c0nt3nd3r Posted October 6, 2007 Posted October 6, 2007 I've been wanting a new pc and debated whether to buy online or locally depending if I cam across something I felt was a deal. Well, last weekend while out and about I found my way to a Best Buy where I ended up walking out with an HP Pavillion Elite m9040n with a 24" HP monitor, Linksys WRT54G Wireless Router and Adapter card and also a Geek Squad battery backup/UPS for a total of $2127.I went to the HP website and configured the HP Pavilion Elite m9000t customizable TV PCGN637AV#ABA * – Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit) * – Intel® Core 2 Quad processor Q6600 (2.4GHz) * – 3GB DDR2-667MHz dual channel SDRAM (2x1024,2x512) * – 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT, TV-out, DVI-I, HDMI * – 802.11 b/g USB Wireless LAN card & USB external modem * – 500GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive * – Blu-ray / HD DVD player & Lightscribe SuperMulti DVD burner * – 15-in-1 memory card reader, 2 USB, 1394, video, audio * – ATSC-NTSC TV tuner with PVR, FM tuner, remote * – Integrated 7.1 channel sound w/front audio ports * – Norton Internet Security 2007 - 15 Months * – Microsoft® Works 8.0 * – Logitech X-230 2.1 Speakers * – HP multimedia keyboard and HP optical mouse * – HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope * – HP w2207 22-inch Widescreen Flat-Panel Monitor - Total was around $2300 w/shipping I believe as site went down at time of writing this.Going this route brings me here because for one I would be paying more, but some noticeable changes would be seen/felt/made from what I'm now using. The following would change:Go from 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400GS to 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT > PositiveGo from 2x320GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive to 500GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive > NegativeGo from Lightscribe SuperMulti DVD burner to Blu-ray / HD DVD player & Lightscribe SuperMulti DVD burner > PositiveGo from Built-in Monitor Speakers to Logitech X-230 2.1 Speakers > PositiveGo from HP Wireless Multimedia keyboard & optical mouse to HP multimedia keyboard and HP optical mouse > PositiveGo from HP w2408 24-inch Widescreen Flat-Panel Monitor to HP w2207 22-inch Widescreen Flat-Panel Monitor > NegativeI like the pc very much, games run ok, but can't turn everything up I have to pick and choose, it has a nice look and runs great, my only gripe is the wireless keyboard and mouse as I keep having disconnect issues and I got told it may be a battery issue as its the batteries that came with it and also the built-in monitor speakers are a waste of money in creating the monitor, they should of just offered 2 little speakers or something as this to me provides a source for sound but don't expect any loudness as it sounds like you are hearing through a headset. Should I have taken a little more time and patience and built one myself online and gotten more bang for my buck?Please tell me what you think I should do here if it was your money based on did I get a decent deal for my money or should I go another route?
weEvil Posted October 6, 2007 Posted October 6, 2007 (edited) something, something, something.....for a total of $2127.*Spills coffee on keyboard.*WHAT!? $2127!!! With shipping $2300!!!I would just build it myself. At least I know exactly what I'm doing and can build a PC with exactly what I need. No useless generic 7.1 surround or fax modem, or FM Tuner (why is this even a feature?) thrown in neither. Edited October 6, 2007 by brucevangeorge
SmaugyGrrr Posted October 6, 2007 Posted October 6, 2007 (edited) Let's see....."HP" - strike #1"Windows Vista" - strike #2"802.11 b/g USB Wireless LAN" - make/model?"USB external modem" - how quaint!"500GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive" - what make/model?"TV tuner with PVR" - great! what make/model?"FM tuner" - i'm sure you'll use this all the time."Integrated 7.1 channel sound w/front audio ports" - great! what make/model?"Norton Internet Security" - strike #3"Microsoft® Works" - strike #4"HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope" - wtf is this?"$2127" - I'm sorry, I think you mis-typed that."Geek Squad battery backup/UPS" - have you tried it? does it work? does it have AVR and auto-shutdown? I use an APC Smart-UPS.Apologies for the sarcasm. It's 6:37am and I've been up all night.Go from 2x320GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive to 500GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive > NegativeNot necessarily. It could be going from Chinese-made to non-Chinese-made Seagates, which would be an improvement.Please tell me what you think I should do here if it was your money based on did I get a decent deal for my money or should I go another route?If it were my money, and I had $2300, I would spend a few days researching the components and buy them all separately. If i wanted pre-built PC, I would either get whatever Dell suited my needs OR select a nearby reputable vendor who specifys exactly what compnents they include. Edited October 6, 2007 by SmaugyGrrr
