You get what you pay for, right? But what happens if you build a PC on the cheap? We packed two boxes with low-cost AMD and Intel CPUs and other inexpensive components. Guess who dominates the low end?
First, I think Tom's Hardware is a great website and I've been surfing it for years. Packed with useful and interesting information.
That said, this article is really odd. It's titled "the $300 PC" but about halfway through, they basically say that "you can't build a futureproof PC for $300 so we didn't." But then the article says in the end that if you skimp on some components, then yes, you can get under $300. So why didn't you? That's the title of the article!
Also, the benchmarks aren't what you get if you buy the listed components, because the video benchmarks aren't even done with the specified WD 160GB Hard Drive. They're done with a raptor!
This article really reveals what a pricing advantage the big resellers have. Right now one can purchase from Dell for $349 a system with a Sempron 3400+, 512MB of RAM, a 80 GB HDD, a DVD-ROM and Vista Basic.
I know people have their gripes about Dell (or any other other mfr) but given that this is a look at cheap (not best) systems and the THG solution doesn't include the cost for OS the economies of scale become very clear on the lowest end.
I'd also like to point out that in terms of fairness, the Intel system cost $26 more than the AMD system, and it was pointed out that the AMD system could have had an athlon 64 3200+ for only $10 more. This would have still put the AMD system at $16 less than the Intel one, and offered superior performance.
How much did Intel pay to have this 11 page ad for obsolete netburst processors?
P.S. I agree with carver_g, the benchmarks are misleading since the actual system wasn't used, possibly fooling some users into thinking they'll be getting better performance than they really will due the inclusion of the 150gb raptor. This drive alone costs more than half of the price of the test systems, and it's inclusion is unwarranted.
OMG. you can get at ewiz a 3800x2 am2 for about 100 bucks and 2 gigs of ddr2 667 ram for about 120 bucks. so bascially a 2 gig dual core machine with case and psu for about the same price of "going over" as this article. ugh. i hate articles like these.
yes i know those deals won't always be that cheap but still. the prices for the system they built here won't remain static either.
You might be able to knock this test setup down that low, if you went with an 80 GB hd instead of the 160, 512 MB ram instead of 1GB, generic components instead of name brand, and an OEM copy of vista basic. Just pulling stuff off NewEgg today (avoiding any sales) yields:
Sempron 3400: $76
512 MB DDR2 667: $40
PC CHips AGG3 Motherboard w/ integrated graphics: $47
80 GB WD800JD HDD: $44
LG dvd rom: $18
Cheapo case: $10
generic 350-400 watt PS: $20
Vista Home Basic OEM: $90
Total cost: $345
Shop around and you can find stuff cheaper (maybe save $10-20 and buy a cheapo case w/ a cheapo 400 watt PS). I know some of you will say that cheapo PS's and cases are crap, and I would agree (I would never use them personally), but the components Dell uses aren't much better, which is how they can afford to charge so little for them (in addition to the economies of scale factors in bulk purchases and mass production).
If you're looking for a very basic computing experience, it's absolutely impossible to beat the big boys (Dell primarily). I think this "$300" PC review proved that... that PC lacked a monitor and an OS. However, once you start adding options (upgraded video, sound, etc) it quickly becomes a coin flip in terms of value. Once you're in the $2000+ range for a system, building it yourself is definitely a financially attractive option if you're willing to live without a unified warranty.
As an experienced budget builder, I can tell you that you are going about it all wrong. In this morning's paper, there is an ECS GeForce 6100SM-M and Athlon 64 X2 5000+ combo for $99.99.
That's how you start a budget build. With a loss lead from XXX's Electronics. Then you add a sale-priced video card, like that XFX GeForce 7600GS that I saw on YYY.com for $50 after rebate. The key is to pickup almost every item on sale. Then stuff them into a medium or better quality free after rebate case (which you might have to get the day after Thanksgiving).
You have to remember that there is almost no other place besides computers where the item that you buy depreciates so rapidly. Where else can you spend hundreds or thousands and your purchase is guaranteed to be junk in three years. So, it's only smart to spend wisely. Compare this to good hand or power tools where you can pass them down to your grandkids.
If you're looking for a very basic computing experience, it's absolutely impossible to beat the big boys (Dell primarily). I think this "$300" PC review proved that... that PC lacked a monitor and an OS. However, once you start adding options (upgraded video, sound, etc) it quickly becomes a coin flip in terms of value. Once you're in the $2000+ range for a system, building it yourself is definitely a financially attractive option if you're willing to live without a unified warranty.
