Apparently still need help with finding a place to buy a comp

[yaki]

Hell. For that, you're about a CPU and some motherboard screws away from building your own. How big a concern is whole-system tech support (i.e. "my computer's not working, YOU fix it")? If it needs to be OEM...you will still almost always save substantial money buying your memory separately, installing it yourself, and sticking whatever minimum amount it came with on a shelf somewhere if you plan to put above the minimum memory sold into the system. Often the case for many other components as well, although the amount of extra crap you have to accept in the name of having a "complete" system can build up to the point that this breaks down. Newegg = at cost, from OEM = another layer of someone adding a % for profit margins, for anything you can't (or don't want to) handle yourself.

AVAdirect.com seems like it can hit around the same pricing. Probably others can as well. The build looks fine for this, I'm just concerned that iBuyPower has a really bad reputation in the circles I'm used to learning about this stuff from.

[Shodokan]

Hell. For that, you're about a CPU and some motherboard screws away from building your own. How big a concern is whole-system tech support (i.e. "my computer's not working, YOU fix it")? If it needs to be OEM...you will still almost always save substantial money buying your memory separately, installing it yourself, and sticking whatever minimum amount it came with on a shelf somewhere if you plan to put above the minimum memory sold into the system. Often the case for many other components as well, although the amount of extra crap you have to accept in the name of having a "complete" system can build up to the point that this breaks down. Newegg = at cost, from OEM = another layer of someone adding a % for profit margins, for anything you can't (or don't want to) handle yourself.

AVAdirect.com seems like it can hit around the same pricing. Probably others can as well. The build looks fine for this, I'm just concerned that iBuyPower has a really bad reputation in the circles I'm used to learning about this stuff from.

AVAdirect is much more expensive for an exact replica system. About 400$ more.

[yaki]

I tweaked it a little bit to make it more robust and to keep the cost down where the difference was not very relevant for the application. I think it came out to about $10 more. I can post it tomorrow if necessary.

Also the *exact* system is $200 cheaper if you put it together yourself from Newegg parts neglecting the case and peripherals, with zero shopping around or substitution. Count it closer to $100 after you get those, but potentially less if you jiggle the parts list. Wait, I lie - I substituted good memory and a solid PSU for the "unknown origin" parts iBuyPower wanted to sell you. So for $100 saved and the cost of some time on the weekend putting it together, you get a more reliable system. If I missed anything significant let me know, but this should be everything minus the bits I mentioned (case + keyboard + mouse + throwaway-grade speakers).

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Pu...umber=16549728

Actually for that $100-200, you could get some pretty nice speakers to go with it. Not that WoW has that wonderful of a soundtrack, but there's always foobar2k in the background or movies on the other monitor.

[Shodokan]

I tweaked it a little bit to make it more robust and to keep the cost down where the difference was not very relevant for the application. I think it came out to about $10 more. I can post it tomorrow if necessary.

Also the *exact* system is $200 cheaper if you put it together yourself from Newegg parts neglecting the case and peripherals, with zero shopping around or substitution. Count it closer to $100 after you get those, but potentially less if you jiggle the parts list. Wait, I lie - I substituted good memory and a solid PSU for the "unknown origin" parts iBuyPower wanted to sell you. So for $100 saved and the cost of some time on the weekend putting it together, you get a more reliable system. If I missed anything significant let me know, but this should be everything minus the bits I mentioned (case + keyboard + mouse + throwaway-grade speakers).

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Pu...umber=16549728

Actually for that $100-200, you could get some pretty nice speakers to go with it. Not that WoW has that wonderful of a soundtrack, but there's always foobar2k in the background or movies on the other monitor.

Including case it will be around 1150.

I already have dolby digital surround for my computer with a 1.5 food subwoofer.

But i'm not sure i trust myself installing a cooling system and a CPU.

[yaki]

Installing the CPU is child's play if you follow the instructions. Earth yourself, drop it in, flip the clip. Installing the heatsink can be more interesting.

I wonder if there are relevant barebones systems...

[Shodokan]

Installing the CPU is child's play if you follow the instructions. Earth yourself, drop it in, flip the clip. Installing the heatsink can be more interesting.

I wonder if there are relevant barebones systems...

No idea... i havn't tried looking.

[yaki]

I know some places will premount the CPU on request, or at least some would a few years back the last time I needed to know. I don't remember where, so I'm asking elsewhere.

[Shodokan]

I know some places will premount the CPU on request, or at least some would a few years back the last time I needed to know. I don't remember where, so I'm asking elsewhere.

Thanks

[yaki]

http://www.mwave.com/

They'll do it if you buy both CPU and mobo from them. Depending on what you buy they may or may not charge - the guy that told me about it said $9.99, but the random combo I checked had free assembly/testing available.

Pricing looks good there in general...I'd still check a given item against Newegg & ZipZoomFly (at least) to verify this and to keep an eye out for specials that might make it worth splitting the order.

[Shodokan]

http://www.mwave.com/

They'll do it if you buy both CPU and mobo from them. Depending on what you buy they may or may not charge - the guy that told me about it said $9.99, but the random combo I checked had free assembly/testing available.

Pricing looks good there in general...I'd still check a given item against Newegg & ZipZoomFly (at least) to verify this and to keep an eye out for specials that might make it worth splitting the order.

Mmk.