c0nt3nd3r Posted October 6, 2007 Author Posted October 6, 2007 Ok, well how about this then as a personally built PC for my money... what suggestions do you recommend?1 LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with 12X DVD-RAM Write Black IDE Model DH-20A3P-04 - OEMItem #: N82E16827106078Return Policy: Standard Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart $26.991 Thermaltake Armor Series VA8000BWS Black Aluminum / Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - RetailItem #: N82E16811133154Return Policy: Standard Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart $30.00 Mail-in Rebate $149.994 WINTEC AMPX 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory Model 3AXT6400C5-1024 - RetailItem #: N82E16820161028Return Policy: Memory (Modules, USB) Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart $119.96($29.99 each)1 ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - RetailItem #: N82E16813131196Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart $154.992 Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEMItem #: N82E16822136074Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart -$5.00 Instant $159.98$149.98($74.99 each)1 Saitek PZ30AU Black USB Wired Standard Eclipse Keyboard - RetailItem #: N82E16823175103Return Policy: Standard Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart -$5.00 Instant $44.99$39.991 SAMSUNG 245BW Black High Glossy 24" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor with Height Adjustment - RetailItem #: N82E16824001234Return Policy: [LCD] Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart -$30.00 Instant$20.00 Mail-in Rebate $529.99$499.991 Microsoft N71-00007S Black 3 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Optical Wheel Mouse - OEMItem #: N82E16826105026Return Policy: Standard Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart $9.991 Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium DVD - RetailItem #: N82E16832116142Return Policy: Software Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart $219.991 Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - RetailItem #: N82E16829102006Return Policy: Standard Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart -$10.00 Instant $90.99$80.991 Logitech Z-2300 200 watts RMS 2.1 Speaker System - RetailItem #: N82E16836121122Return Policy: Bulk Item Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart $105.991 CyberPower Intelligent LCD Series CP1500AVRLCD 1500VA 900W UPS - RetailItem #: N82E16842102048Return Policy: Standard Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart -$30.00 Instant $199.99$169.991 XFX PVT80GGHF4 GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported HDCP Video Card - RetailItem #: N82E16814150171Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart $20.00 Mail-in Rebate $279.991 * Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail Item #: N82E16819115017 Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy Add combo to Cart Add this combo to your cart * K2 NETWORK Sword of the New World: Granado Espada - OEM Item #: N82E16800992029 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy -$19.99 Combo $299.98$279.99Grand Total: $2,288.82
weEvil Posted October 6, 2007 Posted October 6, 2007 Saitek PZ30AU Black USB Wired Standard Eclipse Keyboard - RetailItem #: N82E16823175103Return Policy: Standard Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart -$5.00 Instant $44.99$39.99That's right. Unless you have a huge screen you can see from a distance, there is no point to a wireless keyboard. Wired is great.Microsoft N71-00007S Black 3 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Optical Wheel Mouse - OEMItem #: N82E16826105026Return Policy: Standard Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart $9.99Wow. This is a good deal. For a normal mouse.I suggest the new logitech wireless mouse. Its a mouse, and from a distance its also a remote. If he uses features like that, PVR and such. Otherwise this is still a great mouse for the price.http://mobilitysite.com/2007/07/gesture-ba...h-mx-air-mouse/Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium DVD - RetailItem #: N82E16832116142Return Policy: Software Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart $219.99*shudders*Not until SP1 is out. No way I would ever touch this.XP/Server 2003 are great. No point in Vista until a good chunk of the mistakes are ironed out.Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - RetailItem #: N82E16829102006Return Policy: Standard Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart -$10.00 Instant $90.99$80.991 Logitech Z-2300 200 watts RMS 2.1 Speaker System - RetailItem #: N82E16836121122Return Policy: Bulk Item Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart $105.99Seems pointless to get 7.1 and a 2.1 speaker system.That and 7.1 is pretty pointless in itself. 5.1 surround is more than great. Why add two speakers?You can get an older Audigy card. Also, doesn't the mobo have 5.1 built in already?CyberPower Intelligent LCD Series CP1500AVRLCD 1500VA 900W UPS - RetailItem #: N82E16842102048Return Policy: Standard Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart -$30.00 Instant $199.99$169.99Meh. Too many watts go unused. Even with a 8800GTS. No way he needs (or ever can use) that much.Here's one:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817151028SeaSonic S12 Energy PlusSS-650HT ATX12V / EPS12V650W Power Supply$153.00Its 80-plus certified meaning its minimum 80% efficient. Less heat produced in your PC case (less cooling needed as a result) and less electricity getting sucked out of the wall.Saitek PZ30AU Black USB Wired Standard Eclipse Keyboard - RetailItem #: N82E16823175103Return Policy: