Best way to buy a computer?

[Shounak]

I need to buy a computer and have a budget of about $500.

I want something with about a 2gig processor (not sure about AMD or Intel), 2 gig of ram, at least 300gig HD and any ole memory card.

Sourcing that stuff is alright, but it's the motherboard I'm struggling with. I need a motherboard that will have a decent LAN card built in and a speaker output, although sound quality is no big deal either.

Is it best to buy a package computer or should I individually buy the bits I want and put it all together? Is there much else other than a screw driver needed to put a whole computer together?

Any suggestions about the computer, cpu/mother board combinations or anything would be appreciated.

Cheers

[Emackulation]

Good luck getting all those parts for $500.

[DeiCide]

It would be cheaper to buy bits individually and put it together rather than a package deal.
Not hard to piece 1 together, just few fiddly bits like the CPU and putting heat gel on it.
I 100% recommend AMD as every Intel I've dealt with has nothing on a good quality AMD Build.

(my dads Dual-core 3.0ghz intel with faster FSB is still slower then my 4yr old AMD Athlon XP 1.6 lmao)

[stocky]

hmm i should sell you mine gives me an excuse to upgrade

[Tom_1569]

What your after is within your budget, BUT you may have trouble buying those parts brand new. Personelly when "buying" a computer i research the best parts (not the most expensive) and buy them and put it together my self, but you have to shop atound for parts to, i bought a motherboard/cpu package for mums and i found price difference of up to 150 bux. Personelly if your building a brand new computer id up your budget to 1500 if you can afford or wait abit.
I built mums for not much over a grand this includes:
Sweet as case with lights and shiz (total overkill and pointless but she liked it)
A dual core 6460 (i think thats wat it was cant remember but its bloody fast)
Asus motherboard with on board graphics (temp)
2 gb ram.
dvd burner
22inch 2ms widescreen veiwsonic screen.

and just gave her my old key board and mouse.
oh and dont forget an OS which is best to find someone who will sell you an OEM copy.

As for putting it together, yes a screw driver will get it done, in my computer workshop i have a **** load of different screw drivers, tweezers, pliers, cable cutters, and dont forget cable ties. But a screw driver and cable ties will get the job done.

Oh and you MUST be able to read instructions, i know most males dont like to but it is a must for jumper settings if you have never done this **** before.

[CSP]

Save a bit more money and the go to www.dell.com.au

Should be able to get something BRAND NEW, delivered for around $899. And with the DELL NRMA Member discounts, even less.

[Shounak]

Good luck getting all those parts for $500.

I've found pretty similar computers brand new off eBay from real computer stores.

That's how I bought mine and my girlfriends laptops and we had no issues at all, even through warranty.

These places deliver you the computer for about $50.

Mind you, I only need a computer. No screen, keyboard or anything. Hell I probably don't even need a case.

[Emackulation]

I've found pretty similar computers brand new off eBay from real computer stores.

That's how I bought mine and my girlfriends laptops and we had no issues at all, even through warranty.

These places deliver you the computer for about $50.

Mind you, I only need a computer. No screen, keyboard or anything. Hell I probably don't even need a case.

Ahh okay, got ya

[1991_Vn2nV]

What about software? OS?

[Shounak]

Yeah that's the other question. If I buy all these bits from a computer shop, just paying for the components, will they sell me OEM?

Failing that, I do have a version of Windows XP. I can't stand Vista, I'd take XP anyday.

[gottavecalaisv]

i just bought one on sunday from the Geelong computer market, traders name is croxton computers, they have a shop in Melbourne.cost me $369.00. link here Computer Stores - Computer Hardware, Computer Software Computer Shops, Computer Parts - Value Dual Core System has core 2 duo processor, mine came with 2 gig of ram, 160gig hard drive etc. very good deal i think.

[Tom_1569]

Ok personelly id never deal with dell/acer/hp for a PC. Their parts are (theirs a technical name but ive forgot it) custom fit, so if something goes wrong or you want to upgrade you have to use their parts and its a hassle. Stick to building them or from a proper computer shop.
You will need a P4 case and power supply, you can get a power supply and case for under 50 bux no problems.
Im prosumming your only running XP as vista would be to slow on that setup in my opinion. You should be able to get xp with sp2 for about 150 bux, or get a dodgy copy off a mate.

[sixshooter]

Don't buy a computer man !!! Spend your money on your car !!!

Cause you'll get online and become addicted to the internet !

[needwork2-4fillhabbit]

lol. ^^. We have a comp store at the moment selling systems close to your specifications for 499 with vista basic. Minit Computers Bendigo. I havent bought a full pc in years, i just build a new comp every 6-12 months.

[Sabbath']

PCM computers. We've dealt with them for years. Had about 15 work and home PC's off of them. If you cant find any info out i'll ask the old man what he thinks you should do.

[Just_a_stocker]

do you know anyone that works in the government.

????

300.00 will get you 3 ghz speed , 80 mb hdd, 2 gb ram.

...computers they are a dime a dozen to the government.

computer stores ,,heeh yeah right, ****in hawkers the lot of em, they would prob take the ram out of a gov puter and sell it to you for double the price.....


regards

[pow3rslave]

msy is a good place to check, they sell parts for about $5 bucks over cost, and do complete pc's too.

