Opinions on Used PC

William R. Walsh wrote:

The GX520 is a much later system than the GX170/270 systems. I've never
known it to have capacitor issues. The mainboard is a BTX type. Keep in mind
that a GX520 does not have a PCI Express graphics slot. You'd have to move
to the GX620 to get that. A GX620 is essentially the same thing but with the
PCI Express graphics slot. Both systems use the same flash BIOS updaters.
Both systems use the Intel 945 Express chipset with integrated graphics.


Is there a web site that has information like this for all Dell computers?

--
bud--

William R. Walsh wrote:

The GX520 is a much later system than the GX170/270 systems. I've never
known it to have capacitor issues. The mainboard is a BTX type. Keep in mind
that a GX520 does not have a PCI Express graphics slot. You'd have to move
to the GX620 to get that. A GX620 is essentially the same thing but with the
PCI Express graphics slot. Both systems use the same flash BIOS updaters.
Both systems use the Intel 945 Express chipset with integrated graphics.


Is there a web site that has information like this for all Dell computers?

--
bud--

That PC would handle Windows 7 just fine

--


--
"Ben Myers" wrote in message
...
Daave wrote:
I am looking to purchase a used , but decent quality PC with Windows XP.
On Ebay, I came across this offer from a "top-rated seller":

Dell Optiplex GX520 SFF
3.2 GHz Intel Pentium 4 CPU
2 GB RAM
250 GB hard drive
CD-RW/DVD combo drive
keyboard, mouse, network card
Windows XP Pro

Price is $199.00 USD, shipping included

Seeme like a very good deal to me. I know that there have been issues
with problematic capacitors on motherboards from GX270s, but this one's a
GX520.

What do you think, folks?

And any recommended sites (other than Ebay)?

TIA!
I'm not aware of serious capacitor problems with models other than the
GX270.

For the money, that is a pretty serviceable computer. You could get
something more modern by spending more money. As long as you are running
XP on it, it should do fine. If you think that you will be pushed into a
Windows 7 upgrade, you might want to get a computer newer than a three
year old GX520.

The GX520 uses a 945 chipset, so it may be capable of running dual core
CPUs. Not sure. The Dell BIOS could impose a limit on the types of CPUs
that can be run in it. There may also be hardware design limits (notably
thermal, CPU wattage, CPU voltage) that make it impossible to run dual
core reliably. The SFF models, whether Dell or other makes, have more
limited ventilation that tower models. If you ask Dell about CPU support,
they won't tell... Ben Myers

That PC would handle Windows 7 just fine

--


--
"Ben Myers" wrote in message
...
Daave wrote:
I am looking to purchase a used , but decent quality PC with Windows XP.
On Ebay, I came across this offer from a "top-rated seller":

Dell Optiplex GX520 SFF
3.2 GHz Intel Pentium 4 CPU
2 GB RAM
250 GB hard drive
CD-RW/DVD combo drive
keyboard, mouse, network card
Windows XP Pro

Price is $199.00 USD, shipping included

Seeme like a very good deal to me. I know that there have been issues
with problematic capacitors on motherboards from GX270s, but this one's a
GX520.

What do you think, folks?

And any recommended sites (other than Ebay)?

TIA!
I'm not aware of serious capacitor problems with models other than the
GX270.

For the money, that is a pretty serviceable computer. You could get
something more modern by spending more money. As long as you are running
XP on it, it should do fine. If you think that you will be pushed into a
Windows 7 upgrade, you might want to get a computer newer than a three
year old GX520.

The GX520 uses a 945 chipset, so it may be capable of running dual core
CPUs. Not sure. The Dell BIOS could impose a limit on the types of CPUs
that can be run in it. There may also be hardware design limits (notably
thermal, CPU wattage, CPU voltage) that make it impossible to run dual
core reliably. The SFF models, whether Dell or other makes, have more
limited ventilation that tower models. If you ask Dell about CPU support,
they won't tell... Ben Myers

bud-- wrote:
William R. Walsh wrote:

The GX520 is a much later system than the GX170/270 systems. I've never
known it to have capacitor issues. The mainboard is a BTX type. Keep
in mind
that a GX520 does not have a PCI Express graphics slot. You'd have to
move
to the GX620 to get that. A GX620 is essentially the same thing but
with the
PCI Express graphics slot. Both systems use the same flash BIOS updaters.
Both systems use the Intel 945 Express chipset with integrated graphics.


Is there a web site that has information like this for all Dell computers?


Well, yes and no. One has to hunt and peck through the User Guides and
Service Manuals on the Dell web site, then either remember this stuff or
compile it into a spreadsheet for future reference.

I've seen a lot of Dell desktops and laptops stop by for repair or
refurbishment and William R. Walsh works in the same space, so it's easy
to remember some of the info about computers handled regularly.

I've made up a spreadsheet covering the all-black Dell P4 Socket 478 and
LGA 775 systems, and it has a lot of detail in it. Anybody who wants it
can drop me an email... Ben Myers

bud-- wrote:
William R. Walsh wrote:

The GX520 is a much later system than the GX170/270 systems. I've never
known it to have capacitor issues. The mainboard is a BTX type. Keep
in mind
that a GX520 does not have a PCI Express graphics slot. You'd have to
move
to the GX620 to get that. A GX620 is essentially the same thing but
with the
PCI Express graphics slot. Both systems use the same flash BIOS updaters.
Both systems use the Intel 945 Express chipset with integrated graphics.


