What do you think of this computer (I'm thinking of buying)?
 

It's not refurbished. It's just on craigslist. I don't do any gaming. I don't know if I'd dual boot or just go with Xubuntu and get rid of the Windows 7. The thing that would be of interest would be enough capacity to edit video effectively. I'm not thrilled that it's only 3 GB RAM but it's got the quad processor so I'm figuring that'll speed things up. I also like that it's got 64 bit capability. I've never had an ASUS computer. (Are they any good?) It's always been Dell, which I really like. Thanks.

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/syd/5487887839.html

Hi Gregg...

From what I can see here, it looks pretty sweet! And at a good price. Just a cursory look on Google shows some pretty positive reviews concerning the processor. Also, ASUS has had a good reputation, at least in the past, for producing good quality boards.

I see from one of the pictures that the motherboard has solid capacitors, which might give the system a longer lifespan. You can see the ASUS motherboard product page here, if I'm seeing the numbers correctly. :)

Might be worth giving it a shot. :)

Regards...

Gregg,

Newegg reviews for that board (ASUS P5G41C-M) are here:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131629

Have a look through them and see what you think.

For $70 it seems to be a good deal.

Make sure the seller starts it up so that you can test it.

It has 4 memory slots, so you can always add more memory later. It may not be needed.

Good luck.

Looks like it has 2 empty memory slots, so you could add RAM. I would.

160 GB HDD is a little small if you are going to keep a lot of video files on the local drive, but I assume there is plenty of space for a second hard drive, or perhaps you have network storage.

The price is right. It looks clean (no dust visible inside).

Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 2.66GHz

The processor itself is $179.00 listed

The Intel Q8400 came out in 2009. So the unit is about 7 years old.
It'll use DDR2 RAM and USB 2.0 ports.
In comparison, DDR4 RAM is coming out this year as well as USB 3.1.

What is the wattage and efficiency of the PSU? In fact, I don't think one is supplied since it only refers to a 'power cable'.
You'll also need to buy a separate GPU because it doesn't have integrated graphics.

Personally, I wouldn't get anything which doesn't have USB 3.0 ports or DDR3 RAM.
How can it have 3GB RAM when there are 2 memory cards in the photo?
These days, 4GB DDR3 is modest with most people having 8GB RAM or more. So 3GB DDR2 RAM isn't so great.

The $70 price is fair for what it is, but it's not a bargain given that PSU and GPU costs have to be added on.

1 stick 1 Gig. ! stick 2 Gig. Maybe? But possible.

Get it I say. It came with keyboard and mouse. That makes the tower 50 bucks.
It is cheaper than a ubuntu box.

This post coming from a guy that gets dell servers for free. Plus other gear.

EDIT; looks like symple pc is dead now. Even more reason to buy it.

http://fossforce.com/2015/11/symple-...vidently-dead/

Sure, 7 years ago. Computer hardware is not an investment and does not hold its value, at all.

It's a very old machine. It will likely be slow, the HDD will be very slow and probably on its way out. After you add RAM and swap to an SSD it'll be better, but you'll still have spent ~$2-300 for a very old and mostly obsolete machine.

Quad core is nice, but 1333 bus speed is not. The memory interface is dog slow by modern standards, which will really hurt video editing.

I don't spend a lot of time looking at used machines, but I imagine you could do better for $70. If I had that machine in my possession and was trying to sell it, I wouldn't be charging nearly that much. That's case-of-beer territory IMO. To put it in perspective, you could probably go to your local wireless store and buy a new Android smartphone for $70 that would be as, if not more powerful than that desktop.

I'm not sure I like the colour.

yep they make 1GB DDR2

eBay 4 Gig kit plus what is in it, puts it at 7GB RAM

maybe send him some spare parts and he could peice one together ... :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

That CPU is not as old as mine, I only got 2 core, that is 4 core, no threads but My 2 core got no threads too. and it rolls along rather nicely for a laptop that I've pushed hard re-sampling movies and mp3's

CPU: Intel Core2 Duo CPU T9550 @ 2.667GHz
GPU: AMD/ATI RV620/M82 [Mobility Radeon HD 3450/3470]
RAM: 1576MiB / 3921MiB
Launch Date Q4'08

Whereas that CPU is a 09 Launch Date.

