Store shopping list

[SavannahLion]

Like a dummy, I wiped out my PC shopping links during one of my transfers. I guess I figured keeping links to (at the time) dead store chains and defective OEM repackagers, there wasn't really any point in keeping them.

I'm kind of wishing I had. I remember the following links:
frys.com (so so selection)
newegg.com (better selection)
pricewatch.com (consists of about 80% of OEM repackagers)
amazon.com (not usually my first choice)
ebay.com (eh....)

Now since reading here, I've picked up on
tigerdirect.com (not so great customer service)

And... that's about what I can recall really.

I'm building a home server (Linux) and trying to decide if it would be worth it to resurrect one of my old motherboards (either an Abit BH6/Celeron 300 or an Asus ??/AMD K6² at about 500Mhz). I doubt any of the boards survived storage very well and I'm restricted with the drive capacity. On top of that, I have to contend with the much smaller memory space of 384MB vs GB+ systems of today. Not really a challenge I feel up to contending with for a home server. So I figure I can assemble a minimal system on the cheap.

I remember reading about just this discussion, in several threads in fact, but the evil colds from Hell weaken my SearchFu.

[Hoopz]

Tigerdirect is great unless you want a rebate.  I haven't ordered from them in a couple of years so it may have changed.   

[ChadTower]

Newegg's rebates have gone into the toilet.  They used to carry only reliable rebates but the last two I tried both took 3x longer than stated for a response and the check never came for either.  They seem to have gotten into bed with some of the sketchy rebate companies lately.

[Ginsu Victim]

I pretty much use Newegg and Tigerdirect. I can't think of anywhere else I've ordered parts from. The rebates haven't been a problem for me (because I never try to redeem them).

[HaRuMaN]

Newegg is topnotch

[Fordman]

I use http://www.microcenter.com. I also have a store close to home. You have to jump through hoops to get the rebate, but if its over $10.00, i'll jump through the hoop.

Decent selection - price and they are within a few miles. Let me tell you, when you walk in there, it looks like the biggest nerd-fest. I hate to say it, but lots of virgins and stroker-aces if you know what I mean. Nice people, but lacking social skills. Also you dont just get the 10 second explanation for how something works, they recite the owners manual to you and loose you with the mumbo jumbo when buying something.

Give them a shot. I've never mail ordered but I have bought online and did the instore pick-up. It does ensure you get the item you want but you still have to wait in line to get checked out at the door by the store-door nazi.

Fordman

[hypernova]

Got one near me as well.  It's certainly more expensive than newegg.  But, it's really the only brick and mortar BYOPC store around where I live, so it's nice to pop in every so often.

[Zero_Hour]

I've got a Frys about 5 min from me, and I still buy nearly everything from newegg.