Help me decide

[5Terabytes]

My machine has served me well since December, 2005. However, now I need a new one. The worst thing is purchased a new 24" monitor, then had to go with a new graphics card -- but since this machine doesn't have the PCI-E-16 slots for graphics, and this machine was made for AGPx8, and the monitor required Hi-Def. Now, the graphics is bogging down my whole system.
I've seen something on Buy.com that altogether interests me -- but you folks seem to have a sharp eye for good deals. (I'm not a gamer, but a multitasker, an engineer using 5TB memory with 6 drives.)
Anyway, here's the system I'm looking at (and because of price vs. performance, you've all talked me out of Core i7 at this moment):

Gateway LX6810-01 Desktop, Intel Core2 Quad Processor Q8200 2.33Ghz, 8192MB, 640GB,DVDRW, Keyboard and Mouse, Remote Control, Windows Vista Home Premium, Factory Refurbished. (Which in my past experience has meant kinks have been worked out, much less the price.) This system (w/o monitor) is $499.99 (shipped).

Features:
Intel Core2 Quad Processor Q8200, 1333MHz frontside bus, 4MB L2 cache and 2.33GHz processor speed per core.
Intel® Smart Memory Access.
Intel Advanced Digital Media Boost accelerates the execution of Streaming SIMD Extension (SSE) instructions to significantly improve the Media Boost performance on a broad range of applications .
8GB (8192MB) 800MHz DDR2 Dual Channel Memory (4×2048MB Modules).
NVIDIA® GeForce® GT120 Graphics with 1GB DDR2 Total Video Memory
HDMI output.
640GB 7200RPM SATA II hard drive with 16MB Cache.
15-in-1 High Speed Digital Media Card Reader with Smart Copy Button .
10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port) .
18X DVD +/- RW Super Multi-Format Dual Layer Drive featuring Labelfash Technology.
Built-in HD TV tuner.
8-Channel (7.1) High Definition Audio with Dolby Home Theater® Sound.
Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit with SP1 preloaded.

In the box:
Gateway LX6810-01 Desktop Computer
Keyboard
Mouse
Windows Vista Media Center Remote Control
USB Speakers
IR Blaster Cable
DVI to VGA Video Adapter
S-Video to RCA adapter
Power Cable

Tech Specs
Processor: Intel® Core™2 Quad Processor Q8200 2.33GHz, 1333MHz FSB, 4MB L2 cache
Operating System:Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium (64-bit) with SP1
Memory: 8192MB 800MHz DDR2 Dual Channel Memory (4 x 2048MB Modules)
Chassisremium Tower Desktop with Media Control Interface
Video: NVIDIA® GeForce® GT120 Graphics with 1GB DDR2 Total Video Memory
Hard Drive: 640GB 7200RPM SATA II hard drive with 16MB Cache
External Ports:
•(6) USB 2.0 ports (2 Front, 4 Rear)
•(2) IEEE 1394a Ports (1 Front, 1 Rear)
•VGA (Rear)
•(3) Front RCA Ports (Video, Left/Right Audio)
•(2) PS/2 Ports
•HDMI (Rear)
•DVI (Rear)
Application Software:Microsoft® Works 9.0, Microsoft® Money Essentials & Microsoft® Office Home and Student 2007 (60-day complimentary trial period)
Audio: 8-Channel (7.1) High Definition Audio with Dolby Home Theater® Sound
Available Expansion Slots: Available: 0 - PCI-E x16, 0 - PCI-E x1, 1 - PCI
Digital Media Software: Cyberlink® Power2 Go™, & Cyberlink® LabelPrint
Dimensions (Box): 11.42" (H) x 23.68" (W) x 19.6" (D) or 290mm (H) x 602mm (W) x 498mm (D)
Dimensions (System): 17.7" (H) x 7.5" (W) x 19.0" (D) or 449mm (H) x 191mm (W) x 482mm (D) (room for some of my 1TB SATA drives)
Keyboard: Premium Multimedia Keyboard
Media Card Reader: 15-in-1 High Speed Digital Media Card Reader with Smart Copy Button
Memory Capacity: Maximum 8GB
Modem: 56K ITU V.92 ready Fax/Modem (RJ-11 port)
Motherboard: Systemboard with NVIDIA® nForce® 720i Chipset (MCP7A-D)
Mouse:USB Optical 2-Button Wheel Mouse
Network:10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port)
Optical Drive: 18X DVD +/- RW Super Multi-Format Dual Layer Drive featuring Labelfashâ„¢ Technology
Power Supply:400W Power Supply
Remote: Vista Media Center Remote Control
Speakers: Amplified Stereo Speakers (USB Powered)
TV Tuner: Analog/Digital TV Tuner with 3-D Comb Filter

For a quick fix, with everything, to replace my old Dell Dimension 8300 -- and spending only $499.99, could you guys give me any suggestions.

Best regards!

 

[Trotter]

The onboard graphics will be the weak spot on that system, but the rest looks good enough for that price. You couldn't build it for that.

The Q8200 lacks virtualization, so if you went with Windows 7 later on you would not be able to use the XP mode in it.

It has a 400W PSU which would limit you as far as which graphics card you could run, but a 400W will run a 4670 just fine.

All in all, it's not bad for a pre-built.

 

[EnToxication]

On board graphics can do alot these days. They even play CS 1.6 at 100fps. I was amazed.

 

[Trotter]

Oops. Seems that GT120 is not an onboard chip, but a card. It is a rebranded 9500 GT, from what I find online. It currently ranks at #53 on our Graphics Performance List. Considering I started out with a 7800 GT in my rig (which now ranks at #59), the GT120 looks to be better than onboard graphics.

With that said, the 4670 (ranked at #33) would make a very nice addition to this system. Considering the boost it would deliver for $70, it would well be worth considering.
Newegg.com - XFX HD-467X-ZDF2 Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

 

[veg1992]

Oops. Seems that GT120 is not an onboard chip, but a card. It is a rebranded 9500 GT, from what I find online. It currently ranks at #53 on our Graphics Performance List. Considering I started out with a 7800 GT in my rig (which now ranks at #59), the GT120 looks to be better than onboard graphics.

With that said, the 4670 (ranked at #33) would make a very nice addition to this system. Considering the boost it would deliver for $70, it would well be worth considering.
Newegg.com - XFX HD-467X-ZDF2 Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Go with this HD 4670 instead:

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100295HDMI Radeon HD 4670 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

or one other GDDR3 ones

Or maybe step it up to an HD 4850 for $20 more.

 

[Trotter]

Lifetime warranty > 2 year warranty... even if it costs $3 more.

4850 requires a 450W PSU.