$200 Computer at Fry's

[NogginBoink]

Fry's Dallas has a full computer for $199.99 advertised today.

Sempron XP 2200+, 128MB/40GB, 52X CD, 10/100 integrated NIC, 56K modem, running Linspire.

I don't know what the mobo is, but I'm sure it's a cheapie.

(The wife is gonna kill me, I just know it...)

 

[esquared]

Originally posted by: NogginBoink
Fry's Dallas has a full computer for $199.99 advertised today.

Sempron XP 2200+, 128MB/40GB, 52X CD, 10/100 integrated NIC, 56K modem, running Linspire.

I don't know what the mobo is, but I'm sure it's a cheapie.

(The wife is gonna kill me, I just know it...)

I picked up several of these for people over the last few months and it was an ECS 741GX/ Here are the specs here. ECS 741GX

PS. I know it's past but yesterday at the Bay Area Fry's, this computer with an XP2000+ instead of the Sempron 2200+ was 169.99. I mention that as a heads up for you in your area, since quite often I see it selling for 179.99 or in this case 169.99. The XP 2000+ runs at 1667 MHz and 266 FSB and the Sempron 2200+ runs at 1530 MHz but at a 333 FSB.

 

[pxc]

Originally posted by: NogginBoinkI don't know what the mobo is, but I'm sure it's a cheapie.

I bought the same computer on Black Friday for $99.

I uses the ECS 741GX-M with 400MHz FSB and PC3200 support even though it's not mentioned in the manual. The whole system is actually made by ECS. The hard drive is 7200RPM, the memory is TwinMOS PC2700 and the outpost product page has a several errors.

The FSB is actually 333MHz, it uses 184-pin DDR memory, the motherboard supports up to 400MHz FSB CPUs and up to PC3200 memory (i.e. plug in PC3200 memory and it will automatically recognize it as PC3200). And memory is expandable to 2GB (2 slots). The page says 1GB in one place and 2GB in the other.

Overclocking is very rudimentary, just FSB and memory overclock/ratio support -- no voltage adjustments or FSB locking. But PCI and AGP run in spec if you select 100MHz DDR, 133MHz DDR, 166MHz DDR or 200MHz DDR FSB speeds.

The fan is also kind of noisy, but you can do a 7v mod to quiet it down reliably. I run mine at 1.8GHz (Sempron 2200+ = 1.5GHz stock) and 512MB PC3200 memory with a 7v modded fan.

 

[Reiniku]

several people have complained that they have trouble getting xp on this system. they end up having to stick to linspire or just returning it

 

[tfinch2]

This has been advertised for the passed couple of weeks now. It's not really a hot deal...

sempron/mobo combo - 70
128 stick of memory - 20
cd rom - 10
cheapy case and psu - 20
hd - 40
video card - 30

total = 190

 

[esquared]

Originally posted by: Reiniku
several people have complained that they have trouble getting xp on this system. they end up having to stick to linspire or just returning it

I don't know why? I replaced the OS on all but one of them with XP for the peolple that bought them. Just full format the drive, and load XP on it. The motherboard drivers for XP are on the ECS disk that's included with the system.

 

[brewzer420]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
This has been advertised for the passed couple of weeks now. It's not really a hot deal...

sempron/mobo combo - 70
128 stick of memory - 20
cd rom - 10
cheapy case and psu - 20
hd - 40
video card - 30

total = 190

WTF? Where the hell you going to get a case and psu for $20? Your prices are not right dude. If you buy stuff at those prices please provide the link, I am sure we would all like to shop there!

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: brewzer420

Originally posted by: tfinch2
This has been advertised for the passed couple of weeks now. It's not really a hot deal...

sempron/mobo combo - 70
128 stick of memory - 20
cd rom - 10
cheapy case and psu - 20
hd - 40
video card - 30

total = 190

WTF? Where the hell you going to get a case and psu for $20? Your prices are not right dude. If you buy stuff at those prices please provide the link, I am sure we would all like to shop there!

is this good enough for you?

