Buying a system

[shook one]

Im looking for a low priced, entry level system. Preferably just tower with no monitor, extra software ect. Anyone know where i should look?

Oh yeah, has anyone ever bought anything from 'the pc man'? They had a good system on there.

Ok, peace out

[BirdofPrey]

My brother has just bought a dell and it rocks.

I bought a barebones system and upgraded it as i dint ave the time 2 do a comlete build. I got it from ocuk (http://www.overclockers.co.uk)

[Gringo]

the biggame likes dell, go for dell :D

[putty_thing]

you could build from scratch

[SlyDave]

you could build from scratch
Your best option :)

[SHimmer45]

Building from scratch is i think THE preferred method for alot of people
but it can be time consuming but allows you to fully customise you system..
few companys do a system with nice Neon lighting etc.
But building from nothing can be more expensive cos u can't buy parts in bulk..
it is a more personal way of building a system and the results are generally better but it does take a fair bit of effort sorting all the bits out.. it always quite amusing when you go to put the thing together and find you missing a few leads etc... :)

Dell systems are nice well put together and you get alot of bang for you buck as they say. and they come with a good warranty providing you dont tinker with stuff

SFC barebones case systems are VERY cool but u do pay a bit extra.
If you can afford a barebones system then they the best compramise between i think @ present

PS: Should REALLY sort myself out with a new bit of kit.. the PIII 500 is runnin outaa puff... roll on the next few months.. new PC on the way :)

[shook one]

you could build from scratch

cant really be arsed though, plus i need the system asap (this holiday) to do my work for uni

Thanks for all the help so far, ill go peep the dell site

[Spleenus]

cant really be arsed though, plus i need the system asap (this holiday) to do my work for uni

Thanks for all the help so far, ill go peep the dell site

Mesh is also quite good and I think that they also do a barebones only system too without a monitor and other crap.

[SlyDave]

Mesh is also quite good and I think that they also do a barebones only system too without a monitor and other crap.
NO! God no! Don't geta Mesh, e-Machine, Time, Tiny, Packard Bell or anything of that ilk, all there gear is rebanded low end crap that has been modded from the specs, Dell don't do that, Dell use stock parts (as they have mass purchesing power)

With that said, Dell do sometimes lie about parts.. "Sound Blaster Live! 5.1" is what they said mine was. When I quired the BIOS of the SoundCard it reported its self as a "Sound Blaster Live! Value 5.1", not much diffirence between the 2 bits of kit, apart from the cash of course. made the deal look less saviory. of course I know use a SB Audigy, which is also annyoing as about 1 month later the Audigy 2 came out. bastards :)

This is why I build stuff, you pick the bits and therefor know whats going into the system, as SHimmer said, it can be abit more expensive. Always aim for getting OEM parts, which should cut most of the cost, (like a box, 'free' game etc.)

[SHimmer45]

and just to confuse the issue a little more :/

It is worth checking the warranty that you get with OEM parts from some suppliers.. as it may not be for as long..

i have seen OEM proccessors from some supplier only coming with a 6 month warranty rather than a "standard" 12 month 1.. but the saving that you can make are worth having and CPUS are generally reliable.


My 1st pc was a TINY.. no issues with it in 2 yrs of use... i wont be buying another 1 cos of the reason that Shadow has said...

[Blackstar]

i have seen OEM proccessors from some supplier only coming with a 6 month warranty rather than a "standard" 12 month 1.. but the saving that you can make are worth having and CPUS are generally reliable.

As standard anything you buy new either as part of something else or on its own you should ALWAYS get a 12 month warrenty under UK law :)

[tuBBymAN]

well if u wanna "build" your own but get another company to do it for you in like a couple of days Novatech based in portsmouth are very good but not the cheapest

They have many different ranges of pc from entry level at about ?300 right up to the pro gamer machines which are around ?1000 plus using their pc configatrator they will build one to your spec and if you order now you might still get it before xmas or if u live in the portsmouth/south hampshire area you can go pick it up from their workshop in cosham

Novatech - Computer Supplies, You Click We Deliver! (http://www.novatech.co.uk)

/me accepts pimping fee

[Blackstar]

Novatech - Computer Supplies, You Click We Deliver! (http://www.novatech.co.uk/)

I personally have totally gone off novatech, and thinking about it I think it was just the fact that they are a bit cheaper than other "shops" and close that I ever used them in the first place. Some of the stuff like graphics cards, CDs and my laptop which I brought from them are just CRAP!

Example of shit sale...

Novatech "Scolar" Laptop -
Blurp
specs












Small print - This Laptop does not contain an internal battery!

I'm sorry but WTF is the point of paying the extra to have a laptop with its smaller components and portability if you can't bloody use it on the go?!?

[Jynx]

Yeah that is totally shite. I would like to give a mention to our sponsers MainlyMedia. Drop them an email on sales@mainlymedia.co.uk and I am sure they would be able to help you out.

[tuBBymAN]

granted novatech are shite but if u are just starting out then they aren't bad. My rig was originally a novatech display model still runs well after nearly 2 years of service and the only things that have been upgraded were:

RAM
HDD added
New GFX (to be completed xmas 2003)
RAM again (to be completed xmas 2003)
Mouse
Keyboard (to be completed xmas 2003)

so you don't have to change much :P lol