Where to buy PC parts onlinr?

muffler

My young lad is getting a friend to build him a gaming pc and has a list of what he needs. In order to keep costs as low as possible we want to shop around for the best prices.

I know we can check places like Amazon, Dabs, PC World etc but where do you guys shop or where would you recommend?

Many thanks

Digital Solitude

Hardwareversand.de after running the parts through geizhals.de for a discount.

Do you want to post the build for review?

Xenoronin

overclockers.co.uk can have some decent deals. Amazon too. It's good to shop around but if you want to just order from one place then it's hard to beat hardwareversand.de + geizhals.de. You'll need to do some additional searching on here for the full process. Can't hurt to ask the friend to post the components up here, we can give feedback on them and suggest some saving tips if cost is an issue.

muffler

Thanks guys. I'll post up a list a bit later when he gets in from college.

muffler

Digital Solitude wrote: »

after running the parts through geizhals.de for a discount.

How does that work regarding a discount?

Xenoronin wrote: »

You'll need to do some additional searching on here for the full process.

Im lost on this part Im afraid.


Sorry lads, but Im new to all this and not very tech savvy

Digital Solitude

I don't know to be honest, affiliate sites or something I believe? Knocks 5 euro or so off every part is all I care about

You simply search the part you want e.g. i5 4460, and click the link. Then you scroll down the page until you see the red 'hardwareversand' button, which links you back to hwvs. You then click add the basket and voilà. Back to geizhals for your next part.

muffler

Digital Solitude wrote: »

I don't know to be honest, affiliate sites or something I believe? Knocks 5 euro or so off every part is all I care about

You simply search the part you want e.g. i5 4460, and click the link. Then you scroll down the page until you see the red 'hardwareversand' button, which links you back to hwvs. You then click add the basket and voilà. Back to geizhals for your next part.

Do you have to sign up to geizhals first and then get a promo code emailed to you or is it a case of just linking through their site and a discount is automatically applied when checking out on the hardwareversand site?

Also is it a percentage discount or a fixed €5 on orders over €100 for example?

Digital Solitude

No sign up or anything needs, just click straight through their website

I don't know how its calculated, different on different items. if you were getting only 1 item, you can get the discount, but it varies from item to item.

Only way to know how much you'll save is type every item you're getting through.

muffler

Right, this is the list but he still has to choose a case. Any comments would be most welcome.

AMD FX-8370 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor
MSI 970 GAMING ATX AM3+ Motherboard
Crucial Ballistix 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory
Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
XFX Radeon R9 280X 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card
EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply
Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer


I think the budget is about 750 - 800

Digital Solitude

If its purely for gaming, an Intel build would be better, no need for a 750w in any case, I'm running a 280x of a 400w PSU.

I'll scout the parts now and see what's what, don't know many AMD boards off the top of my head.

Xenoronin

This should be good enough. The SSD isn't really necessary (but damn if it isn't after using one). Could probably get a cheaper graphics card for gaming at 1080p to be honest... no real need to go over 200. The R9 270X would be a good choice. Two 4gb ddr3 RAM is better than one 8gb if you make use of duel-channel.

No need to even think about overclocking. It's something you mess around with when you have money to potentially burn. None of this went through geizhals.de so you can expect more savings on this price... also if you google vouchers for hardwareversand you should get a 10 or 20euro off.

muffler

Digital Solitude wrote: »

If its purely for gaming, an Intel build would be better, no need for a 750w in any case, I'm running a 280x of a 400w PSU.

Mostly gaming but I think he will use it for a bit of college work also - MS office or the likes. A lower power supply would be music to my ears as I'm guessing the electric bills would be that little bit cheaper

Digital Solitude wrote: »

I'll scout the parts now and see what's what, don't know many AMD boards off the top of my head.

Much appreciated

muffler

Xenoronin wrote: »

This should be good enough. The SSD isn't really necessary (but damn if it isn't after using one). Could probably get a cheaper graphics card for gaming at 1080p to be honest... no real need to go over 200. The R9 270X would be a good choice. Two 4gb ddr3 RAM is better than one 8gb if you make use of duel-channel.

