build 2 desktops- best deal

toyotaman1281 · 10-13-2006, 09:50 PM

I am going to build 2 desktop computers. Would it be cheaper to buy combos (motherboard and cpu) etc or buy seperate? ANd is buying combos good or dont do it?

**Doby** · 10-13-2006, 10:33 PM

Typically when I see combos there a bit outdated, this is fine if your on a buget or just want to save some money but if you want the latest and greatest then its not always the best

chauffeur2 · 10-13-2006, 10:40 PM

Hi toyotaman1281,

I'm with Doby on this one; he has given some very sound advice.

Another piece of advice.....Shop around, as there are some really 'good deals' going on at the moment...right round the world.

**PanamaGal** · 10-14-2006, 03:36 PM

Combos can have different meanings from what I've seen. Some places will offer a combo where the CPU is already installed in the board. Other places will offer a "combo deal" where they give you a discount if you buy a CPU and board together. I don't have a problem with this "combo". The former, where the CPU is already installed in a board I don't like, for the reason that was already given, as they are usually out-of-date components trying to be gotten rid of.

**jnob** · 10-14-2006, 04:10 PM

Just to back up what's already been mentioned. If the cpu/mobo deal seems really cheap (eg. $40 more than the brand-new processor by itself) then the motherboard probably has an older chipset or is in some way inferior to the more expensive boards. But as PanamaGal mentioned if you're just getting a % off because you bought the two at the same time (common on site like NewEgg) then that may be your most cost effective route.

yustr · 10-14-2006, 08:30 PM

You have to ask yourself what the comps will be used for. If it's just web browsing, light applications, word processing, email, contributing to TSF posts, etc (which btw is what 90% of all comps are used for) then an older "combo" may be more than adequate. I recently bought and built a "bare-bones" combo from Tigerdirect. Sure none of the components was state-of-the-art but for my needs SOTA would be over-kill.

Analyse your need first then decide how to fill it.

toyotaman1281 · 10-15-2006, 10:07 PM

ok thanks, some thinking ahead..

10-13-2006, 09:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
toyotaman1281 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 87 OS: windows xp	build 2 desktops- best deal I am going to build 2 desktop computers. Would it be cheaper to buy combos (motherboard and cpu) etc or buy seperate? ANd is buying combos good or dont do it?

10-13-2006, 10:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
Doby Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Central PA (USA) Posts: 8,083 OS: XP sp2/ Vista My System	Typically when I see combos there a bit outdated, this is fine if your on a buget or just want to save some money but if you want the latest and greatest then its not always the best __________________ Would you like to help TSF fight cancer and other diseases??? JOIN TEAM TSF

10-13-2006, 10:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
chauffeur2 Manager Emeritus Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 10,180 OS: Xp Sp3 with all updates + Vista™ Ultimate SP1. My System	Hi toyotaman1281, I'm with Doby on this one; he has given some very sound advice. Another piece of advice.....Shop around, as there are some really 'good deals' going on at the moment...right round the world. __________________ Dave T. Submit New Articles If it works, Don't fix it! Especially if Bill Gates had anything to do with it!!

10-14-2006, 03:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
PanamaGal Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Panama Posts: 1,240 OS: WinXP Pro SP2; Windows Server 2003; Windows Vista Ultimate; Vista Business	Combos can have different meanings from what I've seen. Some places will offer a combo where the CPU is already installed in the board. Other places will offer a "combo deal" where they give you a discount if you buy a CPU and board together. I don't have a problem with this "combo". The former, where the CPU is already installed in a board I don't like, for the reason that was already given, as they are usually out-of-date components trying to be gotten rid of. __________________ It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.

10-14-2006, 04:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
jnob TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CA Valley Posts: 692 OS: XP Pro, SP2 My System	Just to back up what's already been mentioned. If the cpu/mobo deal seems really cheap (eg. $40 more than the brand-new processor by itself) then the motherboard probably has an older chipset or is in some way inferior to the more expensive boards. But as PanamaGal mentioned if you're just getting a % off because you bought the two at the same time (common on site like NewEgg) then that may be your most cost effective route. __________________ Everest Memtest86

10-14-2006, 08:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
yustr Asst. Manager, The Conversation Pit Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Connecticut shore Posts: 6,050 OS: XP Pro My System	You have to ask yourself what the comps will be used for. If it's just web browsing, light applications, word processing, email, contributing to TSF posts, etc (which btw is what 90% of all comps are used for) then an older "combo" may be more than adequate. I recently bought and built a "bare-bones" combo from Tigerdirect. Sure none of the components was state-of-the-art but for my needs SOTA would be over-kill. Analyse your need first then decide how to fill it. __________________ If there are lawyers or politicians involved, logic may be a very poor tool for reaching a conclusion.

10-15-2006, 10:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
toyotaman1281 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 87 OS: windows xp	ok thanks, some thinking ahead..