Looking for a low budget computer for parents

May 25, 2018
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I'm looking for a desktop to replace my parents 12 year old machine.
They mostly use it for streaming videos/movies, surfing the web and microsoft excel.
They've asked for the cheapest replacement, which led me into searching for a refurbished OEM.

I have found 3 but unsure which to purchase:
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Dell-Optiplex-790-DT-i5-2400-3-1GHz-4GB-250GB-HDD-Win-10-Free-Shipping/263494193800?hash=item3d597a5288:g:ZOkAAOSwAnJZ5NY0#viTabs_0

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/HP-Elite-8200-SFF-i5-2400-3-1GHz-8GB-250GB-Windows-10-Free-Shipping/263496938357?_trkparms=aid%3D444000%26algo%3DSOI.DEFAULT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D40972%26meid%3D46641afde4e94b5a897c29b17accfc9f%26pid%3D100752%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D263494193800%26itm%3D263496938357&_trksid=p2047675.c100752.m1982

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Dell-OptiPlex-7020-SFF-i5-4590-8GB-500GB-Windows-10-1yr-Wty-Free-Shipping/263496935822?_trkparms=aid%3D444000%26algo%3DSOI.DEFAULT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D40972%26meid%3D46641afde4e94b5a897c29b17accfc9f%26pid%3D100752%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D263494193800%26itm%3D263496935822&_trksid=p2047675.c100752.m1982

Are these PC's still worth getting seeing as the elite 8200 and optiplex 790 are 7-8 years old?
Is it worth getting the 7020 for the newer i5 processor?

More information:
No upgrades will be made except adding an SSD
Located in Canada
Must be able to stream video smoothly

Thank you!
 
Solution
Hi. that sounds like the kind of thing an AMD APU build is for. Light games. Youtube. Not much else.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/AMD-A4-5300B-3-4-GHZ-DUAL-CORE-Processor-AD530BOKA23HJ-SOCKET-FM2/232777325118?epid=625041049&hash=item36329c1a3e:g:2S8AAOSwqfZabKQu

https://www.ebay.com/itm/CPU-Cooler-Cooling-Fan-amp-Heatsink-For-AMD-Socket-AM2-AM3-1A02C3W00-up-to-95W/253056320284?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D50544%26meid%3D8c20d053e1d240e5ac7ef7daf15da44a%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D183235523360%26itm%3D253056320284&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851...
What is your budget?

There is http://www.tigerdirect.ca that also sells refurbs in dell, hp and lenovo models.
There are more province specific computer chains, do you mind telling us your the province oyu live in ?
The computers you listed where under 200 Canadian, which isn't going to get you very far to be honest.
As for streaming videos you need at least a GT 710 in any of those computers you get for them. (they do exist in slim for SFF cases)



 
May 25, 2018
3
0
10

My budget is around 300 and I live in BC. I'm reluctant to spend much more cause once I hit the 400 range I could easily build a rig or pass down my current desktop.
I should of clarified, by video streaming I'm referring to youtube and other similar sites. The computer would just need to serve basic functions. No gaming, video editing, etc. would be performed
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


The above from BestBuy is exactly at your price point, and includes the Win10 OS. Which, if you build one yourself, is a significant percentage of that $300-$400 budget.
 

Bluesh1ft

Commendable
Feb 4, 2017
165
0
1,760
Solution

Bluesh1ft

Commendable
Feb 4, 2017
165
0
1,760


That one is sold out my dude. I don't blame them though. For the specs in that thing they were like giving it away
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


A 6 year old CPU, that was poorly performing when it was new? Why would you do this?
So you're into that for $200+.
$300 gets you a valid OS, 8x the drive space, 3x RAM, a CPU several generations newer, an actual warranty...

For a parental PC, don't buy a grey market OS from kinguin.
(or for any PC)


There is such a thing as going 'too cheap'
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


OK...that one, yes.
And filtering at BestBuy.ca leads to a few dozen at or under $300.
ex. - i3-4130, 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD, etc, etc...

or
i5-3470, 8GB RAM, 500GB HDD, OS, 5 year warranty...
 

Bluesh1ft

Commendable
Feb 4, 2017
165
0
1,760


It's for youtube and web browsing. Not gaming. Office work etc. You know? You don't need anything that great as shown by him having Optiplex desktops in the top. (two out of the three of those having a 250gb hard drive in it). As for the kinguin product key. I bought one. And have had it for over a year and I haven't had any problems. And like I said before. That computer is sold out online. You can't buy it anymore. I wonder why? lol. + since my build is so inexpensive of course he could tweak it to his liking. A better apu or more ram or whatever. You know? Still be within the money limit by quite a bit.
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


And the number of people who have shown up here after their cheapo OS from kinguin magically unactivates itself...
But that's a discussion for a different thread.

That PC I linked originally was but one example. BestBuy has dozens more at that level.
 

Bluesh1ft

Commendable
Feb 4, 2017
165
0
1,760


I mean. even if you +80 for buying windows the right way it still costs less money. + specs of a web browsing and youtube machine aren't so important passed a certain point anyway. There's a bit of a diminishing return on having super high specs for generally office use. Kinda neat. But yea. All of the computers listed above are good options and will do what the OP requires.
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


None of what I listed had "super high specs". They were all basic office level systems.
$300 and under. Including the OS and a 5 yr warranty.