Gonna build my first computer - vendor recommendations?

  • Thread starter Thread starter The poster formerly known as Colleyville Alan
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The poster formerly known as Colleyville Alan

I've spent the last couple of months reading reviews about various
components and have narrowed down what I want in my next computer, a
computer that, for the first time, I will be building myself.

So I thought that I'd look in the Google archives for recommendations about
vendors, but mostly I found flame wars about PSUs, monitors, graphics cards,
and the like. Tiring of the edge-of-the-seat drama, I have decided on a
more direct approach. Who do you guys feel are the best vendors from whom
to buy components?

Pricing is a concern, but not the biggest one. I have occasionally seen
something that is between $300 and $315 at a dozen vendors and then see it
at $265 from a vendor who gets a 1-star rating out of 5 at some shopping
website. I'd much rather buy from a quality vendor in the first group and
not go through the agonies of the damned to save $35 or so.

I am more concerned that:
- things will be shipped on time
- products will arrive in good condition
- that there will be clear communications between me and the vendor and
- that very little is likely to go wrong but the vendor will make it
right is something does go wrong.

So, given that criteria, with whom do you guys like to shop?
 
The poster formerly known as Colleyville Alan said:
I've spent the last couple of months reading reviews about various
components and have narrowed down what I want in my next computer, a
computer that, for the first time, I will be building myself.

So I thought that I'd look in the Google archives for recommendations about
vendors, but mostly I found flame wars about PSUs, monitors, graphics cards,
and the like. Tiring of the edge-of-the-seat drama, I have decided on a
more direct approach. Who do you guys feel are the best vendors from whom
to buy components?

Pricing is a concern, but not the biggest one. I have occasionally seen
something that is between $300 and $315 at a dozen vendors and then see it
at $265 from a vendor who gets a 1-star rating out of 5 at some shopping
website. I'd much rather buy from a quality vendor in the first group and
not go through the agonies of the damned to save $35 or so.
Click to expand...


NewEgg usually comes out on top
 
I've spent the last couple of months reading reviews about various
components and have narrowed down what I want in my next computer, a
computer that, for the first time, I will be building myself.

So I thought that I'd look in the Google archives for recommendations about
vendors, but mostly I found flame wars about PSUs, monitors, graphics cards,
and the like. Tiring of the edge-of-the-seat drama, I have decided on a
more direct approach. Who do you guys feel are the best vendors from whom
to buy components?

Pricing is a concern, but not the biggest one. I have occasionally seen
something that is between $300 and $315 at a dozen vendors and then see it
at $265 from a vendor who gets a 1-star rating out of 5 at some shopping
website. I'd much rather buy from a quality vendor in the first group and
not go through the agonies of the damned to save $35 or so.

I am more concerned that:
- things will be shipped on time
Newegg

- products will arrive in good condition
Click to expand...


crapshoot, a shipper with the best of intentions has no
control over what a UPS deliveryman does to a box. Even
with some that fill boxes with peanuts, it is exceedingly
rare for anyone to pack properly, which is to select a box
at least 2" larger in every dimension and pack peanuts on
all 4 sides, if not other packing material. Even so, I buy
a shedload of stuff from newegg and it is very rare for
anything to be damaged in transit.


- that there will be clear communications between me and the vendor and
Click to expand...

I wouldn't expect any of them to have good tech support,
basically you buy the item and if it doesn't work you
request an RMA and ship it back. It can be important to
order all items such that they arrive at about the same time
if you want to be able to test new parts and didn't yet have
compatible parts to test with. For example, if you didn't
have any DDR2 memory, you don't want the motherboard sitting
there aging away the seller's (typically short) warranty
while you wait on a memory shipment... but we don't know
what parts you might have on hand.


- that very little is likely to go wrong but the vendor will make it
right is something does go wrong.
Click to expand...

Most of the majors will, though Newegg is about as painless
as it gets, they have an online RMA form where you just
input the order # and receive the number to ship it back.

So, given that criteria, with whom do you guys like to shop?
Click to expand...


Depends on the price sometimes, and what the part is.
Newegg is great for memory, motherboard, CPU, but sometimes
a bit high on quality fans, fair on PSU but sometimes
undercut. Misc heatsinks, cables, fans are often cheaper at
http://www.svc.com though sometimes their orders take awhile
to arrive (but I usually cheap out and use the USPS on small
items, partly my own fault).

newegg is definitely one of the safest choices, but when in
doubt read up on the "store rating" at
http://www.resellerratings.com
 
kony said:
crapshoot, a shipper with the best of intentions has no
control over what a UPS deliveryman does to a box. Even
with some that fill boxes with peanuts, it is exceedingly
rare for anyone to pack properly, which is to select a box
at least 2" larger in every dimension and pack peanuts on
all 4 sides, if not other packing material. Even so, I buy
a shedload of stuff from newegg and it is very rare for
anything to be damaged in transit.




I wouldn't expect any of them to have good tech support,
basically you buy the item and if it doesn't work you
request an RMA and ship it back. It can be important to
order all items such that they arrive at about the same time
if you want to be able to test new parts and didn't yet have
compatible parts to test with. For example, if you didn't
have any DDR2 memory, you don't want the motherboard sitting
there aging away the seller's (typically short) warranty
while you wait on a memory shipment... but we don't know
what parts you might have on hand.




Most of the majors will, though Newegg is about as painless
as it gets, they have an online RMA form where you just
input the order # and receive the number to ship it back.




Depends on the price sometimes, and what the part is.
Newegg is great for memory, motherboard, CPU, but sometimes
a bit high on quality fans, fair on PSU but sometimes
undercut. Misc heatsinks, cables, fans are often cheaper at
http://www.svc.com though sometimes their orders take awhile
to arrive (but I usually cheap out and use the USPS on small
items, partly my own fault).

newegg is definitely one of the safest choices, but when in
doubt read up on the "store rating" at
http://www.resellerratings.com
Click to expand...


Thanks for the info.
 
The poster formerly known as Colleyville Alan said:
I've spent the last couple of months reading reviews about various
components and have narrowed down what I want in my next computer, a
computer that, for the first time, I will be building myself.

So I thought that I'd look in the Google archives for recommendations about
vendors, but mostly I found flame wars about PSUs, monitors, graphics cards,
and the like. Tiring of the edge-of-the-seat drama, I have decided on a
more direct approach. Who do you guys feel are the best vendors from whom
to buy components?

Pricing is a concern, but not the biggest one. I have occasionally seen
something that is between $300 and $315 at a dozen vendors and then seeit
at $265 from a vendor who gets a 1-star rating out of 5 at some shopping
website. I'd much rather buy from a quality vendor in the first group and
not go through the agonies of the damned to save $35 or so.

I am more concerned that:
- things will be shipped on time
- products will arrive in good condition
- that there will be clear communications between me and the vendor and
- that very little is likely to go wrong but the vendor will make it
right is something does go wrong.

So, given that criteria, with whom do you guys like to shop?
Click to expand...

I started computing in 70's, built my first computer system in early 80's,
as well as using mail-order since 70's etc.

Before internet was available, I just order any company had the lowest
price. Same with online stores, before some online stores have end-users
feedbacks or reports/reviews of the product, I just give business to any
store gives me the best deal (now so many crooks with many trick's).

Now, after check with some site like www.nextag.com for the lowest price
(company rating too) then may stop by store like www.newegg.com to read the
feedbacks of users who really use the product's. So, if Newegg has good
price then I may order from Newegg (I have ordered quite afew fro Newegg),
if not then I give money to other that I can save some $$$
 
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