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Is this a decent computer?

M

msny

2[H]4U
Joined
Sep 5, 2001
Messages
2,197
So I'm looking for a real basic box for my older daughter.

Is this a decent system?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ..._re=DELL_Vostro_230_MT-_-83-155-017-_-Product

Uses will be surfing and light graphics.

I was thinking about getting 4 gigs of RAM and I have an old
geForce 8600GT as my olny changes. Not sure about the
internal grpahics card on this.

What your opinion, or suggestion?

Price must be under $500.

Been out of the building systems for a while, so be kind.
 
Not sure what you were expecting, but I'm pretty confident that 99% of the users on this website (including me) will urge you to build her a cheap computer yourself.

If you need some reasons:
1) Save $$$
2) Individual warranties on all parts
3) Ability to choose higher-quality parts (important with things like RAM)
4) Customize performance-price ratio to suit your budget with more hardware options
5) Better knowledge of how the computer is built since you put it together yourself
6) Room for upgradeability
7) No need to compromise performance with outdated parts like in the PC you linked (Pentium Dual Core was killed by Core 2 Duo which was then killed by Core i5 which will be killed by next-gen's Core i5 early next year, so the hardware in that Dell is easily 2 - 3 generations behind)

"Cons":
1) Takes a little time
2) You need to have a little initiative
3) No pretty "Dell" logo on front

If you need any help with building it (I assume you won't as you say you've built systems before), there are plenty of people on here and all over the web who will help you. While the PC hardware market has changed significantly since even the P4 era, it isn't that hard to get back into and the benefits of building your own are still the same.

Good luck!
 
My responses are intermixed....
russilker said:
Not sure what you were expecting, but I'm pretty confident that 99% of the users on this website (including me) will urge you to build her a cheap computer yourself.

If you need some reasons:
1) Save $$$

not at his price point.

2) Individual warranties on all parts

which is a pain in the ass when she calls him up and he's got to diagnose the issue then deal with a warranty circle-jerk.

3) Ability to choose higher-quality parts (important with things like RAM)

not at his price-point, and there's nothing wrong with Dell's RAM. He doesn't need UBER-LEET overclocking RAM for browsing the interwebs.

4) Customize performance-price ratio to suit your budget with more hardware options

not going to beat the price Dell or HP can at this low of a price point.

5) Better knowledge of how the computer is built since you put it together yourself

Dell, HP, etc use the exact same parts we would and put them together the exact say way.

6) Room for upgradeability

it's a low-budget machine... anything he builds is going to have the same problem.

7) No need to compromise performance with outdated parts like in the PC you linked (Pentium Dual Core was killed by Core 2 Duo which was then killed by Core i5 which will be killed by next-gen's Core i5 early next year, so the hardware in that Dell is easily 2 - 3 generations behind)

again, at his price point, he's going to be stuck with the same class of hardware.

"Cons":
1) Takes a little time
2) You need to have a little initiative
3) No pretty "Dell" logo on front

If you need any help with building it (I assume you won't as you say you've built systems before), there are plenty of people on here and all over the web who will help you. While the PC hardware market has changed significantly since even the P4 era, it isn't that hard to get back into and the benefits of building your own are still the same.

Good luck!
Click to expand...




Nothing wrong with that system for it's price and intended use. The only reason to build one would be just because you wanted to. But you're not going to beat the price unless you make some serious compromises.
 
I agree with the previous poster.
With either a higher price point or if it were a system that you were going to use yourself, I'd suggest building your own but since neither of those are true, a pre-built system is probably more beneficial.

The 4gb ram upgrade seems like a great idea but in case you missed it, be aware that there are only 2 dimm slots.
 
I dont recommend that for $410, and here's why.

If you go to Dell's small business site (anyone can buy from there, you don't need a business). Often times they'll sell Vostro's with a 19"-20" monitor included for the same price.

