new computer-specs-good or bad?
 

hey
i just went to my local computer shop and i asked them to build me a computer. this is the list they gave me and before i actualy pay, i want to see if it's decent price for what i get.

MOTHERBOARD: msi-k8-mic-k8n4-p-s msi k8n neo4-platinum-sli(s939)

CPU: amd athlon 64 3500 socket 929

RAM: 1024 pc400 ddr

VIDEOCARD: msi nx6600-td128E 128M pci-e TV/DVI

HARDDRIVE: sata seagate 200gb 7200rpm

DVDBURNER: LG dvd-rw 16/16

TOTAL: 1700$ canadian price. with many year warranty.

That's about $1450 in USD. The only reason you're paying more than the cost of the machine is because they know how to put together a computer, they are liable if it breaks (through the warranty), and they physically assembled it into working condition. You could buy a stronger PC if you wanted to build it yourself, but in doing that you do not have a close to home warranty, and you must know a good bit about computers to troubleshoot the actual building and installation of an operating system on it.

I priced that PC exactly on NewEgg.com and it came out to approximately $800 USD after shipping. Add in Windows XP Professional and it's at $950 USDs. In other words, if you built this computer from scratch, it'd cost you around $1,120 CADs.

It's up to you to decide if the extra money you'll pay is worth the warranty and actual computer build/installation. I don't think it's a bad deal if you consider every factor (labor, the operating system, warranty). Does the computer come with a keyboard, mouse, or monitor? And it does come with Windows XP installed, right?

-Lasereth

thanks for the info...
wow.. well that's 1700$CND after tax. and it's what you see there. case with 350w PSU.no monitor or keyboard/mouse. i'm getting ripped off eh?


no OS (cuz i have my own copy), and i dont know if they would charge less if i would build it myself. i just want a good computer and no wait (it's why i'm not getting it from a website) plus this guy lives 30sec from my house so it's easy if theres a problem.

i'll check newegg for the prices then... maybe i can get individual peices for less somewhere else. hmm.

edit: just mentionning that i know EXACTLY how to build computers. i just lack the knowledge to buy the parts since i havent read up on it in the last 2 years.
and now i need this machine VERY quickly so this guy gave me a quote. now it's a matter of seeing if it's worth the money. :confused:

If you know how to build computers, then do it yourself. You'll have to fix it yourself, but you'll save hundreds (around $800) of CADs. Don't expect to find prices like NewEgg's in a retail store, however.

-Lasereth

only problem is if thats the price of the parts, then i dont know if i can really find something cheaper in town. (it's a small town).... but i'll check around.. thanks for the info man! been really helpful.

If you aren't in a hurry, why not wait until boxing day? My wife is Canadian (Edmonton) that's how I know about it. Have you checked Pricewatch? You should be able to find some good prices, just beware of bad vendors. I avoid sites that look amateurish, check out their buyer reviews, too. Aside Newegg, I get stuff from Tigerdirect, too. Once in a while I try my luck on Ebay.

He is in a hurry though...that's the entire problem. He could just order it from NewEgg and put it together, but he needs it really quickly. Too bad there's not many brick and mortar stores for online resellers. :(

-Lasereth

i wish i could wait, i'm doing photoshop and 3d for class and gaming on the weekend, so i need this computer now or i'll never see my gf(i'm buying it to replace her computer wich is a 5+year old computer COMPAQ 700mhz amd 64mb ram)... and since we started school last week, it's really important i get it in a week or less. i got 1 more computer shop i can check this week and then it's all over.

Lasereth: i'll check if i can find that 6800 in town. thanks alot for the info!

also: the guy building it said there was no build cost so thats what the price is even if i buy and build myself.

everyone else: wait for an update and i'll show you my new machine once it's ordered and built... :D

No Best Buy or major electronics store, I was hoping you could get some back to school specials or something.

oh no... i cannot get a futureshop/bestbuy machine... it's ALWAYS crap.

Futureshop sucks in my opinion...BestBuy isn't that much better either. mexicanonabike needs to come to one of the Fry's stores.....you wouldn't want to leave!

As a note, whenever I've ordered from Newegg I've always had my shipment within 3 days. I dont know what its like to Canada, but it's worth a thought to save 700 bucks.

Canada Computers.com
 

Go to www.canadacomputers.com. They have a whole bunch of machines prebuilt or you can design your own. They have several back to school specials too. There are several stores or you can order online.

a) NewEgg is extremely fast to ship. Well worth the savings, and even if you get a bad part (which could happen from this other guy as well), they'll usually cross-ship a replacement. VERY MUCH worht saving $700... even if it is only CAD. ;-)

b) MSI boards are decent, but I would highly recommend getting an ASUS A8N-SLI Premium (premium only because you were looking at MSIs platinum. I have an A8N-SLI standard and find it to be plenty... even using RAID onboard with SATA). On NewEgg, the ASUS board is only US$7 more. Well worth it I promise.


Otherwise, good luck man. I understand being in a rush to get your fix, but NewEgg is worth a couple days wait (you'll wait a day or two anyways) and the money savings. w00t!

NewEgg ftw!

ordering my pc now. just waiting for a comfirmation... it will be like 300- 800 less than what it was before. so it's cool.
stay tuned for the results!

yup... 800 $$ less for a better machine then previously said. i will update with pictures and specs later tonight! woohoo.
going to pick it up in less than 2hrs.