No need to even think about overclocking. It's something you mess around with when you have money to potentially burn. None of this went through geizhals.de so you can expect more savings on this price... also if you google vouchers for hardwareversand you should get a 10 or 20euro off.

I think he mentioned something about leaving out some hard drive or other so as to keep costs down. Thanks very much for the other points mentioned.

I must get him to have a look at this thread as he just asked me to check for recommendations for the best place to buy the items.

Digital Solitude

Item|Price
Intel Core i5-4460 in-a-Box|€€ 180
ASRock H97 Pro4, Socket 1150 ATX|€€ 84
8GB Kit Crucial Ballistix Sport Series DDR3-1600, CL9|€€ 53
Nanoxia DeepSilence DS 3 Dark Black without power supply|€€ 69
Seagate Barracuda 7200 1000GB, SATA 6Gb / s|€€ 52
XFX Radeon R9 280X Double Dissipation Edition with MANTLE and Gaming Evolved client, 3GB GDDR5, 2x DVI, HDMI, 2x mini DisplayPort|€€ 236
Thermaltake Hamburg 530W|€€ 47
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€737

Very similar to build above mine, better case, cheaper PSU, a 280X which I'd prefer but that's just me, lots of nVidia fanboys about too. I haven't a SSD either but add a Crucial BX100 if you want to spare €90 for a 250gb.

Mine also has geizhals discount for reference, but the links won't work properly, you'll have to redo them yourself. Either build is fine anyways.

SterlingArcher

ticle No. HV20I546DE
Intel Core i5-4460 in-a-Box
ready for dispatch

180,89 €

180,89 €
Article No. HV20MI48DE
8GB-Kit Crucial Ballistix Sport Series DDR3-1600, CL9
ready for dispatch

53,53 €

53,53 €
Article No. HV13W1CBDE
WD Blue 1TB 6Gb's
ready for dispatch

54,05 €

54,05 €
Article No. HVR501SBDE
be quiet! SYSTEM POWER 7 500W - bulk -
ready for dispatch

58,74 €

58,74 €
Article No. HV1140MVDE
MSI H97 PC Mate, Sockel 1150, ATX
ready for dispatch

78,01 €

78,01 €
Article No. HV1038MSDE
MSI R9 280X GAMING 3G mit MANTLE und Gaming Evolved Client, 3GB DDR5
ready for dispatch

233,07 €

233,07 €
Article No. HV203E41DE
Antec One, ATX, ohne Netzteil
available

45,83 €

45,83 €
Article No. HV12CZSLDE
Crucial SSD 120GB BX100
ready for dispatch

61,89 €

61,89 €
notice basket

Clear your basket



Factoring amounts at a glance
amount 766,01 € + Shipping costs + 6,99 € = credit amount 773,00 €

SterlingArcher

The Intel chip uses less power,

If he wants tell him to drop the ssd and stick a gtx 970 in there. Uses less power and he be gaming on ultra.

muffler

Thanks DS, thats very helpful and much appreciated.

Sorry for bothering you guys but its just that neither myself or the son know much about these things.

Xenoronin

Kinda impressed at how similar we all got it :L

muffler

Nearly missed your post there SterlingArcher as I was typing a reply.

Good detailed listing and again thanks a million. All that makes life a lot easier.

SterlingArcher

muffler wrote: »

Nearly missed your post there SterlingArcher as I was typing a reply.

Good detailed listing and again thanks a million. All that makes life a lot easier.

Personally

Get the nanoxia case in digitals build,. Its cool and above all quiet. Which is good for you, as last thing you want is to hear it running. Should still be under 800.

muffler

Sorry to bother you guys again but is there any great difference between this graphics card and the ones previously mentioned? Its a good bit cheaper and to an amateur like myself it looks good but Im only guessing really.

