Buying a Prebuilt computer...

[imported_Bukk]

Hello all. I was looking at buying a prebuilt computer from www.buyabs.com . Their prices for a built pc seem pretty resonable if not cheap. I did a quick comparo parting out a system vs newegg and it was cheaper to buy the prebuilt. Anyone have any dealings with or have a abs computer?

I was looking at something like this:
-Thermaltake Tsunami with Side Window (Black - Aluminum) (Item#ABS11133132) 1 Standard
-Microsoft Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2 (For Bundle with System Use ONLY!) - OEM (Item#ABS37110025) 1 $60
-Microsoft Works 8.0 - OEM (For Bundle With System Use ONLY!) (Item#ABS37110030) 1 $0
-Microsoft Works Suite 2005 (For System Bundle Use ONLY!) - OEM (Item#ABS37110027) 1 $0
-Antec 550W Power Supply, True Power 2.0 Model "TP2-550 EPS12V" (Item#ABS17103932) 1 Standard
-ASUS "A8N-SLI Deluxe" NVIDIA nForce4 Chipset Motherboard For AMD Socket 939 CPU (Item#ABS13131517) 1 Standard
-AMD Athlon 64 4000+, 2.4 GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, Socket 939, 64-bit Processor
(Item#ABS19103493) 1 $260
-Thermaltake K450 For AMD Opteron and Athlon 64 / Athlon 64 FX55 CL-P0075 (Item#ABS35106055) 1 $4
-CORSAIR XMS, Xtra-Low Latency 184-Pin 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200, Model TWINX1024-3200XL (Item#ABS20145522) 1 Standard
-nVIDIA GeForce 7800 GTX, 256MB GDDR3, 256-Bit, HTDV/ Dual DVI,PCI-Express (EVGA) (Item#ABS14130234) 1 $221
-Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS 7.1 with 1394 (Item#ABS29102162) 1 $95
-Western Digital Raptor 74GB 10000RPM 8MB Cache Serial ATA (ATA150) (Item#ABS22144160) 1 $96.5
-Seagate 7200.8 200GB 7200RPM SATA NCQ Hard Drive (Item#ABS22148066) 1 $113
-Sony 52x32x52x16 Combo Drive, Model CRX320E Black (Item#ABS27106819) 1 $8
-Sony Black Internal 16X DVD+/-R DVD Burner support Dual Layer, Model DWQ28A BLK, OEM (Item#ABS27131256) 1 Standard
-Sony 1.44MB Floppy Drive - Black (Item#ABS21103116) 1 Standard
-Logitech MX310 Optical Mouse (Item#ABS26104136) 1 $21.99
-Free Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 (Item#ABS37110020) 1 $0
-Free Microsoft Rise of Nations - PC Game (Item#ABS37110021) 1 $0
none Software 1 $0
-2Net 1 Year 24/7 Tech Support & Onsite Service | (Concurrent with Standard Warranty) (Item#ABS88101201) 1 Standard
-ABS Mouse Pad 8" x 9" x 6" - Blue (Item#ABS17114110) 1 Standard
-ABS Computer System Binder for Organizing Drivers and Manuals (Item#ABS57101101) 1 Standard
-FREE ABS Black Tee-Shirt - Size: XLarge with "ABS" Logo in the Front. (Item#ABS00999227) 1 Standard

Price with Option(s): $2528.49

What do you think? I think its a pretty good deal.

 

[DaveyTN]

I bought a very similar system from Monarch computers. I've not heard anything about ABS but I've been pretty satisfied with Monarch. You may want to check them out too; they have high reseller ratings and most people here seem to be pretty satisfied with them.

 

[leigh6]

But you are missing out on all the fun

 

[furballi]

It's best to build your own high-end PC (over $1000). That system is overpriced by $1000. Too may BUZZ factor hardware that do not materially improve the performance of the system. For example, get the AMD 3700 and overclock it instead of the 4000 CPU.

The 160GB Seagate is often on sale at Outpost for about $60 after rebate.

Most quality components will come with 3 to 5 yr warranty. You're getting 1 yr warranty on that overpriced rig.

 

[Budmantom]

abs=newegg

 

[Topweasel]

Originally posted by: furballi
It's best to build your own high-end PC (over $1000). That system is overpriced by $1000. Too may BUZZ factor hardware that do not materially improve the performance of the system. For example, get the AMD 3700 and overclock it instead of the 4000 CPU.

