Need pointers to a cheap PC.

[AJ Dual]

I've got a mix of four hand-me-down PC's and some my employer was discarding for my girls to do their online educational websites their school subscribes to.

Three Dell's, and a generic from a local builder here in Milwaukee. All are Pentium 4's of various stripes, around 1 GB memory etc.

The generic one from the local builder is shutting off spontaneously. I already had to replace the power supply in it last year. The case feels hot when it shuts down, and when I open it up I've got a faint whiff of the plastic/PCB type smoke smell.

I don't need monitor, KB or anything but the PC itself. I can probably use the windows Xp key sticker from the old PC too, although it's possible the different hardware might get me blocked on Windows Genuine Advantage etc.

I'm looking to buy or build for the best bang for the buck for $200 or under. Any ideas? I've been looking at lease-returned and factory refurbs at Tiger Direct, but I'm thinking the hive-mind may have better ideas. I don't feel like dealing with Craigslist either. 

Tower case, or mini-ATX (they still call it that?) form-factor preferred.

[red headed stranger]

I have gotten a few computers for family members that want very basic computers at Pacific Geek.  They have surplus and former corporate computers from Dell and HP.  They have a lot of good sales periodically.  They often have the Dell install disks on sale for only 9.99. 

http://www.pacificgeek.com/ 

[RocketMan]

Try these folks.  They sell a lot of lease return PCs, decent prices, and many of them come with the original CoA sticker for the flavor of Windows that was originally installed on the box.
I've done business with them in the past, as have some other folks I know, and have been satisfied each time.
They have a retail store around KC if I am not mistaken.

[Perd Hapley]

Yard sales, thrift stores, Craig's List.

[bedlamite]

Next time it shuts down, take the cover off and find out what is hot. It's probably either the power supply again, or something on the motherboard.

If it's the MB, swap it with this and put a new CPU and memory on it. I'm assuming the CDR still works. Since it's shutting down and not locking up, the Hard drive probably doesn't need to be swapped, and that would make the OS install easier too.

[lee n. field]

If it's the MB, swap it with this

What the heck does this mean:

Functions designed with button to be easy use
Help power-users tweaking process in-chasis enviornment

[AJ Dual]

I have gotten a few computers for family members that want very basic computers at Pacific Geek.  They have surplus and former corporate computers from Dell and HP.  They have a lot of good sales periodically.  They often have the Dell install disks on sale for only 9.99.  

http://www.pacificgeek.com/  

This is a good link. They've got comparable systems to the Tiger Direct lease turn-ins and refurbs for half the price. Thanks!

I guess I was also wondering if someone here had recently just purchased something in a medium small form-factor for a media PC or something and it was cheap, or had a cheap build they'd just done.

Next time it shuts down, take the cover off and find out what is hot. It's probably either the power supply again, or something on the motherboard.

If it's the MB, swap it with this and put a new CPU and memory on it. I'm assuming the CDR still works. Since it's shutting down and not locking up, the Hard drive probably doesn't need to be swapped, and that would make the OS install easier too.

Yeah, this is well within my capabilities, but I'm just not going to throw the time into it to troubleshoot it like that. We've had a few 80+ days here and the system might just be overheating on this MMORPG my girls have gotten into from Nat. Geo kids called "Animal Jam". System's not dusty etc. So I might just see if it'll sit in the cooler basement doing something like playing SAN/NAS etc. instead if it has good uptime when the kids aren't beating on it.

Also, when I repair stuff, Mrs. Dual gets all antsy, and frankly insulting at times. Over how long it takes, if what I bought is right, or if something unforeseen breaks or doesn't work, she's huffy... it's just the marital dynamic I guess. The fact I've been in I.T. from hardware builder, helpdesk/desk-side, network tech, to enterprise software admin/engineering does not enter into it. 

Yard sales, thrift stores, Craig's List.

Yeah... I want to avoid that. Putting all the Craigslist skeezers aside for the moment... Even when it's a fair transaction from a decent person, if it dies one day after I bought it, through no fault of the seller... I just hate that sort of situation.

[Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas]

//Did you want the pointers in C++ or Java?
char * whatAJAskedFor = "a cheap PC";
printf("\nHere you go: ", whatAJAskedFor);
//end

[GigaBuist]

Well, here's what I plan on doing for cash registers this year:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856119038

$94 for a barebones dual-core Atom CPU.  Add an HD and some DDR2 RAM and you're running.  It's not fast, but probably as good as an old P4 and they only suck 65 watts of power max.

We had one running as a register this year (Windows 7, 2 GB of RAM) and it did fine in the dusty environment.  I've got another on my desk as a test register and a third that actually acts as a my MySQL/SVN/DNS server.  They seem pretty reliable. Well, they're not complete crap.