Digital Solitude

Bit of a difference, wouldn't pick a VTX card anyways. If he's looking to cut a few euro get the 960 Xenorin(?) mentioned, wouldn't recommend lower for the budget.

A 280 would be grand, but for €20 more a 960 is worth the upgrade

Xenoronin

Xenorornrninrornrorin

muffler

Guys, just a quick question on ordering from that German site. Is there any bother with customs and / or the extra VAT rate? Amazon for example add 2% extra VAT when delivering to here and I see that the German VAT rate is 18% so is there anything extra added at ordering stage or do you just take a chance that the customs wont intercept the order?

I've been pricing around a couple of places for the dearer elements of the build and if its any help to anyone else I was able to get this graphics card from Amazon for €214.32 which was a wee saving. In fairness that was delivered to a friends address in N.I. so I saved the 2% in the VAT rate. It was £151.93 when I ordered it but it has gone up a bit since.

I use this website to get email alerts when the Amazon prices drop.

Digital Solitude

Not worth it, same price as MSI 960 which is a better card.

The price listed is what you pay AFAIK, don't think there's a VAT change.

There isn't any customs because its from inside the EU.

muffler

Digital Solitude wrote: »

Not worth it, same price as MSI 960 which is a better card.

Eh? This is the same card that you listed earlier in the thread and at a dearer price

Digital Solitude

That's a 280, I listed 280X, which is the next card up

muffler

Digital Solitude wrote: »

That's a 280, I listed 280X, which is the next card up

Well I have it now so is there any great difference in them?

Digital Solitude

10-15% maybe. Depends how tight you are for budget but generally there are better places to make cuts than the GPU

muffler

Digital Solitude wrote: »

10-15% maybe. Depends how tight you are for budget but generally there are better places to make cuts than the GPU

I was just querying the performance of both cards. Is that what you were saying would be a 10-15% difference or was that in relation to the price?

Id appreciate any other suggestions you may have for cutting back a wee bit on other components so as to stick within the budget. As I said the graphics card is bought now but the young lad is trying to keep as close to €700 as possible.

Digital Solitude

Thats straight performance, worth it for the price difference but you won't miss it for now anyways.

Budgets are supposed to go up not down :pac: The Antec One in Sterlings build instead of the Nanoxia DS3 should bring it down another 25, along with the 280 should have it about 690 if I'm right?

muffler

Finally getting round to ordering some more parts for the young lad. But just a quick question on something else if any of you can help with.

Where's the best place to buy a copy of windows? I assume it will be windows 8.1 thats required.

Digital Solitude

Download links on the right, message the guy asking for a key and wait for him to get back to you

http://www.reddit.com/r/microsoftsoftwareswap/comments/2zmufy/hwindows_788181_noffice_20102013all_other/

the_syco

Xenoronin wrote: »

The SSD isn't really necessary (but damn if it isn't after using one).

The 120GB will fit Windows7, BF4 and all it's DLCs, and a few apps.

BF4 is better on an SSD, as level load times are a lot less, imo.

muffler

Just ordering from that German site and the delivery cost shot up from €5.99 in the basket to €11.99 at checkout and the only option to pay is by PayPal which adds an addition €16.14 to the cost.

Do you guys have to pay this or am I doing something wrong?

muffler

Oh, one other thing - any recommendations for a reasonable cheap monitor. Thanks

Digital Solitude

German shipping is €7, EU is €12 so you're good there, and PayPal adds 3% with them

BenQ 2450 is €120 or so

muffler

Digital Solitude wrote: »

German shipping is €7, EU is €12 so you're good there, and PayPal adds 3% with them

BenQ 2450 is €120 or so

Thanks very much, just wondering if there's any place you would recommend getting the monitor from? Will root through a few websites myself later this evening.

Massive thanks also to everyone who has posted in this thread, I appreciate all the help given.

Digital Solitude

Hwvs sell it, I'd say Amazon do too.

