New Windows 7 Professional, Dell 745 Optiplex Desktop Computer, Featuring Intel's Powerful & Efficient 3.4GHz Pentium D Dual Core CPU Processor, 500GB Ultra Fast 7200 RPM SATA hard drive, CDRW/DVD SATA Ultra Speed Drive, 4GB DDR2 Dual Interlaced High Performance Memory, Providing Power for Today or Future Needs, Wireless Capable (Adapter Sold Separately)
This is My Opinion About This Product
After I buy this New Windows 7 Professional, Dell 745 Optiplex Desktop Computer, Featuring Intel's Powerful & Efficient 3.4GHz Pentium D Dual Core CPU Processor, 500GB Ultra Fast 7200 RPM SATA hard drive, CDRW/DVD SATA Ultra Speed Drive, 4GB DDR2 Dual Interlaced High Performance Memory, Providing Power for Today or Future Needs, Wireless Capable (Adapter Sold Separately) (Personal Computers)
UPDATED JAN 24TH, 2014 - DON'T BUY
The computer I received was only 1.8ghz, much slower than the touted 3.4ghz. RAM and OS were as described. Did not receive Windows 7 recovery disk. Came with power cable and keyboard and laser mouse, so great there. The hard drive was 930gb instead of 750, which I guess is their attempt to make up for the wrong processor. Definitely would rather get less HD space and more processor power, 750 is already more than enough.
The computer is pretty quiet except for this chugging noise I get. I have a niggling suspicion it's a fan. The noise is pretty distracting.
Computer looks brand new. Came packed in mountains of bubble wrap. Took 4 days for them to process it and five to get here. Kind of slow for 23 dollars standard. No bloatware was pre installed, which is nice.
Have contacted craving savings about resolving the processor issue, hopefully they respond and send the correct computer. Will update review then.
*******************LATE EDIT: After contacting cravingsavings, they assured me the processor was an Intel Core Duo to explain the low GHz (if this was an Intel Core Duo, it would be much faster than the 3.4GHz they've advertised) and I am assured it IS NOT.
Straight from the computer's dxdiag: Intel(R) Pentium (R) Dual CPU E2160 @ 1.80GHz (2 CPUs) ~ 1.8GHz. No Core Duo in sight. Despite that, I did not bother correcting them, as I don't want to go through the hassle of sending this current one back in exchange. It has been a month and the computer continues to work at acceptable speed for me and my family. I have turned Windows Aero off, which hogs a lot of processing power.
I recommend everyone here go look at their own dxdiag and see what processor they have. I have a feeling many people have been duped because they do not do this and don't know any better.
I've upped the review to 4 stars, because I've come to appreciate it. It's small (and quiet as long as you're not doing anything intensive, in which is chugs still, but I've gotten used to it.)
JUST BE AWARE OF WHAT YOU'RE BUYING. IF YOU'RE COUNTING ON DUAL CORE 3.4GHz, AND INTENDING TO USE THIS COMPUTER FOR HEAVY DEMANDING TASKS, DO NOT BUY.
Other things worth mentioning:
DOES NOT COME WITH A DVD BURNER/WRITER. This was and still is a huge con for me to not be able to burn movies, and a downgrade from my last computer. I'm thinking about putting the old burner into this computer, but I do not know if it will fit. We'll see.
Headphone jack works.
Had a lot of windows updates to install on the first boot--around 100 I think. Also make sure you download some Driver Update software (I use SlimDrivers) , which will automatically update all your drivers for you. In this case, many of my drivers needed an update. Once they're updated you will notice a preformance boost.
No issues concerning internet, just plugged in the ol' ethernet cable and everything worked right away. NOTE, does NOT include WiFi card. The little plastic paper I got with this had a wifi logo on it, so maybe that's why I assumed it was WiFi-capable. Recommend buying a WiFi USB adapter if you want wireless internet.
The OS that came with this is x32, not x64. I believe you can however switch to x64 somehow, but I am not skilled in this area so I've left it as is. x64 would be more beneficial to anyone that wants to get full use of the 4GB ram.
**Things you should do right away: Get some good anti-virus (I am running free Avira and Microsoft Security Essentials currently). Install Firefox or Chrome, and get CCleaner which will help speed it up a little. Also consider getting the K-Lite codec pack which will let you play any audio and video files and avoid errors in WMP. While you're at it, VLC media player is much better than WMP.
Computer comes with basic Wordpad. As a writer, I found this sufficient enough, but many would probably want to pick up the latest edition of Microsoft Word.
***In the Windows Experience Index, the lowest subscore is 3.3 for gaming graphics. I've been looking into buying a new graphics card. The computer has 1 PCI slot and 1 PCIe slot, and a 275w PSU, and will most likely need a low-profile card. The Radeon HD 6570 and 6450 seem like good choices.
