Dell Optiplex 790 MT - Ebay

if it doesn't use the standard ATX pinout, it won't work out of the box. You'd have to research what you have and what it uses.
 
Man. Guess I'll be returning this. Was hoping for something to replace my aging plex server that has a q8200. Hopefully I can find something in the >$150 range. Something that can expand amount of hard drives too.
 
The E5-2650 looks like a bargain. Since it does not have graphics, though, I guess I have to start learning about video cards and how well they work with Linux.
/dev/null said:
come with older quadro cards which should be OK for basic stuff
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I usually avoid that stuff because I'm lazy and don't want to research Linux compatibility. Would I be wrong to think integrated graphics are usually smoother for Linux?
 
Edgar said:
Man. Guess I'll be returning this. Was hoping for something to replace my aging plex server that has a q8200. Hopefully I can find something in the >$150 range. Something that can expand amount of hard drives too.
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for those specs, that's an incredible price for the unit. I would consider keeping it.
 
trentchau said:
for those specs, that's an incredible price for the unit. I would consider keeping it.
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I would like too. I really would. But I have no way of adding a video card. Or hard drives. If someone can show me a solution to those 2 problems. That is not that more expensive. I would gladly keep it. But I agree. I got a killer deal. Even if it is an SFF.
 
the_servicer said:
The E5-2650 looks like a bargain. Since it does not have graphics, though, I guess I have to start learning about video cards and how well they work with Linux.

I usually avoid that stuff because I'm lazy and don't want to research Linux compatibility. Would I be wrong to think integrated graphics are usually smoother for Linux?
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Linux doesn't treat integrated/apu graphics any different than a plugin card.

If you use intel (on-cpu graphics) the drivers come built in linux
If you use nvidia, you have a choice of "open source" (reverse engineerd) or "proprietary" (from nvidia), Go proprietary
If you use amd/ati, you have the same choice, but opensource is the way to go and is very well supported.

If you go offbrand such as verite, #9, matrox, or other ancient stuff, I'd have to look it up. Stick to AMD/NVIDIA/Intel and you should be good on almost anything you choose that has been made in the last 5-10 years if you just want something for 2d.
 
Having to make those choices is the reason why I have completely avoided video cards for many years. That, and integrated graphics have always been adequate for me. It's probably easier than I think though. Maybe time for me to stop being lazy?
/dev/null said:
If you use intel (on-cpu graphics) the drivers come built in linux
If you use nvidia, you have a choice of "open source" (reverse engineerd) or "proprietary" (from nvidia), Go proprietary
If you use amd/ati, you have the same choice, but opensource is the way to go and is very well supported.
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Your advice does seem to simplify things a little. Maybe I would leave Nvidia as a kind of third choice. In other words, stick with Intel and AMD (and maybe ATI) when it's cost-effective but be open to giving Nvidia a try as a last resort.
/dev/null said:
Stick to AMD/NVIDIA/Intel and you should be good on almost anything you choose that has been made in the last 5-10 years if you just want something for 2d.
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Edgar said:
I would like too. I really would. But I have no way of adding a video card. Or hard drives. If someone can show me a solution to those 2 problems. That is not that more expensive. I would gladly keep it. But I agree. I got a killer deal. Even if it is an SFF.
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Would you mind taking a picture of the sff unit?

On my optiplex 790's, it extremely limited but I was able to add 2 2.5 hard drives and a 1050 low profile, which makes it an extremely capable 1080p gaming computer.
 
trentchau said:
Would you mind taking a picture of the sff unit?

On my optiplex 790's, it extremely limited but I was able to add 2 2.5 hard drives and a 1050 low profile, which makes it an extremely capable 1080p gaming computer.
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IMG_3565.JPG IMG_3566.JPG IMG_3564.JPG
 
Edgar said:
View attachment 18959 View attachment 18960 View attachment 18961
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Oh cool, you actually have a lot of options probably.

Video card -

For best gaming $150 will get you - https://www.amazon.com/MSI-GTX-1050...489099347&sr=8-1&keywords=1050+ti+low+profile

For good gaming a 1050 normal or radeon 460 would be great -

https://www.amazon.com/MSI-RX-460-2...id=1489099398&sr=8-1&keywords=low+profile+460

https://www.amazon.com/MSI-GTX-1050...d=1489099411&sr=8-1&keywords=low+profile+1050

If you don't care about gaming there's a lot of great low profile cards for sub $60 that you can get but you already have dual display ports on that so the machines pretty capable already.

