IT'S BACK! Athlon XP2400+ and ECS Motherboard for $59.99 at Fry's! Deal is over.

[Harvey]

As I posted when they ran this last week, it's only AGP-4 so it's not the hottest gaming board going, but it uses a VIA KT333 chipset and includes onboard LAN. The CPU's are probably T'bred's with 256 MB cache. Even if it's not a Barton with 512 MB, at 2 GHz, it's a really swift CPU, especially for the price. The one I set up for a friend is rock steady. If someone hired me to outfit an office full of 20 - 30 machines, I'd start with this setup in a heartbeat.

Fry's ad in Wednesday's L.A. Times is now down so here's the ad from the Orange County Register (PDF).

The very best price on pricewatch.com for the chip, alone, is $58 so at that price, you're essentially getting the motherboard for nothing. If you need an inexpensive, competent machine, NOW, this is one cool deal.

Other not hot, but reasonable deals include WD 80 GB drive for $59.99 and 512 MB PC2700 Mushkin Enhanced DDR RAM for $69.99 AR.

 

[Unforgiven]

ive built 3 systems with these boards and have had great success on every occassion. im going down tonight to get one then gonna go back tomorrow as well to get another since its only one per customer

 

[DaCurryman]

Is there anyone that would be willing to get this for me, since we have no Frys in NYC. Actually I'd like 2 if that's possible. (File Server & HTPC build). I have non-CC paypal if someone would be so kind. Please PM me and let me know.

 

[cheapgoose]

oh man, i just got the barton combo a week ago, anyone know if I should keep it or return and get this combo. it's for a friend, some gaming, no oc.

 

[crimson117]

Originally posted by: Harvey
...The CPU's are probably T'bred's with 256 MB cache. Even if it's not a Barton with 512 MB, at 2 GHz...

I'm being picky, but I think it's 256/512 KB cache, not MB.

 

[Harvey]

Originally posted by: cheapgoose
oh man, i just got the barton combo a week ago, anyone know if I should keep it or return and get this combo. it's for a friend, some gaming, no oc.

Barton is a newer chip, and as I posted, the AGP is only 4x. This is a decent, stable board that's great for general applications. Whether you'd consider it a good gaming board depends on your budget. It also only supports DDR up to PC2700 (333 MHz). It'll beat any older, slower machine and hold it's own with a lot of similarly spec'd systems, but it won't come close to the fastest combos out there. It'll also depend on your vid card.

Originally posted by: crimson117I'm being picky, but I think it's 256/512 KB cache, not MB.

Picky? Hell! I'm picky, too, and I'd pick this combo instead of wasting money on something more expensive that didn't do anymore for the right application, for example, office apps. How much more can you get for $60?

ECS K7VTA3, Rev. 6

ECS K7VTA3, Rev. 8

 

[RagingBITCH]

So on a pure price-performance ratio, the T-bred is just as good as the Barton?

 

[tsowen]

This is Thornton, at least at Sunnyvale Fry's. T-Bred seems to have higher internal clock speed (can anybody confirm?) Does this mean T-Bred runs faster, consider the FSB speed and cache are the same for both Thornton and T-Bred?

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: DaCurryman
Is there anyone that would be willing to get this for me, since we have no Frys in NYC. Actually I'd like 2 if that's possible. (File Server & HTPC build). I have non-CC paypal if someone would be so kind. Please PM me and let me know.

YGPM

 

[cKGunslinger]

Can anyone confirm this deal in the Dallas/Plano area? I don't have access to a paper, but I might want to stop by there after work.

 

[BatmanNate]

Any deals on fans or ram for this combo?

 

[kenrippy]

I will probably be going down tonight to grab a combo. If anyone's interested in picking up the board from me for $30 shipped LMK. I only need the cpu.

edit: nvrmind, went down to the fountain valley store and all they had was returned boards, stacks and stacks of them. I'll wait till this weekend and see what other hot deals they have.

 

[Unforgiven]

Originally posted by: BatmanNate
Any deals on fans or ram for this combo?

512 MB PC2700 Mushkin Enhanced DDR RAM for $69.99 AR.

 

[djdawn]

Anyone know if this deal is good in sandiego too?

side note:
From looking at the pix of the board according to the links in Harvey's post there are no mounting holes next to the cpu socket. Might be a concern to HSF and waterblock people that use them.