$20 cheapy case and psu

 

[geecee]

Originally posted by: brewzer420

Originally posted by: tfinch2
This has been advertised for the passed couple of weeks now. It's not really a hot deal...

sempron/mobo combo - 70
128 stick of memory - 20
cd rom - 10
cheapy case and psu - 20
hd - 40
video card - 30

total = 190

WTF? Where the hell you going to get a case and psu for $20? Your prices are not right dude. If you buy stuff at those prices please provide the link, I am sure we would all like to shop there!

He's not too far off on the case price. I'd say $5-10 at most. Newegg has several case/PS combos for around $30. I'm sure there are cheaper places out there. The prices for other stuff are fairly close as well, though it will probably be for no name or obsolete stuff. Definitely do-able as he showed give or take $10.

EDIT: NM. tfinch2 beat me to it.

EDIT2: Of course, there is the labor involved to think about.

 

[almostrice]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
This has been advertised for the passed couple of weeks now. It's not really a hot deal...

sempron/mobo combo - 70
128 stick of memory - 20
cd rom - 10
cheapy case and psu - 20
hd - 40
video card - 30

total = 190

You forgot

Keyboard/Mouse $10
Floppy drive $10
Also might have speakers $10

also 1 week to get all this discounted parts shipped.
Another 4 hours putting it together.
This way you deal with 1 vendor. Frys is pretty good about taking things back.

This is a good system to get for family members when all you have to do is install an OS they can use.

 

[Paladin3]

Originally posted by: brewzer420

Originally posted by: tfinch2
This has been advertised for the passed couple of weeks now. It's not really a hot deal...

sempron/mobo combo - 70
128 stick of memory - 20
cd rom - 10
cheapy case and psu - 20
hd - 40
video card - 30

total = 190

WTF? Where the hell you going to get a case and psu for $20? Your prices are not right dude. If you buy stuff at those prices please provide the link, I am sure we would all like to shop there!

Maybe if tfinch2 spent a few weeks deal hunting, locked up $100 or more in rebates and didn't mind slapping it together himself he could indeed save $9.

My mother-in-law and sister-in-law each bought one of these and I had Win2k installed and them surfing the net an hour after opening the boxes. If you know anyone who needs a basic computer this is a cheap and easy route to go.

 

[almostrice]

Originally posted by: pxc

Originally posted by: NogginBoinkI don't know what the mobo is, but I'm sure it's a cheapie.

I bought the same computer on Black Friday for $99.

I uses the ECS 741GX-M with 400MHz FSB and PC3200 support even though it's not mentioned in the manual. The whole system is actually made by ECS. The hard drive is 7200RPM, the memory is TwinMOS PC2700 and the outpost product page has a several errors.

The FSB is actually 333MHz, it uses 184-pin DDR memory, the motherboard supports up to 400MHz FSB CPUs and up to PC3200 memory (i.e. plug in PC3200 memory and it will automatically recognize it as PC3200). And memory is expandable to 2GB (2 slots). The page says 1GB in one place and 2GB in the other.

Overclocking is very rudimentary, just FSB and memory overclock/ratio support -- no voltage adjustments or FSB locking. But PCI and AGP run in spec if you select 100MHz DDR, 133MHz DDR, 166MHz DDR or 200MHz DDR FSB speeds.

The fan is also kind of noisy, but you can do a 7v mod to quiet it down reliably. I run mine at 1.8GHz (Sempron 2200+ = 1.5GHz stock) and 512MB PC3200 memory with a 7v modded fan.

So is this CPU upgradable? I got the 1600 duron system in July. The duron is soldered onto the Mboard. There were no sockets. I was wondering if this system could suffer from the same problem.

 

[Paladin3]

Originally posted by: almostrice

You forgot

Keyboard/Mouse $10
Floppy drive $10
Also might have speakers $10

This is a good system to get for family members when all you have to do is install an OS they can use.

Both systems we bought had cheap speakers included.

