# Where's a good, cheap, reliable place to buy a new computer? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 9, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-good-cheap-reliable-place-to-buy-a-new-computer/218033 "2003-12-09T22:52:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![the\_great\_dalmuti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b2d939/32.png) [@the\_great\_dalmuti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_great_dalmuti)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-good-cheap-reliable-place-to-buy-a-new-computer/218033/1 "2003-12-09T22:52:58Z")
I’ve recently checked out Best Buy, Dell, and Gateway, online. All of the computers look great, they’re fast, tons of options, but they’re a little more expensive than I want them to be. Any suggestions for cheaper alternatives? Thanks in advance. Best, TGD ---
**Author:** ![autobulb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@autobulb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/autobulb)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-good-cheap-reliable-place-to-buy-a-new-computer/218033/2 "2003-12-10T05:53:01Z")
Try [www.abspc.com](http://www.abspc.com) . They let you choose between Intel and AMD. Just for that choice alone they beat just about every major retailer out there. Intels are lame and cost more. ---
**Author:** ![netscape\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@netscape\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netscape_6)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-good-cheap-reliable-place-to-buy-a-new-computer/218033/3 "2003-12-10T06:39:01Z")
one option is a bare bones system. it comes with a case, a motherboard, ram, a cpu, and heatsink all preinstalled. all you have to do is install a video card, hard drive, floppy, and cd-rom. the barebones system can be as cheap as $150 dollars, but in practice expect a price range from $200 to $400. I have seen video cards as cheap as $35. $65 should get something compentitent for non gamer use in a video card. a dvd-rom can be gotten at about $40, $79 can get you a cd-rw+dvd instead. $10 for the floppy drive. $59 to $340 for hard drive depending on size, speed ect. so an example: $200 for the bare bones $65 for the video card $40 for the dvd rom $10 for the floppy $120 for the hard drive (about what I paid for my seagate 120 gigabyte drive) grand total of: $435 for the computer $50 for mouse, keyboard, speakers. $150 for the monitor $635 for the complete system look around you might be able to find cheaper prices. in the just in case, cover my butt sense, your mileage may vary of course. if you decided to go this route I’ll be happy to walk you through it. as I said in another thread installing hard drives, floppies, and cd-roms are no harder then hooking up the vcr. ---
**Author:** ![autobulb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@autobulb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/autobulb)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-good-cheap-reliable-place-to-buy-a-new-computer/218033/4 "2003-12-10T06:44:18Z")
I would recommend netscape 6’s do it yourself method. Cutting out the labor costs greatly reduces the price. Some reputable places that offer barebones: > **[Newegg – Shopping Upgraded](https://www.newegg.com/)** > > Newegg offers customers an awesome experience shopping for computers, hardware, electronics, networking solutions, and more. Upgrade your shopping experience today! [www.zipzoomfly.com](http://www.zipzoomfly.com) > **[TigerDirect Business - Electronics, Tablets, Phones, Office Supplies &...](https://www.tigerdirect.com/)** > > Shop TigerDirect Business for the best prices on computers, computer parts, electronics & more! With over 100,000 items online to choose from, we offer a wide selection of your favorite products. You shop fast, we ship fast at TigerDirect... For singular parts (try for barebones here too though) [www.pricewatch.com](http://www.pricewatch.com) ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-good-cheap-reliable-place-to-buy-a-new-computer/218033/5 "2003-12-10T07:04:11Z")
Dell **is** pretty damn cheap though, nowadays, if you know enough to turn off all the crap they insist on adding to the price. A Dell Dimension 4600, Pentium 4 2.66 Ghz w/ 512 MB RAM, crap video, a 17" monitor, 40 GB 7200 RPM hard drive will run you $550. Free shipping too, which is not insignificant when you’re putting a system together from parts. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-good-cheap-reliable-place-to-buy-a-new-computer/218033/6 "2003-12-10T07:11:50Z")
You know, if you’re not gaming, I wouldn’t even build your own rig. I’d just get a cheap Dell or something. ---
**Author:** ![netscape\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@netscape\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netscape_6)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-good-cheap-reliable-place-to-buy-a-new-computer/218033/7 "2003-12-10T07:47:21Z")
I found a barebones that comes with a video card ethernet and a modem[here](http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=686233&Sku=C122-2010&CatId=1220) for $200. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-good-cheap-reliable-place-to-buy-a-new-computer/218033/8 "2003-12-10T07:52:22Z")
I’ve bought my computers from [SAG Electronics](http://www.sagelec.com). Not the cheapest, but good quality. I’d personally recommend getting a machine from a “white box” OEM rather than from one of the big-name places such as Dell or Compaq; buying from a white-box retailer enables you to specify exactly what components you want in your machine, which will prevent headaches when it comes to long-term maintenance. ---
**Author:** ![netscape\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@netscape\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netscape_6)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-good-cheap-reliable-place-to-buy-a-new-computer/218033/9 "2003-12-10T08:10:40Z")
if you want a completly prebuilt I would go with a local OEM also. you would be alot more likely to get something that is standards compliant. This will make upgrading it in the future go alot better. if you want to cheap out (been there there myself, quality is unaffordable sometimes) [wal-mart](http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2233757&cat=41937&type=19&dept=3944&path=0%3A3944%3A3951%3A41937%3A86796%3A106562%3A106560) has some $200 almost complete systems. all you need is a monitor. trust me though they suck only 2 avliable pci slots ect. I would strongly recommend an OEM system but if it’s cheap or nothing the wal-mart system is just slightly better then nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-good-cheap-reliable-place-to-buy-a-new-computer/218033/10 "2003-12-10T09:15:23Z")
Build your own.