Most quality components will come with 3 to 5 yr warranty. You're getting 1 yr warranty on that overpriced rig.

Wow Furballi your knowledge is good but why ow why do you tell people to overclock every time. Not everyone wants to Overclock, and telling people to take a stable prebuilt machine and saying take your chance on performance and stability by overclocking just seems like a bad decision.

 

[furballi]

Even without raising the FSB, the performance difference between a 3700 and 4000 is very small. A small bump in FSB DOES not result in a less stable system.

 

[Bona Fide]

I'm almost POSITIVE that someone here could put together the same PC for around $2000.

 

[Icepick]

furballi is right-on. A 3700+ can very easily be overclocked to 2.4GHz and equal to the speed of a 4000+. That would save you some money.

However, everyone should cut Topweasel some slack here. Sure he might save a chunk of $$ going the DIY route. But, then he'd miss out on the ABS T-shirt and mouse pad!

 

[TankGuys]

I think buying pre-built vs building your own comes down to 2 decisions: The price difference, and the warranty. With a pre-built system, you at least have the peace of mind that someone else has to deal with any problems you have (Ideally anyway, there are some poor warranty provides out there). With a home built, any problems are you own responsibility.

Building your own usually saves you a lot of money of course, and if you are comfortable enough to do it, and confident that you can fix problems down the road, I highly recommend going that route. It's a great learning experiences, you have fun doing it, and you save cash!

 

[Bona Fide]

Originally posted by: TankGuys
I think buying pre-built vs building your own comes down to 2 decisions: The price difference, and the warranty. With a pre-built system, you at least have the peace of mind that someone else has to deal with any problems you have (Ideally anyway, there are some poor warranty provides out there). With a home built, any problems are you own responsibility.

Building your own usually saves you a lot of money of course, and if you are comfortable enough to do it, and confident that you can fix problems down the road, I highly recommend going that route. It's a great learning experiences, you have fun doing it, and you save cash!

Untrue. Even if your computer is home-built, all of the parts maintain a warranty, either from the place you bought it (OEM products) or from the manufacturer (retail). Just hang on to those warranty papers.

 

[TankGuys]

Originally posted by: Bona Fide

Untrue. Even if your computer is home-built, all of the parts maintain a warranty, either from the place you bought it (OEM products) or from the manufacturer (retail). Just hang on to those warranty papers.

Well yes, I mean the labor portion of it. Otherwise, you're correct!

Usually it's the labor (cost wise) that's the most expensive part of a computer repair for novices. That's why I don't recommend buildling a computer to someone who isn't confident. One trip to have a hard drive replaced quickly wipes out your savings!

 

[ElFenix]

for that price i'd expect an athlon x2

 

[shoRunner]

yeah you could definately build that system for at least $500 cheaper.

 

[imported_Bukk]

Well it looks like Monarch is a good site with lots of configurations possible. I think i'll conifgure a computer with them instead.

Also i'm really not into overclocking and I have build my own PC's in the past. I was going to get this PC for my little bro who lives in another state. I would probably get an extended warranty for him anyways as he is not DIYer.

And I really dont have time to build a PC at home. I would rather just get a PC shipped to me, plug it in, load up my game and play. Now im playing BF2 on my Dell XPS =P. BF2 is a fun game. Im the 3rd rank up, whatever it is, I forget.

Monarch..Monarch..Monarch..i'll make the choices and let someone else do the dirty work =)

 

[w00t]

its expensive.

 

[BOLt]

Build you own computer and save $1000.

 

[imported_Bukk]

Originally posted by: shoRunner
yeah you could definately build that system for at least $500 cheaper.

You probably could build it cheaper, but "at least $500"...you mean i can build that computer less than 2k? If I could use one or two websites to order the parts I might think about it. But I priced that computer again using anandtech realtime pricing and mwave. I can up with about $200-300 cheaper. I really dont enjoy going to 10 different websites to order all the parts and waiting 1-4 weeks for all the parts to arrive via ground, fedex saver or whatever free shipping they have. Then spend another weekend building it. I think its not to bad of a deal spending a couple hundred more with no hassle and having a computer ready out the box.

Anywho...I just dont have time to build it myself...let alone enough time to research the prices like im doing.

Thanks for all the inputs everyone =)

 

[imported_Bukk]

Originally posted by: BOLt
Build you own computer and save $1000.

Gee whiz....now i can build that computer for $1500?!?!?!?! for the love of god show me how and I probably will.

