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Can you build an entry level system cheaper then Dell anymore?

G

geepondy

Member
I have an extra Athlon 64 X2 6000+ CPU. I was investigating to see if I could use it to put together a basic home system for the girl friend. However in comparing it to this Dell $400 system,
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...en&s=dhs&cs=19
in which I figure the processors are roughly equal in performance, I don't think I can put together anything cheaper using Newegg components. The kicker is the $100 windows 7 OEM price. I wouldn't build a new system without windows 7.

Can I be proven wrong?
 
Don't forget to check Dell Outlet. Their refurbished computers all have a 21-day return guarantee, free shipping, and full retail warranties.

Good luck!
 
I was hoping I could be proven wrong! Dell must get the win 7 OS for pennies on the dollar compared to the consumer cost.

The thing I noticed in researching the Dells is you have to stick to the base offerings. They rip the crap out of you on the upgrades, particularly CPUs.
 
geepondy said:
I was hoping I could be proven wrong! Dell must get the win 7 OS for pennies on the dollar compared to the consumer cost.
Click to expand...
Years ago, information gleaned from some lawsuits indicated that big OEMS like Dell were probably paying in the $20-$30 range for XP licenses.

As with buying anything, it helps if you know what things are worth when buying Dells. Sometimes add-ons from Dell are a good deal. But often not.

It's been said that Dell makes all of its profit from add-ons. I've bought many Dell barebones servers where I'm pretty certain that Dell was losing money on each of them.
 
Last edited:
geepondy said:
I have an extra Athlon 64 X2 6000+ CPU. I was investigating to see if I could use it to put together a basic home system for the girl friend. However in comparing it to this Dell $400 system,
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...en&s=dhs&cs=19
in which I figure the processors are roughly equal in performance, I don't think I can put together anything cheaper using Newegg components. The kicker is the $100 windows 7 OEM price. I wouldn't build a new system without windows 7.

Can I be proven wrong?
Click to expand...

I think it's possible but very difficult. Last November I managed to put together a system for $262 (after rebates and cash back). That's about $360 including the cost for an oem license of 7 (if you look around you can find it slightly cheaper; I think zipzoomfly has it for $87 after rebate, fs).

If I were attempting to match a dell build it would probably be harder, but I was only going for good enough.
The specs are a 785 gigabyte mobo and x2 240 combo from newegg, 2x1 and 2x512 ddr2 used from craigslist, a corsair 400w power supply from newegg, CM matx case from microcenter, and WD 640 aals from newegg (black friday sale). While I could probably do somewhat better with dell, I doubt the difference would be significant, and when building I get to choose exactly what parts go in. Having to buy a windows license definitely hurts but you may be able to get a copy cheaper if you are a student or your company has a special deal with microsoft.

Beating the outlet, however, is probably impossible, especially when they have coupons available (such as the recent %15 off coupon, which I believe has expired).
If you want to get the absolute cheapest option available, then a prebuilt is probably a better option. However, if you're willing to spend slightly more and have the patience to wait for deals (and be flexible with what you want), you can come pretty close.

And if you're fortunate enough to have a Frys or Microcenter nearby, then it should be that much easier. Frys routinely has motherboard/cpu bundles that go for $100 or less for entry level. Microcenter has been running a combo promotion where you can get bundle specific processors with a compatible mobo and take $30 off (this has ranged from $25 to $50). No doubt this is more hassle then buying a prebuilt, but I enjoy watching the deals and seeing how low I can bring the cost of a self built computer.
 
What websites should I monitor to pick up on, if another Dell's coupon comes along? I monitor Ben's Bargains but don't recall seeing such a coupon.
 
Dells actually seem to be going up in price now.
Last week you could get a Vostro 230 with c2d e7500 for $420. Last month for $399. Now it comes with a Pentium dual-core e5400 as the base config for $409 -- the e7500 is an $80 upgrade.
 
If you spent several days browsing sales with rebates, you could probably do it. But you're not going to get your choice of components.
 
Dell just finished closing the last of its U.S. desktop PC assembly plants. PCs are now assembled offshore. Another sad year for U.S. manufacturing.
 
Recent build =

AMD quad (630) + Gigabyte mb = $100

Thermaltake 430w psu = $20ar

OZC 4gb ddr2 800 = $63ar

Gigabyte case = $20ar

LG dvd burner = $20

WD blue 500gb = $48

total = $271 for hardware that likely beats a low end Dell in performance and a psu that won't die 30 days out of warranty.
 
It's very difficult, and you usually have to wait for a deal. You can't just swagger onto Newegg any longer.

For people who need a low-end machine, I always recommend a pre-built. Primarily, they don't need or want the bells and whistles a custom build offers, and the price is less. (they're also usually helpless with a computer, and with a pre-built, I can refer them to Dell).

Mid to high end gaming systems, however, are usually way overpriced, though you can find good ones out there once in a while because there is so much competition for those dollars. Additionally, in most cases, a custom build ultimately saves you cash when you upgrade, as you can reuse the quality parts you've inserted. With Dell, sometimes you get an okay PSU, sometimes you don't.
 
RebateMonger said:
Dell just finished closing the last of its U.S. desktop PC assembly plants. PCs are now assembled offshore. Another sad year for U.S. manufacturing.
Click to expand...

That's a damn shame. I remember it taking foooorever for Dell to assemble my system back in the day, I wonder if it's still as bad....
 
Only real issues with buying a Dell, is sometimes, there is not a lot of room in the case for addons or the power supply will have only enough (with a small amount extra) to power what is the system as built. Plus, you need to ask for and sometimes pay (small fee) for the OS CD and installed Apps cd sets. I would get them, rather than rely on a restore partition. And then there is the slight matter of removing all the junk ware and trials they (and others) install that most people do not need, want, or use.
 
Um, Dell PSUs aren't bad, they're usually delta. And, the last 8 or so Dells I've bought in the last ~2 years all came with OS and installed apps discs...
 
A friend of mine just ordered one and it wasn't too bad. Less then two weeks after placing order. The thing is, it arrived with a big hole punched in the box side and a dented side. They were pretty good about replacing it though and paid for quick shipment so she got it a little more then a week after that. I was a little bummed that they don't ship with a system restore disk anymore so you have to create your own restore disks.

Axon said:
That's a damn shame. I remember it taking foooorever for Dell to assemble my system back in the day, I wonder if it's still as bad....
Click to expand...
 
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