Posted: 4/18/2003 10:09:18 AM EDT
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I need to find a good source for getting a PC built. My roomate wants me to build the best system he can get for $1,300 - $1,500. Basic specs - 2.4 or higher P4 (not averse to Athlon but the price difference seems negligible), 1 GB Rambus RAM, 8x AGP Motherboard, ATI 9700 Pro Video Card, Soundblaster Audigy, good speakers (this will be his bedroom stereo), CD/RW and DVD-ROM drives, keyboard, etc. . . I'm looking for a website that will allow me to custom configure the box. It needs to be outside of California (sales tax), on the lower end of the pricing scale, reputable and reliable. Thanks for any info. Shorty |
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Quoted: Quoted: Jut tell him to buy a Dell and be done with it. Same system from Dell = $600 more. . . . Yeah until you actually select some options then it's back to ~$1200. The $600 computers use M$ Works, not Office and usually the low end of memory. As soon as you customise the computer at all, you lose the 'special offer' price. But still, building computers today is not as cheap as it was a few years ago compared to what you can buy online premade. They get you with the software. I can build a system identical to an online one, use parts I like and trust and come just a hair under their price...without an OS or Office, virus protection, etc.... It's getting harder to beat them unless you use cheaper stuff. |
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do it yourself. It's easy. And every part will be to YOUR specs. and you won't be at the mercy of what some company offers. My first PC was with a "custom PC builder" and they SUCKED. They delivered way later than they promised (and I had to yell and scream and start the process for denying payment on my credit card which they had already billed). And you'll be able to get the lowest prices for better stuff just by shopping around. I just built a system with those specs: MSI (Intel 845PE) Mobo--~$150 Intel P4 2.4 Northwood--~$170 ATI Radeon 9700-$299 512 MB Corsair XMS Memory-~$180 Antec Case with 435 watt power supply-~$125 Maxtor 60 GB HD (leftover from old system)~$150 That's right around $1050. You could go cheaper on the memory and the case and save ~$150. You could even go cheaper on the mobo (mine is a top o the line, everything but the kitchen sink model) and save more. And, you could do a Radeon 9500 and save even more (and the 9500 performs almost the same with overclocking as the 9700--and, the 9800's just came out, so expect some price drops there too). Provided you already have the OS and a monitor, you've got a top performing system and it's done to your specs for cheaper than any PC builder will do it. If you can put slot A into Tab B, use a screwdriver, and load OS drivers, you can build a PC. And, if you need the OS, use Ebay. Trust me, you won't pay full retail for WinXP there. There are great deals to be had on OSs on Ebay. Generic Keyboards are $10. Use the onboard sound on a mobo--it sounds about the same and you save $150--Audigy is nice but not really necessary unless you are doing real audio mixing, recording etc. I just dumped my SBLive! for onboard sound and will never go back--it even has a coax S/PDIF for Dolby Digital and DTS to use with movies! All in one DVD/Cd-RWs are available now for about ~150. If you take the money saving steps I mentioned above, you're still less than $1200 bucks. Good speakers can be had for $50--full surround set-ups for $150. The real high-end is $350+. Just use common sense. |
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Get the parts from www.outpost.com and put it together yourself....or if you have a FRY's electronics store around you, go there and get the parts. Building a computer isn't all that hard. Just take your time and make sure all the cards and memory chips are seated properly. |
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Thanks for the fast replies. I could build it myself but my roomate would rather get it "Prebuilt" so that there would be a warranty. I'm going to get the best price I can for a prebuilt system online and then compare it to buying the parts at Fry's down the street from me. Of course I need to add the cost of a pizza and a 12 pack to the Fry's price. [beer] |
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the best computer will be one you build yourself (if you know what your doing) or a custom system by an "honest" company (essentially the same thing as if you do it yourself). TigerDirect systems that i have seen use some questionable parts... Dell is an evil company that needs to get busted by the feds... they cost a little bit more but probablly will be cheaper in the long run: alienware |
