Seeing how I just got my Guard check and have been building a parts list for the last couple weeks, I have to ask as well about those prices and parts. I worked IT for a good number of years as well and couldn't build a system for that price.
Here is my parts list so far. Mostly from NewEgg
Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB
$109.99
Rosewill R101-P-BK 120mm Fan MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$29.99
I can't go with assembling horseshit because I don't know how to diagnose or fix IT problems. That time is money earning time. That is why I will select from a menu from reputable (hopefully) sources, have them build and deliver.
I'm sure it's been done a 100 times where a salvage title has been bought and fixed up to look great........but who really knows if the frame is bent until that 120mph sweeper where all hell breaks loose and you meet Jesus.
I've a work associate who is very, very well versed in IT though his profession is senior design engineer. He is going the HP route, select and build. I would have done that, but what I wanted was about 7 long more than I paid for this Dell Vostro.
My hats off to people well versed enough to build their own, but please don't embellish. I'm sure the REAL bottom line would be impressive enough, guys and girls.
__________________
Quote of the Year
"One would think that the Secret Service was smart enough to get serviced secretly."
Hey BigD, I buy laptops, but ever since my first build, I always build desktops. Basically I went this route
Proc - always Intel
HHD - always Seagate
PS - always Antec
MB - Always ASUS
Memory - whatever is cheap usually Kingston
Case - whatever is cheap
I changed it up and want a Gigabyte board for price reasons, and Giga are good boards.
All these are high quality brands that offer a decent warranty so if anything fails I have a recourse. I can't get that kind of deal buying off the shelf. It's been a few years since my last build and shit changes fast, so I am hoping Googly posts up some opinions or ideas since he stays current in the game.
Really, once you've built one and see how easy it is, it's like buying and AR and then having some schmuck install the Timney trigger you bought, for you.
OH, and I never embellish, hell, I will post the receipts.
__________________
No plan survives first contact...but there's always a plan.
Anyone want to contribute to my software maintenance upgrade fund?
Seriously, I am going to have the CRF 50 and the ZX10R and her performance goodies on the auction block just as soon as I can drag my broken ass heart out into the car hole to clean them up and remove the goodies. I've known this for some time now, but I cannot seem to modulate to the den of horse power on my own. Even at almost 56 years old, a man can have a hard time facing reality.
__________________
Quote of the Year
"One would think that the Secret Service was smart enough to get serviced secretly."
I'm already at almost $500 and I am not buying an SSD and I am reusing my Antec TruePower PS and only went with 4GB of RAM
the only reason i got such good prices was because they were all black friday deals on newegg. reg price was just shy of $2,000. thats how much the prices dropped for the black friday special. couldn't of afforded it any other way!
the only reason i got such good prices was because they were all black friday deals on newegg. reg price was just shy of $2,000. thats how much the prices dropped for the black friday special. couldn't of afforded it any other way!
Yeah, I wasn't ready to buy then. I should have though. Was waiting on some travel pay to come through and didn't want to buy before that got approved. I did find the i5-2500K for $180, and that is pretty low compared to online prices. NewEgg wants $220.
Certain other things can be had cheaper than the Egg, but I kinda want to get everything in one shot to save of some of the shipping. Probably going to pull the pin on this purchase this afternoon. Right after I get back from MicroCenter
__________________
No plan survives first contact...but there's always a plan.
Well, with the end of the year coming, and my taxes needing business write offs, all this shit comes off erasing the money I made during the year. This I need. I've got to network like a mother fucker to drum up some design jobs then the fruit will be picked from the tree, baby!
We shall see.
Oh, and thanks, PV. That was a swell gesture.
__________________
Quote of the Year
"One would think that the Secret Service was smart enough to get serviced secretly."
Hey BigD, I buy laptops, but ever since my first build, I always build desktops. Basically I went this route
Proc - always Intel
HHD - always Seagate
PS - always Antec
MB - Always ASUS
Memory - whatever is cheap usually Kingston
Case - whatever is cheap
I changed it up and want a Gigabyte board for price reasons, and Giga are good boards.
