New Computer

[javacontour]

Well the kids just seem to need more computer than the 2005 vintage 2.53GHz Pentium offers, so I broke down and bought a new machine tonight.

Micro Center opened up in the St. Louis area back in December, and I think I've been every month to buy something. Tonight, it was an HP Pavilion p6210y. That's the refurb model. Blow-out priced at $419.

What did I get for $419?

AMD Athlon II X4 620 Processor
6GB RAM
Built in NVIDIA GeForce9000
640GB Hard Disk
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit

And a MODEM, LOL. I'll be taking that out pretty soon.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/docum...product=4006020

I also got an AOC 2236Vw 22" monitor that looks pretty good for another $149.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?h...IwAg#ps-sellers

So I think, for under $600 before tax, that's a pretty smoking hot deal for a PC that will do what I need it to do at home for me.

The kiddos are getting last years Dell Inspiron 530s with Vista and 3GB RAM.

I think their old machine will be retired to run Solaris so I can retire the 1.8GHz 2002 vintage Dell I've been using as my VPN box. That is once I get all their iTunes stuff transferred to their "new" machine.

 

[SLCraig]

You did fine... X4 620 is a great bang for buck CPU.

That mainboard also should be upgradeable to a PhenomII or possibly even better later down the road as well.

 

[Mustang_Cougar]

Originally Posted By: javacontour
Micro Center opened up in the St. Louis area back in December...

I'm looking for a cheapo laptop to replace my desktop and I happened upon a $299 Acer/eMachine w/W7 and a fairly impressive list of attributes (well, for what it is). That said, I found one at MicroCenter...but it's in store only!

So how is MircoCenter? Is it like Fry's? Better/worse? They seem to have some great deals on their website...

 

[javacontour]

Micro Center is like a smaller Fry's and with more sales folks running around.

You won't find much that isn't a boxed computer part. IIRC, Fry's had other stuff, discrete components, etc.

Think of it as a Best Buy with Fry's like prices that also sells things to BYOC.

 

[tmorris1]

The MicroCenter here is like a Newegg. Mostly individual components, but they do sell boxed PC's and TVs.

 

[TooManyWheels]

Originally Posted By: javacontour

Think of it as a Best Buy with Fry's like prices that also sells things to BYOC.


That's a good description. They have good business practices, too.

They have a lot of the more detailed, technical stuff that Fry's has, but not Best Buy (wiring, tools, small parts, more software), without the dishwashers, microwaves, stereo systems, phones, etc that both those stores carry.

Slightly off-topic - I have noticed that Comp-USA is coming back. Have opened a new store here, need to take a look but the web site looks like they are emulating MicroCenter.

 

[javacontour]

Originally Posted By: TooManyWheels
Originally Posted By: javacontour

Think of it as a Best Buy with Fry's like prices that also sells things to BYOC.


That's a good description. They have good business practices, too.

They have a lot of the more detailed, technical stuff that Fry's has, but not Best Buy (wiring, tools, small parts, more software), without the dishwashers, microwaves, stereo systems, phones, etc that both those stores carry.

Slightly off-topic - I have noticed that Comp-USA is coming back. Have opened a new store here, need to take a look but the web site looks like they are emulating MicroCenter.


Yes they do. I bought two 2GB DIMMs for my laptop on the advice of the sales rep and I found my laptop really was only 32 bits, so I could only see 3.25GBs of RAM.

I took one of the used sticks back. They took it back, no question. They could have said, "It's used..., we don't want it, it's not our fault...." instead, they took it back.

I won't notice the difference between 3GB and 3.25GB, but I will notice $50 more in my wallet.

Which I less than spent last night as I also bought a color laser printer. Good customer service kept me in the store. Had they balked over the DIMM, I'd have walked.

 

[mormit]

Nice deal.

I've been to the Brentwood Microcenter several times since they opened. I think half my coffee cup collection is now from there.

 

[javacontour]

Originally Posted By: mormit
Nice deal.

I've been to the Brentwood Microcenter several times since they opened. I think half my coffee cup collection is now from there.


I've only taken home one mug as we have so many coffee mugs.

I suggested free travel mugs, as I'd carry it with me and it would increase their exposure beyond my home.

I'll probably be back today as I need another wireless card for my home network.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

Sounds like a good deal. I'm not high on nVidia graphics or anything nVidia at this point but if you have a warranty, life is golden

And what's up with the modem? Is there a few million of these things in a warehouse in Bimidji, MN that they have to liquidate? lol

What is the m/b mfr? I bought an HP m9150f refurb from NewEgg in mid '08, came with an Asus board.

 

[javacontour]

Asus makes that board. I've had good luck with Asus before. oilBabe's netbook is an Asus and I've used many of their other cards as well. Asus has been good to me in the past.

Originally Posted By: Wikipedia

Corporate restructuring

In January 2007, ASUS started restructuring its operations.[9] The company split into three distinct operational units: ASUS, Pegatron and Unihan.[citation needed]

The ASUS brand will apply solely to first-party branded computers. Pegatron will handle OEM manufacturing of motherboards and components. Unihan will focus on non-PC manufacturing such as cases and molding.

In the process of restructuring, the highly criticized pension-plan restructuring effectively zeroed out the existing pension balances. The company paid out all contributions previously made by employees.


I don't game or anything and there are nVidia drivers for Solaris, so it's all good.

I removed the MODEM last night, as I don't want a component I don't need taking me down.

I made my recovery disks last night and migrated my files. I'll get oilBabes files over as well as she's in Dallas with her mom, seeing her newborn niece while her B and SIL are in Cleveland. (She's an exec for Sherwin Williams)

 

[mormit]

Originally Posted By: javacontour


I've only taken home one mug as we have so many coffee mugs.

I suggested free travel mugs, as I'd carry it with me and it would increase their exposure beyond my home.

I'll probably be back today as I need another wireless card for my home network.


Of course I've only taken one mug per purchase. I'm no somethin for nuthin type.