Uses of old computer, price checks

[darksparkz]

I have this old computer, well its not that old, about 2-3 years at most. It's still really new, but I'm going to upgrade to a better one. I'm not sure what to do with it, I'll most likely sell it for more money on the upgrade for new computer, anyone knows of a good place to sell it on? Ebay is useful, but you'll need high reviews from other people and a long history for computers to be sold.

Specs on old computer:
HP a550e
AMD Anthlon 64 3400+
ASUS K8N8V-LA NVIDIA nForce3 150 Socket 754
Samsung 1GB DDR PC3200 (Two DIMM, not dual channel)
Maxtor 250GB 7200rpm
48x24x48x HD CD-Writer drive
XFX Nvidia GeForce AGP8x FX5200 256MB
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS

Still in perfect condition, everything stock other then video card.

Other:
41s 1M SuperPI

Anyone has a guess on how much I can get for this? I'm sorry if I posted in the wrong place, but this is "General Hardware", so I think asking for places to sell and price guesses should be appropriate.

[jnev_89]

i would say $400-500

[1cem4n]

I'd keep that since it is still pretty good. Use it as a Backup Computer.

-1cem4n

[batboy]

It's 2-3 years old and it has an A64? Thought the A64 has only been out for about 1-1/2 years? What are you planning on upgrading to? That's a pretty good system already. If you are a gamer, I'd upgrade the vid card and improve cooling a little, then overclock it higher. It'll be fine for a while longer.

[ATF 2GTalon]

Release date for that A64 was around March 2004. Thats newer than my rig in my sig :(

[1cem4n]

Why do you need to sell it then?

-1cem4n

[BrutalDrew]

Just use it as a folding rig :D

[millhouse]

Just use it as a folding rig :D

took the words right out of my mouth.

[CrystalMethod]

damn dude, that's better than any of my systems except for the video card. I'd keep it around as a second system or lan rig. Definately put it to use folding or crunching Seti. If you absolutely have to get rid of it to make funds for a new system, I'd say about $400 - $500 like, jnev_89 said would be around right.

[Captain Slug]

Old!?!?!
Aside from the video card that's newer than the "new" machine I've been using for 6 months.

[1cem4n]

Old!?!?!
Aside from the video card that's newer than the "new" machine I've been using for 6 months.

Same with me, except for the different graphics card yours might beat mine.

-1cem4n

[Silver]

Take what you want out of it, load FAH (Folding at Home) then just "set it and forget it". Really corny. :shrug:

[darksparkz]

Ohh, I never thought it was that new. I guess it would be a waste and lost to sell it. I'll consider canceling the upgrade.

If I do keep this one, it's kinda hard to overclock it well. It tops out at 1.550v, and it came stock at 1.550v, it comes stock at 2.2ghz and HTT and RAM at 200mhz. I can only move HTT to about 215mhz before it gets unstable. If I do keep this rig, I'll have to switch out the motherboard for the new DFI one, get a better AGP video card, heatsink and fans, new ram, cause this ram maxes out at about 210mhz, new PSU, cause the current one is 250W, and a new case to hold this stuff in. The best things about it is that I can idle at about 32-34C, and loads at a bit over 40C, that's with one stock heatsink fan and the stock exhaust fan.

It's either fix up my current computer a bit, or buy a whole new rig. Hard to decide, cause the 3200+ is still good, but it's AGP, the 7800s beat AGP by a lot. I'll try to to see which is going to be a better choice.

[ScottinIndy]

Put a nice video card in that computer and you may be pleasantly surprised at what that computer will do. I realize having a top notch video card isn't a priority for everyone, However having an fx5200 with that setup is really squandering a ton of potential.

[darksparkz]

After a bit of searching, I found a good build to just buy new parts for my current rig, is this going to be good?:

DFI LANPARTY UT nF3 250Gb Socket 754 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136147&ATT=Motherboards+AMD&CMP=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r) $107.50
eVGA GeForce 6800 GT AGP 8X 256MB (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=322693&affiliate=pricegrabber) $299.00
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145440&ATT=Memory+System+Memory&CMP=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r) $83.82
OCZ PowerStream 520 (http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=100117&AFFIL=pg&NR=1) $126.70
Thermaltake Tsunami VA3000SWA (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811133133&ATT=Cases+Computer+Cases&CMP=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r) $111.99
Thermatalke CL-P0071 Sonic Tower 4 in 1 Heatpipe Cooler (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=370496&affiliate=pricegrabber) $48.99
Delta 120x38mm FFB1212VHE (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/de12ff.html) $23.95

The RAM says it's dual channel, but I know the 754 motherboards don't support dual channel, would the RAM still work on non-dual channel motherboards?

Edit: Getting the new case is needed, right now it's a stock Micro-ATX HP case, pretty small.

Total: ~$810

[Vertical_Zer0]

That's a really nice rig, except it's not quite a gaming-grade video card. I would keep it.