 

[Bona Fide]

Originally posted by: Bukk

Originally posted by: shoRunner
yeah you could definately build that system for at least $500 cheaper.

You probably could build it cheaper, but "at least $500"...you mean i can build that computer less than 2k? If I could use one or two websites to order the parts I might think about it. But I priced that computer again using anandtech realtime pricing and mwave. I can up with about $200-300 cheaper. I really dont enjoy going to 10 different websites to order all the parts and waiting 1-4 weeks for all the parts to arrive via ground, fedex saver or whatever free shipping they have. Then spend another weekend building it. I think its not to bad of a deal spending a couple hundred more with no hassle and having a computer ready out the box.

Anywho...I just dont have time to build it myself...let alone enough time to research the prices like im doing.

Thanks for all the inputs everyone =)

You could save a bundle just by using Newegg.

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

Oh come on, building it is the fun part

 

[Corporate Thug]

exact same system is about $2400 @ the egg

 

[Hacp]

NVM

 

[imported_Bukk]

Well, ive configured the PC i think im gonna get from Monarch computers. Here it is, what do you all think? should I change anything? to much, to little? primaraly for gaming. thanks in advance.

220130 Logitech Office Pro Keyboard PS/2 (967453-0403) (Black)
1 $15.00 $15.00

230108 Logitech MX510 Performance Optical Mouse (Blue)
(931162-0403) 1 $38.00 $38.00

80390 Monarch Furia Custom Desktop with SLI 1
$59.00 $59.00

Case: 100260 - NO PS - Antec Super LANBoy Aluminum Mid T
$81.00 $81.00

Power Supply: 100122 - PS 535W - Enermax EG565P-FMA
REV.2.0 ATX $89.00 $89.00

Motherboard: 110257 - Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe nForce4 SLI
Audio/GB- $165.00 $165.00

Processor: 12A209 - AMD Athlon 64 4000+ 1MB 90nm Rev. E
San D $439.00 $439.00

Thermal Grease: 800018 - Shin-Etsu G675 Thermal Grease
(Cools CPU $14.00 $14.00

Heat Sink Fan: 130150 - Thermaltake A1772 AMD
Recommended for Opt $49.00 $49.00

Memory: 140226 - DDR (400) 3200 - 2 GB DDR (2 pcs 1GB)
OCZ $276.00 $276.00 (this is OCZ platinum ram...)

Hard Drive: 150239 - SATA - Western Digital (WD740GD) 74
GB/10 $175.00 $175.00

2nd Hard Drive: 150322 - SATA - Seagate (ST3250823AS)
Barracuda 25 $115.00 $115.00

RAID Setup: None

RAID Controller: None

CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW: 160458 - DVD-RW - NEC ND-3520A/SV
4x-DVD+R DL/16x4 $64.00 $64.00

CD-RW/DVD-RW: 160020 - CD-RW - Lite-On SOHR-5239S
52X32X52-CD-RW $29.00 $29.00

Floppy Drive: 170108 - Mitsumi Floppy 7-in-1 USB Card
Reader/Sma $25.00 $25.00

Sound Card: 180400 - Creative Audigy 2 ZS Gamer
24Bit/5.1/SPDI $121.00 $121.00

Video Card: 190416 - eVGA GeForce 7800 GTX 256MB
DDR3/PCI-E/VI $560.00 $560.00 (comes with Battlefield 2 for free...)

Round Cables: 270157 - Round Cables UV Kit 2-24" IDE
1-18" FDD 1 $29.00 $29.00

Operating System: 210111 - Microsoft Windows XP
Professional w/Servi $150.00 $150.00

Warranty: 800072 - 24/7 Tech Support + Plus 3 Year
Onsite Wa $99.00 $99.00

Far Cry Promotion: 270332 - FREE Full DVD Version of Far
Cry 64/32 -

Napster Promotion: 270136 - FREE Napster Music Download
for 4 Months

Half Life 2 Promotion: None (will change to get free Halflife 2)

CD-RW Software: 210613 - Ahead Nero 6.3 Suite DVD+-RW
Software (OE $6.99 $6.99

DVD-ROM Software: 210600 - nVidia nVDVD 2.0 (OEM)
$9.00 $9.00


Sales Tax: $0.00

Shipping: $0.00
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total: $2,607.99

 

[akshayt]

why don't you get dfi or msi k8n diamond,in sli msi k8n diamond mighmight beat that mobo

why not get sandeigo core or