Arrow Direct, crazy cheap used computers!

[JDFan]

Just got my second PC from arrow direct, a Dell 3000.
Unlike the first one, this one was not in pristine condition.
It looked like it had been dropped. A top corner of the front plastic cover was cracked and the cd rom tray would not open.
Removed front cover and had a time getting the side cover off. Found the corner of the cd rom broken, probably why the tray wont open.
It looks like the case may be warped because I could not insert another cd rom in the space below the installed one. (Very tight, they usually slide in with very little resistance.)
Inside was pretty dusty, with a couple of big dust bunnies.
Vacuumed it out, removed and tossed the modem PCI card (does anyone really use dial up anymore?)
Currently have a good cd rom laying on top of the case and installing win XP.
It booted ok, and everything else appears to be working, so this is a keeper, but probably a de-caser.
The case must have been dropped during packing, because the box it came in wasn't damaged, and it was packed pretty good in the box.
But for 17 bucks including shipping (dell50 code), I cant complain too much.

What grade rating was it ?? Usually something with that kind of damage would be "C" rated which is kind of a scratch and dent rating but even that shouldn't have a bunch of dust bunnies etc. - Glad to hear it is at least working, did the XP COA come with the case or are you putting on a copy you had already ?

[DaOld Man]

What grade rating was it ?? Usually something with that kind of damage would be "C" rated which is kind of a scratch and dent rating but even that shouldn't have a bunch of dust bunnies etc. - Glad to hear it is at least working, did the XP COA come with the case or are you putting on a copy you had already ?

I think it was B, but cant swear to it, and I don't see it on the receipt.
It had a XP product key sticker on it, but when it booted it said it couldn't find the OS, so I installed a XP copy I have.
It's a little slow, I think I have another stick of ram I can add to it, will probably speed it up. (has 256 meg now).
Mame and NES seems to run fine on it.

[yotsuya]

I've got an inline connector that might work - also have both male and female connectors if you want to splice them in for use if it isn't the right size. If you want them send me an address by PM and I'll get them in the mail (figure they're just sitting in the junk drawer collecting dust so are yours if you want them.)

I got some stuff like that too, bro. Thanks! We'll get this working! 

During a quick trip to Fry's Electronics, I found the "replacement power plug tip" section. A quick bit of Googling, and I found the size I needed. Brought it home, snipped off the old one, soldered on the new, and it's up and booting. No OS, so I'm putting on W7 (it has a Vista sticker on it).

Thanks for the help, JDF.

[JDFan]

I've got an inline connector that might work - also have both male and female connectors if you want to splice them in for use if it isn't the right size. If you want them send me an address by PM and I'll get them in the mail (figure they're just sitting in the junk drawer collecting dust so are yours if you want them.)

I got some stuff like that too, bro. Thanks! We'll get this working! 

During a quick trip to Fry's Electronics, I found the "replacement power plug tip" section. A quick bit of Googling, and I found the size I needed. Brought it home, snipped off the old one, soldered on the new, and it's up and booting. No OS, so I'm putting on W7 (it has a Vista sticker on it).

Thanks for the help, JDF.

Glad to hear it's up and running (figured since the adapter was the right Amperage and Voltage it should work fine once it was connected - Lucky you with the Fryes nearby (used to live in Los Angeles so miss it - only thing here is Best Buy or Tiger Direct so most things are ordered online !!)

[knave]

I am going to have to cut myself off...Friends and family are in need of solid laptops. Just ordered Two more dell notebooks. A Latitude 6320 and a 5520. Both just over $200 after "dealnews" 50% off with 4 gigs and 2nd gen core "I" CPUs The 6320 has a solid state HD Which I am going to replace to use for myself.

[SNAAKE]

coupon code not valid? I gotta sign up to see the discount or..? 

[roknrol]

The codes tend to start and stop at random ... try WINTER20 for 20% off.

[knave]

There is a RetailMeNot25 code for 25% off of $200+ that was working but all the 50% off coupons are expired. I think US20 also works for 20% and floating around I thought I saw a $10 off any order coupon.

I'm sure the 50% sales will come again

[Locke141]

I wish I saw the 50% dell last week when it was still up

Now subscribing for a heads up.

[JDFan]

I wish I saw the 50% dell last week when it was still up

Now subscribing for a heads up.