All in all, it has its issues, but for 230 dollars it's still a steal.
******************UPDATE 2014:
Since been a year and there's been some new developments and I'd thought I'd inform everyone of what's happened.
Since the last update I purchased that graphics card I mentioned, the Radeon HD 6570 LP and it worked fantastic. I've upgraded to the 7750, AND a new cpu, the core 2 duo e6600 2.4ghz. Besides going quad core, getting an SDD and more RAM, I believe I've sufficiently maxed this baby out. I get 60FPS on the Sims 3 with expansions and the settings maxed, 60FPS on Bioshock, I play the Mass Effect series, Assassin's Creed, all on high settings and it's very smooth.
But I've had a lot of problems the last year.
Soon after my last update Windows 7 decided randomly that it was no longer genuine after it had been working great for a few months. I tried to reactivate it with the authentication code I got with the computer, which worked until it didn't. I believe this was a counterfeit version of windows, and that assumption is buoyed by the fact that I didn't receive a restore disk. I continuously got a black desktop with the "windows is not genuine" error, 15 days left to activate, blah blah blah.
So I spent 150 bucks on a brand new Windows 7 64-bit copy. Problem solved. Unfortunate it had to come to that, and bittersweet because I lost important files.
A few months after that cunundrum the hard drive failed. Remember that chugging noise I mentioned? It was coming from the hard drive!! POS. This company is freaking lucky I saved the HDD from my last computer to put into this one. now the computer is finally running blissfully quiet. What a difference. Still, all data was lost in the switch, had to start from scratch AGAIN.
At that point it hadn't even been a year yet and I had more problems in that time than my last computer which I had for six years.
Just don't bother with refurbished computers, is my recommendation. This is the definition of "too good to be true." The money you'll spend upgrading and fixing it would be better spent on a brand new computer. You want "ultra fast", you want to use Windows Aero, stream youtube, photoshop, games, be prepared to drop some money on this thing for new CPU, GPU, HDD, and probably a new OS because the one you get with it's counterfeit.
Don't expect a powerhouse out of the box. Don't expect it keep running like a dream.
It's too much of a freaking hassle. Save your money up for a nice, brand new PC, or a Mac. You don't want to be stuck with this thing.
Was:
4gb Ram
3.5" 1TB Hitachi Ultrastar HDD
Intel Intergrated gma 3000 graphics
Intel Pentium e2160 dual core ~1.80ghz
Windows 7 32-bit
My build now:
4gb Ram (came with)
3.5" 350GB Seagate HDD
Radeon HD 7750 Low-profile
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 ~2.4ghz
Windows 7 64-bit
Windows Experience Index now:
Overall: 5.9
Ram: 5.9
Gaming Graphics: 7.4
System Graphics: 7.4
Hard Disk: 5.9
Processor: 5.9
The computer I received was only 1.8ghz, much slower than the touted 3.4ghz. RAM and OS were as described. Did not receive Windows 7 recovery disk. Came with power cable and keyboard and laser mouse, so great there. The hard drive was 930gb instead of 750, which I guess is their attempt to make up for the wrong processor. Definitely would rather get less HD space and more processor power, 750 is already more than enough.
The computer is pretty quiet except for this chugging noise I get. I have a niggling suspicion it's a fan. The noise is pretty distracting.
Computer looks brand new. Came packed in mountains of bubble wrap. Took 4 days for them to process it and five to get here. Kind of slow for 23 dollars standard. No bloatware was pre installed, which is nice.
Have contacted craving savings about resolving the processor issue, hopefully they respond and send the correct computer. Will update review then.
*******************LATE EDIT: After contacting cravingsavings, they assured me the processor was an Intel Core Duo to explain the low GHz (if this was an Intel Core Duo, it would be much faster than the 3.4GHz they've advertised) and I am assured it IS NOT.
Straight from the computer's dxdiag: Intel(R) Pentium (R) Dual CPU E2160 @ 1.80GHz (2 CPUs) ~ 1.8GHz. No Core Duo in sight. Despite that, I did not bother correcting them, as I don't want to go through the hassle of sending this current one back in exchange. It has been a month and the computer continues to work at acceptable speed for me and my family. I have turned Windows Aero off, which hogs a lot of processing power.
I recommend everyone here go look at their own dxdiag and see what processor they have. I have a feeling many people have been duped because they do not do this and don't know any better.
I've upped the review to 4 stars, because I've come to appreciate it. It's small (and quiet as long as you're not doing anything intensive, in which is chugs still, but I've gotten used to it.)
