50% off Dell Desktops, Laptops and Monitors at Arrow Direct

[cbn]

Coupon Code is "DELL50" and is available until 12/14/2014 (EDIT: "DELL50" still appears to be working despite being two days over the expiration date. Shipping is still free as well.)

http://arrowdirect.com/

Shipping was free on the items I looked at.

For anyone interested in a Linux box, the pricing is good on the desktops without OS (Example: Currently there is a Dell Optiplex 755 1.6 GHz dual core (E2140), 1GB 80GB Slim Desktop without OS for $27 shipped after coupon code). Supply is very limited on some models and I have already noticed some of the lower priced desktop inventory is no longer available compared to what I saw earlier in the day. (Example: Dell Optiplex 755 Tower, no RAM, 80GB HDD without OS for $18 shipped after coupon code is no longer in the inventory).

P.S. For anyone interested in the Xeon quad core mod, the Dell Optiplex 755 will take a 3xxx Xeon, but not the 5xxx Xeons. (More info about converting LGA 775 desktops to LGA 771 Xeon at http://www.delidded.com/lga-771-to-775-adapter/ and http://www.overclock.net/t/1431723/mod-lga775-support-for-lga771-xeon-cpus )

 

[slightlyhuman]

I had an e2140 CPU a while back. Hell of an overclocker at the time.

I have the SFF optiplex 775 in my cart now for $58($117 reg). Thinking of throwing a giant HD in there and use it as a cheap HTPC.

 

[robvp]

Had that e2140 running at 2.4ghz on a cheap ass mobo and cheap ram and the stock cooler for the longest time, i wonder how far i could have gone with decent parts

 

[cbn]

Just a heads up...

1.) The Dell Optiplex 755 Desktops with the E2140 (1.6 Ghz dual core) are under the filter "Dual core" while there is a separate category under the filter "Core 2 duo". (The Dell Optiplex 755 under the "Dual core" filter can be a lot cheaper than the ones under "Core 2 duo".)

2.) I noticed the inventory updated late last night to include more lower priced items, so that is something to consider when looking for deals.

 

[cbn]

Had that e2140 running at 2.4ghz on a cheap ass mobo and cheap ram and the stock cooler for the longest time, i wonder how far i could have gone with decent parts

I used a E2180 for the longest time myself. Although it is clocked 25% faster than the E2140 I thought was plenty good enough for general browsing and even some games at stock speed. So I have to imagine a E2140 is probably respectable enough for general work.

But if I wanted to DIY upgrade one of these boxes, another processor (beyond LGA 771 Xeon quad core) I would consider is the E8400. These typically start at $10 to $12 shipped for ebay "Buy it now" auctions. With an older Optiplex like the 755 using the Wolfdale might require a BIOS update though.

 

[lopri]

I had an E2140 and an E2160 that did overclock 100%. They both comfortably beat equally clocked E6600 and E6700 thanks to tight straps and timings outside very L2-specific cases. It was the time when overclocking Intel chips were actually fun and rewarding, unlike "buy a -K chip and raise the multi" overclock introduced since then.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I had a pair of E2140 CPUs too. Both of them would do 3.2Ghz (100% OC), which was nice, but one of them, would spontaneously reboot, anywhere from one to three weeks after running 24/7.

I eventually just had to clock it down to 2.8Ghz, as that just wasn't stable enough for me.

It would pass any and all 24hr stress-tests you could throw at it, that's what made it so confusing. Its instability was measured in weeks, not hours.

My other identical PC (same mobo, same cooling, same RAM, etc.) handled 3.2 without a problem.

Fast-forward to recently (from 2007), I've had two Q9300 CPUs OCed from 333FSB to 400FSB, and my "main" one, that had less vcore increase (really, only two small notches up from stock), started freezing, so I had to clock it back down to stock. My other one, is still OC'ed to 400FSB (3.0Ghz). I tried bumping the vcore up another couple of notches, but that didn't solve the problem, so I lowered the clocks back down.

Oh well, idiosyncrasies of 775, I guess.

 

[alcoholbob]

I got all excited about getting a laptop for cheap then noticed their highest priced offerings are gen 2 i7s...so sandy bridge era? Damn must be a tornado lol.

 

[nedfunnell]

Is this company legit? Has anyone bought from them before? What does B grade look like? I can't find that on their site.

