Store or Buy

[kjkiller]

I was wondering if i should buy a computer at best buy, curcit city, etc. and upgrade it as time goes on or should i just build one off newegg????

 

[34erd]

Building from newegg would almost certanly be cheaper and better quality. Whats your budget and uses?

 

[kjkiller]

mostly for gaming and around $900

 

[Mr.Suave]

you could build a better comp for 900 than buying one from best buy. check Computer Specs 101

 

[m3incorp]

Buying from the manufactor will probably be cheaper if looking to go dual core.

 

[Geoff]

Buying from the manufactor will probably be cheaper if looking to go dual core.

What are you talking about? If you buy a Dual Core PC at a store then it includes other crap parts, and most likely integrated graphics.

You would be much better off building one yourself.

 

[computermaineack]

It depends...if you think you're going to be f-ing up your computer, I'd go with a store bought one for the warranty . If you want performace at a cheap price, build your own.

 

[Arctic388]

this was me a few weeks ago and here is what i have selected so far. this is what i have picked. i am currently at about 1000 dollars. with out monitor. i am thinking of lowering my graphics card some and have already lowered my memory and PSU some. but i think this is a very good set-up.

ASPIRE X-CRUISE -BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Model #: X-CRUISE -BK
Item #: N82E16811144151
$69.00
DFI nF4 Ultra-Infinity Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #: nF4 Ultra-Infinity
Item #: N82E16813136163
$88.00
eVGA 256-P2-N553-AX Geforce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
Model #: 256-P2-N553-AX
Item #: N82E16814130283
$189.00
ASPIRE ATX-AS500-YL ATX12V 500W Power Supply - Retail
Model #: ATX-AS500-YL
Item #: N82E16817148004
$59.99
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice 1GHz HT Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3200BWBOX - Retail
Model #: ADA3200BWBOX
Item #: N82E16819103572
$166.00
Patriot Signature Series 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model PSD1G400KH - Retail
Model #: PSD1G400KH
Item #: N82E16820220037
$69.99
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200KS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: WD3200KS
Item #: N82E16822136003
$125.00
AOpen FM56PX 56Kbps Modem - Retail
Model #: FM56PX
Item #: N82E16825131003
$19.99
NEC 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE/ATAPI Model ND-3550A - OEM
Model #: ND-3550A BK OEM
Item #: N82E16827152058
$38.99
Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2 - OEM
Model #: N09-01528
Item #: N82E16837102059
$89.95

Subtotal: $915.91

if you dont need modem subract $20

just my idea.

 

[elmarcorulz]

# DFI nF4 Ultra Infinity [NF4U] ($88.00)
# Corsair Value Select PC3200 2x512 CL2.5 ($67.98)
# Xclio GOODPOWER 500W [12V@29A] ($48.00)
# RAIDMAX xB ATX-528B Case ($22.50)
# AMD Athlon64 X2 4200 [S939, Manchester, ADA4200DAA5BV] ($359.00)
# Maxtor DiamondMax10 200GB 16MB PATA ($89.00)
# Samsung SH-W162Z/BEBN ($36.99)
# Sapphire 100106 Radeon X850XT 256MB ($160.00 after $15.00 MIR)

The gaming machine Praetor spec'd out for $900 from here

 

[Lamilia]

# DFI nF4 Ultra Infinity [NF4U] ($88.00)
# Corsair Value Select PC3200 2x512 CL2.5 ($67.98)
# Xclio GOODPOWER 500W [12V@29A] ($48.00)
# RAIDMAX xB ATX-528B Case ($22.50)
# AMD Athlon64 X2 4200 [S939, Manchester, ADA4200DAA5BV] ($359.00)
# Maxtor DiamondMax10 200GB 16MB PATA ($89.00)
# Samsung SH-W162Z/BEBN ($36.99)
# Sapphire 100106 Radeon X850XT 256MB ($160.00 after $15.00 MIR)

The gaming machine Praetor spec'd out for $900 from here

what if he needs a mouse or a keyboard or win XP? make sure you leave some money for that if you need it I didnt and for a while I had a pc with no OS....or cd drive.

 

[Arctic388]

my outline includes XP but i forgot i havent picked a mouse and keyboard. ( or monitor )

i studied Praetors specs ( thanks Praetor ) to get me started then i improved a little by what i learned and by what replies i got on here.

i also spec'd out machines on
http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv
to see what they were recomending and tried to learn why they did so. to get me started in picking out stuff.

also did some Dell customizing but when it got to be way over budget i dismissed that route.

can also check out pcmag.com and the revies and see if they have reviewed the specific parts you are interested in. i'm still in that process.

good luck with your build and let us know.

 

[Lamilia]

yeah xp is like $200 what a rip-off

 

[Arctic388]

the XP i have picked is $89 not sure what comes with it but it should ok if he's just going to game with it.

 

[Lamilia]

the XP i have picked is $89 not sure what comes with it but it should ok if he's just going to game with it.

oh no don't get that I made the mistake of getting that at first. Its for if you want to upgrade from windows 98 or something.

 

[Arctic388]

noone ever said this.

so on a completely new build what OS should i get ?

 

[Lamilia]

well this is the one I bought: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16837116193
but of course a best buy person gave it to us so there could be cheaper but I wouldnt risk it.

 

[Dr Studly]

ok guys...
he (kjkiller) is my next door neighbor and i know him very well... so u can beleive me on this...
1. just assume he has an operating system... aka don't include it in the price...
2. all he wants is some cheap moitor and mouse and keyboard, as long as it has a decent view... so he can get a better PC...
3. Don't recomend PCs now, cus he isn't buying it until early august/late july (for b-day)
4. and i have been telling him to build... i figured you guys would say the same thing

 

[Arctic388]

well that just makes me wonder about all the replies i got now on my questions cause no one ever pointed that out. that seems like an important factor dont it.

thanks Lamilia

 

[Lamilia]

yup . Ok I forgot best buy doesnt have OEM and newegg.com does so I think that might be the right thing. Just ask someone else I'm busy confusing myself.

 

[4W4K3]

XP is not $200. You can get a brand new XP Home Edition OS from newegg.com for under $100. I bought Home Edition for ~$80 on newegg.com a while ago when it was on salle. Professional should be right under $100. If you paid $200+ you eithe r got ripped or bought multiple licenses or something.

EDIT: Perfectly legit and working Home Edition with SP2 pre-installed - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16837102059
$89