Where can I buy a cheap PC with a PCI slot?
January 10, 2013 7:49 AM Subscribe
I'd like to buy a cheap desktop PC that has at least one PCI slot (not PCI Express) so that I can install this sound card.
The computer will be used to run one specific piece of software with low performance requirements, so all I need are the minimum specs for the card - Pentium III, 500MHz, 128MB RAM. It's been a while since I've bought a new PC and the stuff I'm seeing from Dell, HP, etc. doesn't seem to have PCI slots.
The computer will be used to run one specific piece of software with low performance requirements, so all I need are the minimum specs for the card - Pentium III, 500MHz, 128MB RAM. It's been a while since I've bought a new PC and the stuff I'm seeing from Dell, HP, etc. doesn't seem to have PCI slots.
You can buy motherboards on Newegg that still have classic PCI support, but I'm not sure about prebuilt machines. It might make more sense to poke around on Craigslist or Ebay and find a really cheap used machine... there are a million old computers lying around collecting dust.
posted by selfnoise at 8:09 AM on January 10, 2013
posted by selfnoise at 8:09 AM on January 10, 2013
I wish I hadn't just sent a machine that would be great for this off to recycling, or I'd just ship it to you.
Phredward, for those adapters to work, it has to be working with a card that is short, height-wise, and that audio card is full height. Unless Philip doesn't mind running it with the case open.
posted by deezil at 8:13 AM on January 10, 2013
Phredward, for those adapters to work, it has to be working with a card that is short, height-wise, and that audio card is full height. Unless Philip doesn't mind running it with the case open.
posted by deezil at 8:13 AM on January 10, 2013
Goodwill. Or ask a local recycling place if they have one knocking about.
posted by holgate at 8:54 AM on January 10, 2013
posted by holgate at 8:54 AM on January 10, 2013
Seconding holgate -- goodwill, craigslist, freecycle, or other similar local resources. The cash value of a Pentium 3 is approximately zero (or less) these days. You can probably find someone who has one that they want to get rid of -- the price of such machines is usually that you have to take the CRT monitor as well :-).
posted by pont at 9:12 AM on January 10, 2013
posted by pont at 9:12 AM on January 10, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions - I'll look into finding a used machine.
posted by Awkward Philip at 9:46 AM on January 10, 2013
posted by Awkward Philip at 9:46 AM on January 10, 2013
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posted by Phredward at 7:54 AM on January 10, 2013