Opinions on a budget PC

I was recently asked how much it was cost to build a PC. This is for a very tight budget and speed isn't really a concern the PC mainly would be used for Word processing, surfing the net, solitare basic home use. I found a barebones kit but it comes with a **PC Chips M787CL+ Motherboard Features: Integrated C3 Samuel2 733MHz Processor what does intergrated cpu mean? Is it Soldered to the Motherboard? How do the C3 CPUs perform?

here's the link

http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=B-M787-K2

Bubba169

 

I doubt they mean the CPU is soldered to the board, but you can ask them. The way they use the word "integrated" seems to be like "included ".
733 is really on the low end these days. Couldn't find quick info on the 733, but here is the 800:
http://www.dansdata.com/c3.htm
I've had good luck with the Cyrix on upgrades, but they have changed owners at least once recently.

After having looked at quite a few of these barebones kits, you may wonder if it is really cheaper to go that route than to buy a computer all put together. Very good deals here (have gotten a couple from these guys):

http://www.pcfactoryoutlet.com/
http://www.pcfactoryoutlet.com/More...1226-24.48.171.170&StoreID=4&Product_Id=68546

 

Hi bubba169

Take a little time and read this artice by Fred Langa.... The Langa letter and his experience / suggestions with low end prebuildt's.

 

This may be the link:
http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20030206S0014

 

Abraxas / bubba169

Both of our URL's take you to the same article, different views (mine is printable version).
I did misqoute though.. it shoud have been "Fred Langa ... Information Week "
Thanks for the clarification Abraxas.

 

Thanks
I still am not sure which way I'll go (it's up to my friend) but I have found some decent deals. Christmas of 2001 I built a Duron 900Mhz, 384Mb, 20 Gig HD system for my wife to be and its still running fine. I kept picking up things on sale and got a desk, chair, printer, scanner, CD-Burner, tower, software all new stuff for around $800.00 the only part of her system that's used was the 15" CRT monitor. Now my fiancee's cousin is the one I was refering to in the first post I believe she has a pent. 166Mhz (I think) that was peiced from spare parts and it finally died so she has a monitor just needs a tower. I guess I explain the options and let her decide what she needs.

Thanks again

Bubba169

 

Dennis L --
Something very weird happened here. The first time I clicked on your link, it brought me to a site for online banking or some such thing. I checked the link's properties and it said nothing about Information Week. If you hadn't mentioned Fred Langa in the link's name, I wouldn't have known where to begin looking for that article. But, you are right---both links lead to the same place now. Huh.

It's amazing how much money can be saved if you know even a little about computers. Your link verifies what I have suspected for quite a while and I will send doubters to read that article.

Support is worth a lot, especially to those who know nothing about computers or lack the skill to fix their own. But when support costs as much as a couple "backup" computers sitting in the closet, it's time to rethink the support thing.

 

I am very familiar with the PCChips board and the term, "Integrated ". These boards are all-in-one boards. Everything is built into the board and, yes, the CPU is soldered down.

 

The more I read, the more that seemed to be the case. Thanks for the clarification, Alex.

 

That's kinda of what I figured if one component (cpu,etc) fails just trash the whole board -- disposable technology-- and there's not much room for upgrades either. After searching and reading the best deal I think it here http://www.pcfactoryoutlet.com/More...1226-24.48.171.170&StoreID=4&Product_Id=68546 Thanks Abraxas for pointing me to that link yeah it's refurbished but for $270.00 plus shipping you get hardware & software. I'll pass the info along but I know what I'd do if it were me.


Thanks to all

Bubba169

 

Abraxas
I checked out "pcfactory outlet site ". What's the deal when they list OS three different ways.....?
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition.
Microsoft?Windows?XP Home Edition.
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition.
It appears to be done by design, nor typos.

 

My brother just got one from these guys and was very pleased. Everything good as new. They actually sent him a recovery CD and a lot more software than was listed in the product description.

"Refurbished" is a word with some positive connotations, too. It means the problems have been found and fixed and that it has had more testing than most. It's not a dirty word in my book.

Dennis L---no idea why they list the OS that way. May just have something to do with using fonts that don't have the ® symbol. I'm sure they are all the same OS.

 

Currently, Durons and even low-end XPs are dirt cheap. And memory prices are falling drastically. I just picked up 512MB of PC2700 (KingMax) for $72. Who knows how much that cost when it first hit the market!

Also, Biostar motherboards are dirt cheap but have a very good reputation.

If you're going to buy a "custom-built ", make sure you find a very reputable dealer or you may end up with a system built around the cheesiest parts money can buy. If you're going to buy a namebrand, keep in mind that it may not be upgradeable - or be expensive to do so.

I personally don't even buy "bundles ". I hand-pick every part and want to be the only one who "touches" them. But then again, budget isn't always my main concern.

I've had very bad experiences with computer repair shops trying to fix machines I've built for clients so I'm a bit jaded about others touching my parts - so to speak.