What about this used computer (a different one) I'm thinking of buying?
 

Okay. I have a 2004 Dell Optiplex 170L that's maxed out at 2GB RAM. The harddrive is 37 GB and the processor is pentium intel 4 at 2.8GHz. It's 32 bit. (Which made me lose Google Chrome.) I'm running Xubuntu 15.10 and plan on using the same in the "new" one.

Now, the new one is 2008. Does the "64x2 Dual core" mean it has 64 bit capability? (This would be important to me.) Any other feedback in terms of speed (I want to do some video editing--nothing huge.) or anything else? Thanks.

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/syd/5497361376.html

The AMD Athlon 64 x2 was introduced in 2005 and is one of the first generation 64-bit processors.

Hi Gregg...

Personally, I'd go for the ASUS machine in your other thread, if it's still available. I think you'll get better results with it. ;)

Regards...

I agree. If it were me, I'd spend the $35 on a Raspberry Pi 3 instead... ;)

I agree with post #3 and #4 .. so what are you doing still reading this?

I have used a Dell Optiplex 740 in the past. (I'm not currently using it.) It works but it's nothing special. The integrated graphics is a bit slow. I wouldn't recommend it for you.

Gregg,

Definitely the Asus one.

Its quad core CPU is THREE times faster than the AMD one in the Dell and far more suitable for your requirements.

It is also TEN times faster than your P4 @ 2.8 MHz.

As stated earlier, Xubuntu will fly on 3GB ram.

Stop faffing about and get the Asus one!

I wouldn't be spending this much time deciding on sub $50 computers. If I were inclined or felt that one might be a total bust, I might buy both of them. But if it was important to not have any computer be a bust, I'd not buy used or old equipment.

That one is significantly worse than the first. I wouldn't even take it if it were free, because I would just have to turn around and pay to have it recycled like it should have been years ago.

Why are you so caught up with these incredibly old, obsolete, and cheap machines? They are not a bargain. You will end up spending significantly more money on electricity trying to keep these things fed than you save compared to buying a MUCH newer and slightly more expensive alternative.

A $35 Raspberry Pi 3 would be better than this machine, and a $75 ODROID-XU4 would be better than the Asus you were looking at. I highly suggest you look for something in the $2-300 range that's just a couple of years old. It will last five times longer than these systems, and will use so much less power that it'll pay for itself within a few years compared to them. No to mention being so much faster that it'll save YOU hours and hours of waiting for them. How much is your time worth to you?

Thanks everybody. I'm afraid I'm getting a little into "paralysis by analysis." I don't even know what a Raspberry Pi 3 is. I'd like to get the Asus actually but in the other thread people said I needed to buy a separate GPU because it doesn't have integrated graphics. And they said I needed a power supply. So that has me holding off on the Asus. I'll keep trying to figure it out. Really appreciate all the help.

it didn't have the box inside of it? what????
it has to have some kind of video card and power supply in it already

can you not get a hold of him then ask him a few questions like,
1. what kind of video card does it have in it.
2. does it need a power supply too, because it comes with a cord.

No, the ASUS machine does have onboard VGA graphics. Take a look at the last picture in the advertisement and the product page I linked to. The port is blue in color... :)

Regards...

Recommend you keep it all in one thread too. I saw that other thread at some earlier point but didn't have anything to say about that other system. This one either actually, just the fact that you're sort of looking with all this effort at these cheapo systems.

The other one does have integrated graphics, it's just not going to be very good.

Computers are kind of like cars IMO. They start depreciating the moment you buy them, and after some time they're not useful for much more than scrap metal. In my experience, computers age around 2-3x faster than cars.

This means when you're looking at a 7 year old computer, that's like looking at a 14-21 year old car. You can probably find quite a few that still work, and might even be in decent shape, but chances are if something major hasn't already failed, it's coming up soon. If you already own it, fine, maybe you're saving up for a replacement, but you really shouldn't be going out and shopping for one of this era unless you have a really good reason (eg: for a teenage driver who's probably going to smash it into a tree in the first year anyway, etc).

Looking at an 11 year old computer is like looking at a 22-33 year old car. It's rare to find one that still works correctly (that hasn't been completely rebuilt by the previous owner), and anything still using the original parts is a ticking time bomb. Unless you absolutely must have that exact model for some crazy reason, it's probably just going to be a waste of money.

In addition to this comparison is the matter of efficiency. Cars haven't really changed that much, on the whole they're maybe 50% more efficient than they were 30 years ago. Computers, on the other hand, are orders of magnitude more efficient now than they were 10+ years ago. Old machines, while cheaper initially, burn through power and rack up the energy costs compared to newer models. Remember, if two processors have the same TDP (thermal design power), but one benchmarks twice as fast as the other, it means when you start to push the system it's going to use HALF the power, because it'll finish the job in half the time. When you have machine A that runs at 90W but can finish the job in 5 minutes and immediately drops back to ~2W idle power vs machine B that burns through 90W for a couple of hours before finally finishing, that really adds up.

