Questions about Dell refurbs

[ku]

Hi! So I'm looking into getting a cheap gaming rig... preferably for under $500 with everything included sans monitor. I don't have any old parts to reuse (except maybe a crappy case that I can steal from my cousin--Antec Sonata), and considering that I'm probably going to need an OS (I have an extra copy that I might put on another machine), I figured going refurb would be my best bet.

I'm looking to play a few games... namely Left 4 Dead, and maybe Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3 if/when they come out. I'm looking at the Inspiron 53x series, Inspiron 51x series, and the Studio 540's.
So my questions are:

1) What would be the minimum processor that you would get as to not have this be my bottleneck in the future?
2) How difficult is it to find a power supply that I could swap in for a video card? Could I just throw in anything or are there limitations to the size or form?
3) What are the limitations to the video card that I can throw in? And what wattage power supply would I need to upgrade to in order for this to work?

I've read that the Quad Core machines have a slightly higher wattage power supply... enough to support a 9600GT without a PSU upgrade. Would this video card suffice in what I'm looking for?

P.S. I have a 20% off refurb coupon for the inspiron and studio series, so please keep this in mind if you decide to budget this out for me.

Thanks!!!

 

[yh125d]

Just build your own from scratch

e2200 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819116063
Gigabyte EP45-UD3R - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128359
4gb crucial DDR2-800 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820148160
PNY 1gb 9800GT - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814133244
Silverstone 400w - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817256032
Samsung 500gb - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822152052
Samsung DVD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827151179
Cheapo Rosewill case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811147109

$495 + ship

Maybe save some money by using the Sonata case (actually a good case unless its bad condition) and step up to a e5200 with a nice cooler (xigmatek S1283)and overclock the crap out of it

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: yh125d
Just build your own from scratch

e2200 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819116063
Gigabyte EP45-UD3R - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128359
4gb crucial DDR2-800 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820148160
PNY 1gb 9800GT - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814133244
Silverstone 400w - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817256032
Samsung 500gb - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822152052
Samsung DVD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827151179
Cheapo Rosewill case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811147109

$495 + ship

Are your calculations for him to run Ubuntu?

 

[ShawnD1]

Originally posted by: ku
1) What would be the minimum processor that you would get as to not have this be my bottleneck in the future?
2) How difficult is it to find a power supply that I could swap in for a video card? Could I just throw in anything or are there limitations to the size or form?
3) What are the limitations to the video card that I can throw in? And what wattage power supply would I need to upgrade to in order for this to work?

I've read that the Quad Core machines have a slightly higher wattage power supply... enough to support a 9600GT without a PSU upgrade. Would this video card suffice in what I'm looking for?

1. Quad core. Outside of that, it's probably not a big deal. I'm using a C2D 6600 from 2 years ago and still the only game that has really hit a major problem is GTA 4 and that's only caused by bad programming. I'm thinking it would be a good idea to get one with a 45nm design just because it's a bit newer and uses less power. (Q6600 is the old 65nm, the newer would be something like Q8200).

2. There might be limitations. My dad purchased a Compaq a few months ago and it has some dinky PSU that isn't a standard size. I have no idea how to replace something like that.

3. The video card is extremely limited. That Compaq I mentioned came with no 4-pin power cable, so I couldn't give him my old 7950GT video card. Even if your video card uses the same power cable as a hard drive, the PSU will likely not have enough power to run something as intense as an 8800 video card.
As well as power limitations, the case will probably be too small. When I purchased an 8800GTX video card, I had to buy a new case because this card is so big. Last time I checked, the GTX 260, GTX 280, Radeon 4870 and Radeon 4850 aren't any smaller.

Overall I would strongly recommend against getting a prebuilt computer. You basically need to replace the entire computer before it works properly. PSU sucks, so you need a new one. Case is too small, so you need a new one. Doesn't include a good video card, get a new one. The motherboard will certainly have driver issues when a new version of Windows rolls out (OEMs are bad for this).

Buying a Dell is just a nightmare if you plan on changing anything.

 

[ku]

Thanks for the responses.

There seems to have been a change of circumstances: my mom just called saying the computer just shut off by itself while making a "popping" noise. RIP old Athlon 2600+m...

My parent's use it for nothing more than watching videos, so I guess my coupon is going toward them.


As for building a new computer, it seems like I would sacrifice a lot of specs (but, I understand, at the gain of having quality parts). For example, I was just priced a E2200... a bit slow, no? Also, that doesn't include an OS (though that might not matter as much now given that my parent's computer will no longer need it if I buy them a refurb).


P.S. I <3 Ubuntu... but this is supposed to be a gaming rig =P

 

[Young Grasshopper]

i would not recommend building your own pc. dell pcs are so cheap these days that its equal to buying it in parts. plus if something ever breaks you only deal with one vendor.

