Is this a good buy?

Okay, geeks and geekettes - I'm planning on buy a new computer soon. I've been looking for a deal. Tell me what you think of this one? I don't trust my own knowledge to buy one without some help.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=572480&Sku=SYX-P4-036041

Thanks!

oh no bhodi thats awful!!!
most prebuilt systems suck. if you want i can get you a nice setup for much less than that.

Actually, that system would handle SL well, but I have to agree with Eggy on price. You can probably get more for less if you find a small, local shop to build you one.

Personally, I build my own, and I can put together a pretty good machine dirt cheap.

I'm with them on this Bhodi I also build my own for alot cheaper and know local computer builders can put one together for you at a much better deal.

do you think that if I arrange AOL CD's in a pentagram I will be able to use the powers of darkness to control the actions of mortals?

Tried that Darwin. The results were unexpected and unpleasant. I don't recommend it.

Where do you all buy your parts?

I didnt buy my parts, I was born with them.
I buy my parts from whoever is selling them cheapest. They're all the same model from the same manufacturer so there is zero justification for spending a single cent more than the bare minimum.

Personally, I go to the grocery store and buy lots of pork. Gonna get me a pot bellied pig on the installment plan. Bulk sausage makes great putty for filling in the cracks and...

Oh, you meant COMPUTER parts!

For me, its a combination of local shops, weekly computer shows held in the D.C. metro area, and mainstream retailers like Best Buy and Circuit City.

A school I recently worked for (a couple of years ago ) bought
16 computers from that same company. ( Within 12 months of their purchase 14 had failed .)


You get exactly what you pay for . I have a Major Brand name computer that is 2 years old and has never so much as hiccuped since i purchased it . Before this computer I purchased a $1200 machine from an online shopping service . The Hd Failed in 3 weeks . and i Immediatly got a refund and bought a major brand. Ill stick with My Major Brand Name with the 3 year warrenty.

Sorry guys! I was viewing this thread while browsing another forum, and replied here instead of there

Okay - if, say, one were insufficiently geeky to build her own computer and lived in a backwater where local shops that did such things were a dream of the future - and figured that having Eggy build it and ship it would be much more trouble than it was worth! - THEN would that be a decent system to buy?

Thanks!

If you want the stability and support go Dell or Gateway. (never dealt with gateway though...)

I did a little research in the latest local _Computer_User_ publication and it appears that the system you're looking at is competetive for a pre-assembled system. The closest thing I could find as an off-the-shelf system from a hole in the wall shop in SF was about $950 and that was without the video card and Windoze install.

I also added up most of the parts (if you were to buy them from mom&pop computer stores) and came up with about $634... minus the CPU (for which I couldn't find a listed price) and the Windoze XP. I'm guessing that when you add those two missing pieces and you would get pretty close to the purchase price of the online buy.

Adding the convenience of not having to assemble the components then install the OS, I would have to conclude that it is a good buy.

Incidentally, the combination of Intel motherboard and nVidia graphics card is perhaps the most stable hardware configuration for running SL.

WOW Andrew, thanks for doing all that work to give me an answer! And, on that advice, once the holiday bonus check arrives I'll be buying it! My current, poor little computer just isn't keeping up with SL the way I would like it to.

If you don't know much about computers, I'd suggest a Dell. They are very stable and if something goes wrong with the parts, they will come to your house and replace it.

Dells are good for power users that don't want to be bothered, or especially those with no patience to build one... When I decide I'm doing a total upgrade of my system...I want it now....NOW!!!!!

Be careful getting a Dell if you want to play SL. Dell favours Intel graphics cards, which are not compatible.

You can configure when you buy a Dell and make it how you like it. I have been a long time (and happy) Dell user.

The biggest issue I have with them is the parts are proprietary. When mine started running hot (too many things added?) I had few choices regarding cooling. I can't switch cases, the MB won't fit in off the shelf cases and some parts dont come out without a soldering iron & hammer.

I'm strongly considering building my next one. It should be awhile though (I hope) before I need a new box.

Yes Dell will repair or replace defective parts, however you will pay for the mere potential of service, and then arranging repairs can take time and be a hassel. For those who have _no_ interest in opening their box then that is a good way to go ==> buy Dell.

However, it's usually faster and cheaper to replace parts yourself. So for those who have the know-how and/or an interest in picking up some of the know-how then buying a computer without a service system attached has its advantages. These days the odds are that nothing will break, but if something does then the process of fixing it yourself will at best be doable, will at least be a learning experience, and an unlikely worse-case scenario will be an expensive service at your local repair shop.

So here is another option for the Bhodi's out there who want to learn a little bit about computer assembly and who have a friend who knows enough to be helpful: (1) Buy a bare-bones system (case, MB, CPU) from a mom&pop that builds them from off-the-shelf parts. (2) Buy the rest separately from the cheapest convenient source (usually this will be online or from a big cheap place like Fry's) (3) Get your friend to help you plug all of the pieces into the right slots (don't let your friend do all the work) (4) install the OS.

This won't be much cheaper than buying the aforementioned preassembled system and will be more work/time/frustration. The advantages will be some knowledge about computer assembly and a completely off-the-shelf box that will usually be easier to repair/upgrade than a proprietary Dell box.

I have the same problem with my HP box MJ. I'm sure if I'd just used the intel graphics chip on the mobo it would have been fine, but I disabled it and added an nvidia card (which is now dead due to heat damage). The only things I can do to try to make it so the replacement card doesn't fry is to either add a slot fan (requires an empty slot) or run with the case open. Also I used to let the computer stay on 24/7. I now make sure to turn it off when it's not in use.

I am a Dell user too. And I build computers at work a whole lot. When I am home, I don't want to be bothered building boxes.

I have had a number of Dells and they all were fine, no hardware issues, but I probs upgraded all of them myself. I have found the customer service to be very good, but I think they are going to start farming it outside of the US now, so I dunno...



fen-

You can get a very comparable Compaq or HP with a 17" monitor and printer for that price at the big box stores - after the rebates, that is.