[sclug] Dell desktop for 175GBP inc. delivered - offer closes 2/11/2005

[John Stumbles]

Alex Butcher wrote:
> 2.53GHz Celeron D 325 (256KB cache, 533MHz FSB)
> 512MB memory (free upgrade from 256MB until 23/11/2005)
> 80G HDD
> 48x CD-Rom drive (DVD is 15GBP+VAT extra)
> USB mouse + keyboard

Thanks Alex. I've been thinking of getting a new PC: the current one 
takes 10s of secs to open up apps or windows, refresh views in konq etc. 
and I'm thinking maybe a PIII/600+256M isn't quite up to running Azureus 
(Java), Ffox, Tbird, OOo, konq etc under kde, let alone with >1 users 
running GUIs on it :-)

The other machine I was looking at is Ebuyer's Quickfind code: 89079 (as 
mentioned previously on the SCLUG list)
     * Processor: Intel Celeron D 315 (2.26, 533, 256MB)
     * Memory: 256MB DDR expandable to 2GB.
     * Disk: 40GB 7200Rpm
     * 52 X CD-Rom
     * Modem/LAN 10/100
     * ASROCK Intel 845GV chipset with built-in 64 MB Intel Extreme graphics
...
     * PS/2 Keyboard and Mouse
     * Stereo Speakers
     * Mandrake Ver 9.2
     * Open office included
     * Warranty: 1 year Return to Base

("Software Included: AntiVirus Software" ... ahhh, bless!)

As above it's ?155.05 inc VAT, or with an extra 256M (their own brand) 
and delivery it's about ?180 (more or less, depending on delivery 
option) so a bit dearer than the Dell.

BUT.... I think I need more RAM. `top` shows:
Mem:    256792k total,   254736k used,     2056k free,      944k buffers
Swap:   979956k total,   314992k used,   664964k free,    43416k cached
suggesting that even with 512M I'd still be swapping (and I haven't even 
got OOo open, let alone multiple users' GUIs running). The Dell deal is 
for 2 * 256M modules and I don't suppose you could simply slot in 
another 512M module, so prolly best to go for their 1G RAM option which 
puts the price up an extra 60 (ex VAT) to 209+VAT=245.

Ebuyer's machine bought as a bundle with an extra 512M (Quickfind code: 
34005) and then upping the qty on the RAM to 2 comes out at 222.54 all 
up, so definitely got the edge over Dell on the price there. (That gives 
1.25Gigs of RAM though I don't suppose one can use it all - still there 
would be a 256M left over which should be good for a few pints at the 
Back Office Beyond :-)

Has anyone got one of the Ebuyer machines and can comment on it? In 
particular how quiet (or otherwise) it is, and what the "built-in 64 MB 
Intel Extreme graphics" is like? (I don't want to play games on it, just 
want a solid and OSS-friendly machine). Any other pros & cons to 
consider, or other sources to look at?


-- 
John Stumbles