Who Builds Computers

[Don&Patty]

My current computer needs to be replaced and have looked at Dell, Gateway, Sony, etc. and the prices at way high. Anyone out there build computers????????????? Let me know, very interested.

[Togo]

there are a lot of us that build them, but for sheer dollar value - i recommend dell!

i personally have 2 desktops and a laptop from them, my mom has a dell desktop, as does my aunt!

i haven't been keeping up on the market, but last time i looked, it was cheaper to buy a dell than it was for me to buy all the parts and assemble them myself - one of the biggest expenses building your own comes after it's all assembled - that would be the Microsoft tax. and the way operating systems are looking, it's tough to cheat "the man" not to mention, if you buy now, you can either get vista preloaded or get a VERY cheap upgrade to vista.

if you are hell bent on building your own - i recommend to start buying parts (on the cheap!)

like this computer case that is free after rebate with free shipping

i have seen a few free after rebate power supplies too - if i can find a link, i'll pass it on!

[Loud Pedal]

Check their refurbs too. I have gotten some really good deals from there.

Avoid Vista like the plague for now.

[knkayotte]

What do you use your computer for?

[Togo]

What do you use your computer for?

here's a neat little power supply - FREE AFTER REBATE too - so you can truly start on a budget build.

FYI - i have bought 2 of those cases i posted earlier, and just about an hour ago, ordered one of those power supplies!

[ChadC]

there are a lot of us that build them, but for sheer dollar value - i recommend dell!

i personally have 2 desktops and a laptop from them, my mom has a dell desktop, as does my aunt!

i haven't been keeping up on the market, but last time i looked, it was cheaper to buy a dell than it was for me to buy all the parts and assemble them myself - one of the biggest expenses building your own comes after it's all assembled - that would be the Microsoft tax. and the way operating systems are looking, it's tough to cheat "the man" not to mention, if you buy now, you can either get vista preloaded or get a VERY cheap upgrade to vista.

if you are hell bent on building your own - i recommend to start buying parts (on the cheap!)

like this computer case that is free after rebate with free shipping

i have seen a few free after rebate power supplies too - if i can find a link, i'll pass it on!

www.delloutlet.com you can get great computers.

They are trying to clear out the XP media 2005 OS machines right now.

that is all that I use.

[anmracing2]

Hey Chris,

How can they sell this for $25.00 and then give a $25.00 rebate? I don't understand?????? So if it wholesales for $10.00 and the company selling it retails it for $25.00 then the company that makes it offers a $25.00 rebate? So who is making the money? Just wondering how that works, I'm not good at math so this really get me confused.

Andrew

[Togo]

Hey Chris,

How can they sell this for $25.00 and then give a $25.00 rebate? I don't understand?????? So if it wholesales for $10.00 and the company selling it retails it for $25.00 then the company that makes it offers a $25.00 rebate? So who is making the money? Just wondering how that works, I'm not good at math so this really get me confused.

Andrew

i'm not real good at math myself, and frankly i don't care who makes the money - actually it looks like the only company making any money is the shipping company!

i have been a rebate shopper for a lot of years - had $5000 outstanding in rebates one year! (yes FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS)

if you document everything and follow the T&C to the letter - you'll have no problems - but remember PHOTOCOPY EVERYTHING!

[knkayotte]

What do you use your computer for?

here's a neat little power supply - FREE AFTER REBATE too - so you can truly start on a budget build.

FYI - i have bought 2 of those cases i posted earlier, and just about an hour ago, ordered one of those power supplies!

It's free because it pure junk. Did you see the rating on the that POS. Bought this bad boy few months ago, in anticipation of an SLI rig I plan on building this summer.

Power Supply

[Togo]

What do you use your computer for?

here's a neat little power supply - FREE AFTER REBATE too - so you can truly start on a budget build.

FYI - i have bought 2 of those cases i posted earlier, and just about an hour ago, ordered one of those power supplies!

It's free because it pure junk. Did you see the rating on the that POS. Bought this bad boy few months ago, in anticipation of an SLI rig I plan on building this summer.

Power Supply

it's a power supply $25 power supply is fine., i have bought plenty of free after rebate stuff that wasnt junk - it's a selling tactic, percentiles in the 90's of people will not send in their rebates - the compny writes this stuff off as loss leaders or even inventory reduction.

for $7 don't you think it's worth a chance? me having 6 home built machines - most with acquired FREE parts, have not had a problem since i built them - years ago!

don't hate on a good deal - just go buy one - if you still thinkk it's crap, then give it to the kid you work with that works on computers - he'd love it! and you'd be a hero or get brownie points! but for the case that is free with free shipping and this power supply - i'd say you'd be out less than $9 for both items when it's all said and donel. - but hey, do what you want, it's not my money!

