best off the shelf PC for decent price?
 

what's the best PC for less than a grand, that most stores have in stock? my home unit is too slow and old. does windows 8 come loaded on any of them yet? heard horror stories about vista, so don't want to go there.

I recently bought a computer from one of those guys who builds and repairs them. Came with all the software I need. 19" flat screen. Warranty (he can/will fix any computer). I think it was around $200.

my screen and keyboard is fine. just need a fast, up to date tower.

I like....
 

Gateway. The one that I have now is about 6-7 years old and is still pretty quick. Have had only minor issues with it. You should be able to get a CPU for less that $1K.

Vista is done. Would have to be NOS to still have it.

Windows 8 is full release Fall 2012 from what I've heard. Big thing for it is support for ARM processors. Not sure what other major improvements over 7 it will have.

Best is subjective. Really depends on what you want to do with it. Do you need multiple I/O ports, multiple monitor support, lot's of storage for media, stuff like that.

For email, surfing, MSFT Office you should be able to get something well under $1k to do the job.

Vista was bad at the beginning, but I had a Vista PC for 4 years and had no problems with it.

You could easily get a high end (enough) PC from Dell for $500.

I'd get something that has 6 GB ram. Dual core is probably fine for most folks unless you're doing some major video or photo editting or high end gaming. Unless you are playing games, you probably don't need to worry about a high end video card. Most PCs these days will come with a hard drive that is plenty big unless you're downloading lots of videos.

For $500
http://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnlineSales/Online/SecondaryInventorySearch.aspx?rn=7017&SC=lowToHigh &c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh
* Processor: Intel Core i3-540 Processor (4MB Cache, 3.06GHz)
* Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium
* Inspiron Desktop 580 MiniTower
* 750 GB SATA II Hard Drive (7200RPM)
* 6 GB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz (3 DIMMs)
* 16X DVD +/- RW Optical Drive
* 512MB NVIDIA GeForce G310 DDR3

For $900, this thing should browse the web with the best of them. It's got a built in Bluray player, 8GB RAM, quad core CPU, 2 Terabyte harddrive (which is huge), and even has an upgraded video card for playing games. This thing is probably way over powered for what 80% of people do with their PCs.
http://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnlineSales/Online/SecondaryInventorySearch.aspx?rn=3540&SC=lowToHigh &c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh

* Processor: Intel Core i7-2600 processor (8MB Cache, 3.4GHz)
* Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium
* XPS 8300
* 2 TB SATA 6Gb/s (7200RPM) 32MB Cache
* 8 GB DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz (4 DIMMs)
* 6X Blu-ray (DVD+/-RW + BD-ROM)
* AMD Radeon HD6770 1GB GDDR5

Any new Dell with 4GB of RAM and Windows 7. I've been buying Dells for clients for years and have never had a serious problem with them.

Yep, my parents have had a couple based on my recommendation. I've seen hundreds at various jobs over the years, and my last PC was a "scratch and dent" Dell from the Dell outlet that I paid $279. It ran great for 4 years.

I did just upgrade. I got an all-in-one PC (similar to an iMac, but a PC). It's a 23" touchscreen that does 1920x1080, quad core i5-2400 processor (3.1GHz), 6 GB RAM, 1.5TB hard drive, bluray player and DVD burner. Also included a "free" TV tuner card and will record shows from cable and 4 built in speakers. I like the fact (but even more important, the wife likes) that it eliminates a bunch of cables and makes for a much cleaner desk area. It even came with a bluetooth keyboard and mouse but I'm using my Logitech trackball and Kinesis Ergo Advantage keyboard.

I got it on sale for $900, but the normal price is $1100.

Myself and several co-workers have been buying our computers from Dell Financial Services Ebay listings of re-furbished lease turn in computers for a couple years now. These things are dirt cheap and look brand new. They are typically Dell's heavier duty business class machines that are more robust than the stuff you typically see at BestBuy type retailers yet they are cheaper.

dell financial services | eBay

My last laptop came with XP SP3 installed and still had a serial port which I needed to run my auto diagnostic software. It still looks brand new and has performed flawlessly. I paid under $300.... Now it looks like they can be had for under $200. The desktop/tower computers they sell are even cheaper.

If you get a Dell, lean towards a Vostro or Optiplex. Those are the business models and come with a lot less pre-loaded crap.

They also tend to be built a bit better.

i7 the new one with a good video card [buy separately]
should total under a grand new or refurbished
that about as good a a corprat box gets unless you go nuts
try tiger for deals

I donot like the major box builders they use cheap M/B and powersupplys
so I buy used hobby built machines one generation back
like a late core2QUAD intel with good non-mini M/B with lots of room/slots to addon
the hobby= gamer = kids always want the latest fastest stuff
but you can get a good build cheap from them for last years still very good units
and pay 20% to 35% of new prices

Dell, Windows 7. Can't go wrong.

Thanks for that link Tim...

Costco seems to have pretty good deals on PCs.

I just grabed a Lenovo IntelDualCore with win 7, 2gb ram and 500 hd with new mouse, keybord and 20" widescreen all with 3 yr warr for $595. Small form factor and while not top of the line it can have more ram and will run all current software (usually run older software so do not need the latest and greatest).
This is the third one I have purchased from them (used to be IBM) and so far so good.

I had to buy Office, Norton as extras at that price.

John I have, as they call it, a "desktop replacement laptop". It's a big bugger with high res' wide screen and big keyboard. And when you want to take it with you, you can. Toshiba.

Good find Tim!

Am prolly going to get a new tower this fall so glad to have the link.

Thx,

Joe A

Go with 4GB or more of RAM....trust me...

I'm not as knowledgeable as most here but I have always had Dells - no probs and as Steve M mentioned - very easy on their website to put together what you want from a menu format. I've had my current PC now for over 3 years with Vista and never had a problem. I added RAM afterwards though - pretty cheap to buy if needed and easy to install with these Dells.

John, what do you use it for?

If you don't need expansion slots and hardware, or hardcore gaming, and use it for web, word processing, etc.... I'd get a sub $400 laptop, and a large monitor.