All these are high quality brands that offer a decent warranty so if anything fails I have a recourse. I can't get that kind of deal buying off the shelf. It's been a few years since my last build and shit changes fast, so I am hoping Googly posts up some opinions or ideas since he stays current in the game.
Really, once you've built one and see how easy it is, it's like buying and AR and then having some schmuck install the Timney trigger you bought, for you.
OH, and I never embellish, hell, I will post the receipts.
I do the same, except I tend to go AMD as I don't need insane power, just a super cheap proc that does what I need. One other thing to consider is that if you already have an ATX/micro ATX tower you can re-use it and save the cost on that.
Bigdaa, what parts you needing if you were to go and build on your own? I've got a spare Proc (AMD Phenom xII - AM3 socket) and some DDR3 Ram (4GB 240 pin SDRAM) that is doing absolutely nothing but sitting on my coffee table. I'm sure I've got some other parts just hanging out as well. It's all still very serviceable
(And if you wanted a Cablecard single channel TV Tuner, I could throw that one in as well, for inspiration )
Bigdaa, what parts you needing if you were to go and build on your own? I've got a spare Proc (AMD Phenom xII - AM3 socket) and some DDR3 Ram (4GB 240 pin SDRAM) that is doing absolutely nothing but sitting on my coffee table. I'm sure I've got some other parts just hanging out as well. It's all still very serviceable
(And if you wanted a Cablecard single channel TV Tuner, I could throw that one in as well, for inspiration )
It's a done deal, Ed. The computer will be here before Christmans.
__________________
Quote of the Year
"One would think that the Secret Service was smart enough to get serviced secretly."
not at all bigdaa, there's resources out there that allow you to buy OEM software for significantly cheaper as they're intended for oversea markets in terms of prices but are exactly the same otherwise and are not illegal.
not at all bigdaa, there's resources out there that allow you to buy OEM software for significantly cheaper as they're intended for oversea markets in terms of prices but are exactly the same otherwise and are not illegal.
It's just the Chinese developed version....Microsoft Rindows
G00gl3, they way you first mentioned it made it seem like anybody can get your magical deal. But if you have a corporate account with Dell, well that's another story.
I'm just talking about, hey I need a system, lets see what I can get NOW on my own time. But if you're offering your great prices to members, well
As for software:
You can buy the OEM version of Windows for considerably less than what comes in retail packaging. You do have to purchase it with a HDD, MB, or CPU (what's considered to be a new system). What you decide to do with purchased component....
But nothing beats having a buddy work at Microsoft...
"Security is mostly a superstition, it does not exist in nature: avoiding danger in the long run is no safer than outright being exposed. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."-Helen Keller
Cases - I use the cheapest crap I can get. I don't care what it looks like, it just has to hold parts. Besides, it doesn't have to be steady at 60MPH, just sitting still.
RAM - Cheap is good, but I go off of Newegg Reviews to make sure it's quality. I picked up 16GB for $35 over Black Friday with a coupon (that I received from newegg because of my high purchase volume)
Mobo - Asus as well, sometime gigabyte or Intel. Something quality. I don't spring for the high end boards because I don't overclock or tweak enough to make it worth it. Just get the board that is 'good enough' and live with it.
Hard Drive - I buy in bulk when they are cheap. Then I can build systems later for folks when prices jump (like right now, they are TRIPLE what they were 6 months ago). I recently bought 8 1TB WD Blacks for $69 a piece, now sitting in a RAID 5 on my server.
Keyboard - freebies from Craigslist, Goodwill cheapies, whatever, same with mice. I pound on them pretty hard, especially when I'm sucking it up in a game, lol.
DVD burner - Newegg has sales where they go as low as $12. Again, buy in bulk.
Almost always Intel procs. Even the itty bitty Atoms have some decent power for a home user, and they are electricity bill sippers, too.
As far as software goes, you just have to know where to look and what deals are out there.
1) If you work for 'the man' you may get corporate deals. Microsoft Home Use program (I get Office Ultimate for $10).
