Where's the best place for the best deal on a PC?

[kregger]

I'm going to buy a new computer Friday and not sure where to turn. I want the best deal I can find, obviously. I just need the CPU. I'm trying to stay under $500. Any tips for where to look and what to look for and what brands to avoid? There are some really inexpensive Celerons out there, but I don't know much about them.

I don't do any gaming. Just basic stuff mostly. I want definitely want it to be really quick though. I do a lot of multi-tasking. I have a work at home job, so I end up doing a bunch of different things at once.

Its been 4 years since I bought a computer and things seem to have changed quite a bit since then, so I'm not familiar with a lot of the terminology used. Any help or advice would be very much appreciated.

Craig

 

[JohnAn2112]

Wrong forum! *also, sits back and waits for the Intel vs AMD flameware*

 

[RossMAN]

1) Dude you're getting a Dell!

Dell Home
dell Dimension 3000 Desktop, P4 2.8GHz, 256MB, 40GB, 48X CD-ROM, 48x CD-RW, XP Home, dell 720 Color Printer » only $449.00 + Free Shipping

Dell Small Business
dell Dimension 3000 Desktop, P4 2.8GHz, 256MB, 80GB, 48x CD-RW, XP Home, Floppy, dell 720 Color Printer, 2 Year Basic Service » only $349.00 + Free Shipping

dell Dimension 3000 Desktop, P4 2.8GHz, 256MB, 80GB, 48x CD-RW, XP Home, Floppy, 15" LCD, dell 720 Color Printer, 2 Year Basic Service » only $449.00 + Free Shipping

dell Dimension 3000 Desktop, P4 2.8GHz, 256MB, 80GB, 48x CD-RW, XP Home, Floppy, 17" LCD, dell 720 Color Printer, 2 Year Basic Service » only $498.00 + Free Shipping

2) NewEgg.com + ZipZoomFly.com = best selection and prices

3) Local store like Fry's Electronics or Microtech

Pick your poison.

 

[kregger]

ZePHyRaNTHeS: Oops! Which forum should I put it in? Hot Deals?

RossMAN: Will that sale still be good on Friday? Are their refurbished models good?

 

[Rudee]

Wow, Dell prices are cheap. Cheaper than building yourself. How the heck are they making money?

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: Rudee
Wow, Dell prices are cheap. Cheaper than building yourself. How the heck are they making money?

they get their parts wholesale?

 

[olds]

I just got my daughter a Dell machine for basic video editing. They shipped it today:
Dimension 8400 Desktop: Pentium 4 Processor 530 with HT Technology (3.00GHz, 800 FSB, 1MB)
Microsoft Windows XP Home
1 GB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz (2 DIMMs)
No Floppy Drive
160 GB EIDE SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
128MB PCI Express ATI Radeon X300 SE
56Kbps Data/Fax Modem
16X DVD ROM Drive
16X DVD + RW Drive
Software CD
MOD,KIT,CDSK,AOL9.0,BUDROM,DAO .01
Software
Earthlink ISP Software
AOL 8.0 ISP Software
Music Match 8.2 Basic
90-Day Trial Norton Internet Security 2004
DVD Decoding Software
DPS Paint Shop Pro Try and Buy Software
PAINT SHOP PRO 4.0 STANDARD
Resource CD
Resource CD
Software
MOD,KIT,CDSK,AOL9.0,BUDROM,DAO
Dell Media Experience
Dell Support 2.0
Dell Support 2.0 Software
Software
WordPerfect Productivity Suite 12.0
Record Now! Deluxe Software
Shipping Material
Logitec 2-button Scroll Mouse
QuietKey Keyboard
AOL Sofware Documentation
No Raid

$757.94

 

[Kyteland]

Originally posted by: kregger
ZePHyRaNTHeS: Oops! Which forum should I put it in? Hot Deals?

RossMAN: Will that sale still be good on Friday? Are their refurbished models good?

You would be flamed to a crisp if you posted this in hot deals (Except possibly in the Iwanna thread) and it should have been posted in General Hardware.

Since AT is a harware enthusiasts site, anything having to do with hardware is generally "On Topic."

Edit: Test: Æ