Mail order computers.

[Prot]

Are there any safe, reliable companies to order from? I am leaning towards Dell or Gateway since they have computers with specs I like. I definately do NOT want integrated graphics, and would prefer a sound card over integrated, but for now that's not a priority.
I've seen ads for computer systems in PC Gamer, but after looking on BBB.com, I am a bit leary. Don't EVEN mention HP or Compaq. I turn my nose up every time someone mentions them.

CPU should be P4 3.0Ghz or higher, or AMD 3500+ or higher (please feel free to comment on the AMD), and hard drive should be 160 gig or higher. This will not be a gaming system, so graphics do not need to be state of the art.

I would appreciate any comments or suggestions. Thanks.

Please read my current system specs.

[budz]

How about building a computer yourself. Get all your components from newegg.com.

[lumis]

a friend of mine recently purchased a dell. it had a 128mb video card (not intergrated) and a 5.1 sound card (not intergrated). a lot of other people i know have purchased dell's recently and they've been very pleased with them.. they got some pretty good deals on them too.

[budz]

I wouldn't buy a dell pc if someone paid me to. :P
If you can find a local pc shop that can build a pc for you then that way you can purchase the components you want.

[lumis]

i dunno. it was a pretty good deal.

p4 3.2ghz
128mb sound card (not sure what kind)
creative 5.1 sound card
512mb ram
80gb hard drive
16x dual layer dvd burner
17 inch thin/flat monitor

it was only like $600-650 after $100 rebate (which he recieved in like 3 or 4 weeks).

[Cobra]

Prot,

Dell would be a good enough company to go for. Their machines are good for users who just want a standard PC that works. You could do a lot better for yourself by building your own machine, but Dell do offer exceptional value for money, even though their machines are pretty basic.

If you are not doing any gaming, either an AMD or P4-based machine would suit you fine. The Athlon64s perform extremely well with 32-bit code, and also have the ability to run 64-bit code too - this will keep you happy in the future if your machine is to be around for more than a few years. I have no strong feelings either way with AMD or Intel, although I have always gone for the AMD CPUs because they offer much more value for my money. If you are considering this machine purely for video encoding, consider the P4 - they are slightly better at that than the AMDs.

Cobra

[glockjs]

you get what u pay for. with that said, build one yourself...i dont even think a company sells a 3500+ with a pre made machine. and btw the 3500+ kills the p4 3.0

[888888]

I wouldn't buy a dell pc if someone paid me to. :P

Ditto!

Build your own PC from NewEgg parts and have some fun!

[808smokey]

I wouldn't buy a dell pc if someone paid me to. :P

Ditto!

Build your own PC from NewEgg parts and have some fun!

Ditto times 2

[ThomasW]

I have a good friend that works in the power apps semi-conductor industry. He routinely deals with Dell, HP etc. He detests Dell, saying that use they only cheapest quality parts available, and cut corners everywhere possible. They use 'reverse' auctions to force suppliers to give them low cost parts. As a result the parts suppliers to Dell build Dell's parts using the cheapest materials and cheapest construction methods possible to keep the parts cost at a minimum.

His recommendation to me about Dell products was avoid them like the plague.

So with Dell you certainly get what you pay for .... cheap, cheap, cheap.

[glockjs]

I have a good friend that works in the power apps semi-conductor industry. He routinely deals with Dell, HP etc. He detests Dell, saying that use they only cheapest quality parts available, and cut corners everywhere possible. They use 'reverse' auctions to force suppliers to give them low cost parts. As a result the parts suppliers to Dell build Dell's parts using the cheapest materials and cheapest construction methods possible to keep the parts cost at a minimum.

His recommendation to me about Dell products was avoid them like the plague.

So with Dell you certainly get what you pay for .... cheap, cheap, cheap.

thats just about what every pre made pc company does

[Cobra]

But it is cheap! That's all some people need - if it works, it's fine!

I got thirsty for more power and the ability to modify my hardware to my own tastes (in performance terms, that is!) so I built my own. Funnily, the area I most noticed was audio quality - my PC serves as my stereo too, as it is hooked up to a separates amp and speakers. The Dell obviously had a low-grade sound card in it - the Asus board sounds so much clearer!

That's just one example. However, if price is the deciding factor a Dell machine proves to be the best! Not in quality by a long way, and I won't buy one again but it suits others...

[glockjs]

how nice would it be if these companys did use brand name parts like asus mobo and corsair ram? im sure in the bulk they could purchase the price wouldnt be too out rageous....but *sigh* no

[Cobra]

You know that some airline saved $250,000 every year by cutting quarter of an olive from the first-class salad? (I cannot verify this fact)

It's the same with them I suspect - sure, top-notch components are well within reach but why spend your money buying it when you can get a new sports car every year with the savings?

