Shopping for a new inexpensive PC

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Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
126
I'm helping someone find a new desktop PC. Budget they'd like to spend $400-$500 or so (I might push them to $600 if justified). They'd also like a new screen 20"-24", budget $150-$250.

Uses will be primarily e-mail, surfing, CD burning, and games, including flight simulators.

I'm reasonably familiar with the 'lay of the land' buying these, but it's not that easy picking one.

They have a Staples, Best Buy, and Fry's available; I'm leaning towards online.

I'm interested in specific suggestions for a good pick - the usual, value/quality. Thanks!
 
J

JWade

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
3,273
197
106
www.heatware.com
go to delloutlet.com to get a dell refurb, can get some really good deals if you keep checking back there often. I got a new Dell Zino and its a great little machine for surfing, email, light gaming (i got the dual core, and dedicated video card in it). WAY better than an atom nettop machine
 
C

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
126
JWade said:
go to delloutlet.com to get a dell refurb, can get some really good deals if you keep checking back there often. I got a new Dell Zino and its a great little machine for surfing, email, light gaming (i got the dual core, and dedicated video card in it). WAY better than an atom nettop machine
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'll take a look.

Still looking for the right monitor.
 
cbn

cbn

Lifer
Mar 27, 2009
12,968
221
106
Craig234 said:
I'm helping someone find a new desktop PC. Budget they'd like to spend $400-$500 or so (I might push them to $600 if justified). They'd also like a new screen 20"-24", budget $150-$250.

Uses will be primarily e-mail, surfing, CD burning, and games, including flight simulators.

I'm reasonably familiar with the 'lay of the land' buying these, but it's not that easy picking one.

They have a Staples, Best Buy, and Fry's available; I'm leaning towards online.

I'm interested in specific suggestions for a good pick - the usual, value/quality. Thanks!
Click to expand...



Here are the Fry's deals.

I can see they have a complete system listed today with 20" HP monitor. If you added a reasonable video card I think you might end up being within your budget.
 
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cbn

cbn

Lifer
Mar 27, 2009
12,968
221
106
Craig234 said:
Still looking for the right monitor.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing 1600x1200 @ 20" is too small right? Unfortunately that might be the LCD included in the Fry's deal.

Last time I checked 23" 1080p monitors were going for as low as $150 on Newegg.
 
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bamacre

bamacre

Lifer
Jul 1, 2004
21,029
2
61
I wouldn't recommend the Vostro 220 for gaming.

I would definitely check the Dell Outlet, be on the lookout for a Studio XPS 8000, or a Studio 435 MiniTower. And also sign up for coupon codes if you haven't already. Should be some coming out in 2-3 days or so.
 
taltamir

taltamir

Lifer
Mar 21, 2004
13,576
6
76
There is absolutely no "connection" between your PC (the box) and the peripherals (monitor, mouse, keyboard) and absolutely no reason whatsoever to upgrade the two "together". It is would be best to start thinking of them as completely separate things.
And the most common reason for slowdowns (significant) is junk programs and malware.

I would suggest that you start with a new good monitor and a clean format, perhaps a new keyboard and mouse. Then if they feel the newly formatted computer is too slow, decide whether you would be better off upgrading or buying a new one. (ideally you would build your own, but some people just don't want to and can't be bothered to... those are the people who are almost certain to have a bunch of malware causing massive slowdowns)

alternatively, if they LIKE their current monitor, mouse, keyboard, and speakers... and have no intention of buying a BETTER quality one, then they should keep those while doing the format / replacing the tower.
 
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C

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
126
bamacre said:
I wouldn't recommend the Vostro 220 for gaming.

I would definitely check the Dell Outlet, be on the lookout for a Studio XPS 8000, or a Studio 435 MiniTower. And also sign up for coupon codes if you haven't already. Should be some coming out in 2-3 days or so.
Click to expand...

THe Dell Outlet hasn't seemed to have too great of value so far. The 8000 and 435 were at cheapest close to $900 and $800 respectively, so not quite in his price range.

Cheaper PCs seemed to be a bit underpowered, e.g. often with onboard graphics or 256MB cards.

On the last post, he's upgrading an old cheap pc with a small monitor, so doing the pc and the monitor both is useful.

I might check craigslist for amateur builders in his area etc. Had hoped I might find a decent other deal.
 
J

JWade

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
3,273
197
106
www.heatware.com
you just need to be patient and not in a rush with the outlet, there are definately deals to be had on there, i have in the past picked up a 435mt with the i7 920, 500gb 3gb ram, crappy 256mb pci-e ati card (which i already had an upgrade waiting for anyways), dual dvd drives for under $450. I just two days ago got my daughter a nickalodean 10 mini for $177 after a 15% off coupon code.
 
cbn

cbn

Lifer
Mar 27, 2009
12,968
221
106
OP,

Have you considered building a system?

If you live near a Fry's their CPU/mainboards deals can't be beat. I've seen AMD quad core/mainboard combos for around $100.
 
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T

ther00kie16

Golden Member
Mar 28, 2008
1,573
0
0
If he's ok with refurbs: http://shop.revonate.com/Factory_Refurbished_Gateway_DX4820_Desktop_p/l-pt.g780x.011.htm
q8300, 6gb ram, 750gb hd for $370
or http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...174&CatId=2628
q8200 6gb ram, 750gb hd for $420 before 15% cashback

Add a 23" for $160 before 15% cashback: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...179&CatId=4420
or 25" for $200 before 15% cashback: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...551&CatId=3774

That's about $500 for the TD desktop and 23" lcd after cashback, leaving him some money for a good graphics card. I'd wait to see if Fermi can push down Radeon 5000 prices.

Oh and if he wants to run flight sim, the quad core will really help. Otherwise, a good i3 build would work.
So something like:
i3 cpu+mb: $200
4gb ddr3: $80
1tb hd: $80 (already $360 here so on second thought this isn't as cost effective)
 
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C

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
126
ther00kie16 said:
If he's ok with refurbs: http://shop.revonate.com/Factory_Refurbished_Gateway_DX4820_Desktop_p/l-pt.g780x.011.htm
q8300, 6gb ram, 750gb hd for $370
or http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...174&CatId=2628
q8200 6gb ram, 750gb hd for $420 before 15% cashback

Add a 23" for $160 before 15% cashback: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...179&CatId=4420
or 25" for $200 before 15% cashback: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...551&CatId=3774

That's about $500 for the TD desktop and 23" lcd after cashback, leaving him some money for a good graphics card. I'd wait to see if Fermi can push down Radeon 5000 prices.

Oh and if he wants to run flight sim, the quad core will really help. Otherwise, a good i3 build would work.
So something like:
i3 cpu+mb: $200
4gb ddr3: $80
1tb hd: $80 (already $360 here so on second thought this isn't as cost effective)
Click to expand...

Thanks, that first one would be great, except for Vista. I'd rather get Win 7, or settler for XP, from what I've heard about Vista. That 25" monitor looks good, I might get that one.
 
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