[SkaredShtles]

So...... what's the best cheap computer deal going out there right now? I want processing power (photo editing mostly)... not so much interested in gaming or much of anything else. Would like to have a good number of expansion possibilities (3-4 slots open in back)...

Any screaming deals out there right now? Under $500 is my budget.

 

[blue]

Build it if you want the ability to upgrade further...Just my experience. Most lower end computers come with mobos with 1 pci expansion slot, or tiny formfactors, or whatever. You have all the peripherals and a monitor? If so, no problem getting one together...

 

[bean]

Dell always has some sale going on.

You could get something like this:

http://bensbargains.net/deal/45246/

Add the Core 2 Duo processor upgrade for $70, and the 20" monitor upgrade for another $20.

Probably not a whole lot in the way of expansion, but in another couple years you can just buy another faster one for the same price.

 

[SkaredShtles]

Dell always has some sale going on.

You could get something like this:

http://bensbargains.net/deal/45246/

Add the Core 2 Duo processor upgrade for $70, and the 20" monitor upgrade for another $20.

Probably not a whole lot in the way of expansion, but in another couple years you can just buy another faster one for the same price.

[rant]
Why FFS won't it let me choose NO OPERATING SYSTEM? Goddam scam...
[/rant]

 

[H8R]

I want processing power (photo editing mostly)....<snip> Under $500 is my budget.

 

[SkaredShtles]

What? Powerful motherboards appear to be dirt cheap.

Of course I'm comparing them to my PIII 900MHz.

 

[H8R]

PIII 900MHz.

OH.

In that case, anything out there since 2001 will be a screamer in comparison.


Do you have the huevos to DIY?

 

[H8R]

BTW - when you say "photo editing", what exactly do you mean? Lightweight everyday stuff or deep Photoshop work?

 

[bean]

[rant]
Why FFS won't it let me choose NO OPERATING SYSTEM? Goddam scam...
[/rant]

With the price that low they probably wouldn't be able to discount it any further without the OS.

 

[SkaredShtles]

BTW - when you say "photo editing", what exactly do you mean? Lightweight everyday stuff or deep Photoshop work?

I'm talking my wife opening 10 Nikon RAW files and doing a bunch of crazy $hit with Nikon Capture then opening them in Gimp and doing a bunch more crazy $hit.

The 900 will do it... but she gets pi$$ed waiting for it.

Oh - she does alot of batch processing too. That takes forever. I think she just needs some CPU to be honest.

 

[SkaredShtles]

With the price that low they probably wouldn't be able to discount it any further without the OS.

I know... still think it's a pi$$er, though.

 

[H8R]

Oh - she does alot of batch processing too. That takes forever. I think she just needs some CPU to be honest.

CPU + RAM = Happy Happy.


Go for a Core 2 Duo machine w/ at least 2gb ram and you will be stoked.

 

[H8R]

Go here:
http://www.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/vostrodt?c=us&cs=28&l=en&s=dfb

Choose "Check availability" on the Vostro 400 then filter the selection to <$500

Nice.

 

[SkaredShtles]

CPU + RAM = Happy Happy.


Go for a Core 2 Duo machine w/ at least 2gb ram and you will be stoked.

That's kind of what I figured... maybe I'll just build the damn thing myself. Now if this was a rack mount server I'd have no problem building it... does anyone have any suggestions for DIY?

This will be utilitarian - I'm looking for solid stuff but am uninterested in sexy or any of that nonsense.

Help a out... I've got too many kids to do much research on my own.

 

[H8R]

Help a out... I've got too many kids to do much research on my own.

Look at the refurb Vostro above then.

 

[SkaredShtles]

Look at the refurb Vostro above then.

Yeah - sorry. I was composing that response when you posted that second one... I'll check 'em out.

 

[narlus]

hey SS - send yr wife's website link over. i wanna check out her work.

 

[SkaredShtles]

hey SS - send yr wife's website link over. i wanna check out her work.

Huh? She doesn't have a website...

 

[blue]

Do you need a new monitor? If not, DIY. If you do, going with a prebuilt option is SOOO much cheaper.

But yeah, what H8R said. Core 2 Duo+2gb of RAM=happy .RAWing.

 

[SkaredShtles]

I don't really need a new monitor... although I'll probably get a decent one some time in the next couple years. I was looking at pre-builts *without* monitors.

 

[narlus]

Huh? She doesn't have a website...

so what's she use for marketing?

 

[Westy]

so what's she use for marketing?

Probably hawks her goods while SS sells veggie burritos in the parking lots of jam band shows.

 

[SkaredShtles]

so what's she use for marketing?

Pardon? She doesn't do any marketing... she only does photography for the entertainment.

 

[H8R]

hey SS - send yr wife's website link over. i wanna check out her junk.

Fixed.

 

[SkaredShtles]

Probably hawks her goods while SS sells veggie burritos in the parking lots of jam band shows.

Naw - burritos are better with chorizo.

 

[H8R]

... she only does photography for the entertainment.

Oh COME ON.

Don't make this so easy.

 

[H8R]

SS sells veggie burritos in the parking lots of jam band shows.

Where the money is.

 

[SkaredShtles]

Fixed.

There has recently been both a bike and bikini photo floating around the monkey...

 

[SkaredShtles]

Oh COME ON.

Don't make this so easy.

Batter up. lthumbsdown:

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Who doesn't need a good keyboard squeegee...

 

[SkaredShtles]

So any case/PS/motherboard recommendations?

 

[H8R]

So any case/PS/motherboard recommendations?

$500 makes it hard to build your own and make it not ugly and slow.

$700 is the golden amount for a low end build that won't be useless in a year.

 

[H8R]

Case: Antec. Any.

Solid and simple. Get one with an Antec PS.


Mobo - I love my MSI (for Athlon anyway)

 

[SkaredShtles]

$500 makes it hard to build your own and make it not ugly and slow.

$700 is the golden amount for a low end build that won't be useless in a year.

Well, then... that's a useless endeavor. I'm not trying to play like Don Quixote here.

 

[H8R]

Nevermind - prices are better these days. I mean really good. Speedy build, this took me a couple minutes.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827151153
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811129031
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822145127
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145590
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813121052
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819115005

 

[SkaredShtles]

Nevermind - prices are better these days. I mean really good. Speedy build, this took me a couple minutes.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827151153
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811129031
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822145127
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145590
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813121052
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819115005

Funny thing about technology. Thanks, man!

 

[H8R]

Funny thing about technology. Thanks, man!

Double check all that crap I posted BTW. I didn't do a thorough combing of the specs.


In fact, make BV sign off on it.

 

[SkaredShtles]

Double check all that crap I posted BTW. I didn't do a thorough combing of the specs.


In fact, make BV sign off on it.

I already figured I'd put together a spec and have BV proof it.

 

[binary visions]

That spec looks pretty good. I'd be inclined to add a second drive to it, a bigger storage drive. ~250gb or more. If your storage needs are small, it'll allow you to keep a copy of important data on both drives which should help protect against drive failure. Plus, storage needs will go up fast with RAW files so it'll give you some room to grow.

Only thing that I see sorely lacking in that build is a decent video card but you won't need it if all you do is photo editing.

 

[SkaredShtles]

That spec looks pretty good. I'd be inclined to add a second drive to it, a bigger storage drive. ~250gb or more. If your storage needs are small, it'll allow you to keep a copy of important data on both drives which should help protect against drive failure. Plus, storage needs will go up fast with RAW files so it'll give you some room to grow.

I've got data security covered with backups. I'm still probably going to go with a small OS drive and a larger data drive. Although I'm going to turn the old PC into a NAS-type storage device... it'll run Linux with software RAID...

And I've already got a 1/2 terrabyte drive I picked up a few months ago, so maybe I'll throw that in...

Hmmm...