Help me buy a computer!-Page 2: Off-topic discussion forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Jan. 12, 2010 8:21 p.m. P71 SuperDork

I pulled the trigger!

First, thanks for all of your help. I nearly went with a refurb'd HP (there's 2 really, really nice quad cores now @ $505 shipped - one at 8GB RAM/640G HD, the other at 6GB RAM/750G HD) and a ridiculously good deal @ $450 shipped on a Core 2 Duo.

In the end I ended up getting a "leftover" new Lenovo (thanks for that suggestion) for $550 shipped. It has an Intel Quad Core Q8300 @2.4Ghz, 8GB DDR2 RAM, DVD+- / CDRW writer, NVIDIA GeForce 9300, and a 1TB HD. It has Vista on it but I have 2 new copies of Windows 7 Professional (real ones in the box through my college) so I will fix that. I'll use the included keyboard and speakers and reuse my existing screen and laser mouse. Not a bad bit of hardware for the price, really.

So thanks for all of the help!
Jan. 12, 2010 8:35 p.m. pigeon HalfDork

Nice deal!
Jan. 12, 2010 9:48 p.m. AngryCorvair SuperDork

in november i bought an acer extensa 5230E at best buy for $250. yeah, it's only a celeron (2.2GHz, 800MHz fsb), 2GB RAM, 160GB HD, 15.4" screen, etc, kinda low end but it was $250.

last week my wife bought a HP laptop with a T4300 processor, 3GB RAM, 250GB HD, card reader slots, and a couple other features nicer than mine, for $499.

laptops are so cheap now i wouldn't bother with a desktop, but that's a personal preference.

edit: just saw your specs. looks like desktops still kick laptop ass for specs-per-dollar
Jan. 12, 2010 10:03 p.m. P71 SuperDork

Yeah, this thing is pretty stinking loaded. Kinda hard to cram all of that into laptop and impossible at this price point.

Also, because it seems like more than one missed this, I own a laptop already (typing this on it in fact). It does all of the laptop stuff I need (web browsing, homework, word processing, AutoTap diagnostics) and has been stone reliable. Why buy a second one when this one is fine and I can get the desktop that's able to deal with HD videos, gaming, and intense web editing for that price?
Jan. 13, 2010 11:07 a.m. Scott Lear Production Editor

Sounds solid, good find. I would have chimed in with the build-your-own from NewEgg bits mantra, but there is something to be said for a computer you can just plug in and go with when time is of the essence.

Since you're kinda starting from scratch, do a fresh install of Win7 instead of the update, and you won't have any of the crap that Lenovo might have preloaded on the system.
Jan. 13, 2010 11:16 a.m. Shaun Reader

In reply to P71: That is a mind boggling amount of computer for 550 bucks. Good deal!
Jan. 13, 2010 12:19 p.m. Wally SuperDork

You can help me buy one too. Put a dollar in and send it to...
Jan. 13, 2010 8:33 p.m. P71 SuperDork

Scott,

I have two brand new, in the box copies of 7 Professional so I have that covered It gets here tomorrow, I can't wait!