New Computer Purchase Guidance

[Guest db99wj]

Boy, I'm asking a lot here, but here goes.

Looking at replacing the failing 5 year old desktop and CRT monitor here at the house. It did have an LCD but it went out a year or so ago. Anyway. It is slowing dying and the kids are needing a faster pc more and more.

I'm looking to spend $500 for another desktop, not gong to get a laptop for the main PC of the house, will want to upgrade memory etc later on possibly. Will have to have a monitor in this price as well.

Looked at Sam's and they have some machines. Looked in some of the Christmas sales at others. I don't care about name brand. I would rather have quality and speed. So, Dell, HP, whatever doesn't matter.

I do want Windows 7.

Processors, AMD Athlon II, 170U, AMD Sempron 140, etc.

As I mentioned, Sam's, here are the ones I have looked at so far. Yes they are name brand, and I will buy them if a good deal for what I get, but I can and will go elsewhere.

This one even has Blu Ray

*$449 after $90 Instant Savings* HP Pavilion Slimline S5657c-b AMD Sempron

Similiar, no Blu Ray, 1GB more memory, different processor

*$499 after $100 Instant Savings* HP Pavilion p6637c-b Desktop AMD Athlon

No monitor, but...Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core Processor

ZT Element Desktop, 3.0Ghz, 1TB - Sam's Club

A little above 500

HP Pavilion Desktop 2.80GHz, 500GB, 20" - Sam's Club

or

HP Pavilion Desktop 2.70GHz, 500GB, 20" - Sam's Club

or even this one, which would stretch me a bit due to no monitor,

ZT Affinity Desktop, 3.2Ghz, 1TB, 6GB DDR3 - Sam's Club

So throw some ideas at me, Probably wait until after Christmas to do anything.

[gregintenn]

I found a closeout ono a Sony VAIO all in one a couple of years ago. So far, I like it.

[Guest db99wj]

I will look at refurbdepot.com as well. I don't mind refurbs.

[vontar]

Check Tigerdirect.com

I have brought some nice refurbs there. I have got good deals. Just try your best to avoid rebates which they have gotten much better at over the years.

Couple years ago, I got a 1600 laptop for 800

I got mom a desktop cheap with 6G of ram almost 2 years ago.

I hope this link works

Win 7, refrubs, price, low to high,

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?Recs=10&Nav=|c:5138|&Sort=4

If you can, i recommend, trying to avoid Integrated Graphics.

I generally built my own from the MB up. However I brought a gateway laptop I have been nothing but happy with. I did by my wife an acer desktop a few years back because I wanted her to have a new machine and not feel I just frankenstein her one out of spare parts. I also brought the gateway desktop for my mom for the same reason.

I think gateway makes a pretty good machine, followed by acer. At work I deal with dells to much and i don't' like them in the work environment, perhaps because they are cheap models but I won't buy one.

Edited December 13, 2010 by vontar

[Glenn]

Second Tiger Direct

Glenn

[Chucktshoes]

Third on Tiger Direct. If I was going to get a PC, that's the way I would go.

[BigK]

FWIW...I work for Dell in the IT department (no, I can't get you a discount, but I will offer some useful advice).

Disk space (storage) is a cheap add on later, so don't get too hung up on getting 500gb vs 250gb or less.

Get the fastest most powerful processor you can afford. It's the only part of the equation that you won't need to upgrade later. For instance, you get a mediocre processor now and in a year and a half, the motherboard won't be compatible with newer, faster processors. An Intel 3.2 GHz processor will be much faster than a 3.2 GHz AMD processor, but if you spend $200 on a processor, you can buy a WAY faster AMD processor than you can if you spend the same money on Intel. Also, there is a difference b/w dual core and core 2 duo. Both have 2 processors on one chip, but he Core 2 is a new version and is typically 15% faster than a dual core.

Good choice on Windows 7, it is the fastest OS they've had in a while. If you go with the less expensive 32bit OS, you can't go over 4 GB of RAM. The OS simply won't recognize the extra. In fact, it will tell you there's only about 3.5 Gb of RAM available when you have 4 Gb installed. Both will run on as little as 1 Gb of ram, but the 64 bit will allow anywhere from 8 GB to 192 GB, depending on the version (starter/home basic - 8gb, home premium - 16gb, or Professional/Enterprise/Ultimate - 192gb).

