Introduction
The $20 Purple Pawnshop PC is an interesting piece of technology that I recently had the chance to review. While it may not be the latest and greatest device on the market, it still holds some potential for those on a tight budget. In this article, I will delve into the various aspects of this PC and provide an honest evaluation of its performance and overall value for money.
The $20 Purple Pawnshop PC Review
The $20 Purple Pawnshop PC Review
Initial Impressions
This thing is a rather filthy sorry about the car in the background, yeah I’m just gonna. Do a quick cleanup of this thing, so this thing was 20 bucks with uh no cable as is, and it is a evil computer um. The label was stripped off, so I can’t actually see what kind of computer this was its an EVO Evie something but let’s see if it turns on okay, so the power light flashed for a second, then just turned right back off interesting keep cleaning this thing up, Real quick, except with the sticker, rather do off all right, so I think the battery on this yeah this is, do keep in mind.
Design
This is a very wonky computer, lovely color scheme, but a very strange computer to say at least it hopefully has Windows 10 on it, since it is showing to be a more recent Celeron yeah. This is there. It goes almost there. It goes so here. One thing about prying open your case using a screwdriver. Is you don’t want to stick it in too deep going just straight because it might pierce the component all right so inside we have? Oh, that looks to be broken. If you look in here, tab that holds in the battery is just barely hanging on by a thread and it just broke off. So my confidence is very high. That was also sarcasm. This looks to be a dual Cell lithium. I don’t know look.
Performance
Testing the performance of the $20 Purple Pawnshop PC was a bit challenging due to its wonky nature. The computer seemed to struggle with basic tasks and often lagged or froze. Opening simple applications took longer than expected and the overall user experience was not smooth.
However, it should be noted that considering the price and condition of the PC, the performance was not completely unexpected. This is not a high-end machine and should not be treated as such.
Features
The $20 Purple Pawnshop PC lacks any significant features or upgrades. The stripped-off label makes it difficult to determine the exact specifications and capabilities of the computer. It seems to be running on Windows 10 and has a Celeron processor, but beyond that, there is not much information available.
One interesting feature, however, is the unique purple color scheme of the computer. While not a functional aspect, it adds a touch of individuality to an otherwise unremarkable machine.
The Initial Attempt
Upon receiving the PC, my first task was to check if it would turn on. Unfortunately, my initial attempt proved unsuccessful, and the device remained lifeless. Determined not to give up so easily, I decided to let the battery charge for a few hours before trying again.
A DIY Solution
To my surprise, even after leaving the PC plugged in for a significant amount of time, the battery showed no signs of life. Frustrated with the situation, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I retrieved an old Chromebook cable that charges at 12 volts and 2.2 amps, which matched the specifications required by the PC.
The Soldering Iron Adventure
With the soldering iron in hand, I started to work on the PC. Despite some initial hiccups and a slow heating process, the soldering iron eventually began to function properly. I could smell some fumes, indicating that progress was being made. However, I needed to act quickly to prevent any potential damage.
The Smoke Detector Drama
As I continued to solder, I couldn’t help but worry about the smoke detector going off. The fumes were becoming stronger, and I anxiously tried to complete the task at hand. Thankfully, the smoke detector remained silent, allowing me to focus on the job.
The Final Outcome
After carefully applying the solder, I successfully coated the necessary wires. It was a tedious process, but eventually, I managed to complete the task. The PC now showed signs of life, and it was time to see if all my efforts were worthwhile.
Testing the PC
Only a bit of lung cancer levels of smoke, so nothing too bad, but uh. The tip on this is a bit loose. We lost a blob, come on, I dont have all day but um. I think that Smokes coming from this pre fluxed wire rub it on here. All nice and good foreign do remember that I dont really solder anything so heat up a bit and that just do the exact opposite of what I wanted it to do.
