Software bundel with computer parts?

[mongoo13]

Hi, I always thought that building your own computer was cheaper than buying it from say best buy, but The one I'm looking at constructing is going to be pretty expensive, at least more so then expected.

The kicker is If I build myself, I still have to buy the operating system don't I? Or does Windows XP come bundled with certain hardware?


Anyone know of some good software bundled out there?

Thanks

Mongoo

[thecoalman]

It will still be cheaper, besides XP the software bundles that come preinstalled are usually stripped down versions of the full version. They usually have limited capabilities. For example my ATI card came bundled with Pinnacle Studio 8. The only trouble was you needed to upgrade it to get the full version. One of the features disabled was the brightness, hue.... controls. So it was basically useless.

You might find a few gems in the bundled software but for the most part it's junk.

Look into getting a OEM version of XP. Here's a good site for pre built comps too www.abspc.com

[snafu099]

Building your own system is NOT always the cheapest way to go.

If you are wanting an exotic setup that may be the only way to go unless you pay someone else to custom build it.

If on the other hand you can be happy with a more generic system at some power level, Price out all the equivalent components including the OS add some $ value for your time and then compare to some of the great ads that are available. Do some looking/shopping.

Example: In March 2004 I bought 2 Compaq Presario PC's from Office depot for $250-us/ea after rebates.
Intel 2.5 mhz
cd rom
cd rw
80g hdd
128 ddr mem
56k modem
nic
audio & video on the motherboard
winxp home
1 shiipped to Ca and 1 to NY (free)

I added 512 more mem and replaced cd cdrw with dvd rw and added 120g second drive myself as it was cheaper than upgrade order and did not involve much time.

Systems came with other bundled software as well ??? value

I wish I had had the upfront money at the time to order 2 more for rest of family members needing an upgraded system.

Even at the current ad prices of $400/600 for complete systems it is hard to put it together yourself for that if your time is worth anything

[Jayhawk]

I agree completely with snafu099 unless perhaps you are a dealer and can get the parts at wholesale. Look at it this way, the manufacturers are getting parts at greatly reduced wholesale and putting an overall markup on the machine. The parts stores you would buy components from are marking up every individual part to you. Use an agreesive discounter like Newegg and assemble the basic pieces to compete with a $400 machine with XP installed.

Here's a low end example of minimum parts required from NewEgg:

Intel MB 56
Celeron 2.4 70
RaidMax Case / 420PS 46
Kingston 256mb memory 41
Radeon 9200SE 64mb 8X 35
Maxtor 40gig 7200rpm 46
Pioneer 108 DVD 82
Floppy 10
Keyboard 12
Mouse 10
Windows Xp Home 87

Total 495

That would not include the monitor, printer, and extra software that normally come with an EMachine type package.

Having said all that, I believe you can build a BETTER machine that they sell for a little bit more, and get the satisfaction that comes with it. By choosing the case, you also get easy ungradability that you will not get with a "store-bought" box.

My experience has been that the more expensive the machine, the better chance you can do it yourself for the same price with better components.

[gitreel]

The major benefit from building it yourself is knowing exactly what you have and being able to customize it like you want with room to expand and upgrade.

Most prebuilt computers are not built with upgrading in mind.

[Jayhawk]

Absolutely correct gitreel, I've "re-invented" my two machines several times over the last few years. The key is to start with a great case and power supply. After that, it's pretty easy to upgrade motherboards, drives, cards, etc. For me, I can rebuild every year cheaper than selling the old and buying the new, especially so if the motherboard stays the same.

[rallynavvie]

Ugh, Overland Park, the home of the top Kinko's location

You can get OEM versions of XP with the purchase of your hardware which will be cheaper than the full version. Only difference is there usually isn't any help to go with an OEM copy.

[thecoalman]

Only difference is there usually isn't any help to go with an OEM copy.

It's been my experience that your better off helping yourself or finding it in a place such as this. Getting advice from someone that usually has less knowledge than me isn't my idea of tech support.

When I purchased my comp I had a few issues, for everthing that was wrong there suggestion was to send me a new part. My DVD burner wouldn't work, wrong software... Oddly I saw the same issue posted on there forum a few months later, so much for quality control.

[Jayhawk]

Ugh, Overland Park, the home of the top Kinko's location

rallynavvie, I suspect hat's true (don't follow Kinkos too much) because it's 4 blocks from the 240 acre Sprint World Headquarters campus. Kinkos is the Sprint approved vendor for copy-related services.

[rallynavvie]

There's more than just assistance with a full copy of the OS. If you lose your CD you can get a new one for nothing. With an OEM copy you need to pay for a replacement.

[thecoalman]

There's more than just assistance with a full copy of the OS. If you lose your CD you can get a new one for nothing. With an OEM copy you need to pay for a replacement.

Anyone that loses a $200 cd deserves to pay for another one. :P I wasn't aware they would send you a new copy.

[ripit]

There is also more to a full copy than support and disk replacment. Microsoft allows oem's to alter the software. For example I have a oem copy that came on an emachines computer. It does not have the normal activation because it can only run on the e-machines motherboard. I have changed lots of hardware and it runs but it will only run with that motherboard. Also, the install disk is just a ghost image that totally wipes your hard drive. Not repair installs, no tools, nothing. Oem copy's (depending on who the oem is) are not always very upgrader friendly) and microsoft does not provide activation support for oem copys. E-machines (and maybe others) do not provide support for non-oem equipment so if you change hardware and it doesn't work, you are just screwed. A full copy is a lot beter!!!
Edit: and one other thing that I just thought of. My full version xp original disk has started having read problems even though there are no significant scratches and I have taken extremely good care of it. It's good to hear that they will replace it for free (I'll have to give them a call).

[thecoalman]

The manufacturer of my machine does a similar thing, the activation key is stored in the BIOS. Makes things quite easy for reinstalling. The recovery disc has a full working copy of windows with a activation key included, matter of fact there's a sticker on my comp and the widows pamphlet. If I were to install it on another machine I would only need to reactivate it on that machine.

[rallynavvie]

Those are OEMs that come with pre-built machines though. The basic OEM disk you can get from someplace like NewEgg for $150 with the purchase of even a $10 NIC as hardware have the repair options, product key stickers, and all that. Both of my SMP machines actually have serial stickers for XP on them from the OEM disks I bought.

I also have Dell and IBM Thinkpad OEM install CDs and those are limited. Both still have repair and diagnostic utilities though.

[dxj40c]

Check out some of the small independent computer shops that build computers for sale in their shops. There is one near me that I always buy operating systems from, I guess its what one would call OEM. It's what they package with the CPUs they sell. I have been paying slightly over 1/2 the price of the retail versions. I've been doing this since Windows 98.

[mongoo13]

Sorry if this is a stupid question but what does "OEM" stand for? I kind of get the idea its a striped down version of something, but how would you strip down a software package?

[thecoalman]

OEM stands for "original equipment manufacturer". It's what you get when you purchase a pre-built computer. The software itself should be the same. You don't get the fancy box, giant users manual, support from microsoft....

You can buy computer parts the same way.

[Madz]

IMO, the distinction lies in the fact that there's two types of OEM copies. The big-name PC versions which are tailored to a particular manufacturer's system(s) and the generic versions, which are more similar to the retail. The latter is what Newegg sells or what you'd get from a local clone shop w/ the purchase of hardware or a complete system. That comes w/ a Key and gets activated, etc., etc. Technically, the place where you purchased it is supposed to provide the support. My copy is OEM.