EDIT: Danny Bui wins. As usual. :p

Also, I'd consider a laptop instead of a desktop. I think a laptop would be far more useful. (taking to class for presentations)
 
This system is good for a home user that might do light gaming, but that's about it. It also might work as an HTPC.
 
russilker said:
Not sure what you were expecting, but I'm pretty confident that 99% of the users on this website (including me) will urge you to build her a cheap computer yourself.

If you need some reasons:
1) Save $$$
2) Individual warranties on all parts
3) Ability to choose higher-quality parts (important with things like RAM)
4) Customize performance-price ratio to suit your budget with more hardware options
5) Better knowledge of how the computer is built since you put it together yourself
6) Room for upgradeability
7) No need to compromise performance with outdated parts like in the PC you linked (Pentium Dual Core was killed by Core 2 Duo which was then killed by Core i5 which will be killed by next-gen's Core i5 early next year, so the hardware in that Dell is easily 2 - 3 generations behind)

"Cons":
1) Takes a little time
2) You need to have a little initiative
3) No pretty "Dell" logo on front

If you need any help with building it (I assume you won't as you say you've built systems before), there are plenty of people on here and all over the web who will help you. While the PC hardware market has changed significantly since even the P4 era, it isn't that hard to get back into and the benefits of building your own are still the same.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Nope..

As I said this is not for any high end system.

I've been building em' for many years, this isnt for that.
You cant buy the parts for less then this.

Newegg has lowered the price overnight to $369 down from $399
and $10 shipping to FREE.

So I pushed the button.
 
Danny Bui said:
Till tonight, that Dell you linked is not that great of a deal considering that Dell is offering that same PC but with a larger hard drive AND a 21.5" LCD monitor for only $20 more:
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...F&cid=7420&lid=197374&acd=10466193-268435-999

If you want to take advantage of this, buy it before 12AM PST. That's about 6 hours from now as of this post
Click to expand...

Too late, then again I have 3 monitors just laying around, so I'm good.

Price was slashed by Newegg overnight. See previous post, so this deal is even
better now.
 
ryan_975 said:
My responses are intermixed....





Nothing wrong with that system for it's price and intended use. The only reason to build one would be just because you wanted to. But you're not going to beat the price unless you make some serious compromises.
Click to expand...

Spot on, good advice, thanks!
 
computercatz said:
I too would urge you to consider a build
Click to expand...

For myself who would want a new high end system, yes, of course.
But for a low end box that needs just the minimum, its foolishness.

We have the it now, and will be setting it up. I got a further
discount of $80 more, on a business account. I have a similar box
at work, for programming, and it works fine.

I've got 4 gigs of ram now and will install the 8600GT.

I'll post again when its up and running.
 
Set this box up for my daughter yesterday. Nicely boxed
and protected with foam. Mouse is a cheapie, but is ok.
Keyboard is standard Dell model, and works ok. Box weighs
in at around 25lbs. We fit it nicely on a small tables
underneath ledge

Dell doesn't load any crapware along with Windows 7 on this box.
You just finish the setup process and accept the license.

Added the 8600GT, and got the latest nVidia drivers, big difference
in quality over just regular graphics over onboard video.

Took out the 2 gig memory, replaced with 4 gig of Kingston for Dell memory.
System is fast on boot up, no hesitation on anything.

So, if your looking for a small, simple, surfing box this one might
be a good choice, for a low end system.

Great for a mom, daughter and those that just want to get on the net
and do simple graphics at a low price.
 
Last edited:
decent system. i hope you put some antispyware on that thing right away. kids today love to download music and click on anything and everything lol.:D
 
txmale4969 said:
decent system. i hope you put some antispyware on that thing right away. kids today love to download music and click on anything and everything lol.:D
Click to expand...

Shes a grown up daughter, and knows all that.
Virus protection was the first thing I put on the box.
 
I checked the NewEgg link today and it says "out of stock", so this good deal
may be history.
 
if for the most part its just for basic facebook/hw, then its a good model, even some flash games.
 
it depends on whaht your doing with it I mean if your daughter isn't using it to game than it is a fine system. TBH it's pretty hard to build any system under $400 yourself once you realize that the os alone costs $100.
 
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