Standard Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart -$5.00 Instant $44.99$39.99That's right. Unless you have a huge screen you can see from a distance, there is no point to a wireless keyboard. Wired is great.Microsoft N71-00007S Black 3 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Optical Wheel Mouse - OEMItem #: N82E16826105026Return Policy: Standard Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart $9.99Wow. This is a good deal. For a normal mouse.I suggest the new logitech wireless mouse. Its a mouse, and from a distance its also a remote. If he uses features like that, PVR and such. Otherwise this is still a great mouse for the price.http://mobilitysite.com/2007/07/gesture-ba...h-mx-air-mouse/Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium DVD - RetailItem #: N82E16832116142Return Policy: Software Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart $219.99*shudders*Not until SP1 is out. No way I would ever touch this.XP/Server 2003 are great. No point in Vista until a good chunk of the mistakes are ironed out.Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - RetailItem #: N82E16829102006Return Policy: Standard Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart -$10.00 Instant $90.99$80.991 Logitech Z-2300 200 watts RMS 2.1 Speaker System - RetailItem #: N82E16836121122Return Policy: Bulk Item Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart $105.99Seems pointless to get 7.1 and a 2.1 speaker system.That and 7.1 is pretty pointless in itself. 5.1 surround is more than great. Why add two speakers?You can get an older Audigy card. Also, doesn't the mobo have 5.1 built in already?CyberPower Intelligent LCD Series CP1500AVRLCD 1500VA 900W UPS - RetailItem #: N82E16842102048Return Policy: Standard Return PolicyAdd item to Cart Add this item to your cart -$30.00 Instant $199.99$169.99Meh. Too many watts go unused. Even with a 8800GTS. No way he needs (or ever can use) that much.Here's one:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817151028SeaSonic S12 Energy PlusSS-650HT ATX12V / EPS12V650W Power Supply$153.00Its 80-plus certified meaning its minimum 80% efficient. Less heat produced in your PC case (less cooling needed as a result) and less electricity getting sucked out of the wall.There's also more.Enlight Sniper: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...nlight%2bSniperSame specs as the last one, also 80-plus certified. And only $105.00
ripken204 Posted October 7, 2007 Posted October 7, 2007 brucevangeorge-do you realize that vista SP1 will most likely be only updates? vista is good right now, why do you hate it so much?c0nt3nd3r-what exactly do you need this computer for?dont get an x-fi, it's a waste of money in my opinion. onboard is very good right now, the only difference is eax.for psu the corair 620HX is a nice one. you wont need any more power than thatdont go for cheap ram, you want 4GB? you can get some decent 2x2GB sets for $200for speakers i like these better than the logitechs: https://www.klipsch.com/products/details/promedia-2-1.aspxfor video card, if you really want a 24" monitor then you need to go for the 640MB model.
bonestonne Posted October 8, 2007 Posted October 8, 2007 brucevangeorge-do you realize that vista SP1 will most likely be only updates? vista is good right now, why do you hate it so much?is that even a respectable enough question to deserve an answer? it simply runs terribly and has poor management of its resources.as for the topic,what was that final cost again? 2.1k? i wouldn't pay anything if its coming with vista on it.you could do much better, and learn useful tricks [such as saving money] by just building it yourself. there's no need to put thousands of dollars into a computer that could easily cost a couple hundred less. HP is a very good company IMHO, as i've had 2 HP's and there are a total of 5 in my house, but that computer isn't very worth it to me. ever since i actually built my first computer from scratch [my dual Xeon rig] i've kinda faded out my need for windows and the need to go through a larger company for more than i need.and what would you need an external USB modem for unless you have dial up? thats where i see silly choices being made. don't have more than you need lying around the house either. clutter is bad for ergonomics and feng shui.
ripken204 Posted October 8, 2007 Posted October 8, 2007 brucevangeorge-do you realize that vista SP1 will most likely be only updates? vista is good right now, why do you hate it so much?is that even a respectable enough question to deserve an answer? it simply runs terribly and has poor management of its resources.is that even a respectable response?i'm sick of people badmouthing vista. to me it is much better than xp and runs better. with xp i had to tweak it alot to make it run well and vista runs well out of the box for me. why do you say that it runs terrible? have you even installed it on your computer?
weEvil Posted October 9, 2007 Posted October 9, 2007 i'm sick of people badmouthing vista. to me it is much better than xp and runs better.Then you must have had a load of garbage draining resources, or terrible drivers. Or both.1why do you say that it runs terrible? have you even installed it on your computer?Yes. This is exactly why I can badmouth it. Tried it, loathed it.Maybe iVista's successor will bring at least a couple of new features worth upgrading for.
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