€600 Medion PC - Aldi (2nd August)

flogen

Just spotted this in the latest Aldi booklet - no details online yet though.

Listed Specs:
Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E4300; 1.8 GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 800 MHz FSB
320GB HD
2GB Ram
Nvidia GForce 8400 GS graphics card
CD/DVD Burner
TV tuner (analogue and DVB-T)
"8-channel high definition audio" - whatever that means
Windows Vista Home Premium
4 USB on back, 2 on front
built-in card reader (CF, MS, MSP, MC, SMC, XD, SD, IMD)

Also comes with keyboard, mouse and remote control... as usual, no monitor.

No mention of built in wifi etc. - which is weird... that's kind of standard nowadays.

Other tech stuff for sale on the 2nd:

3-in-1 Lexmark printer (X2550) for €40
Wireless LAN Adaptors (PCI, PCIMCIA or USB) for €20 each (may explain why the PC lacks Wifi)
4GB USB Flash drive for €30

The PC seems like decent value, as does the printer... other two are OK prices but would probably find better online.

TerrorFirmer

Seems like an ok price. Processor is low end, probably can't be overclocked either, unless they leave the original bios untouched but I assume they don't. Video card is fine but weak for anyone doing any real gaming. Great for a media machine maybe, with a decent upgrade path. And Wifi is definitely not standard with desktops....only expensive and good motherboards have it onboard. Overall wouldn't say its anything other then medicore.

Fnz

HavoK wrote:

Processor is low end, probably can't be overclocked either, unless they leave the original bios untouched but I assume they don't.

AHA! When you assume, you make an “Ass” out of “U” and “Me” .

Actually, the processor is meant to be a 'beast' for the auld overclocking. Read some of the reviews here: [Linky]

Video card is fine but weak for anyone doing any real gaming.

It's a $50 DirectX 10 capable graphics card... so you're probably right.

TerrorFirmer

I know it is, I have one. I meant the mobo, not the chip, which was pretty much 100% clear from my post seeing as I specifically mentioned its probably bios locked thus making the oc'ing ability non-considerable.

Kristok

I got a dell with a simular spec and a 20" screen for 500 last month. Dosnt seem to great to me.

Fnz

HavoK wrote:

I know it is, I have one. I meant the mobo, not the chip, which was pretty much 100% clear from my post seeing as I specifically mentioned its probably bios locked thus making the oc'ing ability non-considerable.

My bad - I thought you were only referring to the processor. So, you reckon that Medion are likely to have locked the BIOS - does this make overclocking impossible or just 'limited' in some way?

jonny72

You can pick up the same spec for 300 to 400 max from ebay dell outlet

TerrorFirmer

Fnz wrote:

My bad - I thought you were only referring to the processor. So, you reckon that Medion are likely to have locked the BIOS - does this make overclocking impossible or just 'limited' in some way?

Maybe they don't and overclocking is possible - I've never bought a Medion machine, but just based on companies like Dell, HP, PB, etc who lock the bios so that overclocking is completely impossible, not just limited, its possible. I'm sure someone who's owned one of these machines before can shed some light? If its locked its a shame because the 4300 is a fantastic overclocker even with stock cooling. But on the other hand even non-overclocked its still a fine performer and will play anything, not to mention its more then enough for the average desktop user, but it would just be a shame to waste that potential....

But still! I don't think its exceptional value for money, just medicore really. Could get better from Dell in an offer probably with a large monitor, seems to be alot of good deals lately...

oh and sorry - I sounded a bit patronizing in my original reply above, not my intention honest

flogen

Just wanted to bump this thread to ask about the printer.

What do people make of it? My current printer's acting up, although I've had it a couple of years and got it cheap (from aldi!) so am not to bothered about it.

Is the one on sale this thursday any good? Seems like a decent price for what it is but would you be better off paying the little extra to get something better?

Fnz

The printing cartridges, that come with it, would probably cost €40 to buy on their own. I'm no expert but it seems like a pretty decent offer to me too. I did read that the printing price per page of the supplied cartridges works out dearer than those of Lexmark's competitors. However, Lexmark now have another set of compatible cartridges that hold more ink and brings the price per page in line with their competitors.

byte

Best thing to do before buying that printer, is check about places to find out how much replacement cartridges will be!

flogen

byte wrote:

Best thing to do before buying that printer, is check about places to find out how much replacement cartridges will be!

