Need (want) to buy retail cpu... would like feedback

[dvd-dude]

Okay... I'll try not to ramble on but really I'm just looking for some feedback from those who own (or have owned) these machines or their like.

What I do on my PC: First and foremost I do audio recording - multi-track stuff with Cakewalk Sonar (usually 30+ tracks) in conjuction with a professional sound card. I also do web design with Dreamweaver, graphic design with Photoshop, a few games here and there, and your every day things like e-mail, web, word processing, etc. (I may do a little with video on my PC but I mainly use a Mac G4 with Final Cut Pro for that).

So here's the catch/situation: I would like to get out of this as cheaply as possible. I had friends try to talk me into building my own computer, but a few other friends talked me out of it once we discussed what I wanted to do and my concerns - I'm not dying to build my own PC and usually that's what building one is all about. So budget is an issue - I've considered refurbs (the machine I own now is a refurb and it's lasted me 3 years and still works flawlessly).

SO... now to the actual question: What are your experiences with HP, Compaq, Dell, and/or eMachines? I've had a lot of luck with HP and considered buying one of them but there's a Compaq that's better in the same price range when not refurbished. Are Compaq and HP basically the same?

I'm seriously considering the Compaq S6500NX model. I could've bought it clearanced at Staples a few weeks back for $550 but I sat on it too long and they ran out. Now my only hope is that Best Buy will clearance theirs for a similar price (right now it's on sale but only for $650). I found a refurb one (with no warranty) on CompUSA's Ebay store for around $200-400 and was very tempted. I've bought refurbs but they've always at least had a 3-month warranty. I'm a little weary of taking that risk (even if I would save a bunch of money).

So now that I've failed miserably at keeping this short and sweet I would really appreciate honest, user feedback of these machines, places you've shopped, things you've heard, warnings/suggestions you may have, etc. I value your opinions and I thank you for taking the time to read this long post and reply with your advice.

-DVDdude

(specs on the machine I want)
Compaq S6500NX
AMD Athalon XP 3000+ (333MHz FSB)
Memory 512MB PC2700 DDR SDRAM
128KB L1 + 512KB L2 cache
HD 160GB 7200rpm Ultra
Free AGP slot, 2 free PCI slots, 1 free 3.5" bay for second HD
Comes with DVD+R/W burner (would want to upgrade to a DVD+/-R/W)
Comes with CD-Rom (would replace with my current 52X CD-RW drive)
Has okay built in sound, video, and modem... may upgrade video card
Will upgrade sound adding a PCI professional audio recording card
8 USB 2.0 ports
2 firewire ports

Doesn't it sound like a pretty decent machine? Especially if it was clearanced again for $550? Quite a step up from my HP Pavilion, 900 MHz Celeron, 256MB Ram, 30GB HD!

[Cobra]

Used to have a Dell Dimension, and it was a fair and solid-enough machine. It was good for someone who wants their PC to work, day in and day out but nothing more. It was never particularly good at anything, and the use of cheap components annoyed me, and settings like BIOS were extremely restricted to stop any tweaking etc. Had that for one and a bit years before I got tired and upgraded.

I built my own, and it's been brilliant. Then again, some people like to be able to say "I want this, now." and a couple of days later it's there, backed with a full warranty etc.

In all, the Dell was a fair machine with good tech support, but nothing special.

Cobra

[mujahid7ia]

It does sound pretty good... Is it a bundle? printer, monitor...

[808smokey]

Build your own. Dell, gateway and compaq are junk. IMO, no offense anyone

[mujahid7ia]

Build your own. Dell, gateway and compaq are junk. IMO, no offense anyone

I agree, but many ppl don't want to go through that process. Just want to pay, and get a PC, no complications. No need to select individual components...

But I agree, these OEM systems always have some negatives (like my damn compaq presario 7594 w/ a 566mhz celeron, a great overclocker, but NO BIOS or JUMPERS to set FSB or multiplier!!! ).

[Piccoro]

Knowing PCs is best. Then you can build your own and don't go nuts when something happens because you know what's up.

They all cut corners here and there. Few tips:
Look for one with an add in graphics card and not onboard (takes system memory)
Look to P4/A64/AXP if you can.
512MB memory at least. Upgrade memory if the system has only 256mb.

I would actually buy an Emachine (If it was a good hardware setup) over a Dell/HP/Compaq because of all the extra bogus software and proprietary issues you could run into on those machines.

Any local place that builds PCs with included warranties?

BTW if you get a Dell, don't go into a store looking for replacement parts. Lot of it is proprietary and you have to go through Dell..

You will narrow your ability to upgrade your PC by going with Dell/HP/Compaq.

The way they configure their PCs now has changed compared to the past. Friend's Dell only had a Power supply big enough to hold what was in it. He added a Harddrive and it was unstable because it was too much power.

But if you just use the PC then go through them on the warranty for anything then you should be ok. If it's not covered...uh oh.

[rallynavvie]

Sony Vaio desktop systems are worth checking out. I still have a Dell around here which is nice if only for the in-home service contract that goes with it. I don't use it much anymore but it was OK when I got it a couple years ago. You may also want to check out Alienware for prebuilt systems.

[indolikaa]

I've had Dell machines, used to repair Sony machines. No complaints with either.

Most of my machines (except the Apples, of course) are/were homebrews. Cannibalized from friends, eBay, service centers, etc. I also build a few from the ground up.

Never any problems with either method.

My parents bought a Dell last year. Haven't had a single glitch yet. Does music and video editing pretty well, too.

[glockjs]

best cpu for the $ is one that you can build yourself. otherwise everything else out in stores is pretty much crap unless you wanna spend more than a few bucks. i'd say for cost wise in the crap section i'd go with dell. but other than that i'd say build your own.

[budz]

cobra wrote:

Used to have a Dell Dimension, and it was a fair and solid-enough machine. It was good for someone who wants their PC to work, day in and day out but nothing more. It was never particularly good at anything, and the use of cheap components annoyed me, and settings like BIOS were extremely restricted to stop any tweaking etc. Had that for one and a bit years before I got tired and upgraded.

Take a look at this website regarding Dell Pc.
http://www.upgradingandrepairingpcs.com/articles/upgrade3_01_01.asp

I recommend Dell pc's to friends who just use it for surfing the net and doing emails. Building your own pc is the best because you put in components that you choose. Most bundled pc's have no room for expansion.

[Cobra]

Take a look at this website regarding Dell Pc.
http://www.upgradingandrepairingpcs.com/articles/upgrade3_01_01.asp

I don't actually agree with that website in my case. My Dell had a 350W PSU wiht spare molex connections, and it had plenty of PCI slots and an AGP4X slot, a spare hard drive bay, spare optical bay, spare floppy bay etc. My Dell was actually fairly expandable.

My trouble was this Dell's-own motherboard. It was slow and BIOS was worthless. The cooling fan was cheap and whiny. The case was solid enough, but let down by fancy catches allowing screwless opening that broke to pieces when I tried to move it. As for limiting the RAM to 512MB, that was ridiculous.

A machine that you build yourself is definitely the way to go. My machine is rock solid, and highly expandable. My CPU is only £50, so I've overclocked it very high. If it fails, out it comes and a new one goes in. Job done. With the Dell, I couldn't overclock because Dell obviously felt that was too advanced for its customers...

Rant over.

Cobra

(Edited twice because I couldn't get the quote function right...)

[flaninacupboard]

pricing all the components NEW from ebuyer.co.uk i came to a total of $546. pretty good really, plusof course you can swap and change what you actually buy.

[Hardcoreruss]

Build your own. Dell, gateway and compaq are junk. IMO, no offense anyone

gets my vote