Thinking of buying reconditioned tower..

hdh74

My PC is grinding to a halt, so slow. Now I'm not good with tech at all but as I want a machine that will browse fast, with lots of tabs open at once, and that will handle processing raw photos I'm thinking I want an i5 processor, 16GB ram and around 500 GB SSD. Having been to Curry's, where I got my last machine I can see that would cost megabucks - and most of the machines only had 8GB ram anyway. I'm partially sighted so need to use a large monitor - which I have anyway.

So someone suggested itzoo to me and I can see I can get a good spec refurbed tower for much less dosh. Having done a bit of research on average lifespan on new puters (apparently 1.5 yrs is average life of hard drive! - mine's been going 5 years plus though it's all slow) I'm thinking I'd rather buy a cheaper refurb on this basis too.

Now I just about managed to set my last one up, but that came with everything and instructions.

So I'm not sure what I'll need to worry about when choosing and setting up. I'm thinking I'll need a few usb ports, put I gather there's more than one kind and I'm not sure what the difference is. At present I have a wired internet connection via an ethernet port. I also have somewhere to plug in speakers. My monitor has old connectors (VGA I thinks, could be DVI) so I'm assuming I'll need some kind of adaptor? A power lead obv - I'm thinking this might be the same?

I set my last one up with a CD to help (it has built in CD reader) and I'm thinking a new machine won't have that. I'm guessing I won't miss the CD thing in the main but wondering how hard it will be to set up the software. I was planning on paying for windows 10 64 bit, wondering if it will come installed and just need a code putting in to activate then updating?

Am I thinking this through right, and am I missing anything please?
I'm also thinking that even if I get really stuck and have to pay someone to set it up it will still work out cheaper than buying something new from a shop?

Any advice much appreciated, thanks.

Frozen_up_north

I'm typing this on a second user Dell Optiplex from IT-Zone-1, there is a similar one currently on eBay from them, see eBay.co.uk item number 153634781111


Mine has an i7 processor, 128GB SSD and 16GB of RAM. It cost £219 a few months ago.


Note, don't get hung up on processors. I have a new i5 (8th generation i5) laptop with 8GB of RAM that is "quicker" than this i7 desktop. The Optiplex range are last years models and have been around for some time.


PS the computers from IT-Zone-1 just turn on and go, you answer a few "on screen" settings from Windows and it runs.

psychic_teabag

hdh74 wrote: »

My PC is grinding to a halt, so slow. Now I'm not good with tech at all but as I want a machine that will browse fast, with lots of tabs open at once, and that will handle processing raw photos I'm thinking I want an i5 processor, 16GB ram and around 500 GB SSD.

Out of interest, what's the spec of your current PC ?

worried_jim

I bought my recon Dell from the I.T. Buffs about 2 years ago- I don't think I would ever buy new again now. The only thing I wish it had was USB 3 but besides that it's a brilliant fast piece of kit and I love booting from SSD.

custardy

Recently bought from Itzoo for my neighbour.
In his 80s and his old machine wasnt worth fixing.
Machine arrived in perfect condition worknig out the box.
Would happily recommend

EveryWhere

Frozen_up_north wrote: »

I'm typing this on a second user Dell Optiplex from IT-Zone-1, there is a similar one currently on eBay from them, see eBay.co.uk item number 153634781111


Mine has an i7 processor, 128GB SSD and 16GB of RAM. It cost £219 a few months ago.


Note, don't get hung up on processors. I have a new i5 (8th generation i5) laptop with 8GB of RAM that is "quicker" than this i7 desktop. The Optiplex range are last years models and have been around for some time.


PS the computers from IT-Zone-1 just turn on and go, you answer a few "on screen" settings from Windows and it runs.

We are an Microsoft Authorised Refurbisher
You will see other sellers supplying items with windows 10 and are refusing to provide you with Windows 10 restore option and Licence you are unable to restore your laptop if it was to ever get a virus etc and will cost you ££££ to get it repaired. Also this is not legal and Microsoft will not give you updates and will shut down your system.

He is being a bit on the creative side with this statement.

But your suggestion of the Optiplex 3050 is of sound basis, if only for the fact that it has a slot for a PCIe NVMe SSD drive.

Highly recommended for hdh74's intended processing of RAW files.

https://www.dell.com/support/article/uk/en/ukdhs1/sln306629/optiplex-3050-support-for-pcie-m-2-ssd-hard-drives?lang=en

esuhl

hdh74 wrote: »

Having done a bit of research on average lifespan on new puters (apparently 1.5 yrs is average life of hard drive!...)

No WAY! How often do you see a hard drive die? I'm using some that are about 20 years old, and I'd imagine the average lifespan is longer than that.

Frozen_up_north

esuhl wrote: »

No WAY! How often do you see a hard drive die? I'm using some that are about 20 years old, and I'd imagine the average lifespan is longer than that.

Hard drives are nowhere near 100% reliable. I’ve had one fail in a laptop and a friend has too. Not much of an issue with backups, unfortunately my friend didn’t bother.

Terry98

Dell have a reconditioned OptiPlex 3010 for £69 at the moment. Includes Peace of Mind
FREE - Standard 180 Day Limited Warranty

https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/dell-optiplex-3010-desktop-only-69-3293010

Delivery at £12 a bit OTT though!

Gloomendoom

Another vote for 2nd hand Dell desktop. Dirt cheap, reliable, and easy to upgrade if that floats your boat.

EveryWhere

Terry98 wrote: »

Dell have a reconditioned OptiPlex 3010 for £69 at the moment. Includes Peace of Mind
FREE - Standard 180 Day Limited Warranty

https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/dell-optiplex-3010-desktop-only-69-3293010

Delivery at £12 a bit OTT though!

Good for general usage, but perhaps not suitable for the OP going forward.

First is Windows 7 32 bit. They'll need to upgrade that to Windows 10 64 bit by clean install at some point. Better sooner than later. They will also have to fit an SSD. Best if they are manipulating large RAW files.

It doesn't sound as if the OP is ready for messing around inside the box nor clean installing an OS.

So I suggest sticking with something closer to Frozen_up_north's suggestion. Windows 10 64 bit already installed to a solid state drive, with the option to fit a much faster NVMe SSD drive as a possible upgrade.