Buying Laptop on Ebay

[fb02521]

Having very little $$$ I am looking at Core Duo Processors or maybe Sandybridge I-3. It will likely have DDR2 Memory--probably 4 GB, and I will install a Samsung 850 Pro SSD. Am looking to spend less than $150.00.

This notebook will be used professionally (instead of gaming). I do the normal internet search and brousing (but on wireless internet--Verizon Wireless Modem-- in a Barn), watch You Tube Vids and Upload short You Tube vids. I sometimes need to upload files that contain 50-75 pages to Court websites.

My Q: Can Core Duo still handle this sort of work? Can this processor class even do wireless internet (which seems more complex than land line)? Can Sandy Bridge I-3? Or, will the experience be so slow and interrupted--waiting for websites to pop e.g.-- that it would be too frustrating to use. Anyone still successfully using a laptop Core Duo processor?

 

[paperwastage]

Might I suggest looking at the recent Atoms/Core M processors?

You can definitely find a Asus T100 for $150 on eBay. fewer upgrade options (fixed memory/ssd), but they are capable, newer(far more battery efficient/faster and lighter)

http://cpuboss.com/cpus/Intel-Core2-Duo-T8300-vs-Intel-Atom-Z3770

 

[EliteRetard]

Why buy old crap used units on ebay? A C2D desktop today aint even that good...a laptop that old will be terrible.

Lots of places sell refurb laptops. I did a quick look on newegg and found they have some business class Sandy i5 systems in your price range. The business class should be better built than consumer units (so hopefully held up over time better) but also have expansion slots so you could potentially add a wireless card if the built in options are crap/don't work.

Here's two options, the first with a PCMCIA and the second with an express card slot.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834319266

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834261128

Looks like lots of options on newegg, and I'm sure other places like amazon will have options as well.

 

[EliteRetard]

And why an 850 Pro SSD? Seems like an awful waste of money when the 850 Evo will run just as well in an old system like this. All that extra cash could be used on the laptop budget to get something newer/better.

$50 more could get something like this business class Dell E5430:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834298862

Ivy i5 2.6-3.3GHz, 6GB RAM

That old full power i5 is downright decent, even compared to the newest skylake chips (which would use less power but have similar performance, ex. i5-6200u).

 

[jaydee]

Why buy old crap used units on ebay? A C2D desktop today aint even that good...a laptop that old will be terrible.

Lots of places sell refurb laptops..

Ebay is probably the biggest source of refurb business laptops, and usually cheaper than Newegg. I just saw an Elitebook 8470W (IB i5/4GB) go for $165...

 

[fb02521]

Txs. for replies! Very helpful as I now know what cheap prices out there for notebooks that still work. I had a Dell Latitude I7-2750 recently stolen that was working at decent speeds. Assuming the I5-2520 would be just a little slower. Unfortunately, before I thought to post here I made a $71 bid on an Asics Core Duo 7500 of which I might soon be the proud owner.

 

[nerp]

Buy a ThinkPad if you're going used.

 

[daxzy]

Check out my thread here:

https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/ebay-t420s-cheap-laptop-with-dvd-drive.2479907/

Sorry to say, but getting a 850 Pro (one of the best SSD's on the market) doesn't even make any sense given your budget constraints. In real world scenarios, you probably wont feel the difference against far cheaper alternatives.

You can get a retired business T420/430 ('s' is the small version, 4lbs) for around $200, depending on configuration. Dell Refurb has a bunch of Sandy/IvyBridge laptops and they occasionally run some nice coupons. I prefer the Thinkpads of that generation due to what I think is better build quality and better than 768p screen.

Biggest difference between Sandy/IvyBridge is the latter has USB 3.0 and better energy efficiency. Unfortunately, you cannot get a SandyBridge laptop from major OEM's and just slot in an IvyBridge. They do not update their BIOS like PC mobo manufacturer's.

For reference, I got a T430s for $250 shipped off eBay. It's in great condition came with i5-3320/4GB/240GB Intel 520 SSD/UltraBay battery@87%/Battery@90%/1600x900 screen (as opposed to the 768p crap)

 

[xgsound]

That Dell from Newegg looks like a great deal to me. The CPU rates a 4008 passmark score.
I keep a lookout for 240GB Intel 530 or 535 SSDs that come up for $50 or $60 and get a few for spares when they're available. They seem to be indestructible and play well with old or new equipment.

Jim