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Need help finding prebuilt with...A BUDGET! OH NO!

post #1 of 44
3/1/05 at 12:15am
Thread Starter 
Although this is my native AW forums, I come to you guys as a friend in need of advice. I usually am not faced with a budget when buying a PC, but I need to find a company that makes prebuilts that can offer a PC that can play the latest games (doesnt have to be super performance or anything, just able to play them), and I need a LCD monitor (at least 17") and a printer all for around $1500. Now seeing that just my monitor was more than that, its really hard for me to find a deal like that.

I've been able to configure a really nice AW for $1100, but the best option they give me for a gfx card is a ATI X600XT 128mb PCIe. I dont think that will be enough, if I could just make that card better I would have a great deal there. I've tried to configure..EH...eh..mmm.eh a dell for him, but with what I configured it was closer to $1800+. Does anyone know of any coupons for dell desktops right now?

Can you guys help me configure something like this for my cousin or at least point me to a reputable company to build it? thanks!
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post #2 of 44
3/1/05 at 12:26am
Find Commish, he has coupons.

But seriously, folks....You might look at Toshiba, IBM, Sony, or Acer. At least one of those companies should be able to configure a notebook with those specs in that price range.
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post #3 of 44
3/1/05 at 12:33am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the tips! But, I am in need of a desktop....But I will look at those companies!
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post #4 of 44
3/1/05 at 12:40am
Can I ask why you need this budget system? Is your Aurora no longer going to be used?
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post #5 of 44
3/1/05 at 12:44am
i'de say ur options are dell -shivers in horror-, or www.ibuypower.com and http://www.cyberpowersystem.com/Default.asp, they got some cheap ass prices w/ very little negetive feedback


and you can always buy that cheap alienware w/ a crap ass video card then buy one off of newegg.com later when u save up some more money
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post #6 of 44
3/1/05 at 12:44am
Now don't laugh, but I think you can get what you need from AW. Try configuring up a Bot.

I did one with a P4 3.4Ghz HT, 1GB RAM 80GB, 7200rpm HDD, GMA900 Graphics (which can handle all the latest games) and a 17" LCD for around $1200.
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post #7 of 44
3/1/05 at 1:08am
Thread Starter 
I thought I put it was for my cousin in the first post..lol..maybe not. Well..its for my cousin. And I didnt know about that bot ^^^. What is the GMA900? I didnt configure a nice PC there for $1100, but they only offered the ATI x600xt with it, so that ruined the whole config. Thanks again guys...more advice would still be great!

EDIT: oh, the GMA900 is the integrated graphics...That can run games??? I didnt even think it could handle solitaire. Would the ATI x600 be a huge upgrade from that?
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post #8 of 44
3/1/05 at 1:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by PExeter
I thought I put it was for my cousin in the first post..lol..maybe not. Well..its for my cousin. And I didnt know about that bot ^^^. What is the GMA900? I didnt configure a nice PC there for $1100, but they only offered the ATI x600xt with it, so that ruined the whole config. Thanks again guys...more advice would still be great!

EDIT: oh, the GMA900 is the integrated graphics...That can run games??? I didnt even think it could handle solitaire. Would the ATI x600 be a huge upgrade from that?
The first two iterations of Intel Integrated Graphics were jokes, GMA900 is not. It is WAY more powerful. It can use up to 256MB shared RAM, and supports all the latest standards.
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post #9 of 44
3/1/05 at 1:29am
the x600 would be an upgrade i would get, it will not steal your ram so it will keep your system running at its top speed even under heavy load....go with the x600 before the integrated.
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post #10 of 44
3/1/05 at 1:57am
Thread Starter 
Ok, I configured an AW...here are the specs:

XP Home
P4 3.2
1GB Ram
160gb HD
Lite-On® 16x DVD / 52x32x52x CD-RW Drive
Integrated graphics (not using, read below)

$880.00

Now, I am going to buy a 6600 GT or something close (probably a little better) and put it in that computer above. Will that run games really well? Im mostly asking about the video card...Thanks!
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post #11 of 44
3/1/05 at 2:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by PExeter
Ok, I configured an AW...here are the specs:

XP Home
P4 3.2
1GB Ram
160gb HD
Lite-On® 16x DVD / 52x32x52x CD-RW Drive
Integrated graphics (not using, read below)

$880.00

Now, I am going to buy a 6600 GT or something close (probably a little better) and put it in that computer above. Will that run games really well? Im mostly asking about the video card...Thanks!

