Help me wipe this dimension e520

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Justiceinacan

Justiceinacan

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Jul 19, 2016
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Hey toms

I had been considering a secondary PC for some time, and one came my way. It's a dell dimension with a core 2 duo and windows XP, not great but I plan on throwing in a 430W EVGA power supply (think it fits, didn't check but it won't cost any money) I have and my old GTX 460 cause why not.

It belonged to, as I understand it, a yoga teacher... mother got it from her, gave it to me cause I enjoy compooters, and this thing is rekt.

First of all, it takes like a minute to load windows. I dunno to blame it on viruses or old hdd, who knows. Second of all, it takes 5 minutes before anything really opens on the desktop. Thirdly, very obvious adware after that 5 minutes is very obvious.

I was also instructed to wipe away any personal information before use, be that files, credit cards, whatever she did on it before giving it away.

Sooo... is there any way I can strip it down to the bare OS like I just got it without wiping windows entirely? Or should I just throw on ubuntu, erase the windows partition and be done with it and play it safe.

Thanks
Justiceinacan
 
Solution
W
The PSU,GPU, and SSD can all be used on a newer build.
Here's a bench mark on one of these (not mine). http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/3056591
44% of all systems tested CPU and GPU rating. Not too many 10 year old systems can do that. Much less a locked BIOS OEM. Mine scores 8000 in Firestrike. It's also 2nd place at CPUZ for the QX6800 CPU, on a $15 Pentium4 air cooler.
He asked how to make it faster. I told him the facts.
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Justiceinacan

Justiceinacan

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Jul 19, 2016
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Yeah, only just realized I misread max capacity 4 GB ram as installed capacity 1 GB ram and totally breezed the fact that it's an e4300

The Ethernet doesn't seem to be working, dunno if it's the cruddy viruses, my power line adapter fudged up over 6 months of no use or if that was one of the reasons it was discarded

Still if I can edit Google docs I'll take it. I'll wipe the windows xp and just install Linux and tell you how it goes.
 
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bambiboom

bambiboom

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Apr 7, 2012
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Justiceinacan,

As ColGeek mentioned, reinstalling Windows can format the drive and that will clear everything.

Cheers,

BambiBoom

 
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Justiceinacan

Justiceinacan

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Jul 19, 2016
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I'm about to install Linux, just waiting for my real machine to finish converting the boot image.

It's so slow that I can't even open up basic things fast, but I'm told by the internet of things this has a CORE 2 DUO E4300 and 1 GB DDR2-667 RAM with onboard graphics of some sort that are comparable to a GeForce FX 5200, so it's basically my old Pentium 4 machine but with a better CPU and faster RAM and I could fit my GTX 460 in it provided I DID change the PSU out, or keep it as is.

It's got windows XP media center edition installed btw.

 
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william p

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Sep 22, 2010
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A maxxed out E520 will have a QX6800 CPU, 8GB DDR2-800 RAM, an SSD, and GTX750Ti GPU. D9729 cooler fits.
A modded E520 will have a G0 stepping QX6800, bigger aftermarket PSU, monstrous Delta fan (120mmX50mm 2 motor, or 150mmX50mm single), T9303 cooler, a modded ITX GPU and will benchmark at 3.73GHz.

BTW I also own a T3400, and T3500 .
 
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COLGeek

COLGeek

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Moderator
Apr 6, 2009
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Kind of like a classic hot rod. There are things you can spend money on to maximize its performance, but it is still an old car of limited value compared to a current model.

Personally, given where tech is now (vice when the E520 was current), I would spend no money maxing one out now. I think that money can go a lot farther with modern tech.
 
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william p

Splendid
Sep 22, 2010
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The PSU,GPU, and SSD can all be used on a newer build.
Here's a bench mark on one of these (not mine). http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/3056591
44% of all systems tested CPU and GPU rating. Not too many 10 year old systems can do that. Much less a locked BIOS OEM. Mine scores 8000 in Firestrike. It's also 2nd place at CPUZ for the QX6800 CPU, on a $15 Pentium4 air cooler.
He asked how to make it faster. I told him the facts.
 
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