[Guest 1FASTC4]

Heck, I have a computer you can have... cheap..flat screen monitor.. the works... been sitting unused for a year.

[Ted Y]

What do you use your computer for?

Porn, Ordering Corvette parts, porn, typing on corvette forums, porn, oh and email.

[knkayotte]

for $7 don't you think it's worth a chance? me having 6 home built machines - most with acquired FREE parts, have not had a problem since i built them - years ago!

Based on the reviews, is it worth a chance.........heck no! I have no issue with rebates and getting stuff for free. I also have no issue with an el cheapo PS. It's just this particular power supply, your lucky if last a year, read the reviews. There's plenty of cheap (under $25) PS that are head and shoulders above the powmax brand.

Same goes with cheap memory.

Quotes from the customers:

"Second day, under no load the assassin shot it's self dead, behind a UPS... Get something else... i should have read the reviews"

"6 DAYS!! blew up. trashed the mother board junk!!"

[knkayotte]

What do you use your computer for?

Porn

You'll want a top end computer then, nothings to good for porn.

[Grayeagle]

Coupla things:

www.pricewatch.com

..to look stuff up

Fry's Electronics .. to go get it!

(up on south side of Thunderbird tween 35th Ave an I-17.. next to Best Buy

You can get components there after talkin to one of their geeks and *then* have them install it an all

Sort of an almost build yer own

-Frank (who builds his own, an when they wont boot up, takes it there

[ChadC]

ok.. I do this for a living. Trust me guys.

All the rebates (that increase your spam and junk mail) and Customer reviews don’t add up to squat.

Here is an example: at 3/06/07 7:30 am

OptiPlex 740

(System Identifier: FLX2JJH4)

OptiPlex 740 Mini-Tower: AMD ATHLON 64 3500+ (2.20GHz, 512KB)

Genuine Windows XP Home

System Price : $329.00

ALL OPtiPlex come with a (24x7 Next Business Day) 3 year warntee

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Operating System

Genuine Windows XP Home

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Memory

512 MB DDR2 NON-ECC SDRAM 677MHz (1 DIMM)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hard Disk Drive

80 GB EIDE SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Certified Refurbished

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Base

OptiPlex 740 Mini-Tower: AMD ATHLON 64 3500+ (2.20GHz, 512KB)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Media Bay

48X CD RW/DVD Combo Drive

Software

Resource CD

Operating System CD

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Misc

Hardware is Microsoft Vista Capable

AOL Software Documentation

Operating System Label

Energy Star Label

RoHS Compliant Lead Free Chassis and Motherboard

No Internal Speaker

Shipping Material

Keyboard

USB 2 Button Mouse

add on a 15" flat panel monitor for $90 if you wish

Now how much money is your time worth? Yea you could build a cheaper system but at the expense of reliability and 40 hours build time (driving, searching, ordering, assembling)

but hey, what do I know. :D

cheers

cahd

[Togo]

ok.. I do this for a living. Trust me guys.

All the rebates (that increase your spam and junk mail) and Customer reviews don't add up to squat.

Here is an example: at 3/06/07 7:30 am

OptiPlex 740

(System Identifier: FLX2JJH4)

OptiPlex 740 Mini-Tower: AMD ATHLON 64 3500+ (2.20GHz, 512KB)

Genuine Windows XP Home

System Price : $329.00

ALL OPtiPlex come with a (24x7 Next Business Day) 3 year warntee

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Operating System

Genuine Windows XP Home

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Memory

512 MB DDR2 NON-ECC SDRAM 677MHz (1 DIMM)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hard Disk Drive

80 GB EIDE SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Certified Refurbished

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Base

OptiPlex 740 Mini-Tower: AMD ATHLON 64 3500+ (2.20GHz, 512KB)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Media Bay

48X CD RW/DVD Combo Drive

Software

Resource CD

Operating System CD

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Misc

Hardware is Microsoft Vista Capable

AOL Software Documentation

Operating System Label

Energy Star Label

RoHS Compliant Lead Free Chassis and Motherboard

No Internal Speaker

Shipping Material

Keyboard

USB 2 Button Mouse

add on a 15" flat panel monitor for $90 if you wish

Now how much money is your time worth? Yea you could build a cheaper system but at the expense of reliability and 40 hours build time (driving, searching, ordering, assembling)

but hey, what do I know. :D

cheers

cahd

that's a dell isn't it?

i believe i suggested he buy a dell in my first post - and i recommend them because i personally have 3 - my mom, 1 and my aunt, 1!

but hey - what do YOU know!