[glockjs]

yup. too bad they care nothing of the consumer...and care everything of their pockets...

[Shadow57]

A good thing about building your own PC is you'll
be able to cut the umbilical cord between you and tech support.

You 'learn by doing". Most problems can be solved by visiting Google
or this website. You won't have to wait on the phone for blah blah blah.

Also, as glockjs sort of mentioned, you'll be using off-the-shelf parts.
You can swap them out with your other PCs that you build.

The upfront cost of a homebuilt PC might be higher but that is more than
offset knowing that you can fix it when it breaks...usually.

Here's the best reason for building it yourself. You won't be loading your PC
with garbage, games and software that you'll never use. We took an old
computer, wiped the hdd, and installed Win 2000 on the tiny hard drive. Now
that PC screams. All of the bloat is gone.

[Cobra]

All true.

[Scottie]

No Gaming, hum, I' get one of thoos Mother boards with on board everything maybe XP 2200 or sempron.


Even a 1 GHZ CPU would run all applications nicely.

64 MB Video card should be plenty.

[Prot]

Thanks for the advice. I will be doing some gaming, just not to the extent that I need a high end graphics card, but I will need cpu power and hard drive space. I have built my own pc's in the past, so I do know the advantages of those. I just don't have the time to do that now, and computer stores are not exactly in abundance here.
What I will be doing is exploring the options of having them built here in town to specs, and if I can't get what I need that way, probably will go with Dell or Gateway.

Thanks for all the input!

[zzyzzx]

This might be more like what you are looking for:

http://www.alienware.com

[808smokey]

computer stores are not exactly in abundance here.

I just built a "$1,200" computer from Dell for $565.00. But I don't have the Indian, I mean AMerican Tech Support

[HatchetMan]

another good option-
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/prodncust.hmx?

[budz]

I had bad experience with mwave.com because they sent me back motherboards that I originally sent back to them for RMA. In other words their business practices suck because they rip off the consumer by covering up the original mobo serial numbers and stick their own serial number. They messed with the wrong person because I write all the mobo serial numbers down when I build pcs. I'll never purchase anything from them again. I filed a BBB report on them and got my shipping costs refunded to me. They have had numerous complaints filed with the BBB for shady business practices. Beware!!!!!

As I suggested get your computer components from newegg.com and have a local pc shop build it for you.

[Shadow57]

Here's a good site to check the reputation of a retailer.

Some of the posts might be padded but it will give a
general idea of a company's reputation.

http://www.resellerratings.com

[stiltman]

Dell builds fine computers. We've been using them for about 8 years now.

[budz]

I would like to add that newegg.com had no complaints according to the BBB but mwave.com has many. I'd trust the BBB before resellerratings.com!

[vitualis]

My last desktop before the current was a Dell PIII 500 MHz PC.

It was a very well constructed and stable PC and my parents still use it.

In Australia at least, Dell PCs are no longer the best value computers, but I would still recommend them as they are rarely "bad". IMHO, if you get a Dell, you should also purchase next business-day on-site warranty. If the PC fails for whatever reason, it saves a lot of hassles.

Regards.

[808smokey]

dells aren't bad, there not great either. If you want to play games at medium to low settings (New HL2 and Flight sims) but everyday email, surfing and what not there fine. I'll just never buy one. I had an HP pavillion and it died after 3 months.

[Prot]

I ended up getting my computer here in town.
AOpen AX4SPE-UN mb
P4 3.2 GHz
1024meg PC3200 RAM (512 meg added)
120 gig SATA HD
Aopen 16x DL DVD+-/RW (replaced 8x burner with this one)
Sony DVD-ROM
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700LE w/256 meg
17" Viewsonic flat screen

Sound is integrated for the moment, but I will be adding a Soundblaster Audigy 2 board in the future. Thanks for all the input and suggestions.

[Shadow57]

I ended up getting my computer here in town.
AOpen AX4SPE-UN mb
P4 3.2 GHz
1024meg PC3200 RAM (512 meg added)
120 gig SATA HD
Aopen 16x DL DVD+-/RW (replaced 8x burner with this one)
Sony DVD-ROM
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700LE w/256 meg
17" Viewsonic flat screen

Sound is integrated for the moment, but I will be adding a Soundblaster Audigy 2 board in the future. Thanks for all the input and suggestions.

You forgot to tell us the $$$.