I'm thinking of just buying a Dell.

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Vortex22
Ok. Here's the Dell I just configured courtesy of the small business rebate posted above:
P4 2.8Ghz 533fsb
256MB dual channel 333mhz DDR
80GB 7200rpm HD
16x DVD + 48x CDRW (2 drives)
Mobo has integrated sound/vid/network + 8x AGP slot
17'' monitor
XP home

$673 after $100 MIR
Free shipping.

Not too bad actually. I might jump on this, I just have to decide within 3 days, which is when rebate expires. (I just have to order before it expires, right?)

If you get that, I vote for making it 512MB of RAM. Remember, the onboard video is still getting a slice of it.

 

[Vortex22]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

Originally posted by: Vortex22
Ok. Here's the Dell I just configured courtesy of the small business rebate posted above:
P4 2.8Ghz 533fsb
256MB dual channel 333mhz DDR
80GB 7200rpm HD
16x DVD + 48x CDRW (2 drives)
Mobo has integrated sound/vid/network + 8x AGP slot
17'' monitor
XP home

$673 after $100 MIR
Free shipping.

Not too bad actually. I might jump on this, I just have to decide within 3 days, which is when rebate expires. (I just have to order before it expires, right?)

If you get that, I vote for making it 512MB of RAM. Remember, the onboard video is still getting a slice of it.

Not if I throw in another vid card though. I should be able to disable the integrated video so it doesn't mess with my memory, right? I have an old original Radeon 64mb here that I'm gonna put in it.

 

[nortexoid]

you can get an HP Pavilion for a super good deal. i just configured the following a610e for $609.98

athlon xp 2500+
512MB PC3200
160GB HDD
integrated video and audio (upgradeable via agp slot)
48x CDRW
speakers
17" CRT
9-in-1 card reader
MS windows xp home and MS Works

that's a steal.

edit: you can get an equivalent P4 system for the same price.

 

[mechBgon]

Ok, and now back to my prior question: will Dell support it if you put in non-Dell hardware? I've seen at least one reliable person here say that no, they don't.

Even with 256MB of RAM available to the OS, how do you think this is going to perform for them? I just built my little sister a WinXP Pro system with a Shuttle AN35N Ultra and 512MB of RAM, and just running The Sims on it will eat the whole 512MB of RAM right there. I recommended to her that she pick up a 512MB DIMM and top it off to 1GB. I suppose you could watch for a sale and add some memory later... but again, Dell's support for non-Dell hardware? You tell me.

I'll take a standard self-built made from good-quality parts, personally. The usual philosophy for justifying a Dell is that the owner of it won't call YOU for support. Well, if you think your mom is going to get good support from Dell's phone centers...? I shudder to think of my mom trying to follow a person in a different country through a scripted "support" session. :frown: If the worst thing that happens is that she calls me up for help, then I still owe her a lot, when we look at the bottom line of what she's done for me versus what I've done for her. 😱

 

[Cerb]

Well, niether the Pavillion or the Dell look that great. Note that my build, which puts it at around $650, has a bigger HD (doube size if you make it $6 more), twice the RAM, a video card, and a DVD burner.

If you just don't want to support it at all, get a Dell. Not a bad option, if you want to be out of that. If you'll have to support it anyway, build it.

160GB is nice, and 512MB is minimum. I can eat more than 256MB just by using Word and Firefox in Win2k SP4 or XP SP1. You want 512MB.

 

[ponyo]

nm.

 

[trikster2]

Vortex22

If you are not ready to buy, don't worry about "jumping" on that dell deal. The longer you wait the more you will get for your $$$$. There will be another Dell/HP deal, there always is. Just keep your eye on www.gotapex.com and anandtech hotdeals.

Also, dell small business is big on "one time use codes" that they email if you sign up for their newsletter. Sign up several times under different email accounts to maximize your chances.....