Using IDE for Soldering
Hmm all right! Sue now its time to pull in something that I didnt want to have to go to yet, but its not leaving me much of a choice, good old IDE. So if you do, if you dont know, take a bit of IDE and you cut off, however much youre gon na use, so for me I need two strips gon na. Take it and you peel it apart, you dont need.
Creating Soldering Points
Third, one just need one and two slice it up in the middle. To make my life a bit easier, and now you have some decent soldering points. Im going to strip this wire there we go nice little bit of wire, so lets hope this works.
Successful Soldering
Thats not gon na work Bingo, we got it so tip a is now on and do be very careful doing this like. I am in no means qualified to be doing this, but Im doing it anyway, because skirt this laptop is gon na die anyway, but uh.
The $20 Purple Pawnshop PC Review
Introduction
If you don’t know what you’re doing, definitely don’t try this out like I’m doing now for the jankiest connection of the year and a bit more to the tip here, just dollop it on there gotta there. It goes, and this is by no means a safe connection, but it’s a connection that’s all I care about right now, very very janky connection, so I’m gonna clean up some of these stray wires a bit more to it and there we go all right guys.
Initial Setup and Boot
As you can see, after letting it charge for a bit after wiring up that new cord, it does actually turn on and it boots. We’ve got a fresh install of Windows, so I’m gonna get MSI afterburner installed on this thing and I’m gonna plug in some games and see how it runs. Let’s hope this thing doesn’t start a fire all right.
Performance and Gaming Experience
So, as you can see here, I have booted up Henry Stickman. It is running 22 frames, which is somewhat appalling for a game. The quality, well, just say mainly just cutscenes and only 22 frames a second for reference.
Storage Limitations
As you can see, this side of the screen is dead, it all says such slow. It only has 32 gigs of storage, which limits the possibilities. I am not actually able to run screen capture software on here, which is actually pretty disappointing.
The $20 Purple Pawnshop PC Review
Performance and Compatibility
The $20 Purple Pawnshop PC is not designed for high-performance gaming. It struggles to run Source games and lacks the necessary strength to handle them. It is also limited in terms of VRAM, further hindering its gaming capabilities. Additionally, the old Microsoft Intel IMS does not offer much improvement in terms of gaming performance.
Portal Experience
Despite its limitations, the $20 Purple Pawnshop PC manages to run Portal, although with noticeable difficulties. It takes a considerable amount of time to load, and due to the absence of screen capture functionality, the game is played in an unconventional manner. The performance is significantly compromised, evident in the game firing blue at random.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the $20 Purple Pawnshop PC is a budget option that may be suitable for basic tasks such as web browsing and document editing. However, its performance limitations and lack of features make it unsuitable for more demanding tasks such as gaming or multimedia editing.
If you’re on a tight budget and need a simple computer for basic use, the $20 Purple Pawnshop PC could be a viable option. Just don’t expect high-end performance or extensive features.
While the $20 Purple Pawnshop PC may require some DIY work and perseverance to get it up and running, it ultimately proved to be a functional device. It serves as a testament to the potential hidden within seemingly outdated technologies. With the right tools and a little determination, one can turn a neglected piece of equipment into a useful asset.
In conclusion, if you are willing to invest some time and effort into refurbishing a budget PC, the $20 Purple Pawnshop PC could be a viable option for you. However, it is important to keep in mind that this process may not be suitable for everyone, especially those who prefer ready-to-use devices.
In conclusion, the $20 Purple Pawnshop PC provides a janky connection and limited performance due to its storage limitations. While it may be able to boot and run some games, the overall gaming experience is subpar. Considering the low price, it may be an acceptable option for those in need of a basic computer setup, but for gamers or those requiring higher performance, it is not recommended.
While it may be amusing to experiment with the $20 Purple Pawnshop PC, it is not meant for serious gaming. Its lack of performance and compatibility with Source games make it a no-go for gaming enthusiasts. However, considering its low price tag, it can still serve basic computing needs and simple tasks.
