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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: melarky on May 25, 2005, 11:24:13 am

Title: Is this a good deal on this mame computer?
Post by: melarky on May 25, 2005, 11:24:13 am: 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.
Title: Re: Is this a good deal on this mame computer?
Post by: AlanS17 on May 25, 2005, 11:30:59 am: Though ought to be fine hardware for the vast majority of MAME games, and the price is fair, too.
Title: Re: Is this a good deal on this mame computer?
Post by: Tiger-Heli on May 25, 2005, 12:10:07 pm: Pretty good price, but I've heard TigerDirect is bad about ever paying rebates. Might want to do a search on it.
Title: Re: Is this a good deal on this mame computer?
Post by: Kremmit on May 25, 2005, 08:31:44 pm: 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.
Title: Re: Is this a good deal on this mame computer?
Post by: CJK on May 25, 2005, 09:32:17 pm: Tiger Direct has a fairly sketchy reputation, particularly in the rebates department.

Caveat emptor.

-- Chris
Title: Re: Is this a good deal on this mame computer?
Post by: AlanS17 on May 25, 2005, 10:13:52 pm: I alwaysd get random parts at Fy's. You buy it right off the shelf for cheap.
Title: Re: Is this a good deal on this mame computer?
Post by: pointdablame on May 25, 2005, 10:17:27 pm: Price is decent.

Vendor is atrocious.

Buy at your own risk.
Title: Re: Is this a good deal on this mame computer?
Post by: Lilwolf on May 25, 2005, 10:44:10 pm: 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.
Title: Re: Is this a good deal on this mame computer?
Post by: Tiger-Heli on May 26, 2005, 06:59:09 am: Quote from: Lilwolf on May 25, 2005, 10:44:10 pm
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 8) )