There's other things to consider if you intend to run advanced games. If so, let me know...I'll be glad to let you know what to look for (like support for SLI video and other stuff).

[vontar]

As Think ABout it pointed out. I would recommend Window 7 64 bit this day and age. Most systems now you are probably going to be aiming for 4 GB of ram to start maybe more in the future. Depending on what your use it. Right now myself I would not built a system for myself with less then 4 and I would probably go with 8, but I do some gaming. Kinda taking a gaming break right now.

[bubbadavis]

Check out HP Deals, Computer Coupons and Bargains - GotApex?. They aggregate coupons and deals from several different places/vendors. I've bought both desktops and laptops that I found deals on through them. They just give you the information and links to the vendor - you purchase directly from the vendor.

[Guest mosinon]

Dell usually has some good deals going on. Sure, you have to jump to the website and customize the thing but for 500 you should get a decent machine and a 24 monitor no problem.

If you're comfortable messing about inside go min ram and min hard drive to save a few bucks. Here's a pretty good deal going on right now:

this dell

[BigK]

here's a pretty darn good PC with Windows 7 64 bit, a better then avg processor, tons of storage, and 4 gb of GOOD ram for $390, which leaves you enough cash to add a monitor (you can get a 19" widescreen almost anywhere online for <$100).

Acer Aspire AM3400-U2502 Microtower Desktop PC - AMD Athlon II X2 Processor 215 2.70GHz, 4GB DDR3, 640GB HDD, DVDRW, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit at TigerDirect.com

If you didn't need a monitor, TD has a bada$$ Lenovo w/ 64 bit OS and a screaming fast processor for $480.

[BigK]

Dell usually has some good deals going on. Sure, you have to jump to the website and customize the thing but for 500 you should get a decent machine and a 24 monitor no problem.

If you're comfortable messing about inside go min ram and min hard drive to save a few bucks. Here's a pretty good deal going on right now:

this dell

That is an AWESOME machine! That's a great processor too!

[Guest Sgt. Joe]

I was looking at laptops but it seems that OfficeDepot had one of those HP slim-lines with an Intel processor and while I can not be certain I want to say it was a 3.2Ghz Intel Core-2 and the machine had 640Gb HD.

It was right in the $500 range.

I am certain of the 640 HD part because my current desktop only has a 40G HD and that part stuck in my mind. Mine is also on its last legs and is slowing down more and more even with running disc clean up and De-frag every week or two. It has however served me very well since June of 2002.

I do intend to go back and take another look and maybe just maybe get the kiddos a new one for Christmas.

If I do get back there in the next few days I will post what I find here. But I have also seen some really good deals just after Christmas in the past so that may well be a good option also if you dont want it for a Christmas present.

I must also say I am no computer guy, I am just a consumer nothing more.

EDIT: I meant to add the machine I saw had either 5 or 6 GB of ram and another 1Gb dedicated graphics. I do need to go back and check that thing out better.

Edited December 13, 2010 by Sgt. Joe

[enfield]

If you're not hung up on spending $500, TigerDirect also has some off-lease reconditioned business computers at a good price. I bought an HP Compaq desktop, less monitor, Win XP Pro, for $158. I don't play computer games so this one fits my needs perfectly.

[Guest db99wj]

If you're not hung up on spending $500, TigerDirect also has some off-lease reconditioned business computers at a good price. I bought an HP Compaq desktop, less monitor, Win XP Pro, for $158. I don't play computer games so this one fits my needs perfectly.

Nope, not hung up at all on $500. Just seems that's where the mid range computers are selling for. Would much rather get a comparable one at a cheaper price even if it is a reconditioned one.

I'm looking at all these suggestions and thanks a lot for them!

[Guest db99wj]

The acer that Think about it posted along with this, monitor below is in the front right now. There is a Gateway that is 23" and has an 40,000:1 ratio whereas the one below is 50,000:1 but only 21.5. Not sure the difference.

Acer P215HBBD 21.5 Widescreen LCD Monitor - 1080p, 1920x1080, 16:9, 20000:1 Native, 50000:1 Dynamic, 5ms, VGA, DVI, (Refurbished) at TigerDirect.com

[Guest mustangdave]

LOL...just go straight to a MAC...you know you should...I sure wish I could.