Yeah the 50% (or even 60% off on black friday) sales were pretty good especially when combined with the free shipping (saving $12 per item) I picked up a 3Ghz core2duo machine with 4GB ram and a 250GB HDD for $58 that said it had no OS but came with a COA for Win7 Pro that activated the OS install just fine.

currently as mentioned the codes that are working seem to be 20% off the listed price (US20 or Winter20) or $10 off which is sometimes better for small purchases (10offany) for a larger purchase I believe (25off100) is still working for $25 off any order over $100 or as mentioned 25% off any order over $200 (retailmenot25).

Hopefully they will run another 50% off sale soon.

[yotsuya]

I wish I saw the 50% dell last week when it was still up

Now subscribing for a heads up.

Yeah the 50% (or even 60% off on black friday) sales were pretty good especially when combined with the free shipping (saving $12 per item) I picked up a 3Ghz core2duo machine with 4GB ram and a 250GB HDD for $58 that said it had no OS but came with a COA for Win7 Pro that activated the OS install just fine.

currently as mentioned the codes that are working seem to be 20% off the listed price (US20 or Winter20) or $10 off which is sometimes better for small purchases (10offany) for a larger purchase I believe (25off100) is still working for $25 off any order over $100 or as mentioned 25% off any order over $200 (retailmenot25).

Hopefully they will run another 50% off sale soon.

I nominate JDFan in charge of telling us when all the Arrow deals pop up. Any seconders? Thirders?

[Locke141]

I wish I saw the 50% dell last week when it was still up

Now subscribing for a heads up.

Yeah the 50% (or even 60% off on black friday) sales were pretty good especially when combined with the free shipping (saving $12 per item) I picked up a 3Ghz core2duo machine with 4GB ram and a 250GB HDD for $58 that said it had no OS but came with a COA for Win7 Pro that activated the OS install just fine.

currently as mentioned the codes that are working seem to be 20% off the listed price (US20 or Winter20) or $10 off which is sometimes better for small purchases (10offany) for a larger purchase I believe (25off100) is still working for $25 off any order over $100 or as mentioned 25% off any order over $200 (retailmenot25).

Hopefully they will run another 50% off sale soon.

I nominate JDFan in charge of telling us when all the Arrow deals pop up. Any seconders? Thirders?

Seconded

[JDFan]

I nominate JDFan in charge of telling us when all the Arrow deals pop up. Any seconders? Thirders?

LOL -- Only problem is the more I keep track of their website the more stuff I end up ordering !! 

Besides it seems it doesn't do much good to post about it - I bumped it a couple times when the sale started and Locke141 still missed it 

I've signed up to receive their E-mails so as things show Up I'll try to remember to post them here also. 

[DaOld Man]

I wish I saw the 50% dell last week when it was still up

Now subscribing for a heads up.

Yeah the 50% (or even 60% off on black friday) sales were pretty good especially when combined with the free shipping (saving $12 per item) I picked up a 3Ghz core2duo machine with 4GB ram and a 250GB HDD for $58 that said it had no OS but came with a COA for Win7 Pro that activated the OS install just fine.

currently as mentioned the codes that are working seem to be 20% off the listed price (US20 or Winter20) or $10 off which is sometimes better for small purchases (10offany) for a larger purchase I believe (25off100) is still working for $25 off any order over $100 or as mentioned 25% off any order over $200 (retailmenot25).

Hopefully they will run another 50% off sale soon.

I nominate JDFan in charge of telling us when all the Arrow deals pop up. Any seconders? Thirders?

Seconded

Thirded

[Locke141]

Besides it seems it doesn't do much good to post about it - I bumped it a couple times when the sale started and Locke141 still missed it 

That was before I subscribed for notifications from this thread. I'm on it now. 

I'm going to order using the 20% off code today.

[Locke141]

This is a  +1 for customer assistance bump.

Before placing my order, I emailed my brother to ask him if I could order it to his place and if he would hold it for me till I'm back in the US this summer. Being Dyslexic , I read his reply as "Buy it now. I'll set it up for you as a birthday gift. So I ordered it and sent him the confirmation email. He then emailed that he already ordered one for my birthday. His original email read "Buying it now.....". Because we pay for the internet by the GB in Tanzania, I thought having him setup Hyper spin with the EMU movies was the gift. That alone would have saved me a lot of time and money.

That was last Saturday. I was able to call them fist thing Monday at 8am EST to cancel my double order. They were supper nice and it took about 5min.

Bro just called to tell me it has arrived.

For $189 after tax an shipping I got an LENOVO THINKCENTRE M71E 3.10GHZ INTEL CORE I5 GEN2 SMALL FORM FACTOR 250GB 4096MB.

[Malenko]

just got an i3 with 2GB RAM, 250 GB HD and Win 7 Pro license for 175 shipped

[pbj]

just got an i3 with 2GB RAM, 250 GB HD and Win 7 Pro license for 175 shipped

You know the drill.  Gauntlet Legends FPS reports or STFU.

