Where should I buy my system?

[pengin]

Well, I have recently moved to Riverside, California for University. I need to buy a new system for school, and don't know where to buy it. I want to spend less than $1000 for the system and the monitor. This is what I need. Keep in mind that this system is just going to be used for Word, Internet, Email.

P4: 2.53
Motherboard: Asus, not sure which one i shoud get
Sound Card: Sound Blaster Live! Value
Video Card: Onboard
Ram: 256 DDR
HD: Western Digital 80 gigs ATA100 7200RPM
CD: Lite-on 16x DVD
Mouse: Already Have one
Keyboard: Already Have one
Speakers: Already Have Them
Printer: Already Have One
Monitor: 19" Flat Screen CRT (Brand doesn't really matter to me)

Anywayz, what do u think of the specs of the computer I want to get? Also, can any one recommend any cheap places to buy my system. It does not matter to me whether it is online, or a real store. As long as it assembles my system for me, and is pretty cheap. Any one have any good sites / stores that they can suggest?
Any help will be greatly apreciated. Thanks

 

[m2kewl]

dude, you're getting a dell.

 

[Jzero]

If all you are doing is Word, internet and e-mail, then you might as well get the slowest processor they are willing to sell you.....P4 2.53 is WAAAAY overkill.....I'd sooner get a PIII or even a PII, get cheaper RAM, a smaller HD and then get a bigger monitor or an LCD....

 

[stev0]

pchertz is your friend

 

[NetworkDad]

Give me your $1,000 and i'll build you one to your specs, no problem.

 

[pengin]

Well, I decided on getting a 2.53 because I don't want my system to be outdated to fast? I don't know if that makes sense, but yeah. 2.53 to the next speed seems to be the biggest price gap? almost like 100 something dollars. So yeah, thats why i decided on the 2.53. Over kill eh? hmmm. What speed do u recommend I get?

 

[schmedy]

If you want to build you can go down to the City of Industry...just down the 91 to Mwave and they have pretty good prices and stock most in hand. If I was still in CA I'd build you one, but I'm not....

 

[RossMAN]

Dell Dimension 4500

Dell Dimension 4500 Series: Pentium® 4 Processor at 2.40GHz with 533MHz system bus/ 512K L2 Cache DSW424 [220-9261]
Memory: 128MB DDR SDRAM 128M [311-1280]
Keyboard: Dell® Quietkey® Keyboard QK [310-1582]
Monitors: No Monitor N [320-3000]
Video Cards: 32MB ATI® Rage? Ultra Graphics Card 32ULTRA [320-0452]
Hard Drive: 80GB Ultra ATA/100 7200 RPM Hard Drive 80 [340-2963]
Floppy Drive: 3.5 in Floppy Drive 3 [340-1927]
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition WHXP [313-7222] [412-0189] [420-3079]
Mouse: Dell® 2-button scroll mouse SM [310-1871]
Broadband Ready/ Ethernet Network Card: 10/100 PCI Fast Ethernet NIC CNET [430-5353]
Modem: No Modem Requested N [313-3607]
CD or DVD Drive: 48x Max CD-ROM Drive CD48 [313-2561]
Sound Card: Integrated Audio IS [313-0847]
Speakers: No Speaker Option N [313-4514]
Software Bundles: Microsoft® Works Suite 2002 w/Money Standard WORKS [412-0133]
Digital Photography: Dell Picture Studio, Image Expert Standard DPS [412-0271] [412-0273]
Limited Warranty, Services and Support Options: 1 Year Limited Warranty plus 1 Year On-site Service B111YOS [950-1230] [950-9797]
Internet Access Service: 6 Months AOL,Featuring the Netbusiness Service for Small Business AOLSMB [412-0280]
Mail-In Rebate Offer: $100 Mail In Rebate!! REBATE [461-5534]

$739 - 3% eBates - $100 MIR - FREE SHIPPING = $616

That leaves you almost $400 for other upgrades (RAM, CD-RW, DVD) and a 19" monitor (Samsung 955DF).

 

[RossMAN]

If you don't mind paying taxes you could buy an NEC/MITSUBISHI AccuSync 90 for $173.95 with free shipping after applying a $30 off $200 coupon code.

 

[RossMAN]

Here's a list of Dell's 19" CRT monitors sorted in order by lowest to highest price.

Just make sure you get a good monitor not a crappy one.

 

[pengin]

1. RossMAN, how did you get the Dell Dimension 4500 down to $739? I just configured it and I only got it down to $808.
*edit* I figured out why it costed so much. I didn't change the warrenty. How important is the warranty? Do I really need it? I don't intend on getting a new system, but do intend on upgrading it. Will upgrading void the warranty?

2. Why buying monitors, how do you tell the good ones from the "crappy ones"? I don't know alot about buying monitors. Are there certain specs that I should look for?

 

[Pliablemoose]

Text

I really wouldn't spent top dollar on a super fast system, once you hit 1+ GHZ, unless you're editing videos or just looking for bragging rights...

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: pengin
1. <FONT face=Verdana size=1>RossMAN, how did you get the <a class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge target=new href="http://www.dell.com/us/en/bsd/products/minicat_dimen_4500.htm"><FONT face=Tahoma color=#000080 size=2>Dell Dimension 4500</FONT></a> down to $739? I just configured the dell with the same options and it was $808. Did I do something wrong? Also, is there a way to buy a dell without a cd-rom drive, mouse, keyboard, and windows installed?

2. When buying monitors, how do you tell if they are Good ones, and not "crappy ones"??? Any particular specs that I should look for? I don't know anything about buying monitors.</FONT>

dell policy is to ship only systems that work, so they all come with windows (sometimes linux, though thats even more because the support is expensive... they actually have to pay those techs). and the other components are all standard as well. the dvd is usually a lite-on. the mouse and keyboard add a whole $20 to the purchase price, if even that...

i'm not sure what you did to get 808... i'm getting 739 as well.

as for monitors, if you want a 19" just get a 955df, 900NF, or maybe the compaq p910 if cdw still has any that aren't b stock.

 

[bolido2000]

Personally I got a good deal here. They are in Baldwin Park so you could just pick it up. No problems so far except the fans are kind of loud

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: pengin
Well, I decided on getting a 2.53 because I don't want my system to be outdated to fast?

The processing capabilities required to for Word, web and e-mail were exceeded many years ago. You could buy a used 300MHz box for $100 and you probably wouldn't even notice how slow it was except for how long it takes to boot up. You are correct that it won't be outdated too fast, but it's pretty much overkill. Up until a coupel months ago, I was still using a 450MHz dual celeron. The only reason I upgraded to 1.0 GHz dual PIII was because my dual celeron board failed and a friend offered to sell me his dual PIII board for $25.

Unless you want to play games (and even a lot of games ran fine on my 450MHz processors), or do digital video or some such, you probably cannot buy a new computer that is TOO SLOW for e-mail. If I was in your shoes, I'd go to Dell or wherever and get the lowest-end machine I can get my hands on, and opt for more RAM, DVD, CDRW and a BIG ASS display

On the flip side, I take it you're a freshman and just moved to school and you may not have yet been introduced to things like Warcraft III and Unreal Tournament and Battlefield 1943. In which case....if you've got $1000 budgeted for a PC, go for a better model....just in case