(07-20-2023, 02:34 PM)JRace Wrote: If you don't need leading-edge tech, then a carefully chosen refurbished unit can be a good deal.

Why pay a premium for a PC which will be obsolete in two years?

(07-20-2023, 12:22 PM)TerryRitchie Wrote:

(07-20-2023, 12:03 PM)SpriggsySpriggs Wrote: Most of the complaints you have about your computing experience seem to always be directly related to your computer's specs. Seems like a simple solution is right there. Also, you could install a DNS filter on your router, provided you have a good one. You could do something like Wireguard with Netshield. Blocks basically all ads, even mobile ones.

There are some really good deals on off-lease corporate refurbs on eBay. I've obtained and used quite a few of these over the years. Here's a quite reasonably priced i7 6700 with 16GB of RAM: https://www.ebay.com/itm/145183990444

As a bonus it's a 6th gen CPU so you can run anything from XP to Win10 or your favorite flavor of Linux (or multi-boot any combination to your heart's content).

Also, check your local municipality. Many times they'll auction off their older computers on sites like GovDeals and you can get many of them dirt cheap. Last year I purchased 22 of Akron Ohio's off-lease Dell systems for $75. I made a killing reselling them on eBay for only $50 each. I preloaded each of them with PopOS. I kept one for myself.

I'm only an hour and a half drive from Akron so I was able to save shipping cost too. $75 for 22 computers. You can get yourself a relatively newer computer and make a bit of side hustle cash with the rest.

(07-20-2023, 04:40 PM)SpriggsySpriggs Wrote: I like the idea of buying government computers and reselling them. You've given me an idea for a hobby, Terry. Thank you.

(07-24-2023, 04:55 PM)JRace Wrote: It's funny how Windows 11's hardware requirements were chosen to encourage the sales of new PCs, but it has had the opposite effect on me....

I have always assembled my own desktop PCs, except that my previous desktop was a Compaq that I found at a good price.  It served me well... until I decided to upgrade the graphics, replacing the onboard graphics hardware with a dedicated GPU...  until I did the math and realized that the Compaq's power supply could not support a half-way decent GPU card.  While it was basically an ATX power supply internally and connector-wise, it was not quite an ATX form factor.  The PS had a non-standard shape in order to fit within the unique shape of the Compaq's case, and no off-the-shelf ATX supply could be shoehorned into that case.

Whelp, I replaced that Compaq with another homebrew PC, swearing to never again buy a pre-assembled name-brand PC.

Until MS inflicted Windows 11 on the world.

Lately I've been feeling cramped by RAM and hard drive limitations, and also a CPU upgrade would be nice, but if I install a new motherboard then I feel that I might as well move from Windows 7 to a more modern version of Windows.

MS seems to have pulled the old online Windows 10 upgrade options; 11 is the only Windows game in town, and I refuse to allow that rancid product to contaminate my machines.  So I've been reconsidering maybe giving a home to a pre-owned PC running Win10.  Maybe.

But brand new?  No.  I can hold my breath well enough to tolerate Win10, but Win11 is a deal breaker.

My other option is to finally ditch Windows.  I've only ever needed Windows to play a few specific games (which tend to be older and may be runnable under Wine (or ReactOS in a VM)) and to run some work-related software for a profession that I am no longer a part of.  I've had various flavors of Linux running on VMs for years, and may soon make Linux my daily driver.

(07-24-2023, 06:10 PM)TerryRitchie Wrote: I would suggest upgrading your current PC instead of going with a relatively newer off-lease system. With the off-lease name brand systems you are always going to be somewhat restrained by proprietary parts like you found in your Compaq. Most of the off-lease business class PCs only contain 250 to 350 watt power supplies, so you'll be in the same boat again when using your dedicated GPU.

Upgrade your current system and then dual boot Windows 10 and your favorite version of Linux. Use Linux as your daily driver and use Windows to play the games that Wine or Proton still doesn't support. You can still get Windows 10: https://www.ebay.com/itm/266156234625

I have a system on my work bench that dual boots between Windows 7 and PopOS. Heck, if you really want to , you can triple boot between Windows 7, 10, and Linux if you want.

(07-24-2023, 07:06 PM)Kernelpanic Wrote: @JRace - New computers hardly cost anything these days; no comparison to earlier times. If necessary, pay it off in two or three installments.
Assembling a computer yourself was perhaps an alternative more than 25 years ago, maybe (from a German point of view). In addition, when assembling a computer yourself, there are a some things that you cannot take into account yourself because you lack the options: The coordination of the individual components with each other. Just go by the technical data, that doesn't work - only by accident.
Buy a new one: New & Refurbished

Quote:Regarding the pros & cons of building a PC, I've always liked having control over what goes into the new machine.