I've heard tell that AMD and Linux does not mix well either, I do not know first hand,I've always made sure to get Intel CPU's.

Hi...

If that's true, I think it may depend on the individual processor. Lubuntu works beautifully with my (older) AMD... ;)

Regards...

you must be right,
but that then makes buying an AMD iffy

To my knowledge, I've never had any problems with Linux based on the processor, whether AMD or Intel. :confused:

Regards...

don't kill the messenger :D

Not at all but we as humans have a history with that, don't we? I'm thinking of Jesus and the Old Testament prophets here. ;)

Regards...

Kings where known to kill the messenger if they did not like what the sender had to say. Mostly being another King. if you want to reflect on Biblical text, I'd say When Elijah just drop them dead by setting them on fire (from Heaven) would be the best story about that. :D

It's not AMD Cpu's that have issues, it's AMD gpu's. AMD CPU's work wonderfully with linux, their gpu's are a tossup if they'll work at all because of the sad state of their own proprietary drivers (which should be improving here in the coming months and years with their new more open architecture they'll be using).

ok, now for something completely different.
you got enough toys?

Sadly, no. I'm putting Windows 8 back on #5 tonight and selling it off because I just ordered a Windows Cherry Trail (64 GB emmc so can dual boot) 2-in-1. Also going to try to get rid of one that's not listed on there (yeah, I have problems) and might be picking up a quad-core baytrail laptop with 8 GB ram and a 128 GB SSD + 1 TB HDD w/ 1080P 14" for $400 shipped brand new.

I like to play around with different equipment, so I have a tendency to have WAY too much, but I make sure I get it for a good value (paid $260 shipped for the cherry trail, it's quad core 4 GB ram 1080P 11.6")

Thanks for the input everybody. I'm going to call this solved. You've definitely given me a comprehensive take on the situation. Now I'll just have to decide what to do. I really appreciate it.

You're welcome, let us know what you decide and how it works out. :)

@BW-userx: Yeah, that was an awesome story, huh? :) :D

Regards...

I know someone in here that is looking really really hard for another computer maybe pm him :D he got a good 80 bucks just burning a hole in his pocket ;)

It's only 70 bucks. ;)

OH, he was referring to the OP! :D Duh, never put that together.

If you were looking for a laptop instead of a desktop, the Streambook would be a pretty decent little system, and it works fantastic IMO, but I'm guesing you'd rather a desktop system.

by the time you get around to it you should have at least another 10 bucks :D

ROFL

:d :d :d

Please don't hate me but I'm still debating what desktop computer to buy. Worries about the AMD processor have slightly cooled me toward buying the ASUS, but I found a new one (that hopefully doesn't have an AMD processor--does anyone happen to know?) that is newer and has more RAM and is less money. Any thoughts?

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/sys/5497368099.html

This caused me to laugh enough that my coworkers wondered who sent me what joke. WYSIWYG.

yep takes ddr3 ram, 50$

spec pdf file for said desktop look at processer speeds for dual

http://www.dell.com/downloads/global...tech-guide.pdf

Gregg,

What are you on about?

That Asus has an Intel Q8400 CPU which is roughly twice the speed of the one you are currently considering.

i went on a buying spree on core2duo e8400 brand systems when they went for ~$100
antix linux/icewm they are flying, with 6mb cache and 4gb ram
the argument for office brand systems (hp/dell/lenovo/fujitsu) is:
theyre pretty solid built, power source is certified
video sound lan are integrated/generic thus good linux driver support
igp video card is pretty weak, but enough for counter strike and other lowend games
they last at least 10 years

dell only supports usb mouse.kb, and i prefer ps2
all in all for a stable linux computer i recommend a brand name computer
even latest support disabling uefi and secureboot

What? For asking all these questions and then dragging your feet? Nah! :D :p

Honestly, my vote is still with the ASUS machine. It has an Intel processor, by the way. ;)

Regards...

Thanks BW-userx. And thanks for the link.

Thanks man. I'm leaning toward the ASUS. I emailed the seller and asked how to meet.

Thanks for all the info, zpimp. I'm not a gamer, so the video card won't matter really one way or another. Appreciate it.

Thanks ardvark. You know, the ASUS just has a good vibe for me. I emailed the seller and asked how to meet.

you should have that extra 10 bucks by now so you can now afford a coffee while you're waiting to meet up with the seller. :D

Ha ha. :)

Cool, let us know how it turns out! :)

(I hope my joke didn't cause offense... ;))

Regards...

Ha ha. No worries, ardvark. You would never be thought to cause offense. Never.

Thank you, Gregg, I've done it before so I don't ever try to assume. :) :D

Regards...