Sure they can build a cheaper System as in Quality, Parts, Upgradeability and performance...My rigs may cost more but they last longer then the throwaway prebuilkts 
...Oh and my personal service is much better then talking to someone on the phone that barely speaks the same language
...Oh and my personal service is much better then talking to someone on the phone that barely speaks the same language 6150 mobo with gigabit/dvi output etc $90
athlon skt 939 3000 venice $135
2x512MB ram $75
psu: $40
case $40
160gb sata2 hdd sngle platter $90
samsung w162c dvd+-rw $45
total shipped is $515
-------------------------------------------
athlon skt 939 3000 venice $135
2x512MB ram $75
psu: $40
case $40
160gb sata2 hdd sngle platter $90
samsung w162c dvd+-rw $45
total shipped is $515
-------------------------------------------
+ operating system, now closer to $600, or close to twice as much as a cheap Dell. Good deal, but completely off topic!
What exactly is the point of this thread? Did the OP even read the article he linked to himself? First you make your post look like you said it yourself when it was actually cut and pasted out of the article you linked. Second, the part you ripped was only the introduction of the article and had little to do with the actual article. The whole point of the article was that at the highend, you can save money, potentially save a lot of money by building a system yourself rather than going OEM. It's cheaper to go OEM at the lowend, and cheaper to DIY at the highend. That's not news to anyone who's been building systems for a while.
It's a fallacy to say that you can build a computer for less than you can buy one.
What that statement should read, and what it really means, is that you can build a computer for less than you could buy one WITH EQUAL PERFORMANCE. If I spent $600 on what most here would consider a low-midrange gaming rig, I'd have to spend probably double that on a Dell that had equal performance.
Originally posted by: sputkin
+ operating system, now closer to $600, or close to twice as much as a cheap Dell. Good deal, but completely off topic!
Plus it's a hell of a lot faster, so the systems aren't comparable in terms of price or performance.
I doubt it. If they ever start using AMD chips, it will only be for high-end gaming machines. AMD doesn't really have the production capacity for Dell's low-end PC demands.
And I doubt Dell wants to offer AMD & Intel in a 50/50 or 40/60 split, since it would really screw up their production system where efficiency is everything. (i.e. they are considering no longer putting the Windows and Processor stickers on since it is now one of the slowest steps of the production process)
shortylickens
No Lifer
- Jul 15, 2003
- 80,287
- 17,081
- 136
I have always agreed with that idea, and I dont think its really new around here on AT.
You cant build a cheap PC better than the big guys, because they have volume behind them.
BUT...... If you joined anandtech to discuss the merits of low-end computing, you are wasting your time. We're here specifically because we dont want to settle for some POS that Dell forces down our throats.
It is nice, however, that we can buy our mommies and daddies decent little cheap computers and not have to worry about them.
Then we go back into our holes like good little goblins and continue our research.
You cant build a cheap PC better than the big guys, because they have volume behind them.
BUT...... If you joined anandtech to discuss the merits of low-end computing, you are wasting your time. We're here specifically because we dont want to settle for some POS that Dell forces down our throats.
It is nice, however, that we can buy our mommies and daddies decent little cheap computers and not have to worry about them.
Then we go back into our holes like good little goblins and continue our research.
bamacre
Lifer
- Jul 1, 2004
- 21,029
- 2
- 81
Originally posted by: P0ldy
292.60 + shipping + NO DISCOUNT + something that isn't "Certified Refurbished"
Sure, given the resulting price of that equation, I could prove it.
Actually that system was physically brand new, never used, read up in this thread for the reason why that is so. Also, it came with a 1YR warranty.
Shipping was $29 at the time, and the discount was standard (no coupon codes).
No way in hell you could buid that system cheaper, considering the cpu, mobo, OS, etc.
Like I wrote above yes they are cheaper but builds are better and worth more in many ways...here's just 1 area:
Warranty's
Most Retail Mobo= 3yrs
Retail CPU=3yrs
RAM=Usually lifetime
VideoCards=3 yrs
HD=3-5yrs
Quality PSU lasts 3 yrs
bamacre
Lifer
- Jul 1, 2004
- 21,029
- 2
- 81
Very true. And while you can get that 3YR warranty with a Dell, it's quite expensive. Also, with a Dell, you are limited to Intel cpu's, and you can't OC. Those are the negatives I see.
Like I said, I've built plenty of systems, and I completely understand why so many do. If I were not in the position to get these Dell's so cheap, I would certainly continue building my own.
Originally posted by: sputkin
+ operating system, now closer to $600, or close to twice as much as a cheap Dell. Good deal, but completely off topic!
twice as much as what dell??
i doubt u could find a faster dell for cheaper.
this is 1GB ram, 3000+ a64 venice, 16x DL dvd+-rw, gigabit lan, integrated geforce 6150 w/dvi, 160gb sata2... u telling me dell has a system of this caliber for $300 shipped??
Originally posted by: natep
It's the pride of using your own built machine.
It's priceless.
:thumbsup:
Budmantom
Lifer
- Aug 17, 2002
- 13,103
- 1
- 81
Originally posted by: 8steve8
Originally posted by: sputkin
+ operating system, now closer to $600, or close to twice as much as a cheap Dell. Good deal, but completely off topic!
twice as much as what dell??
i doubt u could find a faster dell for cheaper.
this is 1GB ram, 3000+ a64 venice, 16x DL dvd+-rw, gigabit lan, integrated geforce 6150 w/dvi, 160gb sata2... u telling me dell has a system of this caliber for $300 shipped??