[Donbecker]

ok.. I do this for a living. Trust me guys.

All the rebates (that increase your spam and junk mail) and Customer reviews don't add up to squat.

Here is an example: at 3/06/07 7:30 am

OptiPlex 740

(System Identifier: FLX2JJH4)

OptiPlex 740 Mini-Tower: AMD ATHLON 64 3500+ (2.20GHz, 512KB)

Genuine Windows XP Home

System Price : $329.00

ALL OPtiPlex come with a (24x7 Next Business Day) 3 year warntee

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Operating System

Genuine Windows XP Home

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Memory

512 MB DDR2 NON-ECC SDRAM 677MHz (1 DIMM)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hard Disk Drive

80 GB EIDE SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Certified Refurbished

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Base

OptiPlex 740 Mini-Tower: AMD ATHLON 64 3500+ (2.20GHz, 512KB)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Media Bay

48X CD RW/DVD Combo Drive

Software

Resource CD

Operating System CD

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Misc

Hardware is Microsoft Vista Capable

AOL Software Documentation

Operating System Label

Energy Star Label

RoHS Compliant Lead Free Chassis and Motherboard

No Internal Speaker

Shipping Material

Keyboard

USB 2 Button Mouse

add on a 15" flat panel monitor for $90 if you wish

Now how much money is your time worth? Yea you could build a cheaper system but at the expense of reliability and 40 hours build time (driving, searching, ordering, assembling)

but hey, what do I know. :D

cheers

cahd

that's a dell isn't it?

i believe i suggested he buy a dell in my first post - and i recommend them because i personally have 3 - my mom, 1 and my aunt, 1!

but hey - what do YOU know!

Man I smell a nerd fight brewing... glad I stick with the software side of things...

[Ravenz]

My current computer needs to be replaced and have looked at Dell, Gateway, Sony, etc. and the prices at way high. Anyone out there build computers????????????? Let me know, very interested.

I build computers all the time, while some will probably disagree with me, when it comes to computers you definatly get what you pay for. I can build comps for around 400 and as high as 8,000 for a personal computer. You can go buy a dell, gateway, hp... etc and then compare it to a custom built computer with the similar components and the prebuilts will never perform as good.

Main problems with prebuilt systems is basically they do such a large volume of them that they are able to offer a discount on the prices. But you have to pay for a warrenty over 90 days. Not only that they all use components that are designed for them so that way you cannot just upgrade them yourself. I just had someone ask me to upgrade thier memory but lovely dell had made it where they cant unless they buy it from them. If you look at any memory from stores they have 1 notch in it where it goes in the slot, but dell's memory has 2 notches so its impossible to upgrade the memory without paying Dell's outrageous prices on them.

All computers I built are completely 100% upgradeable and all components have anywhere from a 3 year to lifetime warrenty on parts at no extra charge.

[Togo]

My current computer needs to be replaced and have looked at Dell, Gateway, Sony, etc. and the prices at way high. Anyone out there build computers????????????? Let me know, very interested.

I build computers all the time, while some will probably disagree with me, when it comes to computers you definatly get what you pay for. I can build comps for around 400 and as high as 8,000 for a personal computer. You can go buy a dell, gateway, hp... etc and then compare it to a custom built computer with the similar components and the prebuilts will never perform as good.

Main problems with prebuilt systems is basically they do such a large volume of them that they are able to offer a discount on the prices. But you have to pay for a warrenty over 90 days. Not only that they all use components that are designed for them so that way you cannot just upgrade them yourself. I just had someone ask me to upgrade thier memory but lovely dell had made it where they cant unless they buy it from them. If you look at any memory from stores they have 1 notch in it where it goes in the slot, but dell's memory has 2 notches so its impossible to upgrade the memory without paying Dell's outrageous prices on them.

All computers I built are completely 100% upgradeable and all components have anywhere from a 3 year to lifetime warrenty on parts at no extra charge.

i only see one flaw in your theory - in due time (3 years or lifetime warranty) that equipment will be come obsolete just like his old one - then what? do they upgrade to the newer versions of equipment for free too? Dell is a good value and by the time the equipment is obsolete and you want to upgrade at least you'llk now you didn't dump $8000 into a personal computer only to be obsolete in 3 years - let's face it, that's about the average life cycle of a PC (even in the workplace)

i also disagree with the memory issue for a dell - the problem you are describing i believe (but could be mistaken) has to do with the FSB speed, and perhaps the hyperthreading capabilities of the processor. i have a dell with 400Mhz FSB and was able to get memory from Frys with no issues! as far as other stuff not being upgradeable - what's left? hard drive? DVD drive? video card? (ok, you got me on the video, as some come with onboard video like my 2 dells) but a hard drive and a DVD drive will fit from any to any PC - unless of course they are SATA - then a motherboard and processor upgrade is probably warranted.

if one does nothing more than internet, email, a little photoshopping, maybe a little video editing, or web page creation - a Dell will work fine - especially if you'd rather spend your money on corvette parts instead of your PC.

and just a quick question - if you build a comp for $400 - does that include the $200 operating system? cuz we all know that if it was too cheap, it's probably pirated - as microsoft doesn't give those OEM capabilities out to just anyone!

