Cube for $50 - Should I Get It?

[zflauaus]

I'm browsing a website (won't name which because I don't want the offer to go away... I'm greedy...) and I came across a listing for a G4 Cube 500MHz for $50. It has no hard drive, not sure about cables, but has 128MB of RAM. Is it worth it to get the cube, go on eBay and get the power cables/other cables necessary? Thanks.

 

[IJ Reilly]

I'd be interested to know about the cosmetic condition, but if you really want a Cube, they won't go any cheaper unless somebody gives one away. Still you're going to have to spend at least a couple hundred more making this Cube useful.

 

[zflauaus]

Yeah, I've been looking at prices of the parts I need and it seems like it wouldn't be worth the hassle. New power supply, new hard drive, memory, OS. Hmm... I'm thinking I'll just pass on this.

 

[tristan]

Yeah, no power supply, that's crazy. How do you know it even works? Might be busted.

 

[queshy]

hmm it seems pretty empty...id look around for a fuller one, or else I'd pass.

 

[KD7IWP]

Buy a Mac Mini and put it inside there. If space doesn't matter to you, the look of the Cube is pretty sweet.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Buy a Mac Mini and put it inside there.

Yuk. Please don't buy a Cube just to butcher the thing.

Anyway, a hard drive is maybe $50, about another $150 for a power supply and more RAM. Still not a bad deal for a Cube, again assuming it's in good cosmetic shape.

 

[disconap]

I'd be interested to know about the cosmetic condition, but if you really want a Cube, they won't go any cheaper unless somebody gives one away. Still you're going to have to spend at least a couple hundred more making this Cube useful.

I disagree; ram and hdd for that, if you're patient, could end up costing about $80 for serviceable (one 512 stick and a 40gb hdd is plenty). As for the cables, the only cable I know of on the cube is the power cable, which you can replace with a generic $5 computer power supply cable.

If the power supply and processor work and the heat sink isn't damaged, that's an awesome price!

EDIT: you should clarify whether or not the actual power supply, or just the power supply cable, is missing.

 

[IJ Reilly]

EDIT: you should clarify whether or not the actual power supply, or just the power supply cable, is missing.

I assumed from the description that the power supply was missing. Replacing it could cost as much as $100; hence my total of around $200 to get the Cube working. But like I said, $50 is as close to a complete giveaway as you can get, and worth it assuming the Cube is not beat up.