Dumpster Computer Find

[killian6pk]

In the County Electronic Recycle box found a Dell Vostro 200 with a motherboard & Core 2 Duo processor, a CD/DVD and a power supply. Is there anyway to test this without putting in memory and a hard drive? I have both, but hoping to find a way to not risk them if the mobo or ps is bad.

My third computer, that I pay bills on, is very old and slow. Thinking if this Dell will run, it will be a good upgrade to what I am using now.

[RJARRRPCGP]

Re: Dumpster Computer Find

It probably has a Delta with Ltec and Taicon caps.

[ratdude747]

Re: Dumpster Computer Find

w/o RAM, not really.

the HDD part can be averted with a live OS disc (like most flavors of linux).

[killian6pk]

Re: Dumpster Computer Find

Thanks kind of what I thought. I will check the caps on the mobo. Is the ESR as important as it is in monitors etc.?

[ratdude747]

Re: Dumpster Computer Find

Thanks kind of what I thought. I will check the caps on the mobo. Is the ESR as important as it is in monitors etc.?

Yeah, High ESR is a sign of failed caps. Especially in the VRM.

[mockingbird]

Re: Dumpster Computer Find

There are six capacitors on the board that need changing. Three Chemicon caps (With the brown sleeve) by the CPU VRM (Near the back panel connectors) and three more left of the memory slots. The board is made by Foxconn, as is typical with Dell Vostros, and they're decent quality.

Vostros use LiteOn PSUs, but YMMV. They need to be re-capped as well, but you can use a different PSU if you want since Vostros are standard ATX computers.

[killian6pk]

Re: Dumpster Computer Find

There are six capacitors on the board that need changing. Three Chemicon caps (With the brown sleeve) by the CPU VRM (Near the back panel connectors) and three more left of the memory slots. The board is made by Foxconn, as is typical with Dell Vostros, and they're decent quality.

Vostros use LiteOn PSUs, but YMMV. They need to be re-capped as well, but you can use a different PSU if you want since Vostros are standard ATX computers.

Do you mean as a matter of practice or only if the PS is not working?

I will change the ones on the Mobo.

[killian6pk]

Re: Dumpster Computer Find

w/o RAM, not really.

the HDD part can be averted with a live OS disc (like most flavors of linux).

I wanted to try Linux on this machine (if the computer will run). The reviews of Ubunto 13.10 do not appear to be great. Don't know if this is just real afficianado's not happy with something or if it really does not function correctly.

What do you think I should install as my first foray into Linux (name and version), provided this computer works? I will need to download a live disc for whatever since I won't have an OS.

[ratdude747]

Re: Dumpster Computer Find

[/COLOR]

Do you mean as a matter of practice or only if the PS is not working?

I will change the ones on the Mobo.

practice. Junk caps will fail sooner or later.

[mockingbird]

Re: Dumpster Computer Find

Agreed... And even it it works, it will kill your brand new caps with all that ripple it's letting through.

[RJARRRPCGP]

Re: Dumpster Computer Find

The Vostro 200 I had came with a Delta mini 250W PSU.

(model DPS-250A B-28 B)

[ant3202]

Re: Dumpster Computer Find

intel core2duo 775 2.8Ghz
asus manboard - toasted
2 X 2GB team DDR400RAM
Sapphire HD4770 - toasted
CoolerMaster Glite 330 Red Casing
Acbel Ipower 550W* IIRC PSU

found this PC at my stairway...

[ratdude747]

Re: Dumpster Computer Find

intel core2duo 775 2.8Ghz
asus manboard - toasted
2 X 2GB team DDR400RAM
Sapphire HD4770 - toasted
CoolerMaster Glite 330 Red Casing
Acbel Ipower 550W* IIRC PSU

found this PC at my stairway...

Score!

Looks like you got a decent case and a CPU (may have been OC'd) for free... and a good (may need recapped) PSU as well. The RAM, meh, team is junk.

[shovenose]

Re: Dumpster Computer Find

Score!
The RAM, meh, team is junk.

I don't agree.

OP, Try Elementary OS Better than Ubuntu but still based on Ubuntu so it'll run the same stuff.

[killian6pk]

Re: Dumpster Computer Find

Thanks had not heard of that particular OS. I will look into it. Just looking for something that works without tons of bells and whistles. My normal use for this machine is getting on the net to pay bills and sometimes do some surfing. Yesterday I saw a good bit on Puppy Linux that made that look good as a possiblility. Anyone got any thoughts.

[ratdude747]

Re: Dumpster Computer Find

Manjaro Linux. Arch based, but easy to setup and use. Also gives access to arch's large repository of packages (a copy of it that is)... easy to use but still light and powerful. I personally prefer the gnome flavor (now discontinued officially by manjaro) but the default XFCE sounds more like what you're asking for.

[killian6pk]

Re: Dumpster Computer Find

I don't agree.

OP, Try Elementary OS Better than Ubuntu but still based on Ubuntu so it'll run the same stuff.

This looks like Puppy in that it seems to be lightweight, but it looks like it has more stuff that can be added on if you want. This looks like something that could be a real possibility. Thanks for the info on it.

[cheapie]

Re: Dumpster Computer Find

My favorite distro has to be Mint (I prefer the MATE version). It's yet another Ubuntu-based distro, but the MATE desktop environment is nice. I've never tried the Cinnamon option, though.

[killian6pk]

Re: Dumpster Computer Find

Manjaro Linux. Arch based, but easy to setup and use. Also gives access to arch's large repository of packages (a copy of it that is)... easy to use but still light and powerful. I personally prefer the gnome flavor (now discontinued officially by manjaro) but the default XFCE sounds more like what you're asking for.

Thanks I will look into this one also. Man there are a lot of variations on this OS. Lots of really busy people out there programming their little fingers off.

[ivtec]

Re: Dumpster Computer Find

Thanks I will look into this one also. Man there are a lot of variations on this OS. Lots of really busy people out there programming their little fingers off.

Hi guys talking about Dumpsters computers,i also found this week a Dell dimention 4500 pentium4 intel i845,1023gb ram,2.26ghz processor,80gb hd,
with Nvidia Geforce 4Ti 4200,it was runing with Win XP sp3,it started up but when it got to the dektop it would freeze, since i know Xp is not supported any more i went a head and i started to install linux distro and erased Win,but at first i couldn't run Debian wheezy7,Xubuntu12.04,lubuntu, mint14,
Bu i thought of Changing the Nvidia card to an ATI 9600,and installed
Debian Wheezy7 and it installed great, then since i like Xubuntu 1204 better
went a head and installed it,this time it installed great and i have a great Extra PC, and it runs like a champ,