[SGVLUG] Sweet spot for price/performance for new barebones system?

[Matt Campbell]

Hi Dan,

I just finished rebuilding a computer for my wife.  I didn't get the raging
deal the Matti mentioned, but I was able to choose my components and have my
local computer shop do the integration for me.  I spent 10% more than the
parts I priced at NewEgg, but when things weren't compatible they took them
back at no charge and helped me find the right stuff.

There are a lot of great choices with video cards.  I got my wife one of the
new 24" LCDs and a HD compatible graphics card for under $500 so we can now
watch HD and BluRay on her computer also.

I like NewEgg.com.  They have waived their obnoxious expedite fee when I
have bothered to call and ask for it.  Their reviews have helped me avoid
mistakes a number of times picking out parts that would have been Linux
unfriendly despite the claims on the manufacturer's website.

Matt

> -----Original Message-----
> From: sgvlug-bounces at sgvlug.net [mailto:sgvlug-bounces at sgvlug.net] On
> Behalf Of Dan Kegel
> Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2008 6:04 PM
> To: SGVLUG Discussion List.
> Subject: [SGVLUG] Sweet spot for price/performance for new barebones
> system?
> 
> It's that time again... I'm shopping for a new computer for
> my wife.  Usually I write a note to lula at lula.org with my
> research, but this time I wrote a web page with the notes
> instead, and am sending it here (since Lula is inactive).
> Here are my notes:
> http://kegel.com/new-computer-2008.html
> 
> My conclusion so far is that Core Duo e6550 is the
> cheap-but-fast CPU to get.  It seems to be 3x faster
> than my wife's current CPU (Athlon XP) without
> being crushingly expensive.
> 
> I haven't looked at graphics cards yet, but she is
> currently using a crappy old PCI video card, and
> hopefully she can continue using it.
> 
> So, is this a good set of components, and is newegg the
> way to go?  Or should I walk over to PC Club and see
> if they can assemble this?
> - Dan