequent dusting out the system, and more wear on the PSU (which is also at end of expected lifespan now?).

I don't think the use requires new, current gen desktop performance, but more efficient and newer than a P4 would be a better long term strategy. I'd pick something newer and what, depending on whether you have DDR2 or DDR3 memory lying around. Then I would consider not even using the 7800GTX, with hardware acceleration capable IGP, it isn't needed. Sell it for $20 if you can.

For their uses there's no reason it can't be a silent system and avg. power consumption under 30W using an SSD which would make even an old PSU last longer, though too old and you might find there are crossloading issues.

 

[whm1974]

I would not install Linux on a system that the owner/user can't maintain. As far as the hardware, is this going to be their primary method of computing?

Remember that all hardware has a lifespan and that has now outlived its lifespan. It also has terrible performance per watt so with much use, the power bill goes up.

IIRC, a 7800GTX has programmable shaders, some hardware acceleration, but ugh, even more power wasted if they're not into 3D gaming (albeit older games of course). Combine that with a need for more airflow, noise, more frequent dusting out the system, and more wear on the PSU (which is also at end of expected lifespan now?).

I don't think the use requires new, current gen desktop performance, but more efficient and newer than a P4 would be a better long term strategy. I'd pick something newer and what, depending on whether you have DDR2 or DDR3 memory lying around. Then I would consider not even using the 7800GTX, with hardware acceleration capable IGP, it isn't needed. Sell it for $20 if you can.

For their uses there's no reason it can't be a silent system and avg. power consumption under 30W using an SSD which would make even an old PSU last longer, though too old and you might find there are crossloading issues.

I have Manjaro Linux installed on my dad's computer and I do all the maintenance for him. One big advantage the OP will have with switching his parents to Linux is no more trouble with malware. The OP can maintain the computer for them.

 

[mindless1]

I have Manjaro Linux installed on my dad's computer and I do all the maintenance for him.

That's what I'm getting at. Why set yourself up for this extra maintenance instead of an OS that world + dog can help them with?

One big advantage the OP will have with switching his parents to Linux is no more trouble with malware. The OP can maintain the computer for them.

Meh, safe computing means user, not OS is the solution. Older parents need to be trained in that anyway due to the prevalence of fishing and other email based scams. Social engineering knows no OS limits.

My elderly mother has ran Win7 for years, no antivirus, no malware. I did set up an automated partition image and documents backup for her that prompts her to close her apps and plug in a rotating set of two USB flash drives on a schedule. One alert reads "plug in black flash drive" and the other "plug in silver flash drive", lol.

When I first set it up this was to guard against HDD failure as much as anything else. Granted, Windows has a small risk of crapping itself if you leave updates turned on but IMO and in my experience, that's a lower maintenance burden than putting an older person on 'nix unless we're talking more of an embedded solution where they can't do much of anything and in that case, why a desktop at all instead of TV dongle, tablet, wireless kbd & mouse?

 

[whm1974]

Granted I'm biased when talking about Windows vs Linux, but I have fewer headaches with Linux than I ever did with with Windows. But you are right Social Engineering knows no OS.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Larry, have been looking at the out-of-service or refurbed C2D and early model i-series machines and workstations, but what fun would there be in doing the sensible thing. After looking at used parts pricing, sensible thing seems to be parting out the XPS 600 and fleabay it if I don't think the linux will work for the parents. In any case, I'll probably wind up with an early i-series something.

If you're looking at C2D/Q-class CPUs, give a thought to Apollo Lake CPUs. They're almost C2D/Q level performance, and you can get 4 core variants easily. AL will be far more power efficient (uses 10W max.), and come with Intel's Gen9 graphics, which is far, far superior to anything you're likely find on such systems. As a bonus it has full HW acceleration for all modern codecs used on the web.

AL is pretty much the reason I've chugged every C2D/Q system. Don't let the low base frequency put you off.

 

[TStep]

Fired up the old XPS 600 to check out web browsing. Somewhat dismal performance w/ the native P4 660 and 1gb ram. Some webpages ok, some slow. The ads and sidebars are killer on the old hardware. Didn't have time to drop in the PD 945 or find the old DDR2 sticks. I used to be active here a decade or so trying to wring every last drop of performance out of old stuff, so it's in my blood not to give up on old hardware. I've basically been out of touch of sorts though for many years. However, after scanning fleabay for the off lease computers, there are some fantastic $100 deals including windows 7 or 10 , 4 or more gb ram, sandy or ivy i5's, etc.

I appreciate everyone advise. Probably going to try some strain of linux and try that out for myself. Always been curious, but never jumped into it. Going to start looking for a good, complete off lease for my parents for as mainstream, trouble free performance as I can make this. Also think I'll laydown a couple xtra bucks and get them a laser printer knowing they wont print very often and dried inkjets are a very costly pain.

 

[Torn Mind]

I cannot help but question whether that graphics card can actually handle 1080p video. With Youtube being as popular as it is, it is not uncommon at all. You'll still probably need a GPU upgrade.

That is in addition to the slow CPU, which you just tried out. Sports sites like NFL.com, NHL.com, etc all have video highlights and tons of scripts. Gmail, Yahoo!, Amazon. Again, they are popular. They are script heavy. The sites used by "light users" are hardly light websites.

Browser choice also matters. Firefox is the biggest pig out there, being vulnerable to being dragged by even one or two script pig sites. So, it's Chrome or Microsoft's IE or Edge. However, Chrome is especially RAM thirsty and even 8GB is gobbled out quickly; an SSD can somewhat mitigate that constant swapping that might ensue.

I say the i3-2100 is the bare minimium for a "always comfortable" browsing experience for the light user although if budget is tight, an Celeron 530 can still be passable compromise.

Better hardware can also change user behavior. Put a fast computer in someone's hands, and the potential is there that they'll start doing more and tax the system to match the newfound capabilities given to them.

That Dell was a expensive thing back then, but I think it's next destination might be Africa, legally or illegally. Or donation to a local charity.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I say the i3-2100 is the bare minimium for a "always comfortable" browsing experience for the light user

Agreed! That, or possibly an FM1 A4-3300 or A4-3420. Though those would be a tad slow on script-heavy sites. The APU part helps with the graphical heavy-lifting and animations on sites.