Question I ordered a Dell Precision 3620 with an i7-7700K CPU. Should I be worried?

[hbenthow]

I ordered a refurbished Dell Precision 3620 with an i7-7700K CPU. This is where I ordered it:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B092FM88X8

It has already shipped and is supposed to arrive on Thursday. Tonight, I happened across two threads here that mention potential issues with this particular computer/CPU combination.

This thread is about the cooler for the CPU, which appears subpar (it apparently has no fan, although the internal picture on the Amazon page for the one I ordered show a fan, so I don't know whether they all come without a fan or only some do):

https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/dell-precision-3620-processor-cooling-method.3762069/

And this one is about an apparent issue which makes the SATA connections unreliable:

https://forums.tomshardware.com/thr...20-7700k-faulty-cougar-point-chipset.3762544/

I make heavy use of SATA connectors (I like to have my main C drive SSD, two 6TB storage hard drives, and a Blu-ray drive all installed in my case and hooked up via SATA).

Do I have reason to be concerned?

Also, I previously ordered a refurbished Dell Precision 3620 with an i7-7700 CPU (not an i7-7700K like this one) from a refurbisher/seller on Newegg, and it frequently froze. I returned it for a replacement, which also froze. I returned that one for a refund and ordered this one with the i7-7700K from Amazon. Does anyone know whether freezing problems are common with 3620s in general, or whether that particular refurbisher was likely the problem?

 

[kerberos_20]

This thread is about the cooler for the CPU, which appears subpar (it apparently has no fan, although the internal picture on the Amazon page for the one I ordered show a fan, so I don't know whether they all come without a fan or only some do):

amazon shows intel heatsink+fan which is weaker then that tower heatsink which does have fan inside in the middle

And this one is about an apparent issue which makes the SATA connections unreliable:

https://forums.tomshardware.com/thr...20-7700k-faulty-cougar-point-chipset.3762544/

if you scroll down a bit in that thread, sata issues are on cougar point chipset, while this mobo is skylake - no way related

 

[hbenthow]

amazon shows intel heatsink+fan which is weaker then that tower heatsink which does have fan inside in the middle

So that tower heatsink does have a fan after all. I thought it didn't.

I wonder if the Amazon picture could be just a generic image of the interior of a 3620, and the actual computer that I ordered might have the tower heatsink? I'll be able to find out once the computer arrives, of course.

if you scroll down a bit in that thread, sata issues are on cougar point chipset, while this mobo is skylake - no way related

Ah, I see. So apparently, it's a mistake and this particular combination doesn't have that particular issue.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

Do I have reason to be concerned?

I would never recommend a refurbished system or an OEM pre-built so that first order already has 2 strikes against it.

why do you seem to be a bit "obsessed" with this particular old model?
seems to be a pretty crappy build.
surely you can find something more modern with more power for a similar price range?

what are your plans for this system?

I wonder if the Amazon picture could be just a generic image of the interior of a 3620

contact the seller and find out for sure.

if they're unwilling/unable to provide an absolute answer then just request a refund+return because you do not want to be trying to deal with them through any more-complex issues.

 

[hbenthow]

why do you seem to be a bit "obsessed" with this particular old model?
seems to be a pretty crappy build.
surely you can find something more modern with more power for a similar price range?

It's the most powerful computer that I could find within my budget (under $400).

I'd welcome any suggestions for better ones within my budget.

what are your plans for this system?

General use (web viewing, watching videos, listening to music, using office programs, etc,) as well as HD video editing.

contact the seller and find out for sure.

EDIT: I've written them a message through Amazon. As per Amazon's rules they have two days to respond (although it will probably be faster).

 

[hbenthow]

The seller responded, saying that they are pretty certain it's the tower one, and that they didn't create the Amazon page (ie, the images are not from them).

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

seller responded, saying that they are pretty certain it's the tower one, and that they didn't create the Amazon page (ie, the images are not from them)

i'd probably cancel the order.

them being "pretty sure" is a good sign that they don't have much integrity.
and using some predefined ad not knowing if it even pertains to the actual item they're selling doesn't bode well either.

 

[hbenthow]

i'd probably cancel the order.

It already shipped the day before yesterday, so it's too late to cancel. I have 90 days to return it if I'm not satisfied (under the Amazon Renewed Guarantee). I plan to fully inspect it and give it a battery of tests (Memtest86, Prime95, Furmark, chkdsk, etc).

them being "pretty sure" is a good sign that they don't have much integrity.

"Pretty sure" was a paraphrase on my part. The actual words in the message were "quite certain".

and using some predefined ad not knowing if it even pertains to the actual item they're selling doesn't bode well either.

All of the specs on the Amazon page are accurate; it's only one of the photos that probably isn't. Amazon makes all sellers selling a computer with those precise specs sell it through that same page. It's standard practice for Amazon to do that in order to have one page per product, regardless of the number of sellers (it doesn't work like eBay, where there can be infinite pages for the same product from different sellers).

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

It's standard practice for Amazon to do that in order to have one page per product

everything i've sold through my Amazon Storefront, regardless of specs or manufacturer, has been a custom created listing so this must just be for lazy people who don't feel like going through the steps and verifying what they're listing even matches all info and images.

 

[hbenthow]

everything i've sold through my Amazon Storefront, regardless of specs or manufacturer, has been a custom created listing so this must just be for lazy people who don't feel like going through the steps and verifying what they're listing even matches all info and images.

Interesting. I didn't know that was possible on Amazon.

 

[hbenthow]

By the way, in regard to this comment:

why do you seem to be a bit "obsessed" with this particular old model?
seems to be a pretty crappy build.
surely you can find something more modern with more power for a similar price range?

Do you know of any more modern computers with more power that are within my budget (and have space in the case for multiple hard drives and a full-sized Blu-ray drive)?

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

Do you know of any more modern computers with more power that are within my budget (and have space in the case for multiple hard drives and a full-sized Blu-ray drive)?

it costs money to hire a personal shopper, me especially.

but there are many users here desperate for likes and approval that will create builds for you if you create a thread with budget and purpose in mind.