MSY Technology Pty

i had a quick look at their prebuilt boxes, they're ok, but you'd be better off building your own.

[VicCop]

I need to buy a computer and have a budget of about $500.

I want something with about a 2gig processor (not sure about AMD or Intel), 2 gig of ram, at least 300gig HD and any ole memory card.

Sourcing that stuff is alright, but it's the motherboard I'm struggling with. I need a motherboard that will have a decent LAN card built in and a speaker output, although sound quality is no big deal either.

Is it best to buy a package computer or should I individually buy the bits I want and put it all together? Is there much else other than a screw driver needed to put a whole computer together?

Any suggestions about the computer, cpu/mother board combinations or anything would be appreciated.

Cheers

Can be done for $500 with the following:

Intel Core 2 Duo processor, the E4500 - that's 2.2 gig
Your 2GB of RAM (2x 1GB modules)
Mainboard - Gigabyte brand. Has everything else you wanted on board including audio, graphics and your LAN.
320GB hard drive, Seagate brand.
All bundled up in a tower case with a power supply.

[ProphetVX]

MSY Technology Pty

Aus PC-Market Online eStore


The only 2 sites you need to know. As for your motherboard, pretty much every motherboard comes with inbuilt sound that is decent stereo or 5.1, networking is standard on most MB's as well.

If you're going to re-use optical drives in the computer, it should be well within your price range for that PC.

[Shounak]

Ahh awesome. I'd rather just buy a packaged computer, it would save me a lot of mucking around.

Video card and stuff aren't important. I'll just be downloading video's, copying dvd's and using it for general purposes.

MSY had packages with keyboards, speakers n stuff which made them seem a bit more expensive. Should I shoot them an email to work out a package for just a box?

Do you mean CD/DVD drives for optical drives? If so, I have a fast burner and a DVD drive already. So that's all good.

[VicCop]

Putting it all together is the fun part.

[Spaced]

Through msy you just pick your parts and they assemble it. If you're not playing games can build a pc really cheap.

$70 for a coolermaster case and psu
$70 2GB of RAM
320GB hdd $100+-
Mobo and cpu. If you go intel the cpu is your most expensive part. You can get a cheaper dual core say a 4600. A E6750 is half your budget though. Mobo around 100 or a little more. Get one with internal video but will support a video card if you want to add one later Video cards range from $50 to $900 depending on what you want it to do.

You can buy oem XP Pro or home or vista if you buy two pieces of major hardware so with all the new parts you're covered. They assemble and test for $70 but you might have to install windows yourself which isn't hard.

So all up including assemble but no o/s is around $570. That's all new parts and one year warranty. I put together a full system for my parents no o/s and built it myself for $600.

Building a pc is really easy it's just stick this there and put that there, a lot harder to work on a car. If you got a mate into computers they'll probably do the assembly for a carton.

Don't even bother with second hand, no warranty and it was outdated when they bought it so old is it going to be now?

[Shounak]

Thanks guys, you've given me heaps to work off. On top of this I'll probably be buying another computer, but for a different purpose.

Like the other one this won't be used for gaming or anything hardcore. But it will be on pretty much 24/7 and be used to run a home network.

I've got $800-$1000 to spend on just the box for this. Any recommendations for this one?

I'm thinking a much better silent power supply and of course a huge HD. Anything else?

[Spaced]

Start here http://www.msy.com.au/Parts/PARTS.pdf price everything up and then just ask if such and such is compatible with this and that part.

I can build a basic gaming box for 1k so you shouldn't have any trouble.

[feistl]

But it will be on pretty much 24/7 and be used to run a home network.

I've got $800-$1000 to spend on just the box for this. Any recommendations for this one?

Hey mate,

I'm guessing your building a fileserver of sorts? I can help you out in this area...

Most importantly your PC needs to be power efficient... No use draining heaps of power for nothing.

My current fileserver (6TB of space) is a AMD 3600+ X2 on a Gigabyte M55 SLI S4 motherboard. The AMDs are better suited as they use less power and slightly cheaper.
I did purchase this a while back. My current recommendation would be along the lines of....

Intel Celeron D 420 $43 (35w TDP, meaning very little power usage) However if your after something with a little more grunt go a X2 3600+ AMD (Note higher models use more power))
Gigabyte DS3P or DS3R $165 (Good all round motherboard, very stable)
2GB DDR800 $50 (Any brand should do really)
PCI (not PCIe) Graphics card, 32mb $10 Second hand (File servers dont need gfx)
80GB OS HDD $30 (get something second hand, you want windows OS + Data on different physically drives)
1TB Western Digital HDD $256
Case (Doesnt really matter, something with decent airflow $80).
PSU (Dont go too high wattage, they are inefficient under light load, Seasonic S12 430W @ $99 is a good choice).

Total cost, $733 for 1TB. Could up that to 2TB for a total cost of $989.

If your only after file storage, might be worth looking at a NAS... Can get some decent ones for around $300.

Wow parts are cheap these days... My 6TB file server cost ~$4k in HDDs alone when i built it a few years back. Now you can get 6TB for just $1500.