[ChadC]

This is not a personal attack on you Ravenz. Next time we are at a vette event Ill buy you a beer and we can talk about stupid users and the crappy ness of vista.

You can go buy a dell, gateway, hp... etc and then compare it to a custom built computer with the similar components and the prebuilts will never perform as good.

I disagree with you 100%. The prebuilt have RnD testing to prove that each part is compatible with each other. Then the collection of parts must play nice with the Drivers and OS over the long term. Dell guarantees that. Can you?

I have seen far to many home built PC in an office that fail after 2+ years.

Main problems with prebuilt systems is basically they do such a large volume of them that they are able to offer a discount on the prices. But you have to pay for a warranty over 90 days.

All computers I built are completely 100% upgradeable and all components have anywhere from a 3 year to lifetime warranty on parts at no extra charge.

The system I quoted above comes with a Help desk tech support 24x7 and Next business day parts for 3 years. That is standard on all Optiplex systems. No extra charge.

If you build me a computer, can I call you at 3 am to troubleshoot it?

or will you fedex me a replacement part by 4 pm that day?

While the parts you use may have a 3+ manufacture warrantee, I ll bet you lunch that when I call ATI or Nividia they will point the blame at something else.

All my customers like that its one number to call to fix everything on the computer

cheers

chad

[Desertdawg]

only to be obsolete in 3 years - let's face it, that's about the average life cycle of a PC (even in the workplace)

Don't let my 6 year old Dell hear you say that.....

[Ravenz]

This is not a personal attack on you Ravenz. Next time we are at a vette event Ill buy you a beer and we can talk about stupid users and the crappy ness of vista.

You can go buy a dell, gateway, hp... etc and then compare it to a custom built computer with the similar components and the prebuilts will never perform as good.

I disagree with you 100%. The prebuilt have RnD testing to prove that each part is compatible with each other. Then the collection of parts must play nice with the Drivers and OS over the long term. Dell guarantees that. Can you?

I have seen far to many home built PC in an office that fail after 2+ years.

Main problems with prebuilt systems is basically they do such a large volume of them that they are able to offer a discount on the prices. But you have to pay for a warranty over 90 days.

All computers I built are completely 100% upgradeable and all components have anywhere from a 3 year to lifetime warranty on parts at no extra charge.

The system I quoted above comes with a Help desk tech support 24x7 and Next business day parts for 3 years. That is standard on all Optiplex systems. No extra charge.

If you build me a computer, can I call you at 3 am to troubleshoot it?

or will you fedex me a replacement part by 4 pm that day?

While the parts you use may have a 3+ manufacture warrantee, I ll bet you lunch that when I call ATI or Nividia they will point the blame at something else.

All my customers like that its one number to call to fix everything on the computer

cheers

chad

Actually the computers I build I take care of the warrenty aspects. 90% of the time because of how much I deal with each company they will send the replacement out to me same day I call.

All Computers I build will have no problem running Vista or any operating system you choose. I have tons of buisnesses and personal people I build these for inculding the company I work for. All of them will tell you the same thing. In the last 4-5 years with the exeption of a few bum parts that dont work from the day you open the item, every single computer is still up and running and performing just as good as they expected.

Now out of the companies like Dell, HP, EMachines... ETC.. Dell is the better of them in my opinion. I just prefer custom built computers not just because of stability and reliability but because you can choose how the computer looks, whats inside, and have it setup based off personal preferences. I have built comps that look plain and every day to ones that light up the whole room in pink when the lights are out.

But at the end of the day it all boils down to 1 thing....... what the buyer wants and prefers

[Togo]

But at the end of the day it all boils down to 1 thing....... what the buyer wants and prefers

AMEN!

[Ravenz]

But at the end of the day it all boils down to 1 thing....... what the buyer wants and prefers

AMEN!

i just saw your post about the O/S. With some searching you can get O/S for $59 - $79 but I personally dont like OEM software or Hardware. They are nothing but trouble in my opinion, The $400 cost of the computer does not include any software at all. But for the most part I dont not charge for the building of the computer unless they want something custom done to it.