The Processor Dual

[whs]

The Gateway and the HP Elite from TigerDirect look OK

 

[leehop71]

Most of those are in small or narrow boxes that are a dog if you want to work in them. The Lenovo with an A4 has a normal box, but I would stay away from an A4.

I will need to swap the HDD for my SSD. Never been inside a small one, not sure if the drive swap would be a problem?

 

[leehop71]

The Gateway and the HP Elite from TigerDirect look OK

You like those over all the others whs?

 

[whs]

The Gateway and the HP Elite from TigerDirect look OK

You like those over all the others whs?

Yes, and Gateway makes decent products. I own two from them - one from 2007. And at least they have a normal size box.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

AMD A4-6300B APU @ 3.70 GHz scores 1987 on Passmark CPU benchmark.

Intel Core i3-4150 @ 3.50GHz scores 4984

Intel Core i3-4130 @ 3.40GHz scores 4800

Higher is better.

The benchmark isn't the end all and be all, but it's a rough guideline to horsepower.

You don't need much horsepower for your job.

If those 5 machines are in the same ballpark for price and in your budget, I'd go with the highest benchmark, all other things being equal.

You also should consider shipping prices and sales tax.

Newegg rarely charges sales tax. Amazon does in many states.

Shipping can vary.

What do you think?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I amended the post ig, and added some from Tigerdirect

I've apparently gone blind.

I don't see the Tiger Direct links.

In what post number?

All I see is Amazon and Newegg.

edit: I see them and will reply

 

[leehop71]

AMD A4-6300B APU @ 3.70 GHz scores 1987 on Passmark CPU benchmark.

Intel Core i3-4150 @ 3.50GHz scores 4984

Intel Core i3-4130 @ 3.40GHz scores 4800

Higher is better.

The benchmark isn't the end all and be all, but it's a rough guideline to horsepower.

You don't need much horsepower for your job.

If those 5 machines are in the same ballpark for price and in your budget, I'd go with the highest benchmark, all other things being equal.

You also should consider shipping prices and sales tax.

Newegg rarely charges sales tax. Amazon does in many states.

Shipping can vary.

What do you think?

That's why I stayed at the 400 dollar mark to compensate for taxes and shipping.

The way I understand how taxes work, if the store selling the item has a store in your state then taxes will apply.

Also, wife has a preferred account at Dell and just set up one with Tiger Direct.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

see comments in bold.

Thin your list out to 2 or 3 and repost them only.

I'd pick a new Intel. Any of them is strong enough easily for your purposes.

Beyond that, it's a matter of:

Price

Return privileges if you have a problem out of the box within 30 days.

Tax and shipping

Choice of operating system if that matters to you.

Build quality and idiosyncrasies. I haven't been inside a Dell or Gateway in many years and know nothing about Lenovo stuff.

Standby, there are a few on Tigerdirect.

Lenovo ThinkCentre M78 Desktop PC - AMD Dual-Core A4-6300B 3.70GHz, 4GB DDR3 Memory, 500GB HDD, DVDRW, Windows 7/8 Pro 64-bit- 10BU0002US at TigerDirect.com

I'd reject for same reason I rejected another with this same processor unless it is way cheaper. I seriously doubt you need Win Professional. It's 350 plus tax and shipping; I don't know the details of Tiger Direct's customer service arm.

Gateway SX2885-UR10 Desktop PC - Intel Core i5-4440 3.10GHz, 4GB DDR3 Memory, 1TB HDD, DVDRW, Windows 8.1 64-bit - DT.GESAA.001 at TigerDirect.com

It's an i5-4440 at 3.10; quad core; Win 8.1; 430 less 50 rebate which you may or may not get; plus tax and shipping;

Passmark CPU benchmark 6483

Fine; but do you need this horsepower? Is it cheaper than the i3 models? I'm not looking at price as I type this.


Dell Inspiron 3000 Desktop PC - Intel Core i3-4150 3.50GHz, 4GB DDR3 Memory, 1TB HDD, DVDRW, Windows 8.1 64-bit - I3647-2309BK at TigerDirect.com

another i3-4150; Windows 8.1 which you may or may not find amusing; 400 no rebate;



HP Elite 8200 Desktop PC - Intel Core i5-2400 3.10GHz, 4GB DDR3 Memory, 500GB HDD, DVD, Windows 7 Professional 64-bit (Off-Lease) - RB-HPDT00310240 at TigerDirect.com

i-5 2400 used off lease; very strong machine from a few years back; plenty strong enough for anything you'd do, but I'd personally avoid only because it is used with unknown number of hours on it.

Passmark CPU benchmark 5815

 

[leehop71]

Inspiron Small Desktop | Dell


Gateway SX2885-UR10 Desktop PC - Intel Core i5-4440 3.10GHz, 4GB DDR3 Memory, 1TB HDD, DVDRW, Windows 8.1 64-bit - DT.GESAA.001


Amazon.com : Lenovo ThinkCentre M78 10BR000AUS Tower Desktop (3.70 GHz AMD APU A4-6300B Processor, 4GB DDR3, 500GB HDD, Windows 7 Professional) : Computers & Accessories

My final 3. Because of my wife's preferred account at Dell, I'd jump on that right away, but I'm concerned about the size when I swap hard drives.

 

[whs]

I would favor the Gateway.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

see comments in bold

Inspiron Small Desktop | Dell

380 no rebate; you'll probably pay sales tax and shipping; it's got a 1 TB hard drive. Win 8.1 64 bit.


Gateway SX2885-UR10 Desktop PC - Intel Core i5-4440 3.10GHz, 4GB DDR3 Memory, 1TB HDD, DVDRW, Windows 8.1 64-bit - DT.GESAA.001

also a 1 TB hard drive and Win 8.1 64 bit; stronger processor than the Dell, but not a factor worth mentioning for your intended uses.

