Which OEM would you buy from if you were shopping for a business system?

[IgoByte]

Dell has some nice deals, but let's say that Dell isn't an option, and neither is building one myself... Which OEM would you buy from?

Here's what I'm looking for (taken from Dell):
- P4 2.53Ghz (533Mhz FSB)
- 512MB DDR SDRAM
- 40GB 7200RPM HDD
- 64MB GF4 Ti4200 with DVI-out
- USB keyboard & mouse
- 3 year warranty + 3 year on-site
- Windows XP Home (I would purchase an OEM Windows 2000 copy and install myself from scratch) / MS Works
- 48x CD-Rom Drive / Floppy drive / 10/100 NIC

Comes out to $1098 - any coupons + tax

I think that's affordable for that kind of computer.

Now, I can't seem to configure anything even close in performance/price at Gateway or IBM. Falcon NW doesn't offer leasing/financing and they are also a bit expensive compared to Dell. Alienware obviously specializes in gaming. Compaq seems to have the nicest deal of all the remaining OEMs with the following configuration:

- Athlon XP 2200+
- NForce 220 Chipset
- 256MB PC2100 DDR SDRAM
- 40GB 7200RPM HDD
- GF2 MX200 64MB DDR with DVI-out (flat panel monitor)
- 48x CD-Rom Drive
- Windows 2000 Pro
- Office XP Pro with Publisher
- 180 day subscription to Norton AV
- keyboard & mouse
- 10/100 NIC
- 3 year warranty

Comes out to $988 + tax + shipping (may be able to get rid of shipping)
The only problem is that I don't really want to buy from Compaq.


Well, on to my original question...How do these configurations / prices look to you and which other OEMs can you recommend?

 

[mcveigh]

I hate compaq

why not dell?

 

[IgoByte]

Originally posted by: mcveigh
I hate compaq

why not dell?

I hate Compaq too. Dell doesn't offer enough credit. Otherwise, I'd get Dells only.

 

[mcveigh]

you can try getting business loan from a lender/bank?

I don't who else to reccomend except gateway, and I'm not a big fan of them either:frown:

 

[nichomach]

Unless you have a REALLY good reason, MAKE Dell an option. We have a shedload of Optiplexes, 3 Poweredge servers and a few Precision workstations. Add to that the large number of Inspiron laptops, and you get the idea. They're cheap, well covered by warranty and reliable as a brick.

 

[bluemax]

Ti4200 on a business system??
What kind of business are we talking about here?

"We are in the business of playing games."

 

[Fatt]

Seriously...

If I were buying workstations I'd buy Dells, in spite of that annoying little wanker on TV.

 

[John]

Originally posted by: Fatt
Seriously...

If I were buying workstations I'd buy Dells, in spite of that annoying little wanker on TV.

 

[Gstanfor]

I too would go the compaq route since they support three causes close to my heart

1. AMD corporate PC support (finally)
2. nForce finally gets a chance to shine as a stable and capable system platform
3. Low cost but decent specs in spite of that, unlike so much other integrated crap.

Greg

 

[Sunner]

As much as I hate Compaq's "user systems", that is Presarios and such, their business tailored stuff rocks.
DeskPro's/Evo's are good solid boxes that rarely give any problems, Armada notebooks are very nice as well.

As for server, I'd say Compaq is second to none in the x86 server market, and many will agree on that one.

People tend to dislike Compaq cause of their Presario boxes, but that's mostly people who don't realise computers can be used for more than games.

 

[AndyHui]

Compaqs make great servers.

It's a pity that we have just got in 5 Proliants from a branch that closed down, doesn't have the Driver packs and the Smart Array 431 Drivers downloadable from Compaq DON'T work! :|

 

[IgoByte]

Originally posted by: mcveigh
you can try getting business loan from a lender/bank?

I don't who else to reccomend except gateway, and I'm not a big fan of them either:frown:

Ditto - the business loan came to mind, but I wanted to explore other options.

 

[IgoByte]

Originally posted by: bluemax
Ti4200 on a business system??
What kind of business are we talking about here?

"We are in the business of playing games."

LoL - Needed DVI out for the flat panel monitors and they didn't offer anything cheaper than the 128MB Ti4200G in the case of Gateway. I could skip that altogether though and just use RGB.

 

[IgoByte]

Originally posted by: Sunner
As much as I hate Compaq's "user systems", that is Presarios and such, their business tailored stuff rocks.
DeskPro's/Evo's are good solid boxes that rarely give any problems, Armada notebooks are very nice as well.

As for server, I'd say Compaq is second to none in the x86 server market, and many will agree on that one.

People tend to dislike Compaq cause of their Presario boxes, but that's mostly people who don't realise computers can be used for more than games.