JUST BE AWARE OF WHAT YOU'RE BUYING. IF YOU'RE COUNTING ON DUAL CORE 3.4GHz, AND INTENDING TO USE THIS COMPUTER FOR HEAVY DEMANDING TASKS, DO NOT BUY.
Other things worth mentioning:
DOES NOT COME WITH A DVD BURNER/WRITER. This was and still is a huge con for me to not be able to burn movies, and a downgrade from my last computer. I'm thinking about putting the old burner into this computer, but I do not know if it will fit. We'll see.
Headphone jack works.
Had a lot of windows updates to install on the first boot--around 100 I think. Also make sure you download some Driver Update software (I use SlimDrivers) , which will automatically update all your drivers for you. In this case, many of my drivers needed an update. Once they're updated you will notice a preformance boost.
No issues concerning internet, just plugged in the ol' ethernet cable and everything worked right away. NOTE, does NOT include WiFi card. The little plastic paper I got with this had a wifi logo on it, so maybe that's why I assumed it was WiFi-capable. Recommend buying a WiFi USB adapter if you want wireless internet.
The OS that came with this is x32, not x64. I believe you can however switch to x64 somehow, but I am not skilled in this area so I've left it as is. x64 would be more beneficial to anyone that wants to get full use of the 4GB ram.
**Things you should do right away: Get some good anti-virus (I am running free Avira and Microsoft Security Essentials currently). Install Firefox or Chrome, and get CCleaner which will help speed it up a little. Also consider getting the K-Lite codec pack which will let you play any audio and video files and avoid errors in WMP. While you're at it, VLC media player is much better than WMP.
Computer comes with basic Wordpad. As a writer, I found this sufficient enough, but many would probably want to pick up the latest edition of Microsoft Word.
***In the Windows Experience Index, the lowest subscore is 3.3 for gaming graphics. I've been looking into buying a new graphics card. The computer has 1 PCI slot and 1 PCIe slot, and a 275w PSU, and will most likely need a low-profile card. The Radeon HD 6570 and 6450 seem like good choices.
All in all, it has its issues, but for 230 dollars it's still a steal.
******************UPDATE 2014:
Since been a year and there's been some new developments and I'd thought I'd inform everyone of what's happened.
Since the last update I purchased that graphics card I mentioned, the Radeon HD 6570 LP and it worked fantastic. I've upgraded to the 7750, AND a new cpu, the core 2 duo e6600 2.4ghz. Besides going quad core, getting an SDD and more RAM, I believe I've sufficiently maxed this baby out. I get 60FPS on the Sims 3 with expansions and the settings maxed, 60FPS on Bioshock, I play the Mass Effect series, Assassin's Creed, all on high settings and it's very smooth.
But I've had a lot of problems the last year.
Soon after my last update Windows 7 decided randomly that it was no longer genuine after it had been working great for a few months. I tried to reactivate it with the authentication code I got with the computer, which worked until it didn't. I believe this was a counterfeit version of windows, and that assumption is buoyed by the fact that I didn't receive a restore disk. I continuously got a black desktop with the "windows is not genuine" error, 15 days left to activate, blah blah blah.
So I spent 150 bucks on a brand new Windows 7 64-bit copy. Problem solved. Unfortunate it had to come to that, and bittersweet because I lost important files.
A few months after that cunundrum the hard drive failed. Remember that chugging noise I mentioned? It was coming from the hard drive!! POS. This company is freaking lucky I saved the HDD from my last computer to put into this one. now the computer is finally running blissfully quiet. What a difference. Still, all data was lost in the switch, had to start from scratch AGAIN.
At that point it hadn't even been a year yet and I had more problems in that time than my last computer which I had for six years.
Just don't bother with refurbished computers, is my recommendation. This is the definition of "too good to be true." The money you'll spend upgrading and fixing it would be better spent on a brand new computer. You want "ultra fast", you want to use Windows Aero, stream youtube, photoshop, games, be prepared to drop some money on this thing for new CPU, GPU, HDD, and probably a new OS because the one you get with it's counterfeit.
Don't expect a powerhouse out of the box. Don't expect it keep running like a dream.
It's too much of a freaking hassle. Save your money up for a nice, brand new PC, or a Mac. You don't want to be stuck with this thing.
Was:
4gb Ram
3.5" 1TB Hitachi Ultrastar HDD
Intel Intergrated gma 3000 graphics
Intel Pentium e2160 dual core ~1.80ghz
Windows 7 32-bit
My build now:
4gb Ram (came with)
3.5" 350GB Seagate HDD
Radeon HD 7750 Low-profile
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 ~2.4ghz
Windows 7 64-bit
Windows Experience Index now:
Overall: 5.9
Ram: 5.9
Gaming Graphics: 7.4
System Graphics: 7.4
Hard Disk: 5.9
Processor: 5.9
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