iBUYPOWER's Gamer Power 906 rig does Intel Quad-core for a bit over $700
By Paul Miller 
posted Mar 18th 2009 5:50AM
posted Mar 18th 2009 5:50AM
[Via SlashGear]
posted Mar 18th 2009 5:50AM
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My Graphics Card and CPU were more than $700.
well my case was over 9000!
Fresh eggs:
Intel Core i7 920
X58 Pro MoBo
3GB DDR3
HD4850 1GB
500GB HDD
-------------------------------
Total: $729.95
Yes but there's no case, no optical drive, and no 3rd party heatsink. But you've made your point. This Gamer Power crap is not a good deal.
the newly layed Egg computer parts you listed does not include:
Case $30-40
Power supply $20-30
Keyboard
esta exelente
I don't understand. I thought the advertisements were supposed to be to the right of the articles?
Word to the wise: Build it for $400.
9600GT? Sure they can do better than that. Games like the Witcher are ok with that card but no way you can enjoy more heavy games.
What is the sweet spot for affordable gaming card?
ATI 4850..??
Yeah, i'd say so. I Looooooooove my 4850.
Make sure your cpu isn't bottle necking though, had to upgrade from an athlon x2 to a phenom II to get its full potential.
I made some calculations and I reached the inevitable conclusion that to build this thing for 400 bucks would involve robbing an hardware store, or maybe avoid to include such unnecessary details such as an hard disc, any kind of optical drive,sound or TV cards, connectivity and networking possibilities, and/or other components.
Even avoiding to include the price for any kind of OS and software (which admitedly are'nt mentioned in the ad) I doubt that a (decently) functioning system with these specs could be built with off the shelf components for under 800/850 USD.
If your experience is different, please let me know where you buy your components (possibly legally)
You could pretty easily build this critter yourself from somewhere like NewEgg for between $400 and $500. I just built an i7 920 ($200) system with 3 GB of 3chan DDR3 ($60) with a 64GB SSD ($130), 700 watt PSU ($80), case ($40), and a ATI 4870 1GB ($200) for < $800. That machine, especially OC'd to 3.3GHz on the stock cooler, will blow this out of the water. Building your own is very economical these days.
@ gdead... I have been pricing out i7 systems lately and have not seen the i7 920 under $260. And an X58 mobo (not mentioned in your post) will run another $200 minimum.
You couldn't build that rig for $400.
I JUST built a rig with the EXACT same specs.. but with a 9800GT from the egg. And it cost me 800 :( w/shipping
@KilgoreTrout
Q8300 = $185
http://search.pricewatch.com/search?q=q8300&totalcost_min=min&totalcost_max=max
9600GT = $65
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814140092
4gb Corsair = $19
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2000170147%2050001666%201052315794&name=Corsair%20(XMS%20Series)
500gb HDD = $45
(search Pricewatch)
DVD Burner = $16
(search Pricewatch)
Case plus 450watt PS = $19
Frys add last week
Socket 775 Motherboard = $26
(search Pricewatch)
Keyboard/Mouse/Speaker Combo = $21
(search Pricewatch)
Next time, just take my word for it and don't rob any store.
Um, WTF? I can't believe you're going to trust a case with power supply for 19 dollars. Enjoy frying your rig and having the crappiest case ever. A 26 dollar motherboard, wow. Seriously? If you actually looked at the motherboard it only supports 4gb of DDR2 at 533 ( only 2 slots as well ). NO QUAD SUPPORT LISTED EITHER. Here is what would happen if you actually made this. Your Quad wouldn't work, your PSU wouldn't work, your case would be falling apart ( For my first build I bought a shitty case and they basically self destruct ), you wouldn't have compatible ram ( if it does even post it would be slow as hell ). Also; your processor has no cooler. That might be a problem no? OEM processor ftl. Not to mention you'll be buying all these parts from different stores so if something breaks enjoy sending that back and waiting 3 weeks. All these retailers have crap ratings as well. If you're building a computer newegg is the only way to go for decent parts (4 stars and up ). With actual parts it would be around 700+. Building a computer for very cheap just doesn't make sense if you're building budget.
