Need to replace neighbors computer

[Isocene]

l

 

[Brainonska511]

Don't get them an Atom-based computer if this is their main computer.

Just get him one of the cheap Dells - something basic from the outlet should cover it. Or get a barebones that isn't an atom-based computer.

 

[Isocene]

l

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: Isocene
What's wrong with the atom based computers?

The cheapest at the dell outlets is $269 for a celeron 2200

There are some 15% off coupons that went out via email today. That's why the cheapest are gone. That Celeron is probably faster than the Atom, and the system is much more upgradeable than the Asus you linked to, which appears to be a barebones system anyway. Dell's (Business) Outlet has atom-based Optilex systems starting at $99.

 

[mshan]

Check out Tech Bargains dot com for Dell deals with coupons.

Dell Vostro 220 slim (mid-tower, too, but more expensive) often show up at very good prices. If they don't need monitor, you can just sell it off to reduce their cost basis.

According to Fat Wallet, instant discounts are stackable with Bing, but any coupon codes you have to enter manually may not.

If they can wait, I think really good deals at Dell show up near the end of their financial quarter, when they may be trying to reduce inventory to make their sales and profits look really good for shareholders.

Would also get Vista Home Premium at a minimum, so they get Windows 7 upgrade for free.

And I also agree don't get them an Atom based computer, particularly if you are going to use Windows 7.

 

[Brainonska511]

Atom PCs are slow - you can't even stream HD video properly on some of them because of how slow the Atom is. There are plenty of good deals in the Dell outlet - you just need to keep an eye peeled (and watch the SB outlet too). Or just find a barebones non-Atom PC and build off of that.

What was your neighbor's computer specs before it was dropped down the stairs?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Circuit City / TigerDirect was advertising a desktop refurb for under $200. Since theirs was old a refurb should be good enough as long as it comes with Windows.

Be careful about off-lease or outlet PCs, some don't come with Windows.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
Don't get them an Atom-based computer if this is their main computer.

Just get him one of the cheap Dells - something basic from the outlet should cover it. Or get a barebones that isn't an atom-based computer.

Myself, it's just the ticket for a NAS, and I'll probably go that route before the year's out. Idle it uses around 25 watts. I'll probably run it with WHS. Check out reviews at Newegg, if interested. The Atoms are slow, but I don't know that I will suffer with one in a NAS. File serving and backup is all it's for. There are dozens of informed reviews at Newegg.

 

[bluwing]

Hi,

Try looking at pacificgeeks.com. They have all kinds of specials. They Dell, and HP. Give a look, It costs nothing to look...

bluwing

 

[EliteRetard]

I just did a quick throw together on newegg, got a 2.7GHz AMD (single core) 4GB DDR2 500GB HDD Gigabyte 785G MOBO (combo with CPU) raidmax case/420watt PSU vista premium 64bit all for about 350$ shipped with two rebates reucing it to 320$.

Should slaughter an atom system. Im sure if you looked around a bit find some sales (like bing cashback) ect you could probably reudce the cost or perhaps get a little nicer dual core for the same cost or something. Maybe cut the RAM or get a cheaper MOBO ect. I just whipped this together in about 15min.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Isocene
I put the case on the stairs to remind myself I need to do it and ended up kicking it down two steps on accident and now the mobo won't post. Instead of piecing together a computer with the parts I have laying around I figured I would just buy them a new one[...]

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Have to tried fixing their machine? That would be my suggestion...

It's real common for the CPU to get dislodged from the socket when you mishandle a computer - even jiggling it - especially if it has a heatsink/fan combo hanging off of the CPU (e.g. not anchored to the mobo).

Also, I fixed an older computer (a while back) that had been roughed up while a friend was moving to a new house - it wasn't even dropped. All that was wrong with it was... a couple of tiny jumpers (shunts) had fallen off the pins on the mobo. I could hear them floating around inside the case, when I was carrying it from my car, into my house (for repair). Remember those jumper pins- back before everything was setup through CMOS? Sooo, that's another possibility.

LoL!

Mobos are tougher than ppl think they are...

If you smashed the case, or broke the drives, that would be a different matter, but from what you described - I can't imagine that you did enough damage to warrant replacing the whole machine.

 

[mshan]

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2336108&enterthread=y

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: mshan
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2336108&enterthread=y

LoL!

There you go... Replace YOUR problem with somebody else's problem...