[darkknight187]

its definately worth keeping but with the amount of things you want to change on it and the budget you seem to be working with i would say you're better off selling the old one then adding that money to the budget you've already planned, you'll still get a comparably better system but if you go 939, pci-e, you'll get the option for venice which clocks well, you'll also get the use of dual channel, performance boost, and of course with the correct board you'll have the later chance to go with an sli setup.

in short depending on what you can get for it, and your budget you may just be better off doing a complete 939 upgrade over replacing things in your old hp

[batboy]

Yes, dual channel RAM kit will work just fine in single channel mode. But, I doubt you really need new RAM. With the A64, just use the right memory ratio.

[darksparkz]

Hmm, yeah as I read somewhere on the forums, the overclockers rule is: "When it's not broken, don't fix it". If I were to buy the whole new rig, with 3700+ and two 7800GTXs, it'll come out to about $2500. But If i only upgraded my HP and brought new parts for it, it'll be about $1100.

I'm a bit far away from $2500, but if I get to sell this HP I'd get enough. The biggest problem is selling it, not many people would want to buy an used computer, and for Ebay, I don't have a long record on Ebay, so not much of a "selling history", and you need high reviews to be able to sell stuff well. If I can't sell it, then I'll just buy parts for it. If anyone knows of a good website to sell used computers or if you know someone that would be willing to negotiate over it, PM or email me :rolleyes:

[Silver]

Ya got it, spend it. I however might think about cutting that in half to about $550 on the upgrade and do some searching, chatting, learning, whatever here. I think you may find you can have a very exciting time, while learning and oc'ing. Not to mention those you will get to know and a very, very acceptable machine. Hold the big bucks for a total upgrade later on. Did someone mention a gt for that setup, surely not me. :p

[darksparkz]

Yeah I think getting a few upgrades for my current rig would work better, wait a few more years for the SLI to be more well-known and for 7800Ultras and Longhorn to come out mass-marketed.

Updated with cheaper parts in post #19, couldn't really think of much other things to change for an even cheaper price.

[orionlion82]

Hmm, yeah as I read somewhere on the forums, the overclockers rule is: "When it's not broken, don't fix it". If I were to buy the whole new rig, with 3700+ and two 7800GTXs, it'll come out to about $2500. But If i only upgraded my HP and brought new parts for it, it'll be about $1100.

I'm a bit far away from $2500, but if I get to sell this HP I'd get enough. The biggest problem is selling it, not many people would want to buy an used computer, and for Ebay, I don't have a long record on Ebay, so not much of a "selling history", and you need high reviews to be able to sell stuff well. If I can't sell it, then I'll just buy parts for it. If anyone knows of a good website to sell used computers or if you know someone that would be willing to negotiate over it, PM or email me :rolleyes:

i would reccomend NOT trading outside the classifieds.
Why?
http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=393661

[Silver]

dfi refurb from newegg
6800 gt check classifieds and do some looking around. You can beat that price
fortron psu. Where was it for $73? Check classifieds if your heart is set on the ocz
You can definately do better on the case.
Might not do a lot better on the heatsink but I am getting 2.65 on a 3000+ 754 folding 24/7 for the last 5 months. The 2800+ does even better (newer). Both are on xp-90s with 53cfm fans and the xps were 24 plus shipping new and the fan 5 and a half.

I would definately get a new case and most likely a couple of case fans to go with it. I would not exceed 28 db on the case fans and 42 db on the cpu fan. Db levels above these may become quite annoying. Shop around some. I'm presently trying to put together a 3.4 to 3.6 Celeron D with ( a somewhat delusional) goal of doing qmds in under or at 24 hours. There are some pretty sharp shoppers around this site and if you will use the people here they will most likely help you to select very good price/performance parts. You are of course welcome to go out on your own however if you are not sure then why not ask. Many will help. BTW, my newegg DFI refurb ($64) mobo is every bit as good as my brand new newegg DFI board. Did not come with the drivers but that is easy to do on the internet. Take Care and welcome to "the passion"?

After a bit of searching, I found a good build to just buy new parts for my current rig, is this going to be good?:

DFI LANPARTY UT NF3 250Gb nForce3 Skt754 (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=246478) $109.95
eVGA GeForce 6800GT 256MB (http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=EV-6800GT&c=PG&pid=e3446081aa724008e2b239f3f1d8c9d0b8597e6e282849 4a1403ee7ac8cf7315) $308.21
Corsair VS1GBKIT400 1GB Kit DDR400 PC3200 CAS2.5 Value Select (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80098-21&affiliate=pricegrabber) $82.90
OCZ POWERSTREAM 520W (https://www.atacom.com/program/print_html_new.cgi?cart_id=4931945_69_219_161_61&Item_code=POWS_OCZT_O5_20&USER_ID=www) $124.95
Thermaltake Dream Tower Series -Tsunami VA3000SWA (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811133133) $111.99
Thermatalke CL-P0071 Sonic Tower 4 in 1 Heatpipe Cooler (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=370496&affiliate=pricegrabber) $48.99
Delta 120x38mm FFB1212VHE (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/de12ff.html) $23.95

The RAM says it's dual channel, but I know the 754 motherboards don't support dual channel, would the RAM still work on non-dual channel motherboards?

Edit: Getting the new case is needed, right now it's a stock Micro-ATX HP case, pretty small.

Total: ~$810