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A Dell OptiPlex desktop computer

These things are plentiful and cheap

Tip: Rule of thumb: don't buy anything over 8-10 years old. Always research the hardware before making an offer.

Used desktop computers can be found anywhere for under $200. These things always come with a respectable CPU and a decent amount of RAM. The larger ones can usually hold up to 4 disks, making this a huge step up over single board computers. Used hardware offers a tremendous amount of potential at a relatively cheap price.

Pros

• Excellent balance of cost vs. performance.
• Come pre-built and ready to work.
• Ubiquitous and easy to source.
• Upgrades are cheap.
• Quiet.

Cons

• No warranty.
• No support.
• You will probably encounter performance bottlenecks (Earlier SATA/PCIe/SAS/USB revisions).

Important Notes

• Make sure the system is 64bit. 32bit are very old, avoid at all costs.
• Some older legacy systems do not support UEFI and thus cannot boot UEFI OS's.
• Some Very old (8-10 years) high end CPUs actually perform worse than modern low-to-mid end CPUs.

Dell OptiPlex

OptiPlex Model Chart

Dell's OptiPlex line is a "business-oriented desktop and all-in-one computers made for corporate enterprises, healthcare, the government, and education markets." The OptiPlex line stretches back to the '90s, so make sure you double-check that yours was made in the last 10 years or so.