I beg to differ; I took 30 minutes and found a system that costs less than the cheapest Dell desktop with components that are about the same quality or better than what Dell offers. Dell overprices just about every single upgrade to the base system, so if you want higher performance stuff, you will pay *way* more than the price of each individual component than you would if you built it yourself. Not to mention that the quality of components on the market is higher than what Dell offers, and the warranties are almost universally better. Most components come with 3 year warranties, which would cost a huge chunk of change to get from Dell.
The only reason to buy from a big builder like Dell is if you can't, won't, or don't want to build it yourself. There is no savings in money.
As an experienced budget builder, I can tell you that you are going about it all wrong. In this morning's paper, there is an ECS GeForce 6100SM-M and Athlon 64 X2 5000+ combo for $99.99.
That's how you start a budget build. With a loss lead from XXX's Electronics. Then you add a sale-priced video card, like that XFX GeForce 7600GS that I saw on YYY.com for $50 after rebate. The key is to pickup almost every item on sale. Then stuff them into a medium or better quality free after rebate case (which you might have to get the day after Thanksgiving).
You have to remember that there is almost no other place besides computers where the item that you buy depreciates so rapidly. Where else can you spend hundreds or thousands and your purchase is guaranteed to be junk in three years. So, it's only smart to spend wisely. Compare this to good hand or power tools where you can pass them down to your grandkids.
the $99 AM2 X2 is a price mistake. It's actually $199.99 those who went to frys yesterday and tried to get it was shot down. Also, how many people have a Frys close to them? so only west coast and mid us can build budget systems? East coast users don't have this deal, as there is no frys near them.
As an experienced budget builder, I can tell you that you are going about it all wrong. In this morning's paper, there is an ECS GeForce 6100SM-M and Athlon 64 X2 5000+ combo for $99.99.
The truth is, for the same price as either of their setups you can build an X2 3800 or other system that would blow either of those away. This article is very pointless.
If you want to build a budget system this is not the way to do it.
I would say that if you are going to go this cheap just pick up a computer from bestbuy, compusa or dell. A lot of times after rebates you can get a pretty decent system for about (more or less) $300.00 bucks after rebates and at least you get a monitor and printer..........
As an experienced budget builder, I can tell you that you are going about it all wrong. In this morning's paper, there is an ECS GeForce 6100SM-M and Athlon 64 X2 5000+ combo for $99.99.
That's how you start a budget build. With a loss lead from XXX's Electronics. Then you add a sale-priced video card, like that XFX GeForce 7600GS that I saw on YYY.com for $50 after rebate. The key is to pickup almost every item on sale. Then stuff them into a medium or better quality free after rebate case (which you might have to get the day after Thanksgiving).
Exactly. A real budget build takes time to assemble. I spent 5 months putting together a super low cost system for my aunt. All she does is browse the internet and send a few emails (and she does so little of it that all she needs is a 56kbps dialup internet connection). Shuffling through bargain bins, sales, and rebate programs, I was able to put together a complete system (I think it was an AMD K6-II 450 mHz or something - we're talking slow here) including monitor and printer (purchased used) and OS (Win 98) for under $150.
call it a hunch but if the goal is to built cheap PC's won't we save money by using free OS (linux/BSD) instead of Windows?
(suggestion: get some feature-rich distro of linux (relatively speaking) to do the benchmarks, and raise the budget because you don't need to stick to windows)
Edit: You can still say the hardware is Vista ready, but just that you are not going to install Vista until you get rich.
(not that I am a fanboy of windows or linux, but linux does cost a lot less (None/cost of media compared to ~$100 US for XP MCE/XP Home/Vista Home basic and more for more premium editions of Vista) from a constrained budget point of view)
As to the "on sale" part, yes, you might want to catch almost everything on sale, BUT we have to have the scope that at least you can buy it at local places (which mean you don't have these things on sale all the time unless you check on the online retailers). Remember they don't necessarily have the day after thanksgiving sale outside the US.
speaking of which if there is some comp who ships worldwide we might want to test the build against their cheapest configurations
lol, Intel didnt pay Toms to advertise for them a $50 netburst processor. lol wheres ur head at man, lets stay within the bounds of realism here. It would boast no gains for Goliath. lmao
