VPR MATRIX COMPUTER SYSTEM @ BESTBUY Hot or Not??

[Shockazooloo]

Intel® Pentium® 4 processor 2.0GHz with 400MHz system bus, plus 512KB L2 cache

512MB DDR SDRAM expandable to 1.0GB

120.0GB (7200 rpm)- Western Digital hard drive

16x maximum speed DVD-ROM drive - Lite-On(40x maximum speed CD-ROM)

24x10x40 CD-RW drive Lite-On

nVidia GeForce2-MX400 64MB video card

Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 sound card

10/100 integrated network interface card

IEEE 1394 (FireWire) interface and 6 USB connections (2 in front, 4 in back).

All for just $1299.00

Seems like a good deal all top of the line components!

 

[riznick]

I hear these computers are actually pretty good.
much better than the emachines.

 

[oaaltone]

I've heard the same. I ripped one apart at a store (I know the manager) and the insides are all components you or I would use: Intel motherboard, Lite-On optical drives, thumbscrews, etc. They skimped on the video though...

 

[smartt]

Is this marketing research, or just an inquisitive first post?

My $.02, I would buy it. Gateway had a system for $918 with a 2ghz, but didn't come close to those specs.

Is this something that I could find locally or is it just in certain stores now?

 

[Shockazooloo]

First post. I am in the market to buy a new system and this seems to be a great deal! Just uncertain if I should drop $1300 on a new line of computers especially made by Best Buy! I agree on the video part, would like a TV in/out.

Thanks for opinion.

 

[Shockazooloo]

They are available at all best buy stores that is if they have them. They are all sold out by me! Salesmen says they don't even make it to the shelves they are selling like hot cakes!

The case actually looks kewl too!

 

[smartt]

I found them online, with free shipping I believe!

Bestbuy PC

edit: Well, that's stupid. It has the Buy button but also has this in small print on the page: Not available for delivery at this time. Not available for store pickup. Welcome to McDonald's. Sorry sir, we don't have any hamburgers.

 

[BustaBust]

You might want to look more...This is kind of unusual but, a friend of my dads found me a computer at a grocery store. Yes a grocery store!

SPECS:
1.6Ghz Pentium 4
256mb ram
80gb hard drive (5400rpm)
16x10x40 Sony burner
16x DVD-ROM (believe its an Acer)
GeForce 3 Ti 200 with VIVO and WDM Crossbar
Intel 8XX mobo with 6 channel sound and SPDIF In/Out
Firewire
Modem
Cambridge Soundworks speakers
Keyboard and Mouse
Ethernet
WindowsXP
and a really good case
plus 1 year warranty

All at the price of $700

 

[smartt]

May just be me, but I think Bestbuy would be about as far away as I would get from a major vendor. $700 is a good price, though. I just can't see myself picking up a siz pack of beer then swinging by to pickup a PC.

 

[SinnerWolf]

i checked one out the other day. they're not bad machines...better then anything else they sell really. Only come in p4's (bad)....yet they are all DDR (good)....but they are first gen motherboards(bad). if you get one, definitely change out the HSF as they come with a piss poor one...and add some case fans/coolers as they have none. you get an actual copy of XP and your software, and a driver disk... not a restore cd...which is the first good thing i've seen in a while on a retail machine. most of the new retail model computers don't even come with software/restore cd's more anymore...dunno what the hell hp/compaq are thinking

 

[VBboy]

Only the crop of the cream of the morons working at BestBuy could think of pairing up a 2 GHz CPU with a sh|t@ssphuck outdated GeForce2-MX. Un-friggin-believable. I oughta go in there and make the manager my bitch.

GeForce2-MX is a waste of CPU power for anything above 600 MHz.
Those buttholes always try to save the last cent by ripping off the unsuspecting consumer (YOU).

No offense to the original poster

 

[VBboy]

Don't ask anyone on the Hardware Forums about this PC- they will send you money just so you can buy from someone other than BestBuy =)

 

[pdiddy]

make sure you buy the Performance Service Plan, though.....they hook you up if your pc fails hardware wise

 

[jasonja]

Vboy... They put a MX in there because the average Joe doesn't know what the hell a video card is but he knows he needs that 2ghz CPU because Intel's commercials have convinced him that it will make the Internet faster. Hell, I've got a MX with a Athlon 1.4Gz... because I need the processor speed more than I need 20 more FPS in Quake 3.

 

[Atrac]

Anyone know how much this computer would cost if I built it on my own? Hardware Tech always rag on store bought computers...they always say "you can do better for that price." But I like those specs! Can I get the same system for cheaper?

I've been wanting to build my own computer for the longest time. I saw this deal (the $899 one) and considered just buying it. Doing the math in my head it seems pretty close to what I would have to pay if it did it on my own.

My biggest complaint all along about building a computer is the case designs out there. Most of the ones I see at computer shows are *really* ugly. I guess I'm shallow, but I like a good looking case. For example, the budget ones I see at Tiger Direct are extremely ugly.

I happen to like the VPR Matrix Case. It looks quite decent for my tastes.

 

[SinnerWolf]

<< Anyone know how much this computer would cost if I built it on my own? Hardware Tech always rag on store bought computers...they always say "you can do better for that price." But I like those specs! Can I get the same system for cheaper?
I've been wanting to build my own computer for the longest time. I saw this deal (the $899 one) and considered just buying it. Doing the math in my head it seems pretty close to what I would have to pay if it did it on my own.
My biggest complaint all along about building a computer is the case designs out there. Most of the ones I see at computer shows are *really* ugly. I guess I'm shallow, but I like a good looking case. For example, the budget ones I see at Tiger Direct are extremely ugly.
I happen to like the VPR Matrix Case. It looks quite decent for my tastes. >>




the main thing about this that bothers me is...vpr=best buy and no one else. you get 1 year limited warranty, but through who?? none of the reps at my local store new. the cases/components suggest to me that they are made by micron, or at least a special subsidiary of them just for best buy, but who knows. i think the hardware/software itself are worth the money. Building one yourself with the same components would run around $1000 (with a much better & cheaper AMD cpu of course), the same software would easily run $300, and you get a 1 year mystery warranty. If you use the hot deals/trading forums religiously, you can probably build one pretty damned close to it for under 1k, and learn something in the process!

dell equivalent is ~ $2000
gateway ~ $1800

since you mentioned cases being an issue for you.....
Some of the more stylish cases out there
also check directron (don't buy from them tho, damned expensive) and newegg for other case ideas
even if you buy a pc, why not switch cases so none of your friends know? no point in losing respect

 

[Oakenfold]

Yup, good deal for average joe who thinks a cpu is the case of the pc..

 

[Danman]

<< Yup, good deal for average joe who thinks a cpu is the case of the pc.. >>



lol!

 

[mboy]

<< Yup, good deal for average joe who thinks a cpu is the case of the pc.. >>



HEHE, that would be everyone where I work. Instead of just calling the case (with everything in it) the computer, they try to show you how much they know by calling it a cpu. Thinks it makes them sound more intelligent talking to the network guy. If only they knew how silly it makes them sound ( I do point it out from time to time by the way)