Where to get new basic PC?

[Muse]

My sister-in-law's Windows 98 PC is due for an upgrade. She'll want to keep her Samsung 191T LCD, retrieve some data from the HD, and then reformat the HD and give her current computer to her daughter.

Where's a good place to get a fairly average new system without a monitor? It will be used for internet surfing, email, Word documents, kid's games, stuff like that. They ARE up to online ordering, and live near Best Buy and probably CompUSA. In the past, they've gotten name brand stuff, but it seems to me they'll get more generic, easier to upgrade and less expensive equipment if they don't go with Dell, Gateway or HP, etc. Newegg doesn't seem to sell systems. Where would you go? Thanks...

 

[Erasmus-X]

Getting a machine from a big-name OEM like Dell or Gateway isn't necessarily more expensive. You also need to weigh in the fact you're getting brand-new, licensed software with a new machine. This costs OEM's next to nothing to include with your system. If you build a custom PC for someone, you have to worry about getting an operating system on it. A full version of WinXP Home Edition, for example, costs $200 retail. Plus OEM's generally offer free shipping and substantial mail-in rebates because the computer industry is in a total slump right now.

If I were you, I'd do some comparison shopping first. I'm into building custom systems as much as the next person (why else would I be an AnandTecher?), but I've grown tiresome over the years building systems for people and as a result becoming the first person they call whenever they have a petty problem with their machine (that's the other nice thing about a big-name brand....support and warranty coverage!). Look from that standpoint also.

Good luck!

 

[Wingznut]

I think you need to look into Dell again. I'm not even sure you could build an "average" PC for the same price that you can get a Dell, ESPECIALLY if you keep your eyes peeled for a deal.

 

[jackschmittusa]

If you shop around, you can buy the parts damn cheap. Her hardware requirements seem to be quite modest. Sunday I bought 256mb pc2100 and a Best Data v.92 winmodem for free after rebates at Officemax. I've seen a 1.3 Duron and mobo w/vid, audio , lan for $85us. HDs for less than $1/gb after rebate. XP Home oem for $83 w/hardware purchase online. If you are not in a hurry and read the Sunday newspaper ads and check Pricewatch, you can build a basic machine very cheap that will work fine.

 

[Intelman07]

I would go with a Dell. www.dell.com

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Intelman07
I would go with a Dell. www.dell.com

I was just checking out Dell's site. I don't see where there's an option to get one of the desktops without a monitor. The system I see (Dimension XPS) that has DVI video support (ATI Radeon 9800) costs $2000 stock, and comes with a 19" VGA monitor. I don't see the option to waive the monitor (only to upgrade it). Is there a way to do this with Dell?

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: jackschmittusa
If you shop around, you can buy the parts damn cheap. Her hardware requirements seem to be quite modest. Sunday I bought 256mb pc2100 and a Best Data v.92 winmodem for free after rebates at Officemax. I've seen a 1.3 Duron and mobo w/vid, audio , lan for $85us. HDs for less than $1/gb after rebate. XP Home oem for $83 w/hardware purchase online. If you are not in a hurry and read the Sunday newspaper ads and check Pricewatch, you can build a basic machine very cheap that will work fine.

I don't want to build a system for them. Well, I could (I always build my own systems ) and then send it to them, but right now I'm thinking something prebuilt.

 

[Wingznut]

Yes, you should be able to drop the monitor... Just give them a call. But a Dimension XPS w/ATI 9800 hardly qualifies as a "fairly average" system.

I just configured a Dimension 4550:

• P4-2.53 ghz
• 256mb PC2700
• ATI All-in-wonder 9000 PRO w/DVI
• 30gb ATA/100 7200rpm
• HD48x Max CD-RW/ DVD Combo Drive with Roxios Easy CD Creator
• SB Live
• Harman Kardon HK-395 Speakers with Subwoofer
• Floppy Drive
• kb/mouse
• modem
• NIC
• Windows XP and a bunch of other software.
• Dell's warranty and customer support

Total Price $878 shipped.

I used to build systems on the side for friends and family... But I now just tell them to call Dell, since they can get a similar system (for about the same price) from them, and I don't have to deal with the tech support.


And if you aren't in a huge hurry, you can find even better deals by keeping your eye on the Hot Deals forum.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

HD48x Max CD-RW/ DVD Combo Drive

mine works great

 

[Mallow]

I can build you one for cheap

 

[MichaelHudson]

All you have to do is select a system and under the monitor sections select no monitor.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

I'd go to Best Buy and pick up the cheapest system they have. It will be $400 with monitor, cheaper without a monitor. It'll probably be from Emachines with like 1.7ghz or 1.8ghz Celeron, 256MB DDR RAm, 40 Gig Drive, etc. It will come with the OS and everything she'll need.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Wingznut
Yes, you should be able to drop the monitor... Just give them a call. But a Dimension XPS w/ATI 9800 hardly qualifies as a "fairly average" system.

I just configured a Dimension 4550:

• P4-2.53 ghz
• 256mb PC2700
• ATI All-in-wonder 9000 PRO w/DVI
• 30gb ATA/100 7200rpm
• HD48x Max CD-RW/ DVD Combo Drive with Roxios Easy CD Creator
• SB Live
• Harman Kardon HK-395 Speakers with Subwoofer
• Floppy Drive
• kb/mouse
• modem
• NIC
• Windows XP and a bunch of other software.
• Dell's warranty and customer support

Total Price $878 shipped.

I used to build systems on the side for friends and family... But I now just tell them to call Dell, since they can get a similar system (for about the same price) from them, and I don't have to deal with the tech support.


And if you aren't in a huge hurry, you can find even better deals by keeping your eye on the Hot Deals forum.

Hey, THANKS Wingznut! Great great post. That system's nearly perfect for her. Maybe an upgrade to an optical mouse, and I don't know that she needs the modem - they have cable internet. Otherwise, perfect... Thanks again!

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: ScrapSilicon

HD48x Max CD-RW/ DVD Combo Drive

mine works great

What's an HD48x... etc.? I get the idea behind a combo DVD/CD-RW drive, but what manufacturer is HD? TIA.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: MichaelHudson
All you have to do is select a system and under the monitor sections select no monitor.

Yeah, OK. I just looked at the first (and only) stock system I saw that featured DVI in the video (the Dimension XPS), and in the monitor options, no monitor was not an option.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: AgaBooga
I'd go to Best Buy and pick up the cheapest system they have. It will be $400 with monitor, cheaper without a monitor. It'll probably be from Emachines with like 1.7ghz or 1.8ghz Celeron, 256MB DDR RAm, 40 Gig Drive, etc. It will come with the OS and everything she'll need.

Yeah, that looks very doable. Pretty cheap, too. Thanks. Couple things, though. I think she should abandon Windows 98 and go with XP (or Windows 2000). Therefore, minimum 256 MB RAM, I'd think. Also optical mouse and video with DVI support. I told my brother they could get a machine for around $500. It's not that they're hurting for money, but I sort of feel funny if it turns out to be a lot more than what I said.

 

[HappyCracker]

Dell is good, and their tech support is second to none. I had a problem with my laptop a few years back, called them up, ran some diagnostics, they told me to take the drives, etc. out, and FedEx was there in an hour to pick it up. Got it back like 5 days later. If they are novice users, that's definitely the way to go. I was also pricing a basic system from Cyberpower a while back. Text They were also good, but no OS. It did however come with at bare minimum a TNT2 (I know it's old) but I would take that over that Intel Extreme Graphics because it can be upgraded later should their needs change. Good luck with your hunt