Good point; after a quick look around it seems to be hard enough to track down when looking for ink for that model, but it is available (as it's a cart used on other machines)!!!

They seem to be on inkmaestro.ie for 17.25 (black) and 18.25 (colour).. that's not too bad.

As for the ones that come with the machine I have a feeling their just tester cartridges and probably not full ones.

Placebo

are you guys joking? please link me to the dell page where u can get that exact same spec, bit off or on.

Do-more

Dell's ebay outlet has a constantly changing stock. At present they seem to be offering stock with "buy it now" pricing which is considerably more expensive than what stuff was bidding up to, a week ago. Stuff that has a "buy it now" of around €600 today was selling for €400-€450 a week ago. Go figure!

Sqaull20

The vostro deals on the dell website can easily,match this package....and include a tasty 19" monitor

http://www.euro.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/4x_vostro_200?c=ie&cs=iebsdt1&l=en&s=bsd

PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E4300 Processor (1.8GHz,800MHz,2MB cache) edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition - English edit
HARDWARE SUPPORT Base Warranty - 1 Year Business Hardware Support edit
MONITOR Dell™ 19" Value Flat Panel (E198FP) - UK/Irish edit
MEMORY 2048MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x1024] edit
HARD DRIVE 320GB (7200rpm) Serial ATA/100 Hard Drive with 16MB DataBurst™ cache edit
GRAPHICS CARD 256MB ATI® Radeon® X1300 Pro PCI Express graphics card edit
OPTICAL DRIVE 16x DVD +/- RW Drive edit
KEYBOARD Dell™ Entry Quietkey USB Keyboard - UK/Irish (QWERTY) edit
MOUSE Dell™ 2 Button USB Scroll Optical Mouse - Black


Total Price including delivery and vat € 530.69

Go get a tv tuner and wifi card for €70 on komplett....

And you have a very similar pc and a monitor

majiktripp

Placebo wrote:

are you guys joking?

Sqaull20 doesn't think so! Seriously shop around Dell.ie and you'll come close or beat that price for the same spec's espcially with their changing offers and promo's each week. (As stated above!)

Mizu_Ger

Sqaull20 wrote:

The vostro deals on the dell website can easily,match this package....and include a tasty 19" monitor

http://www.euro.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/4x_vostro_200?c=ie&cs=iebsdt1&l=en&s=bsd

PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E4300 Processor (1.8GHz,800MHz,2MB cache) edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition - English edit
HARDWARE SUPPORT Base Warranty - 1 Year Business Hardware Support edit
MONITOR Dell™ 19" Value Flat Panel (E198FP) - UK/Irish edit
MEMORY 2048MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x1024] edit
HARD DRIVE 320GB (7200rpm) Serial ATA/100 Hard Drive with 16MB DataBurst™ cache edit
GRAPHICS CARD 256MB ATI® Radeon® X1300 Pro PCI Express graphics card edit
OPTICAL DRIVE 16x DVD +/- RW Drive edit
KEYBOARD Dell™ Entry Quietkey USB Keyboard - UK/Irish (QWERTY) edit
MOUSE Dell™ 2 Button USB Scroll Optical Mouse - Black


Total Price including delivery and vat € 530.69

Go get a tv tuner and wifi card for €70 on komplett....

And you have a very similar pc and a monitor

My brother is going to get the ALDI PC, but looking at this, he should go to Dell instead. The website says that the Vostro is for small business, can this also be bought for personal use?

Blazer

yep..I ordered one for a mate with 19" widescreen monitor for only €530...there's no other pc company selling systems as cheap as dell now..

Mizu_Ger

Mathew Reilly wrote:

yep..I ordered one for a mate with 19" widescreen monitor for only €530...there's no other pc company selling systems as cheap as dell now..

Thanks. One more question, is there anyway of getting Vista Home Premium on the Vostro? Media Centre would be handy!

flogen

Picked up the printer and am quite happy with it.

It's about half the height of the previous 3-in-1 I had (a Lexmark X85) and seems a fair bit quieter too.
It also has a few nice touches, like printing a document from the last page to the first so you don't have to rearrange the pile when it's done... also the voice that tells you what you're printer's doing ("printing started", "printing complete" etc.) isn't a shouty American anymore... he's a softspoken American. Still freaks me out.