OS?
Tech support?
warranty?
time and effort in assembling and trouble shooting (my time is worth something)
keyboard / mouse
shipping
6 months online free?
Tom
Budmantom
Lifer
- Aug 17, 2002
- 13,103
- 1
- 81
BTW Here is my high end (not ultra high end)$930 shipped and taxed system:
(From Dell Outlet)Dell 8400:
P4 3.8ghz, 1 gb ram, 160x2 sata raid 0, x850xt pe, sound blaster audigy2, Nec 16x+/- dl dvd burner, Samsung 48x cdrw, 1Yr Ltd Warranty, 1Yr On-Site Svc and 1Yr Tech. Support
Tom
(From Dell Outlet)Dell 8400:
P4 3.8ghz, 1 gb ram, 160x2 sata raid 0, x850xt pe, sound blaster audigy2, Nec 16x+/- dl dvd burner, Samsung 48x cdrw, 1Yr Ltd Warranty, 1Yr On-Site Svc and 1Yr Tech. Support
Tom
shortylickens
No Lifer
- Jul 15, 2003
- 80,287
- 17,081
- 136
I too helped build a Habitat for Humanity and it did give me a good feeling. It also felt good to make my own computer.Originally posted by: Budmantom
Spending more to assemble an inferior computer?Originally posted by: natep
It's the pride of using your own built machine.
It's priceless.
Priceless is the feeling I had when I helped build a habitat for humanity home not assembling a computer.
Tom
If you're still talking about low-end machines then yes, it really is difficult to make one of your own for cheaper than the big companies. But as I said before, people on AT who like using the cheap little crummy computers Dell makes are posting on the wrong website.
This site and this forum were created for folks who are serious about computing and want to do certain things on their own. And you still cant buy a "GOOD" machine cheaper than you can make your own.
And please dont quote Dell. They do NOT make good computers. They use inferior parts wherever thay can. Their name is built on customer service.
Places like Alienware, VooDoo and Falcon Northwest make good computers. But you pay a premium for all that quality in one place. Its cheaper just to look at their website, make a list, then go online and buy all that stuff from the cheapest vendor. You can spend about half as much, and you still get much better quality than can ever be found at Dell, Compaq, Gateway or Sony.
Wait if your time is worth sometime, why post here? All your doing is trying to convince nameless and faceless people across the WWW the merit of searching for a REFURB DELL (Which iS HARD TO DO!! If I could get that PC for 399, who the f*k wouldn't?) and checking their Outlet every 5 seconds.
Dell's are cheap, and they're not that bad. But you must get in on a HOT DEAL (coupons, outlet w/e), and you MUST be prepared to get an INTEL and you must be prepared to NOT GET TOP OF THE LINE (Motherboard, chipset, memory speeds, Intel processors all kill it).
Why we build? So it costs more, but there is greater performance, customization, and w/e. Oh, and we build AMDs, so Dell totally cannot compete there.
I have nothing against Dell. Atleast they're laptops are good, (Pentium M actually a GOOD intel processor).
Dell's are cheap, and they're not that bad. But you must get in on a HOT DEAL (coupons, outlet w/e), and you MUST be prepared to get an INTEL and you must be prepared to NOT GET TOP OF THE LINE (Motherboard, chipset, memory speeds, Intel processors all kill it).
Why we build? So it costs more, but there is greater performance, customization, and w/e. Oh, and we build AMDs, so Dell totally cannot compete there.
I have nothing against Dell. Atleast they're laptops are good, (Pentium M actually a GOOD intel processor).
Budmantom
Lifer
- Aug 17, 2002
- 13,103
- 1
- 81
Originally posted by: shortylickens
I too helped build a Habitat for Humanity and it did give me a good feeling. It also felt good to make my own computer.Originally posted by: Budmantom
Spending more to assemble an inferior computer?Originally posted by: natep
It's the pride of using your own built machine.
It's priceless.
Priceless is the feeling I had when I helped build a habitat for humanity home not assembling a computer.
Tom
If you're still talking about low-end machines then yes, it really is difficult to make one of your own for cheaper than the big companies. But as I said before, people on AT who like using the cheap little crummy computers Dell makes are posting on the wrong website.
This site and this forum were created for folks who are serious about computing and want to do certain things on their own. And you still cant buy a "GOOD" machine cheaper than you can make your own.
And please dont quote Dell. They do NOT make good computers. They use inferior parts wherever thay can. Their name is built on customer service.
Places like Alienware, VooDoo and Falcon Northwest make good computers. But you pay a premium for all that quality in one place. Its cheaper just to look at their website, make a list, then go online and buy all that stuff from the cheapest vendor. You can spend about half as much, and you still get much better quality than can ever be found at Dell, Compaq, Gateway or Sony.
Dell gets some of the best and most stable parts, if one of the major manufacturers piss us off it's one thing if they piss of Dell they could lose multi million dollar contracts.
Bamacre, you should qualify your statements by letting people know that you have bought over 800 of these Dells and are trying to sell them...it might make a difference.
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