2) Education discounts: Microsoft Store Online - Student. If you have a .edu address, you can get good discounts on MS software. Check ebay, etc as well, you can provide your school ID and get Windows OS' and Office for $30-$90.
3) Don't forget to re-use keys if you are just repairing a machine. If you are replacing a hard drive in a machine, just re-activate the key (even call MS if needed). Technically, if you're replacing the entire computer, then yes, you are supposed to have a new key, and MS has guidelines they follow in when replacing components is a 'new' machine or not. If it's a repair, I re-activate. If it's an upgrade, replace.
4) MS sells it's OS' at discounts with certain hardware purchases. So sometimes a specific NIC (network) card may be eligible to purchase a 3-pack of MS W7 64 bit for $200. You just saved $45 or so per license. Sell the other two to others for regular price and you just paid for yours with profits.
TIPS FOR SHOPPING ONLINE. Use GOOD browser extensions and promotions. Invisible hand, Amazon PRIME shipping, Shoprunner for Newegg, etc.
I NEVER buy a case on Newegg unless it is FREE shipping. That's $15 or more wasted each time. Invisible hand will automatically compare prices for the item your looking for across thousands of other sites and return with the best price. I've found hundreds of dollars in savings with just this tool.
And for those of you who say "well this kind of buying only applies to those who can afford it" I call bullshniggits.
I was doing this while making $12k a year and going to school full time.
When Dillards in town was going out of business I slapped $3k on my credit card buying cashmere/wool overcoats at 90% off. Sold them all on ebay and made almost $900 after paying off $800 in clothes from Dillards that I KEPT. Still have most of them. And I'm talking 15 pairs of shoes, 20 pairs of pants, 40 ties, 30 shirts, 5 belts, etc. I had to make 4 runs in my car to load it all up. Some might say I'm crazy but it was a crazy opportunity that I knew would work, those coats sold like crazy on eBay.
So I buy in bulk, build in bulk, and list on craigslist, sell to friends etc. Now, I do admit, because of my background I usually have a fair number of people coming to me to look for deals because I'm 'that' computer guy. But this same principle applies to any business and purchasing. Look for deals, buy in bulk, re-sell at good decent prices to others (and provide good customer service). And your customers will keep coming back.
LDH would know what I'm talking about.
Oh, and BigDaa, you made a wise choice on your purchase. For the very same reason I have GreaseMonkey change the oil on my car. I know how to do it, but it's all about TIME. I make $65 an hour troubleshooting complex computer issues over the phone. I can do that while waiting for my oil change so I actually LOSE money if I do it myself. Power of economics.
It's for that very reason I don't usually sell a lot of hardware for profit; there's just not much in it. I make the money in servicing.
Got the #2 monitor already. 16G Ram (4x4) on the way along with #2 500G drive.
Now I got to figure how to stuff my Dad's old office desk in here to hold all this extra shit and what to do with the plethora of shit that is already cluttering up the war/computer room.
I took the day off of work to wait for the Fed-Up driver. Those butt fuckers at work who bought out my company are such ass rapers! What a bunch of
amateurs.
__________________
Quote of the Year
"One would think that the Secret Service was smart enough to get serviced secretly."
Microcenters 2500k deal (with motherboard purchase, but those are hella deals too) are killer.
Not sure I understand you or not, but the 2500K is $180, no ifs ands or buts. I was told they take a loss on them simply to get people in the store. The MOBO is $50 off just for buying the processor. So yes, killer deals.
As promised here is my parts list.
The OS was prorated since I got the 3 license family pack.
Also, apparently I have been out of the game for too long. My PSU only has 20 pins, not 24 on my new MOBO.
And optical drives all went SATA, as I don't even have PATA connectors on the MOBO. SO, had to spring for another optical drive and a PSU. The PSU is fine as my old one is just that, old. It's an Antec trupower so good quality, but only 330w. New one is 430w.
$19 in rebates have been applied although I am still waiting........
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No plan survives first contact...but there's always a plan.
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