Mid-range complete SLI desktop, NO OS-$350 shipped-$332.49 w/coupon code after setting up account

[corwin]

Not a bad deal for a complete setup...a few upgrades are possible but could probably be picked up cheaper elsewhere.

If you setup an account before checkout you can apply coupon code GRANDOPEN for an additional 5% off, making it $332.49-guest checkout can't use it so you have to make an account first.

LINK

NZXT high airflow gamer case w/ 600W power supply, front USB
Intel Core2 Duo E5200 CPU
ASUS P5N-SLI Socket 775 Mainboard NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI
Two nVidia geForce 8500GT 256MB PCI Express video cards
2 x 2GB PC6400 DDR2 SDRAM
500GB Serial ATA Hard Drive
Internal Dual Layer DVDRW Drive

 

[einstein4pres]

Worth noting that there's no OS included.

 

[blackrain]

At a minimum, that psu has to be upgraded to at least a Thermaltake 430W for a total of $381.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Originally posted by: blackrain
At a minimum, that psu has to be upgraded to at least a Thermaltake 430W for a total of $381.

That wouldn't be much of an upgrade considering the Thermaltake 430W is a POS. I wouldn't trust it to handle SLI at least.

Also, the 8500GT is a horrible video card... even in SLI it's going to suck. But this is a decent deal so you could just replace it with a 4830 or something.

 

[masteryoda34]

Originally posted by: corwin
Two nVidia geForce 8500GT 256MB PCI Express video cards

Seriously why does nvidia even enable these POS cards for SLI? SLI 8500GT is a JOKE.

 

[angry hampster]

SLI 8500GT is probably about on par with an 8600GTS. ...which means about 50% of a 9800GT.

 

[corwin]

Updated post to reflect coupon code and no OS...

Originally posted by: masteryoda34

Originally posted by: corwin
Two nVidia geForce 8500GT 256MB PCI Express video cards

Seriously why does nvidia even enable these POS cards for SLI? SLI 8500GT is a JOKE.

Yeah the video cards suck, but for a file server/HTPC/parent grade internet machine it would be more than sufficient, and a simple card change yields much better performance.

 

[Kwint Sommer]

It's not a bad system if you don't plan to do anything graphically intensive and it can be upgraded later if you do want to do a little gaming with it. Seems like a pretty solid deal to me, though I would throw in the above linked PSU.

 

[EXreaction]

TBH, it's not a good deal really.

You save about $50 over building it yourself, plus you get the crap video cards (versus say a 4830) and crap power supply.

Go with an X2 AM2 system and you can get about the same price with a decent power supply and a 4830.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Originally posted by: EXreaction
TBH, it's not a good deal really.

You save about $50 over building it yourself, plus you get the crap video cards (versus say a 4830) and crap power supply.

Go with an X2 AM2 system and you can get about the same price with a decent power supply and a 4830.

Bingo. Kwint Sommer, you mention that for basic use as a server or something, the video cards don't matter. But seeing as how it ships with SLI video cards, you're basically getting the worst of both worlds - poor performance thanks to underpowered video cards, and at the same time, double the power consumption because you have two of them. Not a great combination especially when it ships with a cheapo power supply. And if you replace those things, you're spending too much for it to be a good deal.

 

[EXreaction]

Actually, scratch that last bit, some things are a bit more than I thought they were.

It's about $40 more for an AM2 with a good psu and a 4830, an Intel setup would probably be $40 more than an AM2.

 

[kidsafe]

Originally posted by: blackrain
At a minimum, that psu has to be upgraded to at least a Thermaltake 430W for a total of $381.

I actually run two GTS 250s off a single Antec TruePower Trio 430W, though I guess I'm really pushing it as far as amps go. Full load with an older Athlon X2 3800+ = 310W.

 

[Thump553]

I'd like to give my thanks for at least posting a desktop deal. They are pretty rare.

 

[tbogstad]

I guess if you want to play with SLI, but i could and have built way better systems for less money.

Got in on the E5200 and P31 motherboard combo deal from Ewiz for $103 shipped.

got a 9600gt for $67.00 after rebate

antec case and PSU EA430 watt for $40.00 shipped

4gb ram $20.00 corsair

20X dvd+_rw $20.00 right now at newegg

HD $60.00 to $70 for 500gb

and easily overclocked to 3.33ghz just by raiseing the FSB to 266