Best Desktop Deals?

[agaetis]

I've been trying to find information on what the best deals/brands for desktops are, but it seems like the majority of posts/articles are either for laptops or building your own desktop. Since I don't need a laptop (and would like to get more power for the money) and don't have the knowledge/desire to build my own desktop, are there any deals/brands I should be looking for?

One that I've been looking at is the Dell Studio XPS 7100. Is this about the best I'll be able to get for that price range ($500-$700)?

 

[FishAk]

Read through these posts, and see if that helps you out at all.

Shopping for a new inexpensive PC

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]A little advice needed on work PC purchase[/FONT]

Can you help this old guy build my own computer?

 

[agaetis]

The first link said to check out the Dell Outlet, does anybody have experience buying their bent & scratch/refurbished computers?

 

[amheck]

The first link said to check out the Dell Outlet, does anybody have experience buying their bent & scratch/refurbished computers?

I don't but keep in mind they often have 15-20% coupons for the outlet.

 

[bamacre]

The first link said to check out the Dell Outlet, does anybody have experience buying their bent & scratch/refurbished computers?

Scratch and dent can be a gamble. May show up looking brand new, may show up with all kinds of scratches and dings. Refurb'd systems look brand new 99% of the time, and some of them probably are brand new. Warranty is the same as a new one anyway. Look for coupon codes, and check their inventory late at night (2am central time perhaps).

 

[Computers_Plus]

Do yourself a favor and go with a custom built PC with OEM deals you are going to pay more money get less machine and less warranty.

 

[bamacre]

Do yourself a favor and go with a custom built PC with OEM deals you are going to pay more money get less machine and less warranty.

That is not always true.

 

[Computers_Plus]

That is not always true.

Oh really?

 

[Eug]

Pre-built is often not more expensive for me either, that is if I wait for sales and refurbs. And yes, sometimes it's even cheaper.

Plus it's nice to just phone up a single company to say xxx is not working and have them send me a replacement, instead of having to deal with each component manufacturer independently.

For example, I just got a dual-core net top machine for CAD$260 complete with Windows 7 64-bit and some software. It would have been absolutely impossible to come up with something similar for the same price for a self-built machine, considering the price for the OS alone was about CAD$110 locally. And when I found out the wireless mouse wasn't working, Acer FedEx'd a replacement one immediately at no cost to me. Arrived a couple of days later.

 

[RavenSEAL]

Diy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JWade]

with the Dell outlet with a 15% or 20% off coupon, some really nice deals can be had. I had gotten a 435MT awhile ago, and paid for it what at the time the processor and motherboard alone cost. I just recently got my daughter a mini 1012 with the broadcon decoder and 1366x768 screen for $220 roughly.

 

[Eug]

Yeah as much as I've disliked Dell in the past, I might have gotten a SFF Dell had the Dell Outlet deals been available to me. However, the Outlet is not avail in Canada, and neither are those 20% off coupons.

 

[bamacre]

Oh really?

Yes, really.

 

[unfalliblekrutch]

dell outlet + 20% off coupon is hard to beat. Part of it depends on your price range and needs, though. I picked up a Dell desktop with athlon II x2 240, 4x1gb ddr3, 750gb hdd, dvdrw, win7 HP for $250. Stuck a $40(after rebate) nvidia gt240 in it and I have a nice casual gaming machine for $300

Their scratch and dents rarely have any real damage on them. And, in case you get one that is damaged, they have a 30 day return policy. I've heard of people who called asking to return a damaged one, and dell offered to fix the damage for free if the customer keeps it.

 

[agaetis]

Thanks for the help, I ended up getting a Studio XPS 8100 (Intel Core i5-650M Processor (3.20GHz,4M cache), 8 GB DDR3, 1024MB nVidia GeForce GT 220) for $600.

 

[bamacre]

Thanks for the help, I ended up getting a Studio XPS 8100 (Intel Core i5-650M Processor (3.20GHz,4M cache), 8 GB DDR3, 1024MB nVidia GeForce GT 220) for $600.

Now just replace that GT 220 with an HD5770, and you're good to game.

 

[FishAk]

Yes, a complete OEM system can be cheaper than buying all the parts and software that comes with it. The trouble is:

All the bloatware

If you want more or faster RAM you may need to throw away the original to make room for the new.

There probably isn't enough storage space, but also no or few bays or plugs for additional disks.

The motherboard is likely locked, and also won't accept an upgraded CPU in the future when prices drop, and you want one.

The GPU probably isn't what you would pick if you had your choice, and the PSU probably needs replaced if you decide to upgrade.

Your Windows license won't work on a new computer build. Changing your MB or CPU, may invalidate it also.

The case probably won't have adequate air management to keep more than the original equipment cool.

I doubt I know all the pitfalls.

 

[bamacre]

FishAk, those all depend on the model one buys. Personally, my Dell XPS 410 has lasted almost 3 years. Bloatware? Easily fixed by reformatting and reinstalling Windows. Need more ram? Yup, I replaced the original memory with 6GB Super Talent. But I didn't "throw away" the original ram, I sold it. Storage space? Two internal hard drive bays, screwless, too. Upgraded cpu? No problem for me, I replaced the original E6300 with a Q6600. Upgraded video card? Yup, did that, too. Replaced GeForce 7300 LE (IIRC) with a 512MB 8800 GTS. Did NOT need to replace the PSU. Don't care about Windows license, it's not like I paid retail price for it anyways. Case has plenty of cooling, like I said, it's been running like a champ, with upgraded hardware at that, for going on 3 years.

There are drawbacks. One you mentioned, Windows being tied to that OEM computer. Not a big deal, as I said, it doesn't cost so much with an OEM computer (about $30 difference at Dell between Windows-based desktop and Linux-based). The other drawback is a lack of CPU overclocking. That's a big deal to some people.