@andi
What makes you think that the components are ANY better in the POS listed above hmmm? I was just proving that it can be done. Considering i was listing items at 1x and not in mass purchases, their profit margin (after hardware, before business costs) could be closer to 100%! PSU's have been dropping in price, as well as ram. granted, if I spent $50 more on name brand parts, they have JUST AS MUCH A CHANCE OF DYING as non-brand name parts. Ive spent 1000's over my life on parts building my own machines, and i can easily say that a crappy 450w psu can outlast a 1000w brand name psu at 1/20th the cost, same with motherboards, ram, etc. Oh and my bad for leaving out the CPU fan. + $20
In NO WAY should you end up spending $700 on the specs listed above, you will be doing yourself a disservice. Ok so i was off by $50 according to you. Either way, I laugh in your general direction.
I'm sure the components are not the highest of quality but they're far from bargain. Generally they're newegg items with positive reviews ( far better than the crap you found ). Also, it can't be done. It really can't.
If you bought those parts you could never make them get past the post screen. Incompatible PSU/MOBO/CPU and RAM! Is that a record? Either way you have absolutely no idea how to make a computer.
Pro tip: if you consider wattage to be remotely useful ( and apparently you do considering you only specified the wattage of the 10 dollar PSU ) you have no idea what you're talking about. A 352869324690 watt PSU is worthless if it's efficiency is crap/voltage isn't stable/amps aren't high enough on the 12v. If you spend 300 more on name brand parts you'd have a comparable system. Also I can't believe you think generic PSU are as good as quality ones. Pair a 750W generic (~30 dollars ) against a TX750 and you'd find that a generic one couldn't handle a single 4870x2 while the 750 could handle CF.A crappy PSU could outlast a quality PSU ( rarely ) but the crappy PSU won't be able to handle a graphics card on load.
At 10 dollars a case they'd have to be making them for 5 or less. I hate to even think of the build quality. Might as well skip the case and just leave the components lying around.
I still can't believe you say the link for a 25 dollar mobo on pricewatch and thought it would work. Did you even bother glancing at what you were selecting?
Also a bet a majority of these "stores" are scam sites. If the vendor can't make a website and uses yahoo, are you going to trust them?
Good PSUs have not been dropping in price, bad ones have. I'm still laughing at your absolute ignorance of anything computer related. 50 dollars would barely cover the cost of upgrading the "motherboard" to a micro ATX decent one.
In summary your build wouldn't have posted period. Show me a 400 dollar build with the same quality parts as ibuypower or even one that can turn on and you'll have proven that you can make a crappy computer. Right now you've only proven that you can't read product specifications. Make a new list with parts from newegg, under 400, same specs. You won't be able to do it.
Actually, i didnt check compatibility, cause i didnt care, because i was making a short point, which you have dragged out into a point that now makes me do a little more research. I went and did 10 minutes of link grabbing to make sure i could match that $400 quote. I wasnt actually building a computer for someone.
"Generally they're newegg items with positive reviews ( far better than the crap you found ).
Also, it can't be done. It really can't"
Of course it cant if you are so inclined to buy everything from Newegg? There are so many assumptions in your posting its absurd. Also, it can be done, has been done. It really can. You just have to be more positive about the situation, and open your mind to other suppliers.
$35 Motherboard QUAD COMPATIBLE FROM NEWEGG
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813500018
Oooo looks like you got me there, that adds $9 to the $400 total.
"Pro tip: if you consider wattage to be remotely useful ( and apparently you do considering
you only specified the wattage of the 10 dollar PSU ) you have no idea what you're talking
about. A 352869324690 watt PSU is worthless if it's efficiency is crap/voltage isn't
stable/amps aren't high enough on the 12v. If you spend 300 more on name brand parts you'd