430 plus tax and shipping, less 50 rebate if you get it.

Amazon.com : Lenovo ThinkCentre M78 10BR000AUS Tower Desktop (3.70 GHz AMD APU A4-6300B Processor, 4GB DDR3, 500GB HDD, Windows 7 Professional) : Computers & Accessories

378 free shipping. Does Amazon charge sales tax in your state? They do in mine. Win 7 Professional.

Smaller hard drive than the other 2. I'd reject due to processor alone.




I don't understand your hard drive size concern. Both Dell and Gateway have 1 TB hard drives. The Lenovo has a 500 GB drive. If you are concerned about the Dell 1 TB drive, why aren't you concerned about the Gateway 1 TB drive?

Refresh my memory: when this thing lands on your doorstep, you are going to remove the hard drive? And then do what with that hard drive? It contains a Windows license that is worth something. Are you going to just throw that license away? The only place it can be used is on the new PC that lands on your doorstep. Maybe you are going to clone or image this new hard drive OS to an SSD? I've forgotten the details.


Personally, I'd probably go with the Dell at 380 as I am leery of not actually getting the rebate. If you want to take that risk and eventually get the rebate, the Dell and the Gateway are probably very close in price--in which case go with the Gateway due to the stronger processor--even though you won't make much use of the added power.

 

[leehop71]

see comments in bold

Inspiron Small Desktop | Dell

380 no rebate; you'll probably pay sales tax and shipping; it's got a 1 TB hard drive. Win 8.1 64 bit.


Gateway SX2885-UR10 Desktop PC - Intel Core i5-4440 3.10GHz, 4GB DDR3 Memory, 1TB HDD, DVDRW, Windows 8.1 64-bit - DT.GESAA.001

also a 1 TB hard drive and Win 8.1 64 bit; stronger processor than the Dell, but not a factor worth mentioning for your intended uses.

430 plus tax and shipping, less 50 rebate if you get it.

Amazon.com : Lenovo ThinkCentre M78 10BR000AUS Tower Desktop (3.70 GHz AMD APU A4-6300B Processor, 4GB DDR3, 500GB HDD, Windows 7 Professional) : Computers & Accessories

378 free shipping. Does Amazon charge sales tax in your state? They do in mine. Win 7 Professional.

Smaller hard drive than the other 2. I'd reject due to processor alone.




I don't understand your hard drive size concern. Both Dell and Gateway have 1 TB hard drives. The Lenovo has a 500 GB drive. If you are concerned about the Dell 1 TB drive, why aren't you concerned about the Gateway 1 TB drive?

Refresh my memory: when this thing lands on your doorstep, you are going to remove the hard drive? And then do what with that hard drive? It contains a Windows license that is worth something. Are you going to just throw that license away? The only place it can be used is on the new PC that lands on your doorstep. Maybe you are going to clone or image this new hard drive OS to an SSD? I've forgotten the details.


Personally, I'd probably go with the Dell at 380 as I am leery of not actually getting the rebate. If you want to take that risk and eventually get the rebate, the Dell and the Gateway are probably very close in price--in which case go with the Gateway due to the stronger processor--even though you won't make much use of the added power.

I am going to take the SSD out of my HP. Take the HDD out of the new one and put the SSD into the new computer.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I am going to take the SSD out of my HP. Take the HDD out of the new one and put the SSD into the new computer.

And then use imaging to transfer the installation from the new PC's hard drive to the SSD?

And then use the new PC's hard drive for some other purpose?

That will work.

But you may have problems if you try to clone the new hard drive's installation to the SSD because the SSD is much smaller than the new PC's hard drive. 1 TB versus 120 GB, if I recall correctly.

 

[leehop71]

I am going to take the SSD out of my HP. Take the HDD out of the new one and put the SSD into the new computer.

And then use imaging to transfer the installation from the new PC's hard drive to the SSD?

And then use the new PC's hard drive for some other purpose?

That will work.

But you may have problems if you try to clone the new hard drive's installation to the SSD because the SSD is much smaller than the new PC's hard drive. 1 TB versus 120 GB, if I recall correctly.

I can't just put the SSD into the new PC and boot it up?

 

[whs]

No way - life is not that easy.

 

[leehop71]

No way - life is not that easy.

Ouch. I will have to do an install of all my programs from the SSD to the HDD, and then clone the HDD to the SSD, then do the swap?

 

[leehop71]

The only other option would be to put an I-3 processor into my HP, but that probably won't work either?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I can't just put the SSD into the new PC and boot it up?

No, you can't put the i-3 into the HP. Different hardware completely. Round peg into square hole.

No. You're buying machine X.

You can't expect to install a hard drive installation from machine Y into machine X and expect to live happily ever after.

2 issues:

1: the hardware is significantly different.

2: the Windows license on the SSD came from somewhere. I don't know where that somewhere is, but it surely isn't from machine X that you don't even own yet. The installation on the SSD is tied to whatever machine it was in when you installed Windows to the SSD--unless it's a retail license, whcih is doubtful.

You could download a legit Windows ISO, burn it to a disk, and install to the SSD after you move it to the new PC, wiping out whatever is now on the SSD. Then activate with the Product Key that will be on a sticker on your new PC.

or

Use imaging to transfer the Windows installation on the new PC's hard drive to the SSD.

But you can't simply install the SSD into the new PC and start up. It may run temporarily, but would fail activation at some point because of the new hardware----which Microsoft will become aware of.

 

[whs]

Nah, that won't work either. And if you change the mobo, you lose the OS. You have to image both systems and restore on the new disks. I would not recommend to try cloning.

 

[leehop71]

So the only way cloning will work is like I did the SSD in my HP. Clone the existing HDD onto the SSD, then replace?