Recommendations 4 refurb system

[ronaries]

I am looking to buy a recond/refurb computer - desktop - for office use - and looking for suggestions to fit my needs, as follow:

I have 2 1-gb ram chips and a 250 hddrv available, little used.
The system must have legal Windows XP sp1 (or newer) installed, parallel port, ethernet port, and usb2 ports, and accept at least my 2 gb of ddr 333 ram (1 gb chips) .
Pata or sata controller is ok, same for integ video graphics, and DVD/cd.
Computer chip speed should be Pentium 4 or faster, or Athlon 64 3500 or better...

I want to install a 250 gb PATA drive minimally, so bios & XP version must support moderate size hard drive. I already have monitor and printer in place.

I prefer a recond or refurb system as I personally cannot evaluate condition of used equipment.

Can you give me any suggested systems that I should consider? Thanks in advance!

[doubledragon5]

Go to dell.com and look at their refurb section..

[Khalil]

What you looking to spend?
Are there any reputable computer stores in your area? You should be able to pick one pretty cheap. Your best bet is a used HP or a Dell that would work with your parts. Stay away from eMachines, Acer, Compaq and Gateway.
Make sure as part of refurbishing it they installed a new good brand power supply, get it in writing.
I sell refurbished machines with a 1 year warranty and legal windows XP ranging from $199 to $249 all with P4 2.8 or better, mostly Dells we take in on trade. I would not recommend buying online or from ebay when it comes to refurbished. Buying locally is your best bet but make sure and check on the store and their reputation before buying from them.

[glc]

I would recommend you buy a complete package, not something that you are going to recycle parts into. DDR333 is old stuff and anything you buy that will accept that will be overpriced for what it is. It sounds like Khalil is offering a deal that is going to be hard to beat, you may want to contact him privately.

Take that 250gb PATA drive and make an external out of it for keeping backups.

[ronaries]

I am near a Microcenter, and they do carry some inexpensive recond. units. . But more importantly, could the memory (pc2700) work in motherboards that specify faster memory? or is choice limited to just those running that speed?

I don't know, and rather doubt, that MCenters supplier has changed the power units and batteries of the recond units .....my limited experience with recond. centers is that its more likely they'd wipe a cloth over the product and stamp it inspected! Some years ago, I did puchase a returned/refurb. unit from MCenter and it was nothing but problems, eventually returned. Likewise, Compaq's (contracted out) repair of a laptop I had years ago was a dismal experience.

Its tempting to acquire a reliable recond/older unit under $175 if I can ... but buying new at $400 or $500 is a push right now. My office's needs are simple if I stay with a legacy computer (no Vista!) - but reliability is major consideration also.

Is there any flexibility on using slower or faster memory than that designated in an older HP/Dell sytem, or is it a crapshoot at best?

[Khalil]

PC2700 will work with PC3200 specs but only DDR, will not work with a motherboard that requires DDR2. The Dell 2400 and 3000 all used PC2700. Like I said earlier, make sure what every you buy has a new power supply and buying local in your area is your best bet, this way you can get direct support and assistance face to face.
When I disclosed prices earlier I was simply giving you an idea of what stores like mine sell used machines for.

[ronaries]

thank you all for the information and recommendations. I will look around carefully at the options available. It appears I have some choices here and need to make some decision as to value/price/reliability/longevity of the unit .
Just another simple problem that money can solve!