Dell computer deal

[vincemash]

I just ordered one of these systems for my cabinet, upgraded the RAM to 512 and HD to 160 Gig:

http://www.slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?threadid=46402&postid=566668#post566668

Offer expires today 10/12/04

[cbmeeks]

yuck...Dell....lol

I dunno...if you want super cheap then yeah, Dell is good.  If you look hard enough, you can get one without a monitor for less than $500.

[zaphod]

The Dells we use at the office have been rock solid, and I have recommended Dells to many individuals when they were PC looking.  All have been very satisfied.  Just pay attention to the particular line you are buying; some aren't very expandable and some don't have AGP ports (or PCIX).  This 4600 should be fine for 'most' gaming, provided you add the optional video card.  

They have constant sales with a wide range of configurations.  

[MonitorGuru]

Dell is well know for constant never ending (frequent expiration and then a new offer takes over) sales through affiliate site.

Stack coupons you buy on ebay or receive in email along with their special offers to save more.

Tons of "hot deal" sites like bensbargains, fatwallet, bargainshare, slickdeals, techbargains post all the hot dell deals all the time.

Keys to buying dell:

1) Watch for a few weeks dont just jump in. It may very well be cheaper in a day or two, or a week or two.
2) End of Dell quarters (April, July, October, January) produce the best deals typically, though end of months sometimes do too.
3) Dell home charges shipping but no tax to MOST states. Rare to get free shipping and is grossly (ebay gouging in fact) high like $100 a system that costs them $25 in actual costs. but you can have it shipped to your UPS or FedEx internet shipper account and pay less.
4) Dell business almost always has a free shipping offer, but charges tax to everyone.
5) Watch for stackable coupons
6) NEVER pay Dell to upgrade the ram or hard drive, and some other parts. They are MUCH cheaper to buy on the open market and upgrade later. (and sell (on ebay) the smaller parts that came with it to pay for a large percentage of the upgrade part!)
7) Watch for free/cheap monitor upgrades.  Sell the monitor to pay for part of the system!
Don't transfer warranties on dell equipment you sell... you will eventually be branded a reseller and prevented from buying their hot deals in the future, at least through small business.
9) You don't have to be a business to buy through SB... Just enter you name as the company
10) You can get extra 3-4% back by using a click through company like fatcash or ebates or others in the form of a check about 4 months after you purchase through DELL HOME only.

It costs less to get a good dell then it takes to build one.  Avoid the Celeron systems, the rest are all good performers.

[Flinkly]

i just built myself a better computer and it cost me a little less then 500.  granted no monitor, but thats cause i'm using an arcade monitor.  anyways, you just got to know what your doing.

[zaphod]

i just built myself a better computer and it cost me a little less then 500.   anyways, you just got to know what your doing.

Did you purchase a new copy of XP, too, or was this a true upgrade where you decommissioned another PC and used it's OS?  That's why I have never been able to build a similar machine for someone for what Dell is selling these.  With some effort, I can get a little under their price but without an OS.

[Sephroth57]

OS = free if you know what youre doing  

[zaphod]

OS = free if you know what youre doing  

Yes, but I just wanted to be comparing apples and apples with flinky.  And stay above board with the legals.

[tcleary]

dell constantly has a good deal on their entry level server.  the 400sc.  i got one for around 300.  what is good about the servers is they have good customer service, not the same crap that you get with the home systems.  also the servers are of better buid quality.  the 400sc comes with a crappy vid card, but that was no big deal for me since i threw an arcadeVGA in there, some more ram, and it works great.  it is also a really quiet system.  if you are looking for a great cheap mame system its a great option.  heres a good thread to watch for deals on these systems:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=40&threadid=1392050&highlight_key=y&keyword1=400sc