[Used] Dell Precision 3630 i7-8700 32GB/512GB NVMe GTX1080 8GB W11 Pro 1Yr Wty $509.15 Del'd ($497.17 eBay plus) @ smg-au eBay

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rosebank on 31/03/2023 - 11:11 ebay.com.au (3127 clicks)
Last edited 31/03/2023 - 11:29 by 2 other users

MEAS15MEAS17

Original Coupon Deal

So I posted and got this and it's cool and everything, but started looking around for something better before the MEAS17 code expires tonight. I can use the Lenovo for other shit

I have no idea if this is a good deal. It has a better processor, double the RAM and storage, and a GPU. It comes with 1 year warranty and the seller is a Microsoft registered refurbisher.

I asked the seller about the GPU and this is what I got: "It has NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080, 8GB, 3 DP, HDMI, DVI-D", so I can add a third monitor. There are also more PCI slots, USB ports, and more room for me to add old 2.5" SSDs and even a 3.5" 4TB I have laying around. And the case is still quite small.

So please tell me how I'm a complete moron for even considering getting this old piece of shit for $500 when I can get a brand new gaming PC for $700.

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  Wonderfool on 31/03/2023 - 12:35

  +1

  Wish this came a few months ago, bought a few used machines with worse specs. Was really hard pressed to find reasonably priced used cpu+mobo, that I've opted to import some ryzen 1600x from China instead. The whole complete systems cost me around this much per unit, and iirc, the cpu in this is still better.

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  Transient on 31/03/2023 - 13:00

  Actually not bad. CPU is ok - earliest Intel CPU that is W11 ready. (I have a i5-8400 and recently upgraded to W11). Already has W11 so no need to worry about upgrading (for a few years). NVMe for OS - nice and snappy. Might want to check via manufacturer app the condition of the NVMe (is it new or used?). I would add another HDD or SSD or NVMe for data storage / games. 1080 is better than my 1060 and is still good in this day and age. Adequate RAM. Might want to monitor temps if case does not have good airflow or clean front mesh every now and then. Good job!

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    xuqi on 31/03/2023 - 13:44

    Luckily the 3630 tower uses a standard ATX PSU, so replacing it won't be a nightmare.

    Normally the Dell 460W or 850W units shipped with these used in normal office environment last at least 4-5 years.

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      Transient on 31/03/2023 - 13:58

      Yes, that's another thing. A lot of the computer manufacturers have proprietary equipment installed which makes upgrading more challenging / difficult than just buying parts and building it yourself. I remember reading an article last century which mentioned that DELL power cables reversed certain wires so you couldn't even replace the PSU without rewiring. Seems they have changed this to standard protocols which is good. Also, some manufacturers solder the CPU to MBOs so not as easy as buying and swapping a new CPU. Wonder if the MBO is standard (maybe mATX?)?

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        Mucchan on 31/03/2023 - 14:18

        +1

        Motherboard would be non standard since these manufacturers most of the time solder the front I/O ports onto the motherboard.

        CPU on these towers (and also SFF) are normally socketed so they're user replaceable, however depending on the chipset some manufacturers don't bother with the BIOS update for the chipset to support a newer generation processor e.g. Intel 11th gen support on Comet Lake chipsets.

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          xuqi on 31/03/2023 - 18:51

          +1

          @Mucchan: ATX mount points and 8th / 9th gen CPU support on this specific model.

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        xuqi on 31/03/2023 - 18:48

        +2

        This particular model uses ATX mount points (rare for Dell to do this).

        Page 9 of manual:
        https://dl.dell.com/content/manual56436443-precision-3630-to…

        CPU support list:
        https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-au/precision-3630-wo…

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  KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 31/03/2023 - 14:23

  Diablo 4 capable machine

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  Handymancan on 31/03/2023 - 15:05

  And you got to keep in mind how old the PSU is in this thing. I'm assuming this is also Dell proprietary hardware as well, limited options there.
  You would have to consider how much life this thing has left and warranty period remaining (if any) to determine if it's worth $500.
  Obviously the seller has made money refurbishing here.

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    xuqi on 31/03/2023 - 18:53

    +3

    The specific model uses started ATX motherboard mount points & ATX PSU. Check my links in earlier post.

    They most likely fired the engineer that made the decision to use ATX.

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  Kiro on 31/03/2023 - 16:41

  +1

  We'll im still rocking twin GTX1080's in SLI with 2 34 inch monitors plus small 27 inch dell touchscreen.

  The games I play are all on ultra/ extreme settings and get the solid 100fps that my monitor is maxed out at.

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  DemocracyManifest on 31/03/2023 - 19:42

  -6

  I’d buy this at half the price

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  Kawaii on 02/04/2023 - 18:29

  Am I able to find Thunderbolt expansion card for this PC?

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    xuqi on 05/04/2023 - 02:29

    Dell sold a TB3 add-in card for this model but in limited numbers.

    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/155424065265

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  jamba on 12/04/2023 - 21:30

  Received mine today. It's a very noisy bugger

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    Nom on 12/04/2023 - 21:32

    Check the BIOS doesn't have the fans set to full speed … it should be very quiet when not under heavy load.

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      jamba on 12/04/2023 - 21:34

      Thanks. Will check

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    OSienna on 13/04/2023 - 11:47

    These OEM PCs aren't known to have the best thermal performance and thus, quietness. They usually have blower-style GPUs and "just adequate" cooling, built for maximum volume and profit. Silent operations is generally not part of the design brief as it adds significant cost.

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      Nom on 13/04/2023 - 20:19

      This is entirely wrong, DELL desktop machines specifically are known for being very quiet indeed.

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        OSienna on 13/04/2023 - 23:35

        Compared to other OEM PCs maybe but definitely not considered quiet if you build one yourself with decent cooling components.

        I've owned about a dozen Dell PCs from USFF to MT over the years (I once had a home lab set up made up of 4 SFF desktops) and I definitely can tell you that they're far from being "very quiet" if you know how to put one together for that purpose

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  jamba on 12/04/2023 - 21:58

  I turned off intel turbo boost in the BIOS but it is still noisy.

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    rosebank on 13/04/2023 - 11:26

    When I got mine, I thought it was noisy because I used a SFF for years and it was practically silent. Then I did some googling and ended up on the Dell website where it detects your service number and you do a one-click "health check thing" then I clicked another thing and it did a bunch of upgrades for drivers and BIOS etc, and now it's like a low hum in the background, like the PCs I used to build when I was younger.

    I even got an optical drive and SD card reader that wasn't in the listing.

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      jamba on 13/04/2023 - 14:13

      The seller is sending me a return label so they can perform further diagnostics.

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        rosebank on 13/04/2023 - 14:20

        That's nice. I'm glad I bought from this seller instead of all the BPC bs

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          jamba on 13/04/2023 - 14:34

          @rosebank: I am doing the Dell Online Support Assist as you suggested above. Hopefully it solves the problem so I don't have to send it back.

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      jamba on 13/04/2023 - 16:40

      +1

      It worked. After doing the updates as you suggested it is whisper quiet.

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        rosebank on 13/04/2023 - 16:49

        +1

        Nice! It was like magic when I did it—everything was done remotely, no messing around in the BIOS, no additional software to control fan speeds—I'm too old for that shit; I just want something that works. And I always buy PC hardware that's a few gens behind, this one is a huge performance boost to my old 4th gen i5

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