Check dabs, elara, PC world and the usual haunts if you'd like to buy Irish

muffler

Digital Solitude wrote: »

Download links on the right, message the guy asking for a key and wait for him to get back to you

http://www.reddit.com/r/microsoftsoftwareswap/comments/2zmufy/hwindows_788181_noffice_20102013all_other/

I sent this man a message last week and I still haven't received a reply.

Would you recommend any other places for a copy of Windows?

muffler

Oh by the way, that German crowd where I ordered most of the parts are acting the bollix. The motherboard was listed as being available within 2-3 days but just got an e-mail today (7 days after ordering) stating that they still don't know when it will be available.

I ordered a case which was shown as being in stock, and now they tell me that they don't have it and they won't have it again and to pick a different one.

I'm thinking of replying to their email and asking them if any of the order at all has been shipped, as I'm seriously considering cancelling the whole thing.

Ant695

muffler wrote: »

Oh by the way, that German crowd where I ordered most of the parts are acting the bollix. The motherboard was listed as being available within 2-3 days but just got an e-mail today (7 days after ordering) stating that they still don't know when it will be available.

I ordered a case which was shown as being in stock, and now they tell me that they don't have it and they won't have it again and to pick a different one.

I'm thinking of replying to their email and asking them if any of the order at all has been shipped, as I'm seriously considering cancelling the whole thing.

None of it will have been shipped. They only ship it all at once when everything is in stock.

muffler

Ant695 wrote: »

None of it will have been shipped. They only ship it all at once when everything is in stock.

Thanks for that.

I just replied to their email giving them a piece of my mind and also asked them to confirm if any part of the order had been shipped yet. Based on your post above I expect them to say no....thats if they reply at all.

I have screengrabs of the full order for 5 different items before it was confirmed / paid so I was more than happy to express my disappointment knowing that they cant argue with me at this stage.

Sucr

Gonna order a new GPU from amazon UK tomorrow, would have been a nice bit cheaper to have ordered the same card from hardwareverstand but they lack payment methods. Hopefully their free delivery policy applies to Ireland.

Ant695

Sucr wrote: »

Gonna order a new GPU from amazon UK tomorrow, would have been a nice bit cheaper to have ordered the same card from hardwareverstand but they lack payment methods. Hopefully their free delivery policy applies to Ireland.

If you want free delivery to ireland use parcel motel. Otherwise it will be quite steep and often with electronic items they won't ship direct anyways.

muffler

The cost of a GPU will certainly qualify the order for free delivery from Amazon. However 2 things to watch out for...

1. Amazon deliver most items here (free if over £25) but their marketplace sellers may not do the same and could charge quite a bit for delivery. Some of the marketplace sellers wont deliver here but that will show up on the order page. If the order is "fulfilled by Amazon" then the same terms apply for free delivery.

2. The order will cost an additional 2% extra to make up the difference between the VAT rates.

So if you use parcel motel you have to work out whether thats cheaper or if its cheaper to pay an additional 2% in the sterling charge.

Sucr

Checked it out, its free delivery to my door, I noticed a slight difference between the basket price and the payment confirmation price, guessing it was the 2% vat thing you mentioned, sly of them not to point that out though!

Ant695

Good to know. Didn't realise the free delivery applied to Ireland as well.

muffler

Digital Solitude wrote: »

Download links on the right, message the guy asking for a key and wait for him to get back to you

http://www.reddit.com/r/microsoftsoftwareswap/comments/2zmufy/hwindows_788181_noffice_20102013all_other/

Just a wee bump on this. As I posted earlier I never heard back from yer man. Any other places that you know of or could recommend?

Digital Solitude

muffler wrote: »

Just a wee bump on this. As I posted earlier I never heard back from yer man. Any other places that you know of or could recommend?

That's the only spot that does this afaik, have you tried other sellers there?

muffler

Im cancelling the order with those shower of numpties in Germany. Emailed them on Monday, faxed them on Tuesday and not as much as dicky bird since. I dont know how you guys get on with them but I certainly could never recommend them.

Anyhow I'm back to one of my very first questions in this thread. Apart from hardwareversand.de what other retailers can you recommend?

Many thanks