How old is a particular computer model?
May 31, 2011 9:58 PM Subscribe
Is there a way to find out when a specific computer model was first released by the manufacturer, and when new machines stopped being sold?
I tend to look closely at refurbished models when I'm in the market for a new computer, but vendors, including the manufacturers' outlet sites, usually don't make it clear how old a particular model is.
For example, one vendor is currently selling a Dell OptiPlex GX620 (Intel P4 2.8GHz, small form factor) for $149, but it would be great to have an easy way of determining how old the machine is likely to be.
I tend to look closely at refurbished models when I'm in the market for a new computer, but vendors, including the manufacturers' outlet sites, usually don't make it clear how old a particular model is.
For example, one vendor is currently selling a Dell OptiPlex GX620 (Intel P4 2.8GHz, small form factor) for $149, but it would be great to have an easy way of determining how old the machine is likely to be.
Wikipedia is also useful (just search for manufacturer and model. e.g. Dell OptiPlex) to see how old a particular model is relative to the current one.
posted by babbyʼ); Drop table users; -- at 10:41 PM on May 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by babbyʼ); Drop table users; -- at 10:41 PM on May 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
IF you go to dell and type in the service tag on the warranty status page it will tell uyou how long the warranty was and weh nit was bought.
PS DO NOT GET THE GX620 . We have /had them and they were one of the machines with motherboard capacitor problems.. we had to get both the power supplies and motherboards replaced on them. Also some models came with an oem wd raptor drive that had a cheaper motor in it then the retail version and after 3 years they would die.
Stay far far far away from these dell models.
posted by majortom1981 at 6:07 AM on June 1, 2011
PS DO NOT GET THE GX620 . We have /had them and they were one of the machines with motherboard capacitor problems.. we had to get both the power supplies and motherboards replaced on them. Also some models came with an oem wd raptor drive that had a cheaper motor in it then the retail version and after 3 years they would die.
Stay far far far away from these dell models.
posted by majortom1981 at 6:07 AM on June 1, 2011
holgate's answer has worked for me. Another way to do it is to narrow it down by processor. Google the model, see which processors it seems to have come with, and then google when the processors were available.
(For example, that machine likely was available with the higher end P4 processors, but NOT the Core processors. That puts your window from the beginning of the new-style P4 processors to the beginning of the Core processors.)
(Another issue is that the raw age isn't terribly important as much as the capabilities. There are plenty of cases where a used computer can be a year older but still be better than the younger one.)
(I wouldn't spend money on something that many generations old. You are in the "they are ripping you off" territory, unless it has 4gb of RAM and a new HDD. The thing was probably only $600 when it was new, if it was purchased in volume. You are basically paying the retailer pure profit. Hell, they are probably making more profit on those than on a brand new computer. Not that profit is bad, but it is an indication that you aren't getting a great value for your money. If you can find something in the Core 2 or Celeron 4x0 for near that price, you are going to get a better value.)
But yeah, for Dells, get the service tag and you'll have the exact answer. For HPs, the same thing applies. You can actually decode the serial number on your own for those. The first few digits will be something like 2ua512 or 1mx847. The first three digits after the letters should be the year and the week manufactured. (12th week of 2005, or 47th week of 2008)
(This may only apply to the business machines.)
posted by gjc at 6:15 AM on June 1, 2011
(For example, that machine likely was available with the higher end P4 processors, but NOT the Core processors. That puts your window from the beginning of the new-style P4 processors to the beginning of the Core processors.)
(Another issue is that the raw age isn't terribly important as much as the capabilities. There are plenty of cases where a used computer can be a year older but still be better than the younger one.)
(I wouldn't spend money on something that many generations old. You are in the "they are ripping you off" territory, unless it has 4gb of RAM and a new HDD. The thing was probably only $600 when it was new, if it was purchased in volume. You are basically paying the retailer pure profit. Hell, they are probably making more profit on those than on a brand new computer. Not that profit is bad, but it is an indication that you aren't getting a great value for your money. If you can find something in the Core 2 or Celeron 4x0 for near that price, you are going to get a better value.)
But yeah, for Dells, get the service tag and you'll have the exact answer. For HPs, the same thing applies. You can actually decode the serial number on your own for those. The first few digits will be something like 2ua512 or 1mx847. The first three digits after the letters should be the year and the week manufactured. (12th week of 2005, or 47th week of 2008)
(This may only apply to the business machines.)
posted by gjc at 6:15 AM on June 1, 2011
PS DO NOT GET THE GX620 . We have /had them and they were one of the machines with motherboard capacitor problems.. we had to get both the power supplies and motherboards replaced on them. Also some models came with an oem wd raptor drive that had a cheaper motor in it then the retail version and after 3 years they would die.
Yeah, that's an issue with those. What happens is that the fan in the power supply wears out and doesn't properly cool the machine. Which causes the caps to overheat and pop. Newer models of that line (which includes the gx560, I think) have upgraded power supplies with bigger fans. But you don't know what you are getting.
Hard drives are a crapshoot. You never know what you are getting. Retail, OEM or otherwise.
posted by gjc at 6:22 AM on June 1, 2011
Yeah, that's an issue with those. What happens is that the fan in the power supply wears out and doesn't properly cool the machine. Which causes the caps to overheat and pop. Newer models of that line (which includes the gx560, I think) have upgraded power supplies with bigger fans. But you don't know what you are getting.
Hard drives are a crapshoot. You never know what you are getting. Retail, OEM or otherwise.
posted by gjc at 6:22 AM on June 1, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions!
I like holgate's answer a lot as well, especially when combined with Google's Timeline display of results (look on the left sidebar, under Search Tools).
posted by woodman at 2:16 AM on June 2, 2011
I like holgate's answer a lot as well, especially when combined with Google's Timeline display of results (look on the left sidebar, under Search Tools).
posted by woodman at 2:16 AM on June 2, 2011
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posted by holgate at 10:21 PM on May 31, 2011