Buying a store bought PC

skuzzb

Well, an old and rather important P4 decided to stop working today. I dont have time to tinker and i figure its time for a replacement after its 5 years of service!

Annoyingly I need this PC replaced tommrow as im under a bit of a deadline so it means going to either PC World or Harvey Normans or alike ~shudder~
Ive come around to the fact that I will be ripped off but has anybody got advice on what brands to avoid or where to go to even get one at a decent price (Northside of Dublin).


Also is it even worth haggling to try and get some extra's or the price down?

I wish I had time to do a full build myself but its pretty urgent so any help greatly appriciated!

PogMoThoin

Best advise I can give You is to bring someone with You that knows a bit about pc's, dont listen to the salesperson as they've not got a clue, don't get talked in2 paying for an anti virus & don't pay for an extended warranty. Staff in PcWorld have no training or qualifications and would sell you anything.

eamon234

PogMoThoin wrote: »

Staff in PcWorld have no training or qualifications and would sell you anything.

Pretty much like every other retailer in the country!

skuzzb

Cheers mate, im totally up to date on my specs for individual components, dodgey salesmen and norton isavirus2008.

Im just worried about specific brand names...like is brand x cheap because they use crappy power supplys ect.

Also short of opening the cases in there, how do I find out more detailed specs (like hd cache/brands/ram timings?) will they let me bring programs on a usb stick to test?

Gadgetman496

skuzzb wrote: »

Cheers mate, im totally up to date on my specs for individual components, dodgey salesmen and norton isavirus2008.

I like that

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mathias

Can you wait a day or so ?

What I would do is have a look at these .... I know they are not the cheapest these days but you will know all the components and if you dont mind paying 100 + for delivery then DHL will have it out to you tomorrow ...

http://www.komplett.ie/k/kd.aspx?bn=10723

So , you get shafted for shipping , but its better than the going over you'll get in a high street shop ! And will most likely be better quality and cheaper to boot.

skuzzb

Cheers mathias, nearly went down the komplett builders road before but they take 3 days from when you place the order to build it last i checked.
Sadly need it up and running by tommorow night (shared pc lots of deadlines coming up).

Id actaully just fix the system but dont have time to troubleshoot....its quiet odd tho, it boots and POSTS but then hangs with a little '_' flashing in the top corner. Ive tried 3 different hd's with 3 different IDE cables, unplugged everything, ram sticks one at a time and then gave up. XP was new when I got the PC so thats saying how old it is!

I think ill just try and haggle the crap outa the poor guy at pc world and hope for the best. I can see it now tho, 'yes quadcore will improve the way MS Word works'.

Ill post up tomorow on how well or terrible the experience goes. Ya never know I could get a bargain....lol

AlmightyCushion

Eh crazy idea here but buy a pc from the store, then order a decent one off komplett. When the one from Komplett comes then format the store bought pc and put it back in the box and bring it to the shop for a refund.

skuzzb

That might just work....ill see what the returns policy is hehehe! Either way ill post the story on the 'deal' i get from the shop....ya never know it could be a good one....lol

skuzzb

:eek:Well it went quite well! Im surprised.:eek:

Got an Acer System in Harvey Normans
Has an E4500, 2GB DDR2 (667mhz :rolleyes:), 250gb Hitatchi HD, Integrated GFX Intel x3100 on the motherboard (PCI x16, PCIE x1 and 2 xPCI slots, all ram slots used, and Vista HP.

And of course all the usual bits (crappy ball mouse, keyboard and speakers). Its in a nice atx case and got it for €495.

Salesman was bang on and didnt force any extra stuff on me either.

Spent an hour clearing out all the preinstalled crap and getting all the normal apps up and running and its quiter than my own rig! Only noise is from the HD.

Was going to open it up but theres a sticker on the side saying Waranty void if seal broken.....but seriously how can that void a warantee??

http://www.acer.co.uk/public/page9.do?sp=page4&dau34.oid=32490&UserCtxParam=0&GroupCtxParam=0&dctx1=17&CountryISOCtxParam=UK&LanguageISOCtxParam=en&ctx3=146&ctx4=United+Kingdom&crc=353499082

Seems to be a very upgradable mobo inside too! Up to 1333mhz fsb!



Just did a quick price up on komplett.ie and including delivery for a very similar system in components would be €460 so all in all i dont feel one bit ripped off either!

conzy

Nice find for a store bought PC

PogMoThoin

Good value. Sometimes when the store reps find someone with a bit of knowlege they keep their mouth shut. I sometimes go in2 PcWorld & act dumb, just for a laugh

Good luck wit it neways

Pog

skuzzb

Well, I figured screw the warantee sticker and opened it up....really neat job inside, tooless case which is sweet, sata dvd drive too.....one major bummer tho......250 watt PSU:mad: so thats gonna have to be changed out before i even attempt putting in a soundcard and extra hd's!!oh well cant win em all i guess....still tho very happy with the overall price and design so far!!!