Dell Dimension E520 help

  • Thread starter Thread starter Korza
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Korza

Korza

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kamikazi493
A friend of mine has given me a Dell Dimension E520. I know it that it has a 2.8GHz Pentium D (8xx or 9xx) CPU, 1 GB of DDR2 RAM, a 500GB hard drive and a 1GB ATi Radeon graphics card. I am picking it up today so I will be able to confirm the specs later.

My question is: Should I keep it and turn it into a gaming desktop or should I sell it off?
 
It's not in a useable state as a gaming machine but you can reuse it as a media center such as this one which runs on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. If you put a TV card into the computer you can also watch live TV and record the Live TV while you watch.
 
The problem is I have no need for a media center PC... I reckon I could get around $450 NZD for it.
 
I don't really see it being the gaming desktop. A GPU upgrade would likely just overload the PSU and render everything useless. DDR2 RAM is expensive right now compared to DDR3 and is a waste of money. At least when you sell it you can save up for a real gaming computer that is decent.
 
You can modify it for light gaming I suppose. Assuming you feel like buying parts for it. You could get a Core2Duo processor, a nicer graphics card[assuming the one in there is not that good], more ram, and a newer OS[You can get Windows 8 Consumer Preview for free and its essentially the same as 7 underneath].
 
I just had a look at the motherboard and it looks pretty hopeless. I think I'm going to strip it for parts and sell it.
 
Sorry for the double post, but I found out that it has a HIS HD4670.
 
I could send you over some RAM for cheap (got crap tons) if you want. I'd recommend putting in 2GB (board supports a max of 4GB) and you might get $400 - $450 for it if you're lucky and play your cards right.

There's really no hope of trying to make it into a light gaming desky. Just sell it as "Exceptional all round PC for normal daily use, very reliable, will play games well". That card is plenty good enough to mess around with, as long as people don't expect to be maxing out Crysis 2.

I think I also have a 3.2GHz Pentium D (LGA775) CPU here if you'd be interested. :)
 
You could install linux on it and play around with it, if you're so inclined.
 
It's a Dell, that should be your first sign to sell the vile thing. I've never had a good experience with a Dell.
 
tlowr4
I could send you over some RAM for cheap (got crap tons) if you want. I'd recommend putting in 2GB (board supports a max of 4GB) and you might get $400 - $450 for it if you're lucky and play your cards right.

There's really no hope of trying to make it into a light gaming desky. Just sell it as "Exceptional all round PC for normal daily use, very reliable, will play games well". That card is plenty good enough to mess around with, as long as people don't expect to be maxing out Crysis 2.

I think I also have a 3.2GHz Pentium D (LGA775) CPU here if you'd be interested. :)
Click to expand...

I might take you up on that offer. How much would you want for it? Also, I have a lot of SDRAM (I read that you were after some) that I could send you.

A friend of mine is interested in the card. He said he will pay $100 for it which will offset the cost of the PC. I could still get $250-$350 for it without the HD4670.
 
^^ $100 for that old card? Take it man. It's worth $60 tops, but if he's that willing, don't tell him otherwise.

As for the RAM, I userally just charge $5 - $10 a stick, depending on what sort. I've got tons of sizes and speeds, shoot me a PM of how many sticks/what sized sticks you want. But I'm also after some SDRAM, so we could just trade over. How much do you have? I'm chasing 3 sticks to make 1GB for a G4 PowerMac I've got here.

Did you want the CPU as well (if I can find it)?

EDIT: I could pick one of these up for you (or equivilent 210) for $50 which would proberbly push it back up into the $400 - $450 price bracket: https://www.netplus.com.au/product.asp?code=VDGIGT210-E5
 
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tlowr4
^^ $100 for that old card? Take it man. It's worth $60 tops, but if he's that willing, don't tell him otherwise.

As for the RAM, I userally just charge $5 - $10 a stick, depending on what sort. I've got tons of sizes and speeds, shoot me a PM of how many sticks/what sized sticks you want. But I'm also after some SDRAM, so we could just trade over. How much do you have? I'm chasing 3 sticks to make 1GB for a G4 PowerMac I've got here.

Did you want the CPU as well (if I can find it)?
Click to expand...

I think I have a 512MB stick or two at home. I'll have a look when I get home in a week for you.

Yeah, I'll take the CPU off your hands. 👍
 

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