# Technogeeks: Please recommend a computer for me **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 19, 2005, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technogeeks-please-recommend-a-computer-for-me/295311 "2005-03-19T14:21:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kiminy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Kiminy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiminy)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technogeeks-please-recommend-a-computer-for-me/295311/21 "2005-03-21T02:04:03Z")
Here’s what I recommend… Find a local build-it-for-you shop. They are usually small retail stores in a strip mall, and they don’t usually have many computers already built. However, you can walk in, tell them what you want the computer to do and how much you want to spend, and they will build the computer for you in a few days. The advantage is that you get a machine that you like, and which does what you need it to do. These kinds of shops also provide all the service you might need, so you don’t have to worry about shipping the computer off somewhere else. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technogeeks-please-recommend-a-computer-for-me/295311/22 "2005-03-21T02:10:27Z")
> [@Othersider](#): > > It’s not hard. Yes, there are some things you have to be careful about, but it’s nothing you couldn’t pick up by working with or being advised by anyone who’s done it before. I built my current computer and the one I had before this one, and I’ve had few problems. Obviously one big difference is in the parts - when you buy a system from Dell or Gateway or somebody you often have a warranty and/or service plan. If you build your own, you have that _caveat emptor_ thing. If something breaks, you gotta buy a new one if it’s not under its own warranty (which can happen, but it’s no reason not to do it yourself anyway). That, and the software alone can wind up costing more than a cheap computer when you roll your own. It’s a lot easier to do so if you’ve got the software already available from an earlier computer or can at least pay for an upgrade version instead of a full version. I don’t know if I agree about the parts–you can spend a bit more on parts that are less likely to break down in the first place. My replacement DVD and CD-RW drives, for example, are a lot better than the ones that came in my Dell (though they are several years younger.) ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technogeeks-please-recommend-a-computer-for-me/295311/23 "2005-03-21T03:10:57Z")
> [@Kiminy](#): > > Here’s what I recommend… > > Find a local build-it-for-you shop. They are usually small retail stores in a strip mall, and they don’t usually have many computers already built. However, you can walk in, tell them what you want the computer to do and how much you want to spend, and they will build the computer for you in a few days. > > The advantage is that you get a machine that you like, and which does what you need it to do. These kinds of shops also provide all the service you might need, so you don’t have to worry about shipping the computer off somewhere else. You know, last time i bought a new computer i tried that. Not only because it’s nice that you can take the computer back to the same place for repairs, but because i like the idea of supporting small, local businesses. But i’m a grad student on a limited income, and unfortunately the local stores just couldn’t come anywhere near the price i could get for an equivalent system from Dell or a big box store like CompUSA or Best Buy. The computer i ended up buying from Dell cost me about $1200 and had the following specs: P4 3.0GHz processor with Hyperthreading Technology, 800Mb FSB 1Gb RAM 160Gb Serial ATA HDD Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM and 8x DVD+RW 128MB DDR GeForce FX 5200 Graphics Card with TV-Out and DVI Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 Sound Card Dell 17" E172FPb Flat Panel Display By contrast, my local computer store offered me: P4 2.8GHz 2x120Gb SATA HDDs 1Gb RAM 4x DVD-RW/CD-RW drove 256Mb GeForce FX5200 video WinXP Home **No monitor** $1699 So, the local store cost about $500 more, had a slightly slower processor, only one (slower) optical drive, and didn’t have a monitor. The only thing it had over the Dell was more hard drive space. Now, it’s entriely possible that this was just a rip-off, and that other local independent stores could do much better. But i was amazed at the price difference and it was enough to send me to Dell. But, as i said, next time i’ll build it myself. ---
**Author:** ![RandomLetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technogeeks-please-recommend-a-computer-for-me/295311/24 "2005-03-21T13:36:11Z")
It definatly seems like your local store is a rip-off; other stores have better prices. I know the one near my town often has a pretty nice Athlon 64/DVD Burner/1 G RAM/ect machine for $700 or so. ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technogeeks-please-recommend-a-computer-for-me/295311/25 "2005-03-21T19:55:57Z")
I’d wait and watch the ads to see what sales/rebates come in your area. I recently bought a new computer. It has the following: 3.2 gig P4 512 RAM 200 gig hard drive DVD writer CD writer 128 meg Nvidia video card A decent sound card(don’t know the brand) 17 inch flat screen monitor. Note this is flat screen, not flat panel. Set of speakers Keyboard Mouse Lexmark Z715 inkjet printer Windows XP Home edition I got all the above for 650 after the rebates. I got it at Best Buy. It was ~1050 before the rebates. The brand is Medion. The only thing it didn’t have that I wanted was a wireless network card. I just yanked that from my old computer and plugged it in. As an aside, I was very impressed when I took my computer apart to put in the network card. It is well built, good case and nicely arrainged (all the cables were tied off which made it easy to work in). As an added bonus, it came with the drive already partitioned, one partition for the OS, one for storage etc. Nice. Slee [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technogeeks-please-recommend-a-computer-for-me/295311.md?page=1)