 

[cmccrkn]

is this good enough for you?

$20 cheapy case and psu

Not to start a range war but that item comes up at $33.95 in my cart and there's another $6.99 for US Mail shipping (8-16 days). comes to ~$41

 

[pxc]

Originally posted by: almostriceSo is this CPU upgradable? I got the 1600 duron system in July. The duron is soldered onto the Mboard. There were no sockets. I was wondering if this system could suffer from the same problem.

No, the CPU is not soldered onto the motherboard on the Sempron 2200+ system. I gave a link to the motherboard already. Take a look at it.

The Duron system you bought used this motherboard. Notice that it comes with a soldered CPU, unlike the one I linked above.

 

[tfinch2]

case 20
memory 30 don't even think about 128, windows 98 on 128 mb is a joke
cd BURNER 15
40 gig hd 40
video card 14
logitech kb/mouse 25
creative lab speakers 19
cpu/mobo combo from fry's - 70

total = $233 with better stuff let's just make it 250 because i didn't add shipping on some of it

 

[tfinch2]

double...sorry

 

[Dragonbate]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: brewzer420

Originally posted by: tfinch2
This has been advertised for the passed couple of weeks now. It's not really a hot deal...

sempron/mobo combo - 70
128 stick of memory - 20
cd rom - 10
cheapy case and psu - 20
hd - 40
video card - 30

total = 190

WTF? Where the hell you going to get a case and psu for $20? Your prices are not right dude. If you buy stuff at those prices please provide the link, I am sure we would all like to shop there!

is this good enough for you?

$20 cheapy case and psu

LOL wouldn't touch that Vendor with your credit card! Thes are good deals for internet pcs unless you have access to free or wholesale parts. I put together a cheapie system recently and it was hard to keep costs near the $200 level. Of course mine came out a little better than these my total cost was like 250. Given the time it took me to locate parts, have them shipped and assemble them these linspire machines start to look like a good alternative. They are not, however, anything new. Both outpost and Walmart have been offering thes for a while now. I personally will always build from scratch but would probably reccomend these to the economically challenged.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: cmccrkn

is this good enough for you?

$20 cheapy case and psu

Not to start a range war but that item comes up at $33.95 in my cart and there's another $6.99 for US Mail shipping (8-16 days). comes to ~$41

do you know how to operate those combo boxes on the bottom of the page?

 

[brewzer420]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: cmccrkn

is this good enough for you?

$20 cheapy case and psu

Not to start a range war but that item comes up at $33.95 in my cart and there's another $6.99 for US Mail shipping (8-16 days). comes to ~$41

do you know how to operate those combo boxes on the bottom of the page?

LOL...yeah I saw those too, it does still come up to ~$30. Anyway, my point is this is good deal for sure.

 

[cmccrkn]

do you know how to operate those combo boxes on the bottom of the page?

My bad. I added it to the cart and when I saw the price I freaked without checking the details. Can we still be buds?

 

[Yo2]

To run xp efficiently you'd have to add another 128MB ($30 or so) and buy a copy of XP (OEM version at least $83) - this brings the system price to 199+30+83=$312 - too much compared to a dell dimension 3000 for $349 (often also has CDRW and/or 512MB and is already set-up), which also is faster and has 1 year or at least 90 days of tech support

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: cmccrkn
Can we still be buds?

Yeah, I guess...

 

[pxc]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
case 20
memory 30 don't even think about 128, windows 98 on 128 mb is a joke
cd BURNER 15
40 gig hd 40
video card 14
logitech kb/mouse 25
creative lab speakers 19
cpu/mobo combo from fry's - 70

total = $233 with better stuff let's just make it 250 because i didn't add shipping on some of it

LOL those extras add up ($18 more that your $250 estimate... thanks newegg for NOT combining shipping :roll: ):

The 256MB PC3200 memory is actually $28.99 + $4.99 shipping ($34.98)

The "$20" case is already taken care of above ($30).