That's very much true, but I still hate Compaq due to some bad experiences with their home systems way back. I would consider them though, because these business systems look decent and they offer some nice deals. The one thing I'm unsure about is how much junk software they install along with Windows 2000 and Office XP. Generally, I tend to skip all software, and get the cheapest possible OS (WIndows XP Home, for example), and then purchase the software separately and install it myself from scratch. The systems, even Dell, are so much better like that. I can't stand that the OEMs now ship their computers with only Restore CDs. We're paying good money for this software (in many cases as much as OEM software goes for on the net), and I think we should have the option of installing an OS from scratch or if not, then at least not having to purchase any OS at all. Just imagine how cheap all those Hot Deals at Dell would be if we could subtract $150 from the price for MS's junk WinXP Home & Works Suite?

Arrrrgh :|

 

[dexvx]

From the looks of it you're configuring a Dell Dimension system. Usually businesses go for Optiplex's and Precision stations. If they dont have DVI on any chaeper video cards, call them and ask if they have anything cheaper with DVI out.

 

[IgoByte]

Originally posted by: dexvx
From the looks of it you're configuring a Dell Dimension system. Usually businesses go for Optiplex's and Precision stations. If they dont have DVI on any chaeper video cards, call them and ask if they have anything cheaper with DVI out.

Well, Dell currently isn't an option. generally though, they won't go outside the offered hardware.

 

[IgoByte]

Looking at these configurations from Xi right now (bought my very first PC from them - not a bad company):

- Athlon XP 2600+
- 512MB PC2100 DDR SDRAM
- ATI Radeon 8500 64MB (DVI)
- 20GB 7200RPM HDD
- 52x CD-Rom Drive
- On-board sound
- Netgear FA 310TX PCI 10/100 NIC
- Standard mouse & keyboard
- Windows XP Pro CD-Rom w/ manuals/act.reg. (This is an actual Windows CD)
- 3 years parts & labor + 1 year on-site
- Xi Mighty-Tower Premiere Silver Black case w/ 350W PSU

$1474.00 + shipping (reasonable)

or

- Athlon XP 2100+
- 256MB PC2100 DDR SDRAM
- TNT 2 M64 32MB (no DVI)
- 20GB 7200RPM HDD
- 52x CD-Rom Drive
- On-board sound
- Netgear FA 310TX PCI 10/100 NIC
- Standard mouse & keyboard
- Windows XP Pro CD-Rom w/ manuals/act.reg. (This is an actual Windows CD)
- 1 year warranty
- Xi Mighty-Tower Premiere Silver Black case w/ 350W PSU

$930 + shipping

What do you guys think?

 

[mcveigh]

I'll agree compaq makes good servers, but I hate their desktops!!, damn proprietary hardware and drivers:|

 

[ChoppedBroccoli]

I am currently looking at ABS myself:
See this thread

 

[IgoByte]

Originally posted by: ChoppedBroccoli
I am currently looking at ABS myself:
See this thread

Interesting...I'm looking more for something a little different though. If it were up to me, I'd build the computers myself and that would be great, but it's not, so...

I think it's going to be Compaq after all...

Here's the configuration I'll probably end up with:
Compaq D315 Microtower
AMD Athlon XP 2000+
nForce 220 chipset
20GB 7200RPM HDD
256MB PC2100 DDR SDRAM
Integrated graphics
Floppy Drive
48x CD-Rom Drive
Integrated audio
MS Windows 2000 Pro
180-day subscription to Norton AV 2002
Compaq mouse & keyboard
10/100 NIC
3-year warranty

Comes out to $669.00 + tax + $11.31 S&H per computer, and they offer lease plans, etc. I was also surprised at the level of customization (though not the best for this particular computer due to its size) Compaq offered and the detailed descriptions of the parts. I also like the fact that they're offering Windows 2000 on these systems and that the 3 year warranty is standard.
If I could, I'd go for Dell's Dimension 4500, but like this it seems that this Compaq is a great buy. Let's see...

 

[Sunner]

Originally posted by: mcveigh
I'll agree compaq makes good servers, but I hate their desktops!!, damn proprietary hardware and drivers:|

Funny, our DeskPro's all use standard ATX cases, with Matrox, Intel built in, or nVidia cards, using standard PC100/PC133 memory, standard IDE harddrives, etc etc.
The DeskPro Im using now has a Voodoo3 2000 PCI and a SoundBlaster Live! in it, since I didn't quite appreciate the gaming performance of the original components

I think it was a long time ago since Compaq realised that properiarity parts is a Bad Thing(TM).

 

[MasterHoss]

Last time I checked, the Presario line featured the following... Crucial DDR SDRAM/Crucial PC133 SDRAM, Lite On optical drives (CD-RW and DVD-ROM), VIA KT266 mobos/nVidia nForce 220D mobos/Intel 845B mobos/Intel 850G mobos Western Digital "BB" hard drives, Tai Sol heatsink+fan.

I haven't opened one up in a while so they may have started to use different parts but the above observations were made from December 2001 to about March 2002.

EDIT: I noticed Compaq started to use "mainstream stuff" starting about 1998 although the Presario cases and some of the mobos (although VIA, Intel, or nVidia based) are designed to no ATX factor form.

 

[IgoByte]

Well, Dell uses proprietary parts...Case, mobo and often PSU...

My experience with Compaq goes way back...before 98 certainly...Right now, I think it's well worth giving them a shot. The D315 is a great buy, IMO.