 

[sm625]

Legit or not, the fact that the laptops fail to mention the gpu type is kind of annoying.

 

[SunnyD]

Legit or not, the fact that the laptops fail to mention the gpu type is kind of annoying.

These will almost all be old reclaimed corporate recycling. Your "best" GPU's will usually be Intel chipset GPU's. Just look at the CPU in the laptop and extrapolate what it will have in that era from there.

 

[nedfunnell]

These will almost all be old reclaimed corporate recycling. Your "best" GPU's will usually be Intel chipset GPU's. Just look at the CPU in the laptop and extrapolate what it will have in that era from there.

Can laptop GPUs be upgraded on most corporate-grade laptops?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Can laptop GPUs be upgraded on most corporate-grade laptops?

No.

 

[CoPhotoGuy]

Is this company legit? Has anyone bought from them before? What does B grade look like? I can't find that on their site.

Legit. They advertise around here:

http://www.thisisarrow.com/

They are probably just disposing of their customer's old systems.

 

[J30_Uwe]

I ordered a 20in Dell Ultra sharp 2007FP 1600 x 1200 for $42.50 yesterday. I came home today and it was sitting on my doorstep. I was shocked. It has a couple of places where some clear tape is on it.

Very impressed. I'll buy from them again.

 

[cbn]

http://arrowdirect.com/dell-optiplex-330-1-80ghz-dual-core-desktop-80gb-2048mb.html

Dell Optiplex 330 1.8 Ghz dual core, 2GB, 80 GB HDD, No Operating system (two in stock for $29.25 shipped each after coupon code):

http://arrowdirect.com/dell-optiplex-330-1-80ghz-dual-core-desktop-80gb-2048mb.html

According to Delidded.com it will take C0 Stepping 5xxx Xeons:

http://www.delidded.com/lga-771-to-775-adapter/3/#dell

(Verified to work with E5450 C0 stepping quad core, E5440 C0 stepping quad core, 5160 dual core)

P.S. Pretty sure these are slim form factor desktop rather than Towers. (ie, the first picture in the link is wrong, but the second picture is correct).

 

[andylawcc]

These will almost all be old reclaimed corporate recycling. Your "best" GPU's will usually be Intel chipset GPU's. Just look at the CPU in the laptop and extrapolate what it will have in that era from there.

laptop GPU upgradeable?

No.

what they said

 

[cbn]

What does B grade look like? I can't find that on their site.

I found this video describing their three cosmetic grades:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RfCdnv_y30

 

[cbn]

Some pretty nice Dell desktops (with Windows 7) here too:

http://arrowdirect.com/search?q=#/?....price=asc&filter.os_list_view=WINDOWS 7 HOME

Example: Optiplex 755 SFF 2.33 GHz , 2GB RAM, 80GB HDD, Windows 7 starting at $51.75 shipped after coupon code.

That is actually the cheapest I have ever seen for a Core 2 desktop with Windows 7 shipped.

 

[Mojoed]

I just picked up a DELL OPTIPLEX 780 3.33GHZ CORE 2 DUO DESKTOP 160GB 4096MB for $111.36 shipped.

Not bad at all!

 

[cbn]

Some pictures of a grade B Dell P190SF Monitor I bought for $11 shipped (after coupon code):












Packaging was nicely done. It had the power cord, VGA cable and DVI cable all in the box.

It had a few scratches in the upper right hand corner. Pretty sure I can get rid of these with a black marker.

I just turned the monitor on and nothing appears to be wrong with the screen. It does have a nice adjustable height stand with tilt.

Overall, it looks like for $11 this was a great deal.

 

[cbn]

Some pictures of the Grade B Dell OptiPlex 755 SFF (E6550, 2GB RAM, 80 GB HDD) with Windows 7 Home Premium I ordered for $51.75 shipped.



Pretty surprised to see it come with a new keyboard and mouse. Power cord was included as well.



Top view of the desktop next to a 12 oz soda can for comparison.



Overall, the computer appears to be in great condition inside and out with the exception of that long blemish (seen above) on the bottom of the computer.

Some other notes:

The operating system (Windows 7 Home Premium) is the 64 bit version.
Idle power consumption is 45 watts.
Noise: I haven't tested it at load yet, but at idle it is noticeably louder than my 16 liter Dell OptiPlex 360 Slim Desktop.

 

[Samus]

Thanks, I was able to order 3 monitors for $98 shipped. Great deal!