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Their bottom model at BB is $399 but it is a dual-core pentium i3. Don't know how they can sell a decent processor like that for $400.
The $399 model ... it's not an i3. It's a Pentium dual-core.
The $499 model (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dell+-+Inspiron+Desktop+/+Intel%26%23174%3B+Pentium%26%23174%3B+Processor+/+4GB+Memory+/+500GB+Hard+Drive/1244405.p?id=1218240956923&skuId=1244405 - broken link) ... it has a slower processor. That's Worst Buy (TM) for ya.
Why does the OP want a cheap weak new computer? What does he use a computer for? Why settle for an already outdated $500 computer when a $700 to $900 self built computer will be better and last longer and be more future proof?
The $880 system I spec'd out was a build for a 2nd backup computer for myself. But I said to myself I'd be buying an outdated computer that I'd rarely use. This would replace my 2002 Athlon 2100XP computer. I ended up spending around $1650 for a useful i7 2600k Geforce 570 computer that will be my new main computer for most everything. If I deck out this computer with a 6000dpi gaming mouse, a special CAD device, 16gb total ddr3, and an Asus Xonar D2 sound card it's be $2100. It'd be my new main gaming computer if the video from the 570 is as fast or faster than my current computer's geforce 460 sli. I jumped on buying this system because Fry's had the i7 2600K cpu on sale for $250! I was really gonna wait for AMD's Bulldozer to come out next month... Maybe Bulldozer would be way faster, but AMD just put their CPU price cuts across all their CPUs and I think a new Bulldozer processor if faster than a 2600K would be priced more too.
I can't understand why people buy weak outdated computers... In another recent thread someone complained how his 4 yr old weak HP was not good enough to run Google earth. You should get a computer with a good enough Nvidia video card because nowadays modern web browsers accelerate web browsing through the video card. And Nividia's Cuda helps in ripping, copying, and seeing dvds and Blurays.
So here's a cheap build from Newegg for a cheap computer I'd give to my cousin --
AMD Athlon II X3 455 Rana 3.3GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor 82.99
BIOSTAR A770E3 AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard 49.99
Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory 69
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F4 HD204UI 2TB 5400 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive 79.99
Windows 7 Prof SP1 Newegg Sale 129.99
XFX Core Edition PRO450W (P1-450S-XXB9) 450W ATX12V 2.2 & ESP12V 2.91 80 PLUS BRONZE PS 54.99
400W Min ZOTAC AMP! ZT-50402-10L GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 154.99
Elite 430 case 49.99
2 extra fans 14
LG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 2MB Cache SATA CD/DVD Burner – OEM 19.99
Total build price 705.92
It has the best video card for a 400 watt power supply. Should be good enough to play Crysis which has been very demanding of video cards.
Yeah, I don't buy cheap computers. But I don't buy ultra high end ones too that outdate and depreciate rapidly. It's good to buy a powerful enough midrange computer that can be updated and not be outdated much in 3 to 4 years. If you buy an HP or Dell maybe you'd get a cheap power supply. And I went to Dell.com and their 580 computer was kinda weak for what you'd spec at $549. You only get good service from Dell. Cyberpower gives you more for your money but you have to live with crappy customer service. Be prepared to fix the computer yourself with some of their tech help if you can get them by phone. At least they will give you replacement warranty parts.
The best thing you should do is free yourself from the tyranny of crappy prebuilt computers and build one yourself from the best parts.
Just got back from BB after trying to negotiate a deal on a computer, laptop or tower. Latest wrinkle: BB removes HALF the adware on most of these computers; you have to get their $99.99 'setup with restore disk' plan to get the other half removed.
Two extended warranties now: $119 for 2-year "hardware" coverage; $179 for 2-year "software" coverage! Total on a lousy $299 POS e-***** mini-tower : $729!
The ONLY saving grace in this otherwise disgraceful marketing scam: 18-month interest-free financing.
Does anyone know an honest reputable store where they will sell a decent PC with a decent warranty at a decedent price?
To answer your question the best place to buy a computer is from a private person who builds them. Lots of people do this. By buying a computer direct this way you cut out a lot of the "middle man" fees that you end up paying going the retail route.
And, if I may say so. If you can't afford to pay cash for a computer, you really shouldn't buy one. Even with 18 month interest free financing, you ARE paying financing because they are building that into the price of the machine.
Truth be told, neither are a great deal. If you're just going for a dual-core, go with this instead ...
