It's been a while since I've purchased computers/hardware, so I'm wondering if there are any good sites out there to get a good deal on a new computer?

A friend needs a new computer and wants help buying one. I want to find the fastest computer for the lowest price ($200-$500). The primary use will be internet/e-mail/ms-office.

Also, he doesn't need any software since he already has XP and Office.

Any ideas or recommendations?


Mike

I find the following sites helpful for money saving deals:

http://gotapex.com/
http://slickdeals.net/
http://bensbargains.net/

(Some of them are pretty Dell-centric - but you catch other stuff on sale there too)

Not that I don't like Dells - I have 5 of them in my house. :D

www.deals2buy.com for some sexy DELL deals :tu:

Circuit City is having somepretty good deals on-line right now in the price range you are suggesting that I think give more bells for the dollar than Dell. I am thinking of the HP models.
Both HP and Dell are about equal quality when itr comes ot service an durability. Some people really like HP; others like Dell. Personally I ma na IBM fan (lenovo now) and I only buy lap tops. But that is a different budget range.

If you're computer savvy, buy your parts online (much, much cheaper!) and build it yourself. My new home computer was built for $450 and is stronger than most of the systems out there that sell for $1,500~$2,000. It benchmarked just shy of the machines they label "ultimate gaming machines" in the mags... for over $1,000 less than you'd pay for one off the shelf.

-R

Thanks for the site suggestions everyone! I've looked through them, and I am still unsure what to do. I will probably compare prices more tonight and see what I come up with.

I have a feeling that I will end up just putting one together from parts. That's what I did in the past for my current computer, but I didn't want to put too much time into this if I didn't have to.

I think the most I'd probably save by putting it together is a couple hundred dollars, taking into consideration that many of the deals come with a mouse, keyboard, speakers, software, free printers, etc. Any recommendations to buy parts (other than newegg.com)?

Thanks for the help!

Mike

I happen to be lucky in that we have access to a wholesale store here... so my last computer was built with parts I got from them. Otherwise I use Ebay or use Pricewatch.com to find good prices on new computer parts.

-R

http://www.newegg.com, http://www.ZipZoomFly.com and http://www.monarchcomputer.com are where I've gotten most of my parts in the past. Generally I use Pricewatch.com, but I will always order from newegg or zipzoomfly unless another store has a GREAT deal.

That said, for your average user who isn't into gaming or any special video/audio needs, you may be just as well off grabbing one on rebate at your local best buy or getting one from Dell using one of their always around coupon codes. Check http://www.techbargains.com or http://www.slickdeals.net.

Also, a site I've heard many good things about (and some bad as expected) is http://www.ibuypower.com. Basically like ordering off newegg but having someone put it together for your for a few extra bucks. Check it out. Nice thing is you can order it w/o an OS if you have it so it'll save you some cash in a sense.

If you're computer savvy, buy your parts online (much, much cheaper!) and build it yourself. My new home computer was built for $450 and is stronger than most of the systems out there that sell for $1,500~$2,000. It benchmarked just shy of the machines they label "ultimate gaming machines" in the mags... for over $1,000 less than you'd pay for one off the shelf.

-R

I wish I was that computer savy...I am jealous :d_rolleye

I wish I was that computer savy...I am jealous :d_rolleye

It's super easy to learn if you have even the slightest modicum of mechanical prowess and someone to walk you through it that first time. I'm supposed to teach my next door neighbor soon, he lost his computer to the hurricane last year (roof collapsed in on his desk/computer room) and he can't quite afford to buy a new, off-the-shelf computer for his little girl... so I told him when he was ready, we'd make a trip and get the parts, and I'd show him how to build it. It literally takes about 30 minutes to build the machine, and maybe an hour to do the operating system. All you need is someone to walk you through it once. Of course, as a former IT person... I've built more than I can remember... repetition helps, especially if you have to diagnose problems... but if you're just building it... it's a snap once you've seen it done one time.

-R

It's super easy to learn if you have even the slightest modicum of mechanical prowess and someone to walk you through it that first time. I'm supposed to teach my next door neighbor soon, he lost his computer to the hurricane last year (roof collapsed in on his desk/computer room) and he can't quite afford to buy a new, off-the-shelf computer for his little girl... so I told him when he was ready, we'd make a trip and get the parts, and I'd show him how to build it. It literally takes about 30 minutes to build the machine, and maybe an hour to do the operating system. All you need is someone to walk you through it once. Of course, as a former IT person... I've built more than I can remember... repetition helps, especially if you have to diagnose problems... but if you're just building it... it's a snap once you've seen it done one time.

-R

What about laptops? Laptops are all I buy now. I have an old desktop but I never use it, not b.c it is old, but I much prefer my laptop and have for over 5 years now, since I got my current one -- which is about to bite the dust (It is in its 6th year, top endIBM for its time.)

Can you as easily build your own lapt top?

Can you as easily build your own lapt top?

I wish laptops were more easily constructed. No, they're not nearly as easy to cobble together as a desktop.

-R

My dad just got a dell desktop with a 3gig processor, 1 gig of ddr, 160gb hd, dvd, dvd-r, 8 way media reader, and a flat panel lcd for $750. He got some kind of cupon. It was a smoking good deal.

If you're computer savvy, buy your parts online (much, much cheaper!) and build it yourself. My new home computer was built for $450 and is stronger than most of the systems out there that sell for $1,500~$2,000. It benchmarked just shy of the machines they label "ultimate gaming machines" in the mags... for over $1,000 less than you'd pay for one off the shelf.

-R


Please list the hardware you used.