Now, if you do buy one check the power supply before you plug it in.  For some reason all of mine were shipped set to 230 Volts.  Amazingly, they powered on but died after 5-10 minutes.  Flicked it to 115V and the problem was solved.

[Jim147]

Micro Centers Powerspec brand was pretty good about five years ago. I haven't touched one in four years but it is what I started replacing all the systems in my last company with. I just didn't have time to build them being salaried and already doing 50+ hours a week.

They also have a list of refurbs and off lease stuff. Txmicro, part of Tiger Direct, also has cheap off lease stuff.

jim

[AJ Dual]

Well, here's what I plan on doing for cash registers this year:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856119038

$94 for a barebones dual-core Atom CPU.  Add an HD and some DDR2 RAM and you're running.  It's not fast, but probably as good as an old P4 and they only suck 65 watts of power max.

We had one running as a register this year (Windows 7, 2 GB of RAM) and it did fine in the dusty environment.  I've got another on my desk as a test register and a third that actually acts as a my MySQL/SVN/DNS server.  They seem pretty reliable. Well, they're not complete crap.

Now, if you do buy one check the power supply before you plug it in.  For some reason all of mine were shipped set to 230 Volts.  Amazingly, they powered on but died after 5-10 minutes.  Flicked it to 115V and the problem was solved.

Hmm.. That's the kind of thing I was looking for. Equal to those $199 refurp P4's but new and smaller formfactor etc.

Isn't Foxconn the Apple OEM company with all the suicides? 

Totally OT, but I finally got around to hooking up a VNC client for my Android EVO 4G, and VNC server on my four girls PC's. And I set it to lock out the mouse and keyboard when it connects, with no user prompting.

It'll be an eye-opener when it's time to kick them off the PC's for dinner or whatnot and they don't move fast enough. 

[Frank Castle]

http://www.geeks.com/

I bought a few computer from them.

[lee n. field]

Well, here's what I plan on doing for cash registers this year:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856119038

$94 for a barebones dual-core Atom CPU.  Add an HD and some DDR2 RAM and you're running.  It's not fast, but probably as good as an old P4 and they only suck 65 watts of power max.

We had one running as a register this year (Windows 7, 2 GB of RAM) and it did fine in the dusty environment.  I've got another on my desk as a test register and a third that actually acts as a my MySQL/SVN/DNS server.  They seem pretty reliable. Well, they're not complete crap.

Now, if you do buy one check the power supply before you plug it in.  For some reason all of mine were shipped set to 230 Volts.  Amazingly, they powered on but died after 5-10 minutes.  Flicked it to 115V and the problem was solved.

Eh, interesting.

So, the dual core Atom is good for 4GB now, not just 2?  Good.

[TechMan]

Hmm.. That's the kind of thing I was looking for. Equal to those $199 refurp P4's but new and smaller formfactor etc.

Isn't Foxconn the Apple OEM company with all the suicides? 

Totally OT, but I finally got around to hooking up a VNC client for my Android EVO 4G, and VNC server on my four girls PC's. And I set it to lock out the mouse and keyboard when it connects, with no user prompting.

It'll be an eye-opener when it's time to kick them off the PC's for dinner or whatnot and they don't move fast enough. 

Yep.

[K Frame]

Etch-A-Sketch

[AJ Dual]

Etch-A-Sketch

Had one.

I cannibalized it for the aluminum powder to make explosives.

[KD5NRH]

What the heck does this mean:

Functions designed with button to be easy use
Help power-users tweaking process in-chasis enviornment

Chinglish is meaning to for we defecation give do not customer regarding.

[lee n. field]

Chinglish is meaning to for we defecation give do not customer regarding.

It is kind of a tempting little box to get, though.

[GigaBuist]

Eh, interesting.

So, the dual core Atom is good for 4GB now, not just 2?  Good.

If NewEgg says they are I guess they are.  That won't be something I test out as I just need them to run a basic Debian Linux install w/ our Java based POS solution on top of it.  I don't see any reason to toss in more than 1GB of RAM for that.

And I'm probably going to use one of these kits to build a PC for my little girl.  Toss Qimo Linux on there and set it in her play area.  I might try and get an HDMI card for it so I can wire it up to a 22" TV or something and avoid having speakers dangling about but I'm not sure yet.  We'll see.  She's only 21months old so there's no huge rush.  I just want to get it done by the end of the year.

[zxcvbob]

AJ, send me your email address and I'll forward you the latest offer corporate sent us re: Lenovo (here's an example) I think it includes free shipping:

Intel® Core 2 Duo E6550 2.33GHz, 3GB memory, 80GB hard drive, CDRW-DVD, gigabit ethernet, Windows XP Pro.  Add 17" flat panel for just $52 more or 19" for $86 more with eCoupon!

Part # A6072A5U
Regular price $239
EPP price $203.15
ecoupon price $178.15