Like one said in here. It has 4 slots for RAM, and it is only using two of them. eBay for more RAM?
bigger HDD eBay? Video Card with GPU? eBay, look around price it out -- then look at the newer 4 core CPU's with the latest and greatest 3.0 or 3.2 USB etc, then price it out.

then figuring in how long it'd take you to save up for that Latest and greatest. Then chances are by the time you get up for that their will be something even better out.

It has PCI slots, and 2 empty RAM slots ...

I was just saying but yeah IT NEVER HURTS TO LOOK AROUND. EBAY EBAY EBAY -- I look at laptops all of the time, and seen an i7 4 Core ThinkPad go for $107 just the other day. so Yes their will always be that one really good deal just got a look and wait for it.

I got this one now and it does me just fine. I know not what he intends to do with it, major gaming where 3D and ~300GB video card to deal with the graphics .. donno

MOD::: just went backup and looked. to edit Video yeah he is going to need a good Graphics card and from what I've seen DDR3 is even cheeper then DDR2 for system RAM - go figure.

adobe video editing software does not run on Linux so I do wonder what his choice is for that on a Linux Box.


Guide - Cheap Computer for pro Video Editing



but I do I change my option,
I'd look for something that at least uses DDR3 RAM.

Details about Dell OptiPlex 745 Xeon X3220 Quad Core 2.4Ghz, 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD, GeForce 6600

C $80.00 Canada Approximately US $60.59

But that is 07 CPU ~~~

for someone that does not have a BIG check book you do got a work within ones means

Ok I think I've said way more then enough....

Thanks very much everybody for the great feedback and links. Kind of all kinds of opinions and some at the opposite ends of the spectrum. I don't know, I'm not real tech savvy. I have opened a Dell computer to add RAM but that's it, so adding a GPU or PSU are definitely things I'm not up for. Plus "slow" doesn't sound good either.

I am not a video editor. I would just like to make some videos on Openshot and I just noticed that on my computers now, the uploading of videos is pretty slow.

And the Asus having only 3GB does seem low. I'm sure it would be an improvement over what I've got, though.

I highly doubt Xubuntu would be slow on this system, if that's what you would like to use on it. ;)

Regards...

the uploading of videos is pretty slow if you are using properly terminology - uploading has to do with internet speed and the server on the other side being able to handle the load of many people uploading to it all at once, not CPU speed persay.

Linux, openShot, quad core 2.66GHz, 3 GB Ram .... the only thing in question I think is the Video Card. I'd don't think you'll be needing a nvidia' . as far as using openShot even My intel dual Core works for me. from what little I've used that app. you'd be having two more CPUs then I have at that same speed I am running 4GB on a laptop. I've re-sampled as big as 1 GB videos with handbrake and it only takes it 30 to 45 minutes to get done. sometimes I've had to wait an hour to get some done, but comparied to that atom 1.6Ghz netbook I was using to do the same thing, haha it never got done, over 8 hrs to re-sample a 800MB even and then it was not even watchable.

on @ardvark71 note:

Speed is not a problem I'd say.

as far as speed on Linux and a quad core, compared to my dual core a year older than that one you're looking at haha faster it is. I got windows 10 dual boot, (had to use iTunes) It is SLOW soooo SLOOOWWWWWWWW, get back into Linux I am a happy camper again.

Hey ardvark. I don't think it would be slow either. (And yeah, I'd still be using Xubuntu.) Now I'm using a Dell Optiplex 170L (12 years old) with 2GB RAM and a massive 37GB hard drive and that's slow. The Asus could only be an improvement. But $70 isn't all that inexpensive on Craigslist. I'm going to post another one (for half the price) and let me know what you think. Thanks. :)