OT: Refurbished computers?

Antonin · #1 August 7th, 2005, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Thermodyne said:
You can get a new Dell for about $450 these days, why risk a used system?

Isn't Dell mail order only? I'm looking to get the best payment terms possible, so something I can get with a store credit card would be ideal. Six months same as cash, 24 months same as cash, etc.

Thanks for the info, guys. Unfortunately, all of the affordable computers in the stores here are either HP or Compaq.

Our current computer is a 400 MHz IBM Aptiva. I've had no problems with it.

I'm even thinking about just installing a 128 MB video card, just to stretch out the usefulness a bit and enable me to play Eve Online. Probably SE5 too will require more than my existing 8 MB video card.

How hard/easy is it to install a video card?

Thermodyne · #2 August 8th, 2005, 08:27 AM

I think Dell will finance systems.

Antonin · #3 August 8th, 2005, 09:14 AM

I looked around on the Dell site, and unfortunately, the computer that is within our price range does not come with any decent software, just the OS. And there's no warranty, which is strange.

Doing all this shopping for a computer, I have to laugh at these $2,000 gaming monsters. I sure with I could spend that much for a computer. Apparently, somebody's buying them.

Will · #4 August 8th, 2005, 11:37 AM

Try looking in for-sale classifieds, and around college campuses. All the time, there are people looking to replace their computers that sometimes are only a year or two old. And they usually don't ask too much for their "old" computer, and you can make an offer. You don't get warranties or support, but you can get a fairly nice system for cheap.

Suicide Junkie · #5 August 8th, 2005, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Antonin said:
I looked around on the Dell site, and unfortunately, the computer that is within our price range does not come with any decent software, just the OS. And there's no warranty, which is strange.

You should already own >99% of the software you'll want to use.

Everything you want (except SE5) is already on your old harddrive; just plug it in to the new machine.

Fyron · #6 August 8th, 2005, 03:42 PM

Exactly... it is pretty silly to go and buy a bunch of new software just because you get a new computer.

Also, there are free alternatives to pretty much everything you would get on a Dell (or any manufacturer) system. Most of them are just as good or better...

Iron Giant · #7 August 9th, 2005, 09:51 AM

Microcenter has a 3.0 gig refirb for $350 with $50 rebate and they will give you $100 off if you qualify for a Microcenter credit card = $200

Edit for lack of math skills.

Caduceus · #8 August 8th, 2005, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Antonin said:
Our current computer is a 400 MHz IBM Aptiva. I've had no problems with it.

How hard/easy is it to install a video card?

I thought I was out of date when I upgraded from my 700 MHz Compaq 2 months ago!

The installation of a video card is a breeze. Just make sure you have everything you care about backed up (as with any upgrade). Follow instructions carefully and you should do just fine. Make sure your PC can handle a newer card!