Is this a good deal on this mame computer?

[melarky]

Just found this bare bones kit:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?Sku=C460-1022%20H&sourceid=00357421086767606138&siteid=0035742108

Is that a good deal for all of that?  I've been out of the hardware side of computer for too long now and I don't know if the AMD Sempron is good or not.

I have been thinking of just getting a dell cheapo computer for my cab (I see the P4 2.8 computers go for $350 after rebate every once and a while), but is this a better deal?  I already have a video card with tv out for my cab, so that's not an issue, but other than that it looks like all I would need is a hard drive and operating system.  Is that correct?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[AlanS17]

Though ought to be fine hardware for the vast majority of MAME games, and the price is fair, too.

[Tiger-Heli]

Pretty good price, but I've heard TigerDirect is bad about ever paying rebates.  Might want to do a search on it.

[Kremmit]

I've been burned on Tiger rebates before.

However, I see on their site they now have a "Rebate Guarantee" program, I guess Tiger will pay you themselves if the original rebate offerers don't cough up.  Haven't heard from anybody that's tried it, it's probably too new. 

[CJK]

Tiger Direct has a fairly sketchy reputation, particularly in the rebates department.

Caveat emptor.

-- Chris

[AlanS17]

I alwaysd get random parts at Fy's. You buy it right off the shelf for cheap.

[pointdablame]

Price is decent.

Vendor is atrocious.

Buy at your own risk.

[Lilwolf]

Also, consider going with a real processor (not a low end one).  Not sure on the semptrons... but the celeries where 10% slower then the pentiums... but in emulation they showed 20-30% slower per clock cycle.  Same with durons / athlons. 

the lack of processor cache shows up more in emulation then other applications.

[Tiger-Heli]

Also, consider going with a real processor (not a low end one).  Not sure on the semptrons... but the celeries where 10% slower then the pentiums... but in emulation they showed 20-30% slower per clock cycle.  Same with durons / athlons. 

the lack of processor cache shows up more in emulation then other applications.

Not an expert on this, but I wouldn't worry too much in this case.  I believe the Sempron is just the new name for the XP, which was AMD's flagship before the Bartons and AMD64's hit the street.

I would worry about the rebate, as even if they have a guarantee, this appears to be THEIR (not a manufacturer's) rebate, so if they are guaranteeing to pay their own rebates but they haven't in the past . . .

BTW, OT, Soyo is also terrible about rebates.  Bought one of their mobo's locally from Micro Center and after 10 months and 3 E-mails to Soyo, Micro Center ended up sending me THEIR OWN check for the rebate (plus a $25 gift card  )