Bought an hp elite system

[cr2250]

I was look all day, seeing if I could build one, usually cheaper. Times have changed and for some reason hp was much cheaper than building. Here are the specs. Did i do good?
HP Pavilion Elite e9150t customizable Desktop PC

* ? Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
* ? Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-920 processor (2.66GHz, 1MB L2 + 8MB shared L3 cache with QPI Technology)
* ? FREE UPGRADE! 6GB DDR3-1066MHz SDRAM [3 DIMMs] from 4GB
* ? FREE UPGRADE! 750GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive from 640GB
* ? 512MB ATI Radeon HD 4350 [DVI, HDMI, VGA adapter]
* ? LightScribe 16X max. DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive
* ? 16x max. DVD ROM (player)
* ? Integrated 10/100/1000 (Gigabit) Ethernet, No wireless LAN
* ? 15-in-1 memory card reader, 1 USB, 1394, audio
* ? No TV Tuner w/remote control
* ? Integrated 7.1 channel sound with front audio ports
* ? 20% OFF! HP USB 2.0 stereo speakers
* ? HP wireless keyboard and HP wireless optical mouse
* ? Microsoft(R) Works 9.0
* ? FREE UPGRADE! Norton Internet Security(TM) 2009 - 3 year from 2 year
* ? HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope

Estimated build date: August 4, 2009
859.49 was the total.

 

[myocardia]

You're supposed to ask questions before you buy, not after.

 

[cr2250]

Im just reassuring my self haha
im pretty sure you can't build a cheaper one from scratch

 

[alyarb]

you could've done it yourself for a little cheaper.

 

[brblx]

maybe if you buy the cheapest x58 board and get the 920 for $200 from microcenter.

personally, i havn't seen many $750 (less OS) i7 builds. he did fine, though he of course would want to upgrade the video card if he's going to game on it.

his worst sacrifice is probably the ability to overclock.

 

[M0RPH]

You got a deal. Some will claim to be able to build it cheaper, but anyone who tries... don't forget to add the cost of OS, card reader, speakers, wireless kb/mouse, and Norton subscription.

 

[alyarb]

There's nothing wrong with sub-$200 X58 boards, provided you get 6 DIMM slots. Do you want a bunch of extra crap like free SLI bridges or eSATA bracket or a little device to hold your hand through an overclock? anand got a 920 to 4 GHz with that matx MSI board, which I'd like to see firsthand as well. At any rate, what motherboard do you think HP uses for their $800 i7 machines?

CPU $280
mobo $175
RAM $85
HDD $70
DVD $20
card reader? uh $10
GPU $30
PSU $55

thats $725 without even looking at any combos. which leaves 135 for a case or heatsink or something nice, but even if a DIY build did cost $100 more, the customizeability and overclockability are worth that. but yeah, those fancy USB 2.0 speakers closed that deal tight.

 

[M0RPH]

You forgot the case and OS, among other things. :roll:

 

[alyarb]

cool people have cases lying around their house. and uh, get on MSDN.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Originally posted by: alyarb
cool people have cases lying around their house. and uh, get on MSDN.

The HP also has a second DVD player, speakers, a wireless keyboard and mouse, and not everyone has a MSDN subscription or a spare case laying around.

Unless you hit all the right deals at the right times, you'd find it very difficult to build it cheaper.

OP: You got a good deal. The only unfortunate thing is the lack of overclocking, and you're essentially stuck with what they give you. For example, if you decide you want to upgrade the graphics card in the future, you may need to upgrade the power supply at the same time, since what they put in probably won't have enough head room.

 

[alyarb]

it's a fine purchase considering what other OEM i7 machines offer. i made my approval clear when i said a DIY would be a "little" cheaper instead of a "lot" cheaper. i can't see when an OEM build could ever be head and shoulders above a personal build, though, if only because it's entirely your own. but saying that a second DVD player, USB speakers or wireless keyboard are important, let alone deciding factors, you've got to be nuts. DIYs don't intend to compete with the bulk crap that HP gives away with everything.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: alyarb
cool people have cases lying around their house. and uh, get on MSDN.

well there u go. if u have to rely on spare parts you lost already.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

Originally posted by: alyarb
cool people have cases lying around their house. and uh, get on MSDN.

cool people smoke and uh, get on meth too, right?

I'm cool and I don't have cases lying around. :roll:

 

[Blain]

You might have built it a bit cheaper, but you wouldn't have any Indian support when you run into trouble.

 

[vailr]

Originally posted by: alyarb
At any rate, what motherboard do you think HP uses for their $800 i7 machines?

Foxconn makes all of HP's motherboards, AFAIK.

 

[cr2250]

I'm ok without overclocking, I never did with my 4200+ : ) That pos k8n-pro sli couldn't oc worth a damn anyways.
The main purpose of this was for autocad, I have a 9800gtx lying around, along with a ocz power supply. Now I don't know if i7 motherboards are different for power supplys, we'll find out when I get it. I really did try to see at newegg if I could build it cheaper, as I love building computers but it always went over. Again, I think this computer will be fine w/o me over clocking for what I'm doing, I was fine with a x2 4200+ for years and probably still will be, but the motherboard died the other day, and I've got tired of fixing it.

 

[cr2250]

Originally posted by: alyarb
There's nothing wrong with sub-$200 X58 boards, provided you get 6 DIMM slots. Do you want a bunch of extra crap like free SLI bridges or eSATA bracket or a little device to hold your hand through an overclock? anand got a 920 to 4 GHz with that matx MSI board, which I'd like to see firsthand as well. At any rate, what motherboard do you think HP uses for their $800 i7 machines?

CPU $280
mobo $175
RAM $85
HDD $70
DVD $20
card reader? uh $10
GPU $30
PSU $55

thats $725 without even looking at any combos. which leaves 135 for a case or heatsink or something nice, but even if a DIY build did cost $100 more, the customizeability and overclockability are worth that. but yeah, those fancy USB 2.0 speakers closed that deal tight.

I get a free upgrade to win7
Recieved 3 years of norton 2009 for 30, which I doubt anyone could beat
so let alone, vista probably cost 120 or so, norton if I remember was 40 for1 Year.
The usb speakers were only 25
The keyboard and wireless mouse was 40
You also forgot to add another dvd burner

 

[cr2250]

So i forgot to mention that price is also after cali tax
and I just spoke to Hp and i received a student discount 7%
so that makes the total 800

 

[Insomniator]

You did well, some people just can't get over the fact that it is indeed possible and often worth it to buy a Dell or Hp etc...

They have some kind of complex I assume..

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Insomniator
You did well, some people just can't get over the fact that it is indeed possible and often worth it to buy a Dell or Hp etc...

They have some kind of complex I assume..

Very true. It's some sort of mental block.

 

[zerogear]

If you don't mind not overclocking, often it is cheaper to get OEM than self-build.

 

[cr2250]

which is different, 5 years ago it wasn't like that lol

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: zerogear
If you don't mind not overclocking, often it is cheaper to get OEM than self-build.

Not overclocking is blasphemy! If you buy an OEM system, you're a heretic... J/k.

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: vailr
Foxconn makes all of HP's motherboards, AFAIK.

MSI and Gigabyte have made a number in the past but I haven't seen them lately. Mostly its ASUS, Foxconn, and ECS for the past few years (in that order).

 

[Syn]

Hey cr2250 did you receive the system yet?I haven't went the pre-built route since the mid 90's (which was a Gateway,ugh) but after seeing what you put together I'm considering it.That's in my price range of $950 too.Let us know how you are liking it.