Concerning storage, if you were going to use it for a media pc you can easily get like a 4tb to 8tb drive for storage, and also use one of these guys with a cheap m2 drive for your os.

https://www.amazon.com/SilverStone-...qid=1489099470&sr=8-1&keywords=low+profile+m2

Or since there seems to be decent amount of space, you could just get one of the super small ssd's and doubel side tape it to the case.
 
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You guys want to grab one of these? Let this thread die, post elsewhere for support. Seriously prices have already jumped 30%. Stop bumping this (it was already at the top when I posted this).
 
butterfliesrpretty said:
You guys want to grab one of these? Let this thread die, post elsewhere for support. Seriously prices have already jumped 30%. Stop bumping this (it was already at the top when I posted this).
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Actually it should be moved to hot deals discussion, because we are still finding pretty nice deals.
 
HeavensCloud said:
Actually it should be moved to hot deals discussion, because we are still finding pretty nice deals.
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That in no way counters what I said. The more people seeing this, the less these will be available, if that's what you want go right ahead keep bumping. Like I said prices have gone up at least 30% and will continue to rise.
 
butterfliesrpretty said:
That in no way counters what I said. The more people seeing this, the less these will be available, if that's what you want go right ahead keep bumping. Like I said prices have gone up at least 30% and will continue to rise.
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There are still several with the i5-2400 starting at $144 and increasing with RAM choices, etc, right around where they were when the thread was made. How's that for a counter?
 
HeavensCloud said:
There are still several with the i5-2400 starting at $144 and increasing with RAM choices, etc, right around where they were when the thread was made. How's that for a counter?
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When the thread started you could find them for $110 shipped, lots of them, not anymore.
 
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the_servicer said:
Having to make those choices is the reason why I have completely avoided video cards for many years. That, and integrated graphics have always been adequate for me. It's probably easier than I think though. Maybe time for me to stop being lazy?

Your advice does seem to simplify things a little. Maybe I would leave Nvidia as a kind of third choice. In other words, stick with Intel and AMD (and maybe ATI) when it's cost-effective but be open to giving Nvidia a try as a last resort.
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If you won't do any gaming, I'd stick with AMD as you can plug in a modern card (eg: R7/R9 2XX or 3xx.. RX 460/70/80) and it will "just work" on a modern linux distribution. I think even HD5000/6000/7000 are in the same boat. I don't think I'd go older than that...
 
butterfliesrpretty said:
That in no way counters what I said. The more people seeing this, the less these will be available, if that's what you want go right ahead keep bumping. Like I said prices have gone up at least 30% and will continue to rise.[/
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butterfliesrpretty said:
When the thread started you could find them for $110 shipped, lots of them, not anymore.
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Being that 2 weeks after this thread started I just got four of the sff's for $57 average...I think people just need to try harder.
 
/dev/null said:
Pick up the cheapest LGA2011 machine you can (I've seen them under $200) and then add either an E5-2650/60/70 for $50-$100 or an E5-1650 for $100... done :)
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Is the Xeon E5-2658 another possibility? I am wondering if there might be LGA 2011 desktop SFF computers available for cheap to use with one of those Xeon chips and Gigabyte AMD Radeon R7 240. That's theoretically possible, right? It looks like it might be important to steer clear of socket variants such as LGA 2011-v3.
 
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the_servicer said:
Is the Xeon E5-2658 another possibility? I am wondering if there might be LGA 2011 desktop SFF computers available for cheap to use with one of those Xeon chips and Gigabyte AMD Radeon R7 240. That's theoretically possible, right? It looks like it might be important to steer clear of socket variants such as LGA 2011-v3.
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I don't think I've ever seen an SFF E5-2xxx based machine on ebay. R7-240 will probably work fine with linux. I haven't looked up what chip is on it but it's fairly recent.
 
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Guarana [BAWLS] said:
Or you need to look harder:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-OptiPl...634118?hash=item43ff748106:g:Ou8AAOSwdGFYtI2M

110$ + Not Unreasonable Shipping for an i5 790 MT

So the total? Still the sub-150$ I quoted in the OP.

I'm sorry if your ability to use ebay is weak.
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Apparently your reading comprehension is weak, I said $110 shipped. Yes that is still within the amount that was posted in the op, does that change the fact that they have gone way up since then? No. I was getting mt's with i5 2400's and 8gb of ram for quite awhile, then this thread appeared. I'm all for hot deals for people, but ebay is another beast, I could fill this entire hot deals section with nothing but suggestions for ebay searches. To me the purpose of this section at the [H] was specific deals people come across. Not suggestions for searches on the used market.
 
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So after a lot of back and forth (seller was great). They ended up giving me partial refund of $35. So I got the computer for $115 shipped. Pretty good deal. Still trying to figure out how to use as my HTPC. But I'm happy.
 
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