The "$15" software and stuff CD-RW has $8.40 in shipping ($23.40).

The "$40" hard drive at newegg is actually $47 + $4.69 shipping ($51.69)

The $14 Savage IX video card actually does manage to be worse than SiS integrated graphics. But since it has dedicated memory and neither is good for gaming, i'll call it a tie. Also, the Savage IX only supports 16-bit color at 1600x1200 (yes, I have my GQ3121 on the analog input of my 2000fp monitor at 1600x1200x24). ($14)

keyboard/mouse - fine and better than the ones the GQ3121 comes with ($25)

speakers - fine and better than the ones the GQ3121 comes with ($19)

motherboard and cpu at Fry's (and I assume outpost for those who don't have a Fry's). ($70)

The funny thing about the last item is that for $75 you can get a retail Sempron 2400+ and motherboard with integrated video (also an AGP slot)... and CL SBS250 speakers are $15 - $10 = $5AR again, a larger hard drive is the same price after rebate as the newegg one, etc. IOW, if you have a fry's nearby, you can save money on almost every part listed.

But back to the point, the system as you listed is a typical frankenstein system with barely matching parts (cream, beige, white) and it comes to a total of $268, not $250. And other than 128MB more memory and a CD-RW/nicer keyboard/mouse/speakers, it isn't much better than the GQ3121. The GQ3121 could be upgraded to the same level for the same price.

IMO, i'd skip both of these and just buy a refurb from Dell. This GQ3121 system was a very hot deal at $99 (like the black friday price), would still be hot at $150-$160, but is only warm at $200.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: pxc

Originally posted by: tfinch2
case 20
memory 30 don't even think about 128, windows 98 on 128 mb is a joke
cd BURNER 15
40 gig hd 40
video card 14
logitech kb/mouse 25
creative lab speakers 19
cpu/mobo combo from fry's - 70

total = $233 with better stuff let's just make it 250 because i didn't add shipping on some of it

LOL those extras add up ($18 more that your $250 estimate... thanks newegg for NOT combining shipping :roll: ):

The 256MB PC3200 memory is actually $28.99 + $4.99 shipping ($34.98)

The "$20" case is already taken care of above ($30).

The "$15" software and stuff CD-RW has $8.40 in shipping ($23.40).

The "$40" hard drive at newegg is actually $47 + $4.69 shipping ($51.69)

The $14 Savage IX video card actually does manage to be worse than SiS integrated graphics. But since it has dedicated memory and neither is good for gaming, i'll call it a tie. Also, the Savage IX only supports 16-bit color at 1600x1200 (yes, I have my GQ3121 on the analog input of my 2000fp monitor at 1600x1200x24). ($14)

keyboard/mouse - fine and better than the ones the GQ3121 comes with ($25)

speakers - fine and better than the ones the GQ3121 comes with ($19)

motherboard and cpu at Fry's (and I assume outpost for those who don't have a Fry's). ($70)

The funny thing about the last item is that for $75 you can get a retail Sempron 2400+ and motherboard with integrated video (also an AGP slot)... and CL SBS250 speakers are $15 - $10 = $5AR again, a larger hard drive is the same price after rebate as the newegg one, etc. IOW, if you have a fry's nearby, you can save money on almost every part listed.

But back to the point, the system as you listed is a typical frankenstein system with barely matching parts (cream, beige, white) and it comes to a total of $268, not $250. And other than 128MB more memory and a CD-RW/nicer keyboard/mouse/speakers, it isn't much better than the GQ3121. The GQ3121 could be upgraded to the same level for the same price.

IMO, i'd skip both of these and just buy a refurb from Dell. This GQ3121 system was a very hot deal at $99 (like the black friday price), would still be hot at $150-$160, but is only warm at $200.

I wasn't out to show the deal of the century, just to prove that this "Great Quality" PC is not a hot deal. Personally I think if you are looking for a nice PC get a low-end Dell. If you're an adult, and an extra 200 is going to break the bank for a necessity then you have no business buying a PC in the first place.