[BadMouth]

just got an i3 with 2GB RAM, 250 GB HD and Win 7 Pro license for 175 shipped

You're welcome.  Leave some for Sshado.

[Malenko]

You know the drill.  Gauntlet Legends FPS reports or STFU.

Its for work, I got the best balance of crummy and low cost for the guy in the shipping department. I might can try to run GL on it, but its got onboard video, so probably like ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---.

You're welcome.  Leave some for Sshado.

I dont know what that means.

[Generic Eric]

Is it safe to assume a board that runs an i5 has a pci-e slot suitable for installing a modern video  card?


The reason  I ask  is because I had an e machine with a Dell board  that had 2 ram slots that were never installed.

[JDFan]

Is it safe to assume a board that runs an i5 has a pci-e slot suitable for installing a modern video  card?


The reason  I ask  is because I had an e machine with a Dell board  that had 2 ram slots that were never installed.

Wouldn't assume it had one I've seen OEM MOBOs where the connector was not installed same as those with 2 rather than 4 Ram slots. - especially if it is an Ultra small form factor. What I usually do is take the model # and do a search on Ebay for that model MOBO to check (can usually find at least a few photos of the MOBO for these older systems to confirm if it does have one) If you can't find a MOBO pic then usually looking at reviews for that model will list whether it has a PCI-e slot or not - Between the 2 you can usually confirm if it does have one.

Though Nowadays almost all MOBOs have at least 1 PCI-e x16 slot and PCI-e x1 slots (since many are now coming without PCI slots as more add on cards are being designed for PCI-e x1 slots rather than PCI - so chances are it will have.)

[knave]

Is it safe to assume a board that runs an i5 has a pci-e slot suitable for installing a modern video  card?


The reason  I ask  is because I had an e machine with a Dell board  that had 2 ram slots that were never installed.

Only somewhat safe if its a tower or mid sized desktop.
Some of the small form factor can fit a low profile pcie card but I would assume no for the ultra small form factors.

[Locke141]

The small form factor Lenovo I just got has one pci x16 and two pci x1. You can usually look it up by model number, can't you?

[BadMouth]

You're welcome.  Leave some for Sshado.

I dont know what that means.

I recommended an i3 and posted a link to the ones at arrow in Sshado's build thread about an hour before your post saying that you just bought one.
I assumed my post prompted you to buy one, but I guess it was just coincidence.

[Generic Eric]

Small form factor lenore I just got has one pci x16 and two pci x1. You can usually look it up by model number, can't you?

I have,
but the manuals I have found tend to be for all 3 models and vague.  So I thought I'd ask.

[JDFan]

I have,
but the manuals I have found tend to be for all 3 models and vague.  So I thought I'd ask.

What MAker and model did you order and which format (USFF SFF or desktop) ?

[yotsuya]

Funny thing, I was walking around Fry's electronics yesterday, and I saw they had a Raspberry Pi Model B+ on the shelves, which I had never seen before, so I impulse-bought one.

[Generic Eric]

I have,
but the manuals I have found tend to be for all 3 models and vague.  So I thought I'd ask.

What MAker and model did you order and which format (USFF SFF or desktop) ?

Oh, I haven't bought from Arrow.  I was just replying to the suggestion that I didn't read the manual.  Anyway, I was looking at one of the dells.  the manual from dell was for all 3 pcs.  Its just as well, it cuts down on the impulse buys.  I've got to many cases that aren't booting as it is. 

[JDFan]

I have,
but the manuals I have found tend to be for all 3 models and vague.  So I thought I'd ask.

What MAker and model did you order and which format (USFF SFF or desktop) ?

Oh, I haven't bought from Arrow.  I was just replying to the suggestion that I didn't read the manual.  Anyway, I was looking at one of the dells.  the manual from dell was for all 3 pcs.  Its just as well, it cuts down on the impulse buys.  I've got to many cases that aren't booting as it is.

I usually look up an image of the MOBO in google and then verify it is the correct model For example the only current I3 I see that is DELL is the Optiplex 390 w 250GB HDD and 4096 RAM for $220 before discounts, Tax and Shipping

A quick Google search for images of the MOBO comes up with This pic :



 From This Ebay Listing (  http://www.ebay.com/itm/DELL-0GDG8Y-OptiPlex-390-MIH61R-Intel-H61-1155-Motherboard-Fast-Free-Shipping-/281442070659?_trksid=p2054897.l4275 ) which shows it as a Micro ATX MOBO with 2 Ram slots, 1 PCI-e x16 and 3 PCI-e x1 slots !