Dell Vostro 230 Mini Intel Dual-Core E5800 3.2GHz Mini Tower Desktop w/ 22in LCD $399 Deal - Reviews and Compare Prices
Looks very interesting. I wasn't aware of the Vostro line, I guess because BB doesn't carry it. A few bad reviews on it but overall, most were satisfied. Wonder how they can give away a FS monitor along with it at $400! I will check it out. Thanks.
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The $399 model ... it's not an i3. It's a Pentium dual-core.
You're right. I must be computer-happy by now---looked at so many I can't keep track of them anymore.
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Why does the OP want a cheap weak new computer? What does he use a computer for? Why settle for an already outdated $500 computer when a $700 to $900 self built computer will be better and last longer and be more future proof?
1. Because I have absolutely no faith in the reliability of any computer anymore. I've had about 4 computers in my computing life since 1995 or so and the best ones were the first 2---lasted about 4 years each on average. These last two, HP and Compaque were junk and this last HP Pavillion takes the cake. First year out the Deathstar HD fails---not an uncommon story---but all I use a computer for is to surf (not dangerous websites(wink) just benign stuff like CD and HuffPost and play YT videos---that's it, I swear. And the HP has been in the shop 2 times in the last year or so for new HD's. Now it appears to work okay when I just go to text sites. When I play a YT video it goes bonkers and automatically reboots itself. Sometimes it start up okay and sometimes it freezes up on reboot. Did I say I have absolutely no faith in computers anymore? Now my philosophy: get the almost bottom-line model from the best-reputable (Dell IMO so far) and just wait for it to die after the warranty is up. If I make it past the warranty I'll consider myself lucky. If I get to 2 years, I'll consider myself to have struck gold. No way would I spend upward of $800 on a computer. This Pavillion cost $700 when I bought it.
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And, if I may say so. If you can't afford to pay cash for a computer, you really shouldn't buy one. Even with 18 month interest free financing, you ARE paying financing because they are building that into the price of the machine.
I hear that!
Last edited by thrillobyte; 05-16-2011 at 08:27 PM..
I've built my own computers since 1995, and none of them have broken down. The only computer stuff that broke on me was a 16gb usb stick and the infamous Seagate 1.5tb hd. Plus a Samsung 1tb drive from my NAS. I bet HP and Dell slap together cheap parts, Dell was known to get cheap mb's that's why one time they had exploding capacitor problems on mb's. Dell demands cheap prices from suppliers, and suppliers give it back by specing cheap parts.
If you just web browse, - and I do that a lot too - get a computer with dual monitor outputs! Then web browse on two 1920 x 1080 22" monitors! With this kind of setup I watch up to 4 Youtube videos at the same time! Very productive and entertaining!
And I put 2 tb drives on the computers I suggested because don't you use a digital camera and HD camcorder? My digital photo collection is 40 gb. My 3 month Phillippine vacation videos + photos totaled 48 gb! My MP3 collection is about 40 gb. If you rip a dvd to hard drive that'll take 3 to 9 gb of space per movie. Don't you need lots of hard drive space like I do? My current i7 920 rig has 1.5, 2, & 2 gb hds for a total of 5.5 gb of storage!
There are 13800 Youtube videos on "how to build a pc" ... watch, learn, and build and repair your own PCs! Then when they get outdated in 3 years time you'd know how to upgrade them as time goes by.
My i7 920 rig got outdated and I upgraded the video card, memory when it got cheap, power supply for sli, and 2 extra hds. All this since Nov 2008 when I bought it. The cpu is still fast enough for everything I do, so this $300 cpu sure has been future proof for me... but I love power! Gee, 2.5 years and this rig got outdated and I had to do upgrades!
Dell was known to get cheap mb's that's why one time they had exploding capacitor problems on mb's.
If Dell was cheap, then so was Apple, HP, Compaq, Acer, IBM, Soyo, Gigabyte, Asus, and Intel. They were all plagued by the same supplier's (Nichicon) capacitors.
It's no different when Sony supplied the battery cells that affected several manufacturers. Or nVidia's GPU issue. Or Seagate 7200.11 hard drives. When there just a few key manufacturers that supply parts for several manufacturers in the same industry, any issue end up affecting many.
BTW, way to bring up an old issue. The capacitor issue was mostly between 2004-2006.
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Total on a lousy $299 POS e-***** mini-tower : $729! 
