Price Comparison: d4999t series HP vs DIY
Feb 16th, 2008 by Admin
This is from HPs performance/multimedia line with the recommended configuration - it retails for $1,629.99. See it here.
Specs are as follows:
- Windows Vista Home Premium
- Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Quad processor Q6600 (2.4GHz)
- 4GB DDR2-800MHz dual channel SDRAM (4×1024)
- 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT, 2 DVI, TV-Out
- 802.11 a/b/g/n Wireless LAN card
- 500GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive
- LightScribe 16X max. DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive
- 15-in-1 memory card reader, 3 USB, 1394, audio
- HP wireless keyboard and HP wireless optical mouse
- Total: $1,629
And now if you buy the parts yourself:
- Microsoft Windows Vista 32-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD $109.99
- Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor $275.99
- EVGA GeForce 8800GT 512-P3-N801-AR Video Card $239.99
- Patriot Extreme Performance 4GB(4 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Quad Kit Desktop Memory $106.99
- Western Digital Caviar SE 500GB 3.5″ SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive $99.99
- Logitech Black Cordless Keyboard and Mouse EX110 $26.99
- SUPER TALENT INT-AIN1-C All-in-one USB 2.0 Card Reader $7.99
- MSI PC60G 32bit PCI2.2 Turbo G Wireless Adapter $17.99
- GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard $89.99
- Antec Sonata III 500 Black Computer Case $109.95
- Total: $1085.86
The homebuilt computer is just under two thirds of the price of the HP machine. Not only that, it most likely has much superior components than what goes in an HP machine. Patriot is a high end brand, and the case and power supply are quite nice as well.
Just bought one from HP. Mine was only $1159, with a Q6700 (2.66GHz) included 750GB HD & 64 Bit vista Ultimate. In your list take out the ram (since I’m replacing mine) and the Video card (since I consider that temporary), up your processor, HD, and OS, and see what you come up with. I expect to pay more, but now I don’t have to deal with something that’s loud and if anything goes wrong I have someone to call, no more mysterious instability issues.. (is it the ram / cpu / mb, RMA cycle).
To each his own.