Am I Getting Ripped Off?

H_U_D_S_O_N

<div class="IPBDescription">buying a new PC</div> alright im buying a new PC. heres the specs. the processor is for gaming, and so will be the graphics card when i get it.

<span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'><b><i>$449</b></i></span>

Processor AMD Athlon™ XP 3000+ operating at 2.16GHz

Operating System Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition

Memory 512 MB DDR / PC2700 (1 DIMM)

Hard Drive 40 GB 5400 rpm Ultra DMA Hard Drive

Primary CD/DVD Drive 48X Max. CD-ROM Drive

Front Productivity Ports 2 USB 2.0, 1 Firewire ports + WinDVD

<b>Graphics Card Integrated Via UniChrome Graphics</b> (buying a seperate graphics card)

Sound Card Integrated 5.1 Capable Sound w/ front audio ports

Keyboard and Mouse HP Internet Keyboard, HP Scroller Mouse

Productivity Software Microsoft® Works 7.0/Money 2004/MSN Encarta Plus

what do you guys think. it does not come with a monitor. anyone know where i could get cheaper? Like $50 or lower. 40GB is enough for me. 20GB is the lowest ill go. and i dont need a DVD or cd-burner.

thanks and please help.

<a href='http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_series.do?series_name=a610e_series&catLevel=2&category=desktops/hp_pavilion&storeName=computer_store' target='_blank'>http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping...=computer_store</a> (site where i did it) [click on customize]

TychoCelchuuu

Make sure that integrated graphics card is disable-able. Heh. Disable able.

BaconTheory

Thats a good deal. Where are you getting the parts from?

H_U_D_S_O_N

<a href='http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_series.do?series_name=a610e_series&catLevel=2&category=desktops/hp_pavilion&storeName=computer_store' target='_blank'>http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping...=computer_store</a>

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click on customize

Talesin

Make sure the motherboard has an AGP slot, or you'll find yourself up a creek without a paddle, when it comes to upgrading to something that can actually handle new games.

Also, if you disable the HDD, you can get an 80GB 7200rpm drive with an 8mb cache at Fry's for $40.

MrPink

I've heard terrible things about hp. It's also always better to build it yourself or buy from a place that will build it from retail parts for you like <a href='http://www.cyberpowerinc.com' target='_blank'>cyberpower</a>

CForrester

Meh... Build your own. <a href='http://www.hardwarecentral.com/hardwarecentral/tutorials/109/1/' target='_blank'>It's not that hard</a>.

Daxx

<!--QuoteBegin-MrPink+Aug 9 2004, 04:48 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (MrPink @ Aug 9 2004, 04:48 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I've heard terrible things about hp. It's also always better to build it yourself or buy from a place that will build it from retail parts for you like <a href='http://www.cyberpowerinc.com' target='_blank'>cyberpower</a> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
As I actually work for the company (tech support *shudder*) I will actualy admit HP products are not that bad.


For the average computer user.



However, if your attempting to build a gaming machine, I wouldn't recommend HP. Your far better off building your PC from scratch. HP has plans for developing and selling a "Gamer Oriented" PC, but its not operational yet.

Especially as Talsin said make sure that the mobo has an AGP slot. A lot of HP computers ship with integrated graphic controlers, and lack an AGP slot to save on costs. This will really hurt you down the road for upgrade options.

Moebius

I have an HP for gaming, I like it. Unlike Dells/Gateways I've used in the past I don't have any problems with it at all.. of course I did spend a little(lot) more than $499... and I have put in memory, video card and sound card.... After looking at that Cyberpower site, I wish I had known about that about a year or so ago heh. At the time I only knew about Alienware and any time I built what I wanted it was soooo expensive.

tom

The hd is slow which wouldn't be good for gaming, and the gfx card sucks. Why not just build a pc, its cheaper and is easy.

Zel

you cant build a decent PC for that cheap; they get the prices down with horribly cheap parts consumed en-masse.

for an internet box, it would be nice. for a gaming rig or primary workstation it would be the suck.

SillyGoose

short answer: yes. Most likely the ram is slow, theres no AGP slot, and the harddrive is proabably slow as well. Anandtech did an article on entry level PCs, which is <a href='http://www.anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.aspx?i=2159' target='_blank'>here</a>. Good luck with your buying adventures.