 

[weepul]

wow sweet! last summer they had the ECS + 2000+ combo for $60. built myself 2 spare computers. too bad ram prices are pretty high as of now. so it wouldn't be ideal to build more spare systems.

//krunk (^_^x)

 

[CryHavoc]

edit: nvrmind, went down to the fountain valley store and all they had was returned boards, stacks and stacks of them. I'll wait till this weekend and see what other hot deals they have.

Did you see these on the shelf? Because at the Fry's in Renton Wa, the sales types always get a board from the racks that are all new and then print up the paperwork to get the chip from the checkout people.

They always have stacks of returns, but when they do these specials, they always have stacks and stacks of NIB boards sitting on pallets.

Chuck

 

[CryHavoc]

I'm going to pick one of these combo's up tomorrow. Anyone want the ECS mobo. I'll make sure I get a NIB board.

Asking $35 shipped.
Paypal is preferred.

 

[jhbball]

Originally posted by: djdawn
Anyone know if this deal is good in sandiego too?

side note:
From looking at the pix of the board according to the links in Harvey's post there are no mounting holes next to the cpu socket. Might be a concern to HSF and waterblock people that use them.

heh, most people buying using an ecs board for their main system probably aren't using a top-of-the-line hsf or watercooling, so it's probably not a concern.


thanks for the heads up though


now, if there was a fry's near gr, mi.

 

[AtTheGates]

Originally posted by: tsowen
This is Thornton, at least at Sunnyvale Fry's. T-Bred seems to have higher internal clock speed (can anybody confirm?) Does this mean T-Bred runs faster, consider the FSB speed and cache are the same for both Thornton and T-Bred?

I just pick one up at the Sacramento Fry's. It is not an open box, the mobo is a rev. 8, and the cpu is a Thoroughbred. Great deal.

 

[herkulease]

can someone who bought this combo give me the break down as in what did frys price the cpu at and the mb at to come out to 59.99 for the combo.

 

[kenrippy]

Originally posted by: CryHavoc

edit: nvrmind, went down to the fountain valley store and all they had was returned boards, stacks and stacks of them. I'll wait till this weekend and see what other hot deals they have.

Did you see these on the shelf? Because at the Fry's in Renton Wa, the sales types always get a board from the racks that are all new and then print up the paperwork to get the chip from the checkout people.

They always have stacks of returns, but when they do these specials, they always have stacks and stacks of NIB boards sitting on pallets.

Chuck

I know the routine all too well. I look on the tops of the isles, that's where they usually keep extra stock of boards at the FV location. they had tons of them on top of the isles, but they were all returns. I even asked the CSR if they had any new ones (they sorta know me cuz I deal with them a lot) and he said they didn't get a new shipment and all they had ATM were returns.

I almost bought one anyway, just to get in on the deal....only to exchange it for a NIB board later when they get more in stock. but I have a feeling there will be an even more tempting deal this weekend.

 

[pxc]

Originally posted by: herkulease
can someone who bought this combo give me the break down as in what did frys price the cpu at and the mb at to come out to 59.99 for the combo.

$35.55 for the CPU and $24.44 for the motherboard.

I got a AIXJB (0409) 2400+ today.

 

[AtTheGates]

Originally posted by: herkulease
can someone who bought this combo give me the break down as in what did frys price the cpu at and the mb at to come out to 59.99 for the combo.

The don't break down the price. Motherboard is normally $54.99 and the processor is normally $75 (approximately). Basically it is a sale on the cpu and the mobo is free.

Edit: The above poster is right. I just checked my receipt.

 

[CheetahMk2]

Problem is with the Fry's combos you can't return one part of it, even at the lower price, or for credit. I dunno why, Fry's could just resell it for the higher price, what do they care?

 

[Harvey]

Originally posted by: CheetahMk2
Problem is with the Fry's combos you can't return one part of it, even at the lower price, or for credit. I dunno why, Fry's could just resell it for the higher price, what do they care?

If either part fails, you can still return it or exchange it for a working part. I know Fry's can be a hassle for that, but as long as they make good, the deal is a steal.

There's no reason to cry if some part of it is offered for less, later. This deal is already a killer you can have, right now. Any extra savings would be nickles and dimes so it wouldn't be worth the time to go through the exercise.