 

[ShawnD1]

Originally posted by: Young Grasshopper
i would not recommend building your own pc. dell pcs are so cheap these days that its equal to buying it in parts. plus if something ever breaks you only deal with one vendor.

If you don't open the case, you're stuck with a shitty integrated video card (or pay alienware prices for a good machine). If you open the case, you void the warranty. You're screwed either way if you get a Dell.

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: ShawnD1

Originally posted by: Young Grasshopper
i would not recommend building your own pc. dell pcs are so cheap these days that its equal to buying it in parts. plus if something ever breaks you only deal with one vendor.

If you don't open the case, you're stuck with a shitty integrated video card (or pay alienware prices for a good machine). If you open the case, you void the warranty. You're screwed either way if you get a Dell.

Opening a Dell case doesn't void the warranty. They even make instructions for things like CPU replacement freely available. One of the more common misconceptions about Dells.

 

[yh125d]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: yh125d
Just build your own from scratch

e2200 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819116063
Gigabyte EP45-UD3R - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128359
4gb crucial DDR2-800 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820148160
PNY 1gb 9800GT - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814133244
Silverstone 400w - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817256032
Samsung 500gb - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822152052
Samsung DVD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827151179
Cheapo Rosewill case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811147109

$495 + ship

Are your calculations for him to run Ubuntu?

Breaking my balls blain!

New GPU
and motherboard

now ~410 + shipping, and $45 worth of rebates. Just enough for an OS, if you even need to buy one now

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: DSF

Originally posted by: ShawnD1

Originally posted by: Young Grasshopper
i would not recommend building your own pc. dell pcs are so cheap these days that its equal to buying it in parts. plus if something ever breaks you only deal with one vendor.

If you don't open the case, you're stuck with a shitty integrated video card (or pay alienware prices for a good machine). If you open the case, you void the warranty. You're screwed either way if you get a Dell.

Opening a Dell case doesn't void the warranty. They even make instructions for things like CPU replacement freely available. One of the more common misconceptions about Dells.

Very true.

* The Dell option also avoids the "Help, my new build won't post" threads.
* And the Dell option also provides an OS.

 

[ku]

All of these mixed opinions are driving me insane... what do i do?!?

EDIT: OKAY!
So what I'm guessing is that the pros to getting a Dell is that it's cheap, especially if you include OS. The bad part is that you can't overclock and will require a lot of changing of parts to be gaming capable.

For building my own, I will likely need to get slower parts (Processor, mostly) but can compensate by overclocking. Furthermore, it would allow for a slightly better upgrade path? (Say, I get a E2200 or something now, and I later pick up a Qxxxx in a year or two if/when prices drop?).

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: ku

So what I'm guessing is that the pros to getting a Dell is that it's cheap, especially if you include OS. The bad part is that you can't overclock and will require a lot of changing of parts to be gaming capable.

Pick your refurb system carefully, keeping in mind that DDR2 is cheap and that you'll need some $$ left over for a nicer video card.

> Dell Vostro 220 Mini-Tower > E7300 > 2GB DDR2 > 250GB = $319
> Asus 4850/512MB = $120 AR
> Mushkin 4GB 1.8v DDR2 = $33 AR & shipping (No 2.0v DDR2 for Dells)

 

[ku]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: ku

So what I'm guessing is that the pros to getting a Dell is that it's cheap, especially if you include OS. The bad part is that you can't overclock and will require a lot of changing of parts to be gaming capable.

Pick your refurb system carefully, keeping in mind that DDR2 is cheap and that you'll need some $$ left over for a nicer video card.

> Dell Vostro 220 Mini-Tower > E7300 > 2GB DDR2 > 250GB = $319
> Asus 4850/512MB = $120 AR
> Mushkin 4GB 1.8v DDR2 = $33 AR & shipping (No 2.0v DDR2 for Dells)

Thanks blain, but wouldn't I need to replace the power supply?

 

[Blain]

No

 

[KeithP]

Personally, I think I would go with a Dell (quad core) and throw in a video card when needed. I believe there are adapters around to use one of the existing power connectors for a video card if you need it.

What resolution were you planning on running at? Will a mid range/upper mid range video card be OK for you? The Dell PS might be OK if you don't stuff the box full of drives and a high end video card.

However, if you don't mind shopping for used parts (For Sale/Trade forum) putting a system together yourself might be a good way to go.

-Keith

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: ku
I'm looking into getting a cheap gaming rig... preferably for under $500 with everything included sans monitor.

P.S. I have a 20% off refurb coupon for the inspiron and studio series, so please keep this in mind if you decide to budget this out for me.

 

[JWade]

i have a q6600 in my xps 410 with a 8800GTS 640mb card, all on stock power supply, been running like that for over 1.5 years now.

I have seen q6600 systems with 2gb of ram as low as 419 (inspiron 518), as a $70 ar 8800 series card and it will be a nice system.