This system worth it?

Chris Pickering

Chris Pickering

Monkey Island Fanboy
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It's about time I moved on from my increasingly unreliable historic 1Ghz Athlon, so I'm on the lookout for a new PC.

Now, at work I've found an old discontinued model in the back, all boxed up and fresh. This PC in fact which I can pick up for just a smidge over £430 (though I may be able to knock that down to £385 if I play my cards right.

Being the video game journalist I am, obviously gaming is going to play a pretty huge part, so I'm wondering if you reckon this is a 'good deal' or not? The graphics card will need to be replaced right away of course, but it's more of a case of making sure I'm able to upgrade in the coming years, rather then need to replace the entire base unit itself yet again.

Anywho, any advice?
 
For £385 I'd say thats a bargain! The FX5500 isn't amazing, but with the money saved you should be able to get a new one easily enough. I can't access the tech-specs, but I presume it is AGP based so it should be easy to upgrade :)
 
Operating system Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
Processor AMD Athlon™ 64 processor 3400+
2.2GHz, 1600MHz (HT rate) bus speed, Level 2
cache 1024KB
SiS760 chipset
Memory 1GB DDR-SDRAM
2 DIMM sockets
Max. memory : 2GB
Storage 200GB Serial ATA hard drive (7200rpm)
incl. 5GB partition for system recovery
DVD drive 16x max.
DVD writer ±R/ ±RW 16x max double layer
9in1 memory card reader
Communication High speed 56K modem
10/100BT network interface
Wireless 802.11b/g with Software Access Point
Video NVIDIA® GeForce™ FX 5500
256MB video memory
TV and FM radio tuner card with remote control
Sound 6 channel surround sound ready
(Speakers provided with Monitors)
Accessories Wireless keyboard and mouse
Ports & Expandability 2 external optical drive bays, 2 internal HDD bays
1 AGP
3 PCI
7 USB 2.0 ports (3 in front)
2 FireWire-IEEE-1394 port (1 in front)
Front audio ports
Front video-in
TV out



That's the full set of specs I've managed to grab from someone. Still sound like a bargain? I just wish I was as clued up about all the hardware stuff as I was 2 or 3 years ago!

At the brance I work at, we actually have two of these for sale. I'd be grabbing the boxed one in the back (got to take advantage of working there somehow!) and there's one on display, which is mysteriously missing the A,F, and G keys on the keyboard!
 
Well, I'm convinced! I'll stick it on the credit card when I go to work tomorrow :)

I stuck a sold label and my name on it Tuesday, just in case, so if anyones gone and sold it there's gonna be trouble.

My latest in a nice line of bargains picked up because I work at Comet.
 
I know someone who worked at Currys and he used to pick up some real bargains there! Especially when things have just been surpassed by a new model!
 
Yeah, places like this are cracking places to pick up some nice bargains, and being staff, we always spot and nab them before the 'real' customers :D

Got a Philips home cinema kit for £80 just before Christmas, which a few weeks previously was going for £270. But best of all was the staff deal of half price Sky for an entire year! I'm still paying a mere £20.50 a month for the top Sky package.
 
Just out of curiosity, what graphics card are you replacing the FX550 with?

You've got yourself a good bargain there, oh to be in the trade! :)
 
That's a very good question, and I havnt the faintest idea! I suspect I'll be waiting til the 25th when my next wage pops into my bank account at the very least in any case.

Any advice? I'm on a bit of a budget, so nothing TOO meaty and expensive please :p
 
I use the ATi Radeon 9800 Pro, and I've found it to be great value for money. The most demanding game I play is Half Life 2 and it handles it fine, even on high settings :)
 
Given work a ring, and it seems that it'll actually cost me £431, since my staff discount doesnt work out the way I hoped :(

Still a good deal?
 
I think its a pretty good deal, considering its a wireless keyboard/mouse, Word/Money/Encarta/Autoroute, wi/fi and firewire - as those are all extras that really bring its value up.

I'd stick the old graphics card on ebay and go for an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro for around £90 for a good gaming budget card, or something a bit more if you are willing to spend it.
 
£431 for that !!!, BUY IT !! add a 9800pro from overclockers for about £90 and you've got a perfect gaming rig
 
Well, I'll be making the purchase tomorrow then :) Just as long as no-one completely disregarded the fact I've saved it for myself and sold it on.

Plus I'll get a 9800pro splashed out on the 25th!

Cant wait to play Darwinia at it's very best :)
 
Darwinia?
never heard of i.
but that computer is a good buy right now!
 
Guess who's posting from his brand new spanking PC :D

Not done much so far. Just set up the old internet connection, and downloaded Firefox. It's astonishing just how much quieter this system is!

And just to finish off the days good news, the company I get my broandband from Tiscali (I know, I know!) are doing 1Mb connections at half price for staff for a year :D
 
Well you had better get on the case and get it sorted then.....Cracking little buy that...:D When you got the money get yourself a 6600gt and you'll have a flying machine....
 
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