What's a good hardware store in Southern California?

[tkdand]

Hi,

I'm visiting LA and San Diego (and Vegas) in January. What's a good computer hardware store I can get stuff for my new build?
Since I'm foreign and I don't have an US issued credit card I can't buy online so I need a good actual store at one of those places. By good I mean with good prices and variety, I'll probably go for:

i5 2500K
Some ~US$160 Z68 motherboard (probably Gigabyte)
2x 4GB ~US$65 RAM
OCZ Vertex 3 120GB
Some HD6870 1GB Video Card ~US$160

Thank You.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Frys is probably your best bet. There are tons of small computer shops but the best ones are few and far between.

 

[Six]

Fry's in San Marcos. Avoid the Fry's in San Diego.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Fry's or Micro Center.

 

[Imported]

MicroCenter? I preferred going there over Fry's when I lived in OC.

 

[CrackRabbit]

Fry's or Micro Center.

Go to the MicroCenter in Tustin. It will very likely be much less expensive than Frys for the CPU and motherboard.
Their video card selection kinda sucks though.

 

[SamQuint]

MicroCenter? I preferred going there over Fry's when I lived in OC.

1100 East Edinger Avenue
Tustin, CA 92780
Phone: (714) 566-8500

I think this is the only one in Southern California, not too close to San Diego.

Be very careful if you do go to Fry's. Inspect everything closely. If you are buying new items you want to make sure the boxes have not been opened. They get a lot of returns at Fry's. They are supposed to put the stickers on the return items they try to resell and mark down the price. The markdowns are not that great and they often resell returned items as new. (by mistake or on purpose who knows but I don't care I just know it happens there)

 

[BoomerD]

Newegg will-call.

 

[CZroe]

Newegg will-call.

But can you pay in person?

 

[BoomerD]

But can you pay in person?

Ah...good point. I think it has to be pre-paid on line.

Fry's is about the LAST place I'd go. Too many returned/broken/damaged items put back on the shelves and sold as new.

 

[Harvey]

The most comprehensive ads for Fry's B&M stores are in the San Jose Mercury News and the Dallas News.

You can check for more info and in-store availability by checking the SKU number for same items on frys.com.

Fry's advertises that they will meet local and online prices so don't forget to price check the same items at newegg.com and other reliable online vendors.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Microcenter will be your best price for a 2500k and mobo combo. They have the lowest price for the 2500k and if you get a mobo, I believe the current discount is between $60-80 off.

 

[bfdd]

MWave does will call as well. I believe they are right near the Fry's in City of Industry. What part of LA are you going to? LA is a HUGE place, if you've been to New York, think 10x's larger.

 

[The_Dude8]

Fry's in San Marcos. Avoid the Fry's in San Diego.

fry in san marcos is freaking huge, inside look like a vegas casino with the giant aquiarium.

 

[Corporate Thug]

I did will call at mwave once (a long time ago) and I was able to pay in person.

 

[tkdand]

Thank you for all the replies, it was very helpful.
I've been to fry's in Sacramento a few years ago and I see what you mean about returned products on the shelves. Prices and variety were not so good either. I still have an overpriced HD4850 that I bought there.

I didn't know micro center, I liked their website. I'll try to stop by.

Store pick up at mwave's or newegg's warehouse would be perfect. But they are too picky with the credit card thing making it impossible for someone that don't have an US issued credit card to get things there. Anyway I'll see what I can do.

 

[bfdd]

Thank you for all the replies, it was very helpful.
I've been to fry's in Sacramento a few years ago and I see what you mean about returned products on the shelves. Prices and variety were not so good either. I still have an overpriced HD4850 that I bought there.

I didn't know micro center, I liked their website. I'll try to stop by.

Store pick up at mwave's or newegg's warehouse would be perfect. But they are too picky with the credit card thing making it impossible for someone that don't have an US issued credit card to get things there. Anyway I'll see what I can do.

try ordering over the phone maybe?

 

[FleshLight]

Harbor Freight

 

[AgentUnknown]

lowes

 

[zerocool84]

MWave does will call as well. I believe they are right near the Fry's in City of Industry. What part of LA are you going to? LA is a HUGE place, if you've been to New York, think 10x's larger.

Oh cool, I didn't know MWave was close to Frys.

 

[BoomerD]

Just be careful with MicroCenter. My son bought a computer there in the 90s. Supposed to be brand-new...ended up being a returned computer with some FUBAR'd components. They fought him for months before we finally got them to let him return it.
HP said it had been registered a couple of months before he bought it, they wouldn't honor the warranty...non-transferable. That's how we FINALLY got them to take it back)

 

[BoomerD]

try ordering over the phone maybe?

Newegg doesn't take phone orders.

Does Newegg.com accept phone, fax, email or snail mail orders?
Unfortunately, we do not accept phone, fax or e-mail orders. All orders must be placed online.

 

[tkdand]

lowes

Harbor Freight

What do you think about this CPU cooling Fan?

 

[T_Yamamoto]

What do you think about this CPU cooling Fan?

Best one yet.

Use this when you over clock to 8 ghz

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus