Need cheap new computer + monitor <$500

[CmdrSlack]

Since Hoax already started a computer build thread, here's my tagalong question:

I'm going back to practicing law, and expect to have to take work home. My current gaming rig (circa SWG launch) is utterly dead. We have a laptop, but in the interest of having my wife not hate me, I'd like to have a separate machine to use for work and possibly light (not ZOMGWOW MMO performance or anything) gaming.

Since we have a Tiger Direct/CompUSA outlet about ten minutes away, I'm looking at their barebones systems. I need to get an LCD monitor since all I have is a CRT I bought in 1998. I need the desk space back, basically. Saving on parts allows me to build someting on a $500 or less budget. This one seems pretty decent for my needs (80% MS Office/Internet research crap, 20% gaming). Am I missing out on something better? This one doesn't need an upgrade path or anything. I tend to run machines into the ground, but hope to get to an income point someday where I can build a sweet gaming rig as well as a media server or something. This box doesn't have to be kickass, and it seems like this rig might be up my alley.

Is there a fatal flaw I'm missing? My only extra expense (beyond the HDD and monitor) that I am planning is extra RAM.

[Trippy]

That video card is pretty gimpy even by low-end standards. You should ask if you could replace it with an 9800 GT for $50 more.

[SnakeCharmer]

Don't forget a CPU fan.

[Nerf]

I've got a 19" widescreen viewsonic LCD that I don't use at all, its probably a couple years old and lives in a box these days, I'd let it go pretty cheap if you want to push more of your budget towards the box.

[CmdrSlack]

That video card is pretty gimpy even by low-end standards. You should ask if you could replace it with an 9800 GT for $50 more.

Cool, thanks. I have no earthly idea about vid cards these days, and by the time I get my "paid time off settlement check" from my old employer (88 hrs of paid time off FTW!), I doubt that the specific kit will be there. My PTO check will be way bigger than $500, but I wanted to use some of that dough to pay for other crap as well.

I've got a 19" widescreen viewsonic LCD that I don't use at all, its probably a couple years old and lives in a box these days, I'd let it go pretty cheap if you want to push more of your budget towards the box.

I may just take you up on that. There were other barebone bundles that seemed sexier, this was just the least shitty option around $200.

[rattran]

I'd drive down 355 to the Downer's Grove Frys Electronics. They usually have some decent cheap low end machines, and their return/warrantee program hasn't done me wrong yet.

[Nightblade]

That video card is pretty gimpy even by low-end standards. You should ask if you could replace it with an 9800 GT for $50 more.

The Ati 4770 is around the same price as a 9800GT and it outperforms it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=Ati+4770&x=0&y=0

[Trippy]

If he's going to buy the barebones from CompUSA the parts will all have to come from there.

[Sky]

The Ati 4770 is around the same price as a 9800GT and it outperforms it.

128-bit memory controller 

[BitWarrior]

Honestly I don't think it's possible to build anything close to a "gaming rig" plus monitor for < $500, unless the games you're planning to play are antiquated or simple (Peggle, Flash based games). 1gb of ram is barely enough to run Windows, and definitely not going to make any gaming experience worthwhile on the machine. The machine you linked does not come with a hard drive, so you'll need to add that into your calculations as well.

For $500 I would honestly get a netbook. Netbooks are cheap, light and portable, you'll be able to take it to school and work, play online flash games if you so care, and assuming your school has freely available wireless internet (or Ethernet outlets in the class), you could simply use Google Docs for another cost saving and de-centralized documents. (I prefer Google Docs over Open Office)

Then, from purchasing a netbook for only $350 or even $250, I'd take the extra money you have left over and buy a Wii if you're still interested in gaming.

A nice Netbook from Gateway at only $350:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5270699&Sku=G180-10105

Really inexpensive HP:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4833653&Sku=M975-11001

[Krakrok]

I dunno I'd buy this.

Viewsonic VA2223wm 22" 1920x1080 LCD; Intel Pentium Dual-Core E5300 @ 2.6GHz; 2GB RAM; 160GB HDD; DVD burner; gigabit ethernet; Windows 7 Home Premium; 1yr warranty

$394.00. + $35.00 Shipping. + Tax in most. The monitor is suppose to get added when you add the machine to the shopping cart.

Link


Or this one:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 @ 2.33GHz; 2GB RAM; 320GB HDD; DVD burner; Windows 7 Home Premium; 1yr warranty; keyboard/mouse included

$449.00. + $39.00 Shipping. + Tax in most. No monitor though.

Link

[BitWarrior]

Considering the "Instant $200 Savings" and the "apparent" free monitor when you add the item to the cart (which I have not confirmed), it seems OK with the exception of the onboard video, which is going to play video files at best here. The $85 4350 is still a very poor card for any kind of gaming, unless again you're looking at casual games at least 5 years old.

My recommendation, for your position, would to get something specialized for your work/school purposes (Netbook), and get something specialized (Wii) for your gaming purposes. I fear that with any cheap machine here you're just going to find yourself disappointed. Just my recommendation.

[Krakrok]

Never buy anything extra on the Dell deals. Just grab it and get out. Then in a couple months or if you run into a game that won't play grab some extra ram and a video card from Newegg.

Like this maybe:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130509
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148163