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Warranty! Ha! Ha! Ha! Good luck on getting anything out of some of these small outfits (Dell/Gateway might be better). Besides, most reputable parts suppliers (like Newegg) will give you an RMA if the part is DOA (Newegg is real good about it) and I've had good luck with manufacturer's warranties (took about 10 days for Asus to replace a bad motherboard). I've been down the road you want to go. Such "warranties" and promises of "in-home" repair etc. are usually more troube than they are worth (and what you pay for them). Either get a Dell/Gateway, or do it yourself. Don't mess around with the smaller shops etc. unless you have prior good experience with them and are certain they will support you. |
| I'll go with the build yourself crowd. My 2 high school children ages 16 & 17 built a computer from components with very little help from me. These two are about as neophyte as you can get mechanically. They bought the motherboard, ADM Athlon 2100 CPU(I recommend that you get the one with the factory fan with a 3 yr warranty vs. the 1 yr w/o fan), vid card, case, hard drive, & MS Windows. They were done in day, and the system screams. They spent a total of $600. |
| get a dell or gateway- the things are ready to go and tested and you can get drivers and updates direct very eaisly. You put together one, you risk compatibility issues and crap like that. If your dell breaks, you call em and they send a tech or parts the next day |
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If you have any pc skills BUILD IT YOURSELF. All parts will have at least a 1 yr warranty. The only reason to buy dell or gateway is phone support. Keep in mind you will have long hold times and 9 times out of 10 times the answer they give you will be reformat and reload the system. You will get access to on site repairs but don't count on them getting done in a timely fashion. I used to do gateway and dell onsite service when i worked in the pc group with IBM. Frequently they sent wrong parts or the call was held for several weeks before being released to us. We generally got to the customer within 48-72hrs of getting the call. Let me give you some advise... DO NOT BUY A DELL! I have MANY horror stories of poorly built systems that failed. Gateway was somewhat better but not by much. If you can not build it yourself look for a local shop to build for you. Most of those guys are fairly honest and you have a person to deal with when something goes wrong. Ask up front about warranties, return policy and after the sale service. mike |
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I thougt you people knew how to use the internet...[;D] go to [url]www.pricewatch.com[/url] and look for parts or systems. Cheapest prices on the net since they just sort and list all companies prices. You may have to ask company for "Pricewatch Price" if the price is not the same on their website. They must honor the advertised price and shipping costs that are listed on pricewatch. |
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Quoted: I thougt you people knew how to use the internet...[;D] go to [url]www.pricewatch.com[/url] and look for parts or systems. Cheapest prices on the net since they just sort and list all companies prices. You may have to ask company for "Pricewatch Price" if the price is not the same on their website. They must honor the advertised price and shipping costs that are listed on pricewatch. Yep, use it all the time. The trick to pricewatch.com is not only finding a good price, but finding a good vendor who also has a good price. I just don't deal with some of those outfits with the lowest prices anymore because many of them are fly by nights. I have a few that I use now that have really good service and are at least competitive on prices if not the absolute cheapest. newegg.com is one. allstarmicro.com is a really good one but not the cheapest at all. monarchcomputer.com is ok. compuplus.com is cheap and delivers quickly. I use newegg quite a bit and have always had good luck--even with RMA's. |
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Try [url]www.project-ind.com[/url] I've bought 3 systems from them and they will configure it to your specifications. Very good service and decent prices for a performance system (most of their upgrade options are the current 'hot' motherboard cpu/combos). I was in the same boat as you, wanted a performance system but was tired of getting a bunch of different shit and assembling it myself. check them out, I've been very happy with 'em. |
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Quoted: They get you with the software. I can build a system identical to an online one, use parts I like and trust and come just a hair under their price...without an OS or Office, virus protection, etc.... It's getting harder to beat them unless you use cheaper stuff. Software? Isn't that why Al Gore invented Usenet? [;)] |
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[url]www.cyberpowerpc.com[/url] where i built mine from, they have good prices, especially on their AMD systems, i would recommend staying away from Rambus RAM, as its overpriced Definately stay away from Dell, HP, etc...you'll just end up paying way too much for crap you don't need the system i built would have cost $300 more if i had gone with a Dell or other 'name brand' |