Where can I buy a nice desktop tower for cheap?

[falafel]

My home computer is getting up there in age (bought it in Dec. 2006) and its starting to show its age. I'm probably going to need to replace it in the next year or so. The monitor is fine, as far as I'm concerned, so I'm not planning on replacing that at this time.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a website that sells just the CPU and at a good price? I don't care if its a name brand or an off-brand like Costco's ZT brand. I'd like to buy something that could last another 5 or so years, so I'd probably need to get a higher-end machine, but I don't want to pay $1000. I'm thinking more in the $400-$600 range. TIA.

[FMCoug]

Subscribe to the emails from tigerdirect.com.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

[falafel]

Subscribe to the emails from tigerdirect.com.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

Thanks, that's a good idea. I'm on Newegg's list already.

[Uncle Ted]

My home computer is getting up there in age (bought it in Dec. 2006) and its starting to show its age. I'm probably going to need to replace it in the next year or so. The monitor is fine, as far as I'm concerned, so I'm not planning on replacing that at this time.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a website that sells just the CPU and at a good price? I don't care if its a name brand or an off-brand like Costco's ZT brand. I'd like to buy something that could last another 5 or so years, so I'd probably need to get a higher-end machine, but I don't want to pay $1000. I'm thinking more in the $400-$600 range. TIA.

This or newegg.

[falafel]

This or newegg.

I said cheap!

[Uncle Ted]

I said cheap!

You also said nice.

[creekster]

Your best buys are ALWAYS at Fry's!

[falafel]

Your best buys are ALWAYS at Fry's!

I love that store, but hate buying anything that requires me to talk to one of their "associates."

[CardiacCoug]

Can you just put more RAM in it or something?

Probably a dumb suggestion and something you already know how to do - but I am pretty technologically challenged and once I learned how to upgrade the RAM on my computers I was able to milk a couple of them a few extra years.

[doctorcoug]

A reinstall of the operating system does wonders for an old windows machine.

I was in your same boat a couple of months back. So, I took my 7 year old IBM thinkpad tablet that was terribly sluggish (plus, it was missing keys and had no battery life) and I formatted the hard drive and installed a flavor of ubuntu. I placed it in a drawer in the desk, hooked up a USB keyboard and mouse and drilled a hole in the back of the drawer and fed the cables through it. Used an old 19" LCD monitor.

In short, at the cost of some personal time, I got a "brand spanking" new machine for my family. It runs great. And, my kids are learning how to find their way around Linux.

Well worth it. I suggest you try it out.

[Shaka]

I'm a New Egg guy. Harvest the usable parts and build a new computer around them.

[falafel]

Can you just put more RAM in it or something?

Probably a dumb suggestion and something you already know how to do - but I am pretty technologically challenged and once I learned how to upgrade the RAM on my computers I was able to milk a couple of them a few extra years.

A reinstall of the operating system does wonders for an old windows machine.

I was in your same boat a couple of months back. So, I took my 7 year old IBM thinkpad tablet that was terribly sluggish (plus, it was missing keys and had no battery life) and I formatted the hard drive and installed a flavor of ubuntu. I placed it in a drawer in the desk, hooked up a USB keyboard and mouse and drilled a hole in the back of the drawer and fed the cables through it. Used an old 19" LCD monitor.

In short, at the cost of some personal time, I got a "brand spanking" new machine for my family. It runs great. And, my kids are learning how to find their way around Linux.

Well worth it. I suggest you try it out.

I upgraded the RAM last year to the max for this motherboard (4GB). I've also wiped the HDs 2 or 3 times over the last 4 years. I actually enjoy doing that. I agree, its almost like a new machine.

The problem is, other hardware feels like its about to give out. I've been having trouble with my primary HD lately (all the important stuff is backed up, and I've got a RAID mirror), and recently I've been having BIOS issues. I feel like the MB might be on its way out soon. Plus, the processor is now 4.5 years old, and it near the end of its model life when I bought it. I'd also like a blu-ray drive and 6-8 GB of RAM, which as I said isn't possible on my current MB.

Shaka, do you build machines? Do you just buy all the components from Newegg, or are you keeping the enclosure from a previous machine?

:moon: (the smilies are for my son)

[Surfah]

I'd go Newegg too. If you have the software or want to run Ubuntu or something I'd just go with one of their bare bones kits.

[U-Ute]

Shaka, do you build machines? Do you just buy all the components from Newegg, or are you keeping the enclosure from a previous machine?

The answer is "it depends'.

Your motherboard needs to fit your case. The memory and CPU need to match your motherboard. Cases from major manufacturers (such as Dell, HP, and Gateway) may be custom fit and will only fit specific mother boards from those companies. Power supplies also fit specific cases as well.

I'm kind of in the same boat as you. Mine is a Dell computer from 2004. I need to upgrade the video card to handle Win7 better. All newer video cards are PCI Express, and I don't have a PCI express slot. So, just to upgrade my video card, I have to get a new motherboard. That is expanding out to a new case, power supply, processor, and memory chips.

The best thing to do is to look for combo DIY deals at New Egg. In looking into this, I found a couple of combos that, when put together, gives me a dual core 2.5GHz with 4GB of RAM for under $400. But I'm planning on swapping all my drives and monitor to the new computer.

[Shaka]

Years ago I used to do some small business IT consulting and built bunches of machines. I still build for myself and the occasional friend or relative.

I usually order from New Egg although there are other alternatives such as Tiger Direct which I think FM mentioned. New Egg just seems to have everything I want at decent prices. Oftentimes you can find a nice mobo/processor bundle and save some decent bucks. If you want to keep the RAM you already have I'm sure you can find a mobo that can use it. Otherwise get the best stuff you can afford.

Processorwise either Intel or AMD will do. Intel if you want the most current in speed and AMD if you want bang for the back. The computer I have powering my home recording rig is based on a two year old quad core AMD Phenom and it has been rock solid.