imho, it will run games w/ out a hiccup, but I would go w/ the x800xl gpu, it's prices right around 200ish and will outperform the pricer 6800GT's

best of luck, I think you found a winner
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post #12 of 44
3/1/05 at 3:11am
you're trying to get a crazy deal for 1500 bucks and you are still pricing alienware? dude...go type in "dell coupon codes" into yahoo, find a 25%-35% off coupon or something, and do up an 8400 or even 4700.
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post #13 of 44
3/1/05 at 4:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by PExeter
Ok, I configured an AW...here are the specs:

XP Home
P4 3.2
1GB Ram
160gb HD
Lite-On® 16x DVD / 52x32x52x CD-RW Drive
Integrated graphics (not using, read below)

$880.00

Now, I am going to buy a 6600 GT or something close (probably a little better) and put it in that computer above. Will that run games really well? Im mostly asking about the video card...Thanks!
Better make sure the PSU can handle upgrading the vid card to a mid-to-high end solution.
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post #14 of 44
3/1/05 at 5:38am
880 at dell.com gets you more than that...a BOT is a joke.
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post #15 of 44
3/1/05 at 9:46am
Thread Starter 
Thanks commish, I knew the dell would work with a coupon. I had a 40% off coupon but it expired and I didnt know how to find new ones.
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post #16 of 44
3/1/05 at 12:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joelist
I did one with a P4 3.4Ghz HT, 1GB RAM 80GB, 7200rpm HDD, GMA900 Graphics (which can handle all the latest games) and a 17" LCD for around $1200.

wow...

stop posting.

dude learn to build a PC. build a kickass rig for under a grand, WITH LCD. i can help you with that if you are interested. drop me a PM. having a budget and looking at these prebuilt places arent a good idea.
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post #17 of 44
3/1/05 at 12:56pm
If you can't or don't have time to build, I'd recommend Monarch Computers. They have a great selection of components to choose from, and prices are not much more (if any) than buying from Newegg and building yourself.

Dell would also be a decent option in this case. Check Tech Bargains and the Fat Wallet Hot Deals forum for coupon codes. There's always some kind of exceptional promotion running at Dell. Good luck!
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post #18 of 44
3/1/05 at 1:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tjmaxwell2
If you can't or don't have time to build, I'd recommend Monarch Computers. They have a great selection of components to choose from, and prices are not much more (if any) than buying from Newegg and building yourself.

Monarch does have some great prices, but I personally would never do business w/ them. They happen to be "local" (a couple of hour drive), at the time I was building my DIY rig and looking for a 3500+, called them several

times (got lost and to confirm they had one in stock "they had over 20") and told them I was coming to get one. Well I finally get there before they close, and they try to pull a "bait n switch." Needless to say I was incredibly

pissed, b/c w/in an hour of being lost and driving they some how sold all 20. I even asked if they could hold one or purchase it over the phone, so in a nut shell that's how I ended up w/ a 3800+ (bought it from somewhere else b/c

last yr 3500+'s were hard to get) and why I would never purchase from Monarch. Again this is my personal experience, I have read plenty of good things about them, but they're sales people treated me awfully.

Sorry for hijacking, good luck in whatever you choose either DIY, AW, DEll etc
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post #19 of 44
3/1/05 at 4:30pm
Cheap/Value/Lots for the money = D E L L


you really gonna order from ibuypower or monarch over DELL?
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post #20 of 44
3/1/05 at 5:11pm
Thread Starter 
Ok, I have a Dell configured, Im pretty sure he will want to go with this setup, and I feel confident it will do fine at performing. Here are the specs:

Dell 4700

P4 3.0
1GB DDR2 Ram
Geforce 4 6800 256mb
16x DVD-rom
16x DVD+-RW dual layer burner
17" ultrasharp LCD display
Keyboard/mouse

$1535

W/ Photo printer/copier/fax/scanner

$1714

W/ speakers

$1774

Now, that sounds like a good deal to me, but I just bought a $3500 computer, so I will have to check with my cousin. Commish, I looked at a bunch of different sites for some discount codes but I couldnt find any for Desktops. Is there any way you might be able to pull your "dell" strings and find some? lol, thanks.


Oh, I did spend extra money for the "ultrasharp" 17" display. What is the difference between the regular 17" LCD and the Ultrasharp 17" LCD? Its like a $200 difference.

Also, how is that geforce 6800? It will play games smoothly right?
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