THen to confirm I looked up another Ebay listing for the Optiplex 390 which listed the following info

Product Identifiers
Brand   Dell
Model   Optiplex 390
MPN   bpctm5sn4

And searching that Manufacturer part number ( bpctm5sn4 ) brought up a shopping.com article ( http://www.shopping.com/xSBS-Dell-Dell-OptiPlex-360-MT-Desktop-Computer-DDR2-SDRAM-1-0GB-160GB-dell-dell-optiplex-390-sff-desktop-computer-intel-core-i3-2100-processor-3-1ghz-3m-bpctm5sn4~PRDLT-77630861-109820594?sb=1 ) which listed the Specs for the optiplex 390 they were selling as :

Motherboard    
Expansion Slots    PCI Express x16 x 1 • PCI x 2
Video Output Interface    PCI Express
Expansion Bays    2 x 3.5' (Internal Access) • 2 x 5.25' (External Access) • 1 x 3.5' (External Access)
Installed Cache Memory    512 KB
Chipset    Intel G31 Express

Which also stated 1 PCI-e x16 and 2 PCI-e x1 slots !

[Generic Eric]

Thanks.  That's real thorough.  Any quick tips checking max ram?  Other than searching upgrade?

[JDFan]

Thanks.  That's real thorough.  Any quick tips checking max ram?  Other than searching upgrade?

For the optiplex 390 specs list 8GB. but this Google search showed the question asked a Dell Support ( http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/desktop/f/3514/t/19505794 ) In which the person asking after being told he could test with 2x8GB. and to let them know if it works does respond :

Updating this thread to confirm that the Optiplex 390 does indeed support 16GB (2 x 8GB DIMMS) of memory.

The memory in question is G.Skill DDR3-1600 PC3-12800 8192MB x2 (F3-1600C11D-16GNT) set.

Cheers.

So seems at least some 8x2GB modules will work giving you 16GB !!

[Malenko]

I recommended an i3 and posted a link to the ones at arrow in Sshado's build thread about an hour before your post saying that you just bought one.
I assumed my post prompted you to buy one, but I guess it was just coincidence.

Coincidence, but hilariously enough, I bought the last i3 of the type I wanted. there were other more expensive i3s but I dont like the shipping guy that much

[wp34]

Is it just me or are the i3's scarce on that site?  Every time I look the inventory is slim-to-none.

[Locke141]

I was just replying to the suggestion that I didn't read the manual. 

Sorry, was not trying to imply you did not do something obvious. I posted to share that my small form factor PC has what you were looking for. The manual was an after thought.

For Mac's there is a cool program[/b] the gives the the manufacter listed max ram and the acteral max ram, in my experience the two rarely match. I had a mac that maxed out at an odd number of GB. I ended up running up and it worked fine. Tried looking for a similar program for Dells but with there huge number of models and less loyal user base, it looks like no one bothered.

If I was you and I had 4 4GB ram stick laying a round I'd give it a try. You may find that it will use something strange liken 17 GB  

[JDFan]

For anyone looking for a 19" 4:3 monitor they have a surplus of Dell Ultrasharp 1905FP's so are running a sale for $27 and free shipping using code "reddit" - Looks like they have at least 30 or more of them available. Good price for a 19" monitor with great viewing angles !

[BadMouth]

Is it just me or are the i3's scarce on that site?  Every time I look the inventory is slim-to-none.

There were a ton the other day, but the best values probably disappeared within two days of noticing them.
(no idea how long they were there before I noticed them)

I'm not watching the site regularly, but it seems to me that the stuff comes in waves.  It's off-lease stuff, so it's large batches of similar stuff at a time.  Might be P4's one time, i3's another.  The best bang for the buck disappears within a few days.

[JDFan]

^This -- Figure they get them off lease from companies so will get all of the systems that a company leased at one time. Figure the I3s -I5s are just now starting to reach the 3-5 year end of leases so will probably start showing up in larger numbers but seem to also disappear a bit faster than the more abundant core2s\P4s.

[JDFan]

Just tested and it seems the "Reddit" code is also working on systems and other monitors for 30% off and Free Shipping  - not just on the 1905FP !! (Not sure when it expires but figured I'd post it !)

[wp34]

I just received this email from ArrowDirect -

3 DAYS ONLY: Take an extra 45% off laptops and desktops featuring the powerful Core i5 processor. Use coupon code CORE45 at checkout to save! Browse Core i5 computers from Dell, Lenovo & HP.