Old Dell Computers - Useable??

spartacus173500

I have acquired some old Dell PC's and monitors was wondering if/how I can could use them for my son to gain some Graphics Software Design experience - as all the job applications he is making at the moment want experience first - 'chicken and egg'

Computers are;
Dell Diminesion XPS T500 (Windows 98)
Dell Optiplex GX1

A few questions:
Would they run Autocad or similar packages?
Could I upgrade them if more memory or disc capacity needed?
Realise they may be slow but speed is not a problem while learning
Old monitors are 'big and bulky' where can I get a good/cheap flatscreen - will it work with computers?
What software packages do people recommend?
Where are thay available cheaply!
Any free/government (JSA) courses out there?

Should I be asking above on another forum or other website?

All replies appreciated - Thx

GunJack

you may struggle to run autoCAD packages on them, it'll depend on the spec the package specifies. Flatscreens will work on them, just make sure you get ones with VGA connectors !!

robmar0se

Hi - If I am correct I believe that the Optiplax system is older than the T500, the latter is pobably about 12+ years old?

The T500 came with a 500MHz Pentium III processor, 128mb RAM - 3 slots max 768MB ram - also had a 12gb hdd. Of course the systems may have been upgraded during the intervening years,

Most design programs available today, even the "free" Sketchup program (good for learning CAD) requires a minimum of Windows XP, a 1GHz processor +++ - you may be able to find an older less demandong version. However I would expect that AutoCAD would be even more demanding. Current version of Sketchup is 8, you can still get version 6 easily, no harm in trying it, but I doubt it would be satisfactory, if it would work at all. http://support.google.com/sketchup/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=60107 - where you could find earlier versions I don't know.

To use current CAD without trying the patience of Job, you need a 2GHz processor and 2GB RAM.

John_Gray

Those are old computers (like 7 or more years?)! Probably too old and grossly underpowered for what you want.

ada1988

really old ones and I think there just some hardware is ok.
It is not enough for nowadays daily work.