Small pc- $99.99

[mindless1]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
I wouldn't mind changing out the mobo for a microATX Pentium M board: under clock it and don't use a fan :thumbsup:

There may be a couple of primary problems with that plan.

1) Anemic PSU that's optimized for 5V current, probably supports somewhere in the neighborhood of 4A on 12V rail.

2) Limited chassis airflow, it's probably ducted so that only that particular m'board with it's specific CPU socket placement can be passively cooled. Larger heatsink means duct won't fit, different socket placement means no flow around it. If OEMs made proprietary difficult-to-work-with gear, this is IT.

Your best bet for this box is to see if the bus can be underclocked to 66MHz, THEN see if the CPU is stable with lowest airflow, and with the clocks slower the whole thing uses less power. Put a GbE card in it if possible, even if the side panel needs a 5" long slit cut out of it for the card.

I've worked on many old downsized compaq boxes. They tended to run hot, be shorter lived than average. If these had been retired and running every day I wouldn't be surprised if half the caps on the board are already blown out... but giving SC the benefit of the doubt, I only caution that for best results the heat level should be decreased, rather than increased, as well as the power usage.

 

[Ready]

Haha, this is the same store that sold those Barbie PCs people here went gaga for a few years ago

 

[mikeford]

For a 24/7 server I really want something seriously lower in power, its more than $100 a year in power most places.

OTOH I never see any kind of deal on the real low power stuff like VIA Epia.

 

[fire400]

CPU

http://www.surpluscomputers.com/store/main.aspx?p=ItemDetail&item=CPM10006

it's 450 MHz and not even 500 MHz

the cache isn't 512, it's 256!

the 500 MHz chip can be found for much less. their processors are a rip off, who's going to buy a P4 Northwood for $180 bucks!?

 

[SearchMaster]

Originally posted by: uwannawhat
They also have this little box for $33 + shipping

Heh - I installed about a dozen of those exact computers in my kids' preschool. My company donated them. Fine for kids games and general office tasks.

 

[dxpaap]

I'm I missing soming? under New CPUs @ suplus, they are selling a Celeron 2.4Ghz for $88 but the 2Ghz for $119 (pay $30 more for a slower cpu). Must be based on inventory on-hand.

Anyway, my real post:

Anyone know of a good deal on a very small footprint PC + low power usage (to be used mainly for internet and email - low processing requirement. Want to hide everything but the flat screen & kb/mouse

thanks in advance

dave

 

[JesseKnows]

Einstein Element said

it comes with 98 SE

but the OP link shows no OS. Unless someone has direct info from Surplus Computers, I would expect the OS is not included. It was most likely deployed with an OEM license to the original user, and when it was surplused, the license is not transferable.

No statement about mouse/keyboard/speakers either. If they do not say "included", expect not included.

 

[mindless1]

Originally posted by: JesseKnows
Einstein Element said

it comes with 98 SE

but the OP link shows no OS. Unless someone has direct info from Surplus Computers, I would expect the OS is not included. It was most likely deployed with an OEM license to the original user, and when it was surplused, the license is not transferable.

No statement about mouse/keyboard/speakers either. If they do not say "included", expect not included.

Is it legal to make that a non-transferrible license?
In some cases MS would like it but others say no.
Generally speaking, I'd expect it has the "license" as the COA+key sticker on the side or rear of the unit- unless someone deliberately removed it.

I'm not sure why anyone would want to run Win98SE though, but I suppose if it were only an internet kiosk or for really old games, that might suffice.

 

[mindless1]

Originally posted by: mikeford
For a 24/7 server I really want something seriously lower in power, its more than $100 a year in power most places.

OTOH I never see any kind of deal on the real low power stuff like VIA Epia.

Unplug things you're not using like optical drive or floppy then. Running an ACPI capable OS on a box that's mostly idle, there is not much difference in power consumption between a Coppermine Celeron and a Via Epia, especially if the Celeron is underclocked to 66MHz FSB. I used to run a Celeron 600 with only a passive 'sink and no special ductwork though the vcore was reduced to 1.45V from default (1.6V?). No idea if this box allows voltage adjustments or manual FSB changes but the odds are quite high that it does respond normally to pin mods, like isolating the BSEL(n) pin to put it in 66MHz FSB mode and similar pin isolation and/or wire wrap for lower vcore.

 

[TimeKeeper]

If you want a serial port SFF, there is HP e-vectra.
You should get one at fleabay for less than $100.

 

[daddyphatsax]

I used to use one of these as a htpc. Processor and memory can be upgraded and then it's a quiet little workhorse. If it has 6 usb's then it doesn't have ps2, serial, or parallel ports. And they're cheaper on ebay.

 

[kamranziadar]

Too expensive.

 

[gamepad]

can it play F.E.A.R.?

 

[fire400]

Originally posted by: gamepad
can it play F.E.A.R.?

>>>>LOL.... YOU WISH!

Originally posted by: dxpaap
I'm I missing soming? under New CPUs @ suplus, they are selling a Celeron 2.4Ghz for $88 but the 2Ghz for $119 (pay $30 more for a slower cpu). Must be based on inventory on-hand.

Anyway, my real post:

Anyone know of a good deal on a very small footprint PC + low power usage (to be used mainly for internet and email - low processing requirement. Want to hide everything but the flat screen & kb/mouse

thanks in advance

dave

That's a 2.4 GHz Celeron, ofcourse a P4 2.0 GHz would cost more than a Celeron. More cache, better architecture and more fluid processing than any Celeron. Celeron D's are the same as a Northwood P4, however.

 

[superflysocal]

how will the $33 or $99 systems work for MAME arcade games?
will the built in graphics card be adequate?

 

[Xyo II]

Originally posted by: JesseKnows
Einstein Element said

it comes with 98 SE

but the OP link shows no OS. Unless someone has direct info from Surplus Computers, I would expect the OS is not included. It was most likely deployed with an OEM license to the original user, and when it was surplused, the license is not transferable.

No statement about mouse/keyboard/speakers either. If they do not say "included", expect not included.

I read on several websites that these came with either 98 se or 2000 installed, surpluscomputers doesn't have any info on that, but I assumed that they forgot that bit sorry -and I highly doubt it comes with any peripherals.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: uwannawhat
They also have this little box for $33 + shipping

that would probably be a better bet for a low power mp3 server. iirc, you can fit 3 hard drives in the chassis with a little creative zip tie work.

 

[bman46]

not a bad deal, imagine what this was worth brand new when it was first released.

 

[foolish501]

check out ebay for these, i've bought a few of these, most expensive one cost me $30 ($45 inc shipping), cheapest cost me $15.

they are silent, you don't hear anything when it switches on, i don't believe there are any fans in it.

You cannot get to the motherboard without chopping the case up, the memory slots has a dedicated cutout to put the memory in. CPU can be upgraded to 1.1ghz, but i wouldn't suggest it because of the heat.

 

[Samus]

ive had horrible experience with surplus

 

[MX2]

Originally posted by: Samus
ive had horrible experience with surplus

Could you elaborate please? That doesnt explain much