[Guest Octo]

I agree with the Acer assessments. I'm personally an Asus man, but if you are not doing any intense gaming or video editing, the Acers recommended on this page will be fine. Can't say I'm terribly fond of the hPs or Dells though. I work in IT and fix computers for a living, and I see too many issues with those. Granted, those are mostly due to human error (and of course they ask me to fix it because I'm asian), but there are only so many times it can be attributed to that.

[BigK]

The acer that Think about it posted along with this, monitor below is in the front right now. There is a Gateway that is 23" and has an 40,000:1 ratio whereas the one below is 50,000:1 but only 21.5. Not sure the difference.

Acer P215HBBD 21.5 Widescreen LCD Monitor - 1080p, 1920x1080, 16:9, 20000:1 Native, 50000:1 Dynamic, 5ms, VGA, DVI, (Refurbished) at TigerDirect.com

Don't tell Michael Dell I told you this but...there are over 200 Acer monitors in our office and they are all at least 4 years old. I bet less than 5 have had to be returned/switched out. We have some call center software that my team wrote that needs a 24" monitor and they didn't shop around at all, just forked over the bucks for about 100 of them from Acer. In all fairness, that was when Ross Perot owned our company, not since Dell bought us. Dell won't buy what's good, they'll only use what they sell.

[Guest db99wj]

Don't tell Michael Dell I told you this but...there are over 200 Acer monitors in our office and they are all at least 4 years old. I bet less than 5 have had to be returned/switched out. We have some call center software that my team wrote that needs a 24" monitor and they didn't shop around at all, just forked over the bucks for about 100 of them from Acer. In all fairness, that was when Ross Perot owned our company, not since Dell bought us. Dell won't buy what's good, they'll only use what they sell.

Interesting. Just found this one, for the same price as the Gateway, it is refurbished.

Acer X233H bd 23 Widescreen LCD Monitor - 5ms, 1920x1080, 40000:1, 16:9, DVI, Black, (Refurbished) at TigerDirect.com

I think I have about decided. Just don't want to pull the trigger yet! I'm at 575.00 shipped. I added a Microsoft LifeCam for $15. Want to be able to Skype with my mom.

[BigK]

Dang, that's a good price for a HD widescreen! Thanks, I gotta get me one of them!

You're gonna be set up pretty darn nice with that rig.

[peejman]

Good info here... I'm also looking toward replacing my 10yr old desktop. I've upgraded it many times to keep it going, but I feel the end is near. All I need is a CPU as my monitor is only about a year old (latest upgrade). That refurbished Acer looks quite promising. Can anyone define "refurbished"? What exactly does that mean?

[BigK]

"Refurbished" is kinda vague, since there's numerous things that might have been wrong with the product. In general, it's usually when someone returns something to a store b/c it's broken and the store returns it to the factory. The factory then fixes whatever was wrong with it and then when they get a full shipment repaired they sell them to a liquidator that markets and sells them back to the public. Alternatively, the items might have been sent to the factory for warranty repairs and it was easier for them to just send out replacements, fix the returned ones later, and then sell them to the liquidators.

The important thing we want to know as consumers is that if all refurbs were junk, we'd hear about it and the practice would end. PC's are far less complicated or abused as cars, but who hasn't owned a used car?

Most of the parts like a motherboard, processor, or hard drive in PC's come from one to three major suppliers like Intel, Hitachi, or Asus. The assembler may rebrand the parts as their own or in the case of Intel and Asus, their name is trusted so they take advantage of that as a selling point. Either way, no PC mfg makes all their own parts and they sometimes get bad batches of parts. They swap out the parts with good parts and the PC is good as new except it has been used by someone for some period of time. They almost always wipe the hard drives and reinstall the OS, so the previous owner's porn or budget plan isn't on the PC when you get it.

[Guest db99wj]

I hate spending money on stuff like this, for just under $600 I could have a new gun...and ammo. But I guess I'm going to pull the trigger. Bad thing is I don't even use the computer much, because the wife and kids are on it, I end up using my laptop or more often my iPhone.

[Guest db99wj]

I pulled the trigger.

On my old one I have MS Office. I don't want to buy that again or upgrade. We just don't use it enough to justify the capabilities it brings to the table. We do need a word processor and excel from time to time.

What online options are there?

Also, an email manager. I do like MS Outlook. The email and the calendar are very helpful. The calendar syncs with my iPhone. What email software do you guys suggest. This would be for our comcast email.