Desktop around $500

[RT Wolf]

I'm lookin for a decent desktop. Here are the things I'm lookin for:

- Min 2-4 gigs of ram, with space for upgrading later to at least 6-8 gigs
- 1 TB hard drive
- dual monitor setup. Must consider this if getting a mobo or using two old vid cards, or buyin a cheapie dual header.
- dvd writer (duh)
- core 2 duo (wanna run it mac os x on it and doin some After Effects/3D stuff)

I've got two options:

1. Build it myself. The reason I hesitate here is cause of the time and potential hassle. I can build a computer, I just don't wanna spend 10 hours to save 50 bucks. If you could throw up links of stuff that'll work together and is cheap, I'd really appreciate it and be willing to go that route if it's cheap enough.

2. Buy a cheap bottom of the line comp from somin like Dell, and add upgrades. I've been waiting for a good deal for about four weeks and can't wait any longer (laptop has to be transferred to buyer).

So, for this option, I can get the Inspiron 530. It says it's 60 bucks off regular price right now, but it's not a great deal especially after adding the customized options, it'll be much more than the DIY route?

Thanks in advance!

Edit: I just realized that this might not be possible for $500. Let's say I'm willing to go upto...600 or so.

[masterc]

Is the $500 including the dual monitors?

[mong]

If you want a computer built to your liking but not build it yourself, a solution is buy your computers parts at ncix.com, price match with other online retailers for the best price, then let them set up the computer for $50. You get a little more freedom and you only pay the GST (5%). If you manage to find a sale or an item that gives you free shipping for your entire order, it makes your computer even cheaper.

As for what part you should buy, I suggest posting in the computers and electronics discussion section and ask for advice to what you should get.

That's my suggestion~

edit: Adding price comparison site. It's very useful when you want to price match. Make sure to double-check the price. Occasionally, there are wrong prices. pricecanada.com, shopbot.ca and pricebat.ca.

[RT Wolf]

Nope, I've got the two monitors.

mong, now that's an excellent suggestion. I will look into that. Thanks!

I just did a bit of research and matched up a comp with those specs at $530 at tigerdirect (especially iwth a mobo that supports dual-monitors). The buy-dell-and-upgrade route at current price would cost me $700. If I got a deal on the Dell, the base model would have to be 300 bucks, and while that could happen, I'm not waitin around for it.

I'd love to build a computer. I've never done it before. I'm just not interested in dealing with the hassle if one of the parts is DoA or doesn't play nice. But if I'm savin 200 bucks, perhaps I am.

[virgoan]

I'd love to build a computer. I've never done it before. I'm just not interested in dealing with the hassle if one of the parts is DoA or doesn't play nice. But if I'm savin 200 bucks, perhaps I am.

Assemble your own PC is really not that difficult.. take a newbie 3 hrs top.. because I remember assembled my first one in like an hour.. Go to any store like Canada Computer, CTY or Aplus Computers, they will give you all of the "compatible" parts. Just tell them the spec you want, they give you bunch of options..

Or you can buy a "bare-bone" system from one of the local computer store and add hardware to your liking..

[MYNAMEISKJS]

Get NCIX to assemble it for you, $50 for assembly AND TESTING your rig.

Price match them with newegg.ca, bestdirect and directcanada.
There you go.

[RT Wolf]

Thanks for the replies!

I'll just get the parts and build it myself. Could be fun. What's NCIX's return policy like? IE if I buy a part that's just not playing nice? Are they good with DoA? How long owuld it take to get replacement parts?

I'll try to see if they'll confirm these parts play together.

I'm making a list from ncix and checkin it twice.

Made thread about this here:
I'd appreciate your input: http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=732992

[mong]

Well, I'm not too familiar with their return policies unfortunately. Someone else might have a better answer than me. However, it seems to be better to get their expressRMA option when you checkout. It's 3% of your order and it covers your whole order during shipping and allows you to request RMA quicker. If you have 500 points from ncix, you could add a VIP membership and expressRMA would be free.

VIP program -> http://www.ncix.com/article.php?mode=VIP

info about regular and expressRMA -> http://www.ncix.com/go/?expressrma

Also, when you order, make sure you chose everything you want and it's at the right price. When they accept your PM, your order goes through. Only when they deny one PM will they ask whether you want to continue to purchase or not.

[RT Wolf]

^ Cool. Thanks, I'll look into it.

Can anyone go to the link I posted above of my thread? How about this one?

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=733131

My thread links don't seem to be working. It says Internal server error in IE, nothing in Firefox. I sent PM to Ryan (admin). let's see what happens.

Anyhoo, here's what I've got so far:

I'm building a new computer and looking at the following build. I'm planning on buying mostly from NCIX & tigerdirect, so if anyone's got coupon, good values, whatever, lemme know!


1 TB drive - there's a bunch around for a hundred. Just a SATA2 I'll grab.
Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 ($150)- http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=34584&vpn=BX80571E7400&manufacture=Intel&promoid=1005
4GB RAM (should be upgradeable to 8 or more later) ($35 MIR) http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3228139&Sku=C13-6082
DVD writer ($22) - http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=38115&promoid=1005
400W Corsair power supply ($36 MIR) - http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=33357&vpn=CMPSU-400CX&manufacture=CORSAIR&promoid=1005 Do I need even 400W? What is my minimum requirement for this comp?
Case - Unless there's a good deal on a case for cheap (ie under 20), I'm just gonna use an old one I've lying around.
Heatsink/fan - Either this one http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=26163&vpn=OCZTVANQ&manufacture=OCZ%20Technology for $23 or http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=17225&vpn=FREEZER-7-PRO&manufacture=Arctic%20Cooling for $32. More reviews on the second one, almost all positive. Is it worth the price difference?
Mobo for $118: http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3797456&Sku=I69-2168 I want dual-monitor setup(doesn't have to be in mobo, it just seems cheaper here) and upgradeability to at least 8 GB. It'd be cool if it also has firewire and wireless. The mobos at NCIX support upto 16 GB of RAM, and appear to support more future intel chips, is that correct? Is it worth it?
Some generic g wireless card.
Should I get a case fan?


Total price before shipping, taxes etc is $500.

So what's what I've got so far. I feel like I'm missin somin. If anyone's got better values or some parts that you know'll play nice together, throw 'em up. Also, how are the prices at NCIX compared to say college street? I'm very close to College street and would love to just get this setup this weekend.

So, lookin for these things: that everything above will play nice together, isn't too hard to build, there aren't better choices on a budget, coupons/sales/etc to help me cut some of the costs.

Thanks in advance!

[RT Wolf]

^ Cool. Thanks, I'll look into it.

Edit: everything's working, please continue discussion in this thread:
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=733131

[GeneralTao]

You don't need a heatsink, your e7400 cpu already has a heatsink fan included.