Purchasing Recycled PCs

[garethEds]

A quick search on here revealed this post: http://www.edugeek.net/forums/hardware/18218-reconditioned-recycled-pcs-large-corporations.html

 

Do people still purchase recycled PCs? We've been offered the following spec:

 

Model – Dell GX620 Dual Core Pentium D

CPU – 3.0 - 3.4 x 2 Ghz processor

Memory – 2 GB RAM

Hard Drive – 160 GB

Drive – DVD/CD Rewriter

Operating System – Windows XP Professional with service pack 3

Network Card – Gigabit Ethernet

Guarantee – 12 Month Replacement Warranty

Accessories – Keyboard and mouse included

 

The price being £175 per base unit. To include a 17" TFT would take it up to £220.00 - this is half the price we pay for new machines.

 

It seems like a good offer - we have some Celeron machines in one room that need replacing. Would they see me right for 3 years with a possible Windows 7 upgrade on the way across the school?

 

What are your opinions?

 

Gareth

[john]

I'm using @ict-direct PCs to replace Semprons and other similar low end PCs in the classrooms and they are working well, they are Core2Duos with 2GB Ram, 160 - 200GB Drives, DVD RWs, 2 Year Warranty (some still have some HP on-site left on them as well!), Keyboard and Mouse and they are just over £200 each usually which is great value, they come with either XP or Vista COAs which is fine as I just use my MS Agreement to take them to W7.

[garethEds]

I'm using @ict-direct PCs to replace Semprons and other similar low end PCs in the classrooms and they are working well, they are Core2Duos with 2GB Ram, 160 - 200GB Drives, DVD RWs, 2 Year Warranty (some still have some HP on-site left on them as well!), Keyboard and Mouse and they are just over £200 each usually which is great value, they come with either XP or Vista COAs which is fine as I just use my MS Agreement to take them to W7.

 

Hi John,

 

Thanks for that information - might I ask who your contact is so I can give them a bell? Funds are low this year in school so getting two for the price of one is an offer too good to miss.

 

Cheers

 

Gareth

[john]

Hi John,

 

Thanks for that information - might I ask who your contact is so I can give them a bell? Funds are low this year in school so getting two for the price of one is an offer too good to miss.

 

Cheers

 

Gareth

 

John Graham is your man - 01254 820980 is the phone number or visit the website:

ICT Direct - distributors of branded refurbished computer hardware to UK schools and colleges.

 

These are the machines we get (or there abouts as it can vary a little bit depending on what is in-stock) - http://www.ict-direct.co.uk/computers?page=shop.product_details&flypage=vmj_estore.tpl&product_id=19&category_id=6 but do drop John a line

[dgsmith]

May be interested in http://www.edugeek.net/forums/hardware/76166-refurbished-machines.html#post678644 as this was only asked a few days ago. £175 for that spec is over priced imo. You can get core 2 for less than that.

[Gibbo]

We've also used ICT Direct, John is a great guy.

 

It may also be worth contacting this company:

 

http://www.cc-communications.co.uk/

 

They collected some scrap from us a fortnight ago but they were doing a HP DC7700 and HP monitor deal at an amazing price.

[garethEds]

Good afternoon everyone,

 

I have been in contact with John at ict direct and are very happy with the machine quote he gave us. I agree that the one we have been offered is expensive for what it is. I have asked John for a demo machine - however if you lot are happy with the service then I might take your word for it and come after you if everything goes wrong.

 

Best wishes and thanks everyone, I think this is the way forward. I'm amazed at some of their server prices as well.

 

Gareth

[john]

Can highly recommend John, no need for a demo machine just sign up and get them and come hunt me down if they don't work (to get to me you go past ICT Direct so you can call in to see them first )

[3s-gtech]

Another thumbs up for John, great to deal with. Just picked up some machines from him this week.

[Mullaney18]

I have just bought a suite of 40 x computers @ £136+VAT a box for their

CCL Alpha Premiere system:

Intel Celeron E3400 Processor 2.6GHz 2GB Corsair DDR3 1333MHz 500GB SATA II Hard DriveDVD+/-RW Drive12 Mths RTB Warranty

 

Plus £51+VAT each for 40 x AOC 931Sn 18.5 inch Widescreen TFTs.

 

All Brand New.

 

Worth ringing round for bulk, Ive already bought 15 and lasted the last year not a problem. My first port of call would be http://www.cclonline.com

[dgsmith]

I have just bought a suite of 40 x computers @ £136+VAT a box for their

CCL Alpha Premiere system:

Intel Celeron E3400 Processor 2.6GHz 2GB Corsair DDR3 1333MHz 500GB SATA II Hard DriveDVD+/-RW Drive12 Mths RTB Warranty

 

Plus £51+VAT each for 40 x AOC 931Sn 18.5 inch Widescreen TFTs.

 

All Brand New.

 

I just checked as that price seems too good to be true - it is, as that price doesn't include an operating system. Great I suppose if you will be running linux or already have full retail Windows copies! It still works out more than refurbished ones though!

 

I believe John @ ICT-Direct now offers full 3yr warranties on their base units now - seems like a no-brainer really.

[Mullaney18]

My mistake;

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 32-bit (with Service Pack 1) £85.95+Vat

 

So with keyboard and mouse comes to £278.78 unless your working with a VL or SELECT.

 

So it depends really, I know my head would screw her nose up at anything recycled, but Dells are know for their rebust builds on towers that can last 5 or more years, just that how old are the recycled machines because the Dell GX620 is about 5 years old now (well assuming from a pcmag review from May 2006).

 

Suppose the 3 year warranty give some piece of mind though.

[john]

My mistake;

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 32-bit (with Service Pack 1) £85.95+Vat

 

So with keyboard and mouse comes to £278.78 unless your working with a VL or SELECT.

 

So it depends really, I know my head would screw her nose up at anything recycled, but Dells are know for their rebust builds on towers that can last 5 or more years, just that how old are the recycled machines because the Dell GX620 is about 5 years old now (well assuming from a pcmag review from May 2006).

 

Suppose the 3 year warranty give some piece of mind though.

 

Select / VL are only upgrade licenses so the least in terms of a currently sold new OS you could use is an entry level Windows 7 OS. MS Agreements don't provide the base OS to start with which is what a new PC needs, CCL should know this and have remided you of it but with there being that many changes to staff over the last 6 months I expect they have lost the skills

 

Also, I would never buy a celeron machine for education they really don't cut the mustard, unless its just running powerpoint all day long.

[Mullaney18]

If your working with a pre existing VL/Select. I never had one, or bought an agreement from CCL, because I bought OEMs Win 7 Pro listed in my post.

 

I have 15 of these machines for my primary, they do the job as well as any other dual core just for Office, tizzy, bookworm and the likes.

[garethEds]

Just to close my end of this thread - we have purchased some machines from John after using a demo machine he sent through.

 

Regards

 

Gareth

[Gibbo]

My only gripe with ICT Direct is that John always seems mega busy and it takes a couple of requests before he acts on it!