# Recommend a place to buy a dirt cheap older computer for a home Linux file server
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-place-to-buy-a-dirt-cheap-older-computer-for-a-home-linux-file-server/338631
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [January 5, 2006, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-place-to-buy-a-dirt-cheap-older-computer-for-a-home-linux-file-server/338631 "2006-01-05T20:54:16Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2006, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-place-to-buy-a-dirt-cheap-older-computer-for-a-home-linux-file-server/338631/1 "2006-01-05T20:54:16Z")
I have an old Pentium 200 machine that I am using as a Linux file server. Unfortunately, it is beginning to show signs that something might die one day.
Where can I find a very inexpensive replacement machine?
I’m looking for some factory outlet or refurbished machine kind of place that you trust. (I’m still too chicken to do eBay).
I’m looking for anything better than what I have. \>1ghz would be nice. Ability to handle drives \> 128GB would also be nice (though not a deal breaker).
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### Author:  [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2006, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-place-to-buy-a-dirt-cheap-older-computer-for-a-home-linux-file-server/338631/2 "2006-01-05T20:58:35Z")
Darn it! I meant for this to go into IMHO. Will a kind moderator please move it on its way?
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### Author:  [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2006, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-place-to-buy-a-dirt-cheap-older-computer-for-a-home-linux-file-server/338631/3 "2006-01-05T21:00:01Z")
Depends what you mean by “inexpensive” and “dirt cheap”. You might want to try Ebay. They seem to have lots of computers for sale…
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### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2006, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-place-to-buy-a-dirt-cheap-older-computer-for-a-home-linux-file-server/338631/4 "2006-01-05T21:43:18Z")
Yeah get this to IMHO. Might even ask to rename the thread “Anyone have an old cheap computer for sale?”
If you’d have posted this 3 months ago I’d have had 2 for ya 🙂
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### Author:  [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2006, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-place-to-buy-a-dirt-cheap-older-computer-for-a-home-linux-file-server/338631/5 "2006-01-05T22:16:37Z")
[Craigslist ads for computers in New Jersey](http://newjersey.craigslist.org/sys/).
Several there in the last couple days that might suit for peanuts.
In my experience, classifieds aren’t any riskier than “used computer stores” – and you have the advantage over eBay in that you can take a look at 'em before you buy 'em.
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### Author:  [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2006, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-place-to-buy-a-dirt-cheap-older-computer-for-a-home-linux-file-server/338631/6 "2006-01-05T23:27:24Z")
I’d recommend the classifieds, or something like BuySell (formerly, and still in Edmonton, “The Bargain Finder”). I have some old PCs myself that I’m working around to sticking in there, and while there’s always someone who thinks that just 'cause they paid 2 grand for their 486 that it’s worth 1800 today, there’s other people who underestimate (or just don’t care).
If you could somehow check with businesses that use PCs, you might end up with stuff for free. I snag the hardware that gets ditched when our clients send in stuff that’s not worth repairing. I’m 2nd in line behind our IT guy, but these days it’s still averaging in the K6-2 500, 128M RAM range for PCs, PII 300 x 32M for laptops, which is how I upgraded _my_ Linux box a few months ago, and how I surf from my couch at home. 😃
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### Author:  [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2006, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-place-to-buy-a-dirt-cheap-older-computer-for-a-home-linux-file-server/338631/7 "2006-01-06T02:03:08Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#):
>
> Darn it! I meant for this to go into IMHO. Will a kind moderator please move it on its way?
\
Your wish is my command. To a point, of course.
Off to IMHO
\
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### Author:  [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2006, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-place-to-buy-a-dirt-cheap-older-computer-for-a-home-linux-file-server/338631/8 "2006-01-06T06:58:56Z")
East Coast, I couldn’t say, but there’s a local Goodwill store that specializes in computers. I’ve bought one or two monitors there over the years. I imagine they test the equipment enough to make sure it works, but more than that your on your own - but dirt cheap it is.
(Is Goodwill Industries a national thing, or only West Coast?) (It’s a non-profit organization that provides training for the differrently-abled, or whatever the PC term is nowadays.)