Is there a web site that has information like this for all Dell computers?


Well, yes and no. One has to hunt and peck through the User Guides and
Service Manuals on the Dell web site, then either remember this stuff or
compile it into a spreadsheet for future reference.

I've seen a lot of Dell desktops and laptops stop by for repair or
refurbishment and William R. Walsh works in the same space, so it's easy
to remember some of the info about computers handled regularly.

I've made up a spreadsheet covering the all-black Dell P4 Socket 478 and
LGA 775 systems, and it has a lot of detail in it. Anybody who wants it
can drop me an email... Ben Myers

David B. wrote:

That PC would handle Windows 7 just fine


Yes, OK with Win 7, but no Aero, for those who are Aero fanatics... Ben
Myers

David B. wrote:

That PC would handle Windows 7 just fine


Yes, OK with Win 7, but no Aero, for those who are Aero fanatics... Ben
Myers

JayB wrote:

that model usually came with a one year warranty, so i doubt it would
have any warranty left unless he got it from the dell outlet
recently.

Are Dell warranties even transferrable?

JayB wrote:

that model usually came with a one year warranty, so i doubt it would
have any warranty left unless he got it from the dell outlet
recently.

Are Dell warranties even transferrable?

William R. Walsh wrote:
Hi!

Dell Optiplex GX520 SFF

Seeme like a very good deal to me. I know that there have been issues
with problematic capacitors on motherboards from GX270s, but
this one's a GX520.

What do you think, folks?

The GX520 is a much later system than the GX170/270 systems. I've
never known it to have capacitor issues. The mainboard is a BTX type.
Keep in mind that a GX520 does not have a PCI Express graphics slot.
You'd have to move to the GX620 to get that. A GX620 is essentially
the same thing but with the PCI Express graphics slot. Both systems
use the same flash BIOS updaters. Both systems use the Intel 945
Express chipset with integrated graphics.

And any recommended sites (other than Ebay)?

I've had very good results from a seller known as epcsales on eBay.
They have free ground shipping on most items, package stuff well and
will take reasonable offers on systems. I bought an OptiPlex GX620
(tower) today that was priced at $225, and I made them an offer of
$165. They accepted that offer. For a system with a 3.4GHz P4, 1GB
RAM, DVD and CD-RW drives, WXP Pro COA, and a 160GB hard disk, I
think I did *very* well.

$165? I agree you did very well!

Thanks for the advice (and thanks to everyone else). The model I saw is
being sold by dexacomputers. But I will definitely look for epcsales,
too. Thanks for the tip!

William R. Walsh wrote:
Hi!

Dell Optiplex GX520 SFF

Seeme like a very good deal to me. I know that there have been issues
with problematic capacitors on motherboards from GX270s, but
this one's a GX520.

What do you think, folks?

The GX520 is a much later system than the GX170/270 systems. I've
never known it to have capacitor issues. The mainboard is a BTX type.
Keep in mind that a GX520 does not have a PCI Express graphics slot.
You'd have to move to the GX620 to get that. A GX620 is essentially
the same thing but with the PCI Express graphics slot. Both systems
use the same flash BIOS updaters. Both systems use the Intel 945
Express chipset with integrated graphics.

And any recommended sites (other than Ebay)?

I've had very good results from a seller known as epcsales on eBay.
They have free ground shipping on most items, package stuff well and
will take reasonable offers on systems. I bought an OptiPlex GX620
(tower) today that was priced at $225, and I made them an offer of
$165. They accepted that offer. For a system with a 3.4GHz P4, 1GB
RAM, DVD and CD-RW drives, WXP Pro COA, and a 160GB hard disk, I
think I did *very* well.

$165? I agree you did very well!

Thanks for the advice (and thanks to everyone else). The model I saw is
being sold by dexacomputers. But I will definitely look for epcsales,
too. Thanks for the tip!

i resell dell computers all the time.
yes- warranties transfer with the service tag.

VanguardLH wrote:
JayB wrote:

that model usually came with a one year warranty, so i doubt it would
have any warranty left unless he got it from the dell outlet
recently.

Are Dell warranties even transferrable?

i resell dell computers all the time.
yes- warranties transfer with the service tag.

VanguardLH wrote:
JayB wrote:

that model usually came with a one year warranty, so i doubt it would
have any warranty left unless he got it from the dell outlet
recently.

Are Dell warranties even transferrable?

JayB wrote:

VanguardLH wrote:

JayB wrote:

that model usually came with a one year warranty, so i doubt it
would have any warranty left unless he got it from the dell outlet
recently.

Are Dell warranties even transferrable?

i resell dell computers all the time.
yes- warranties transfer with the service tag.

Your right. Looks like Dell wants you to register the transfer for them
to honor the warranty for the new owner. Give the used item some
additional resale value (depending on how much time is left), like
buying a used car that has newly purchased tags.

http://support.dell.com/support/topi...gen&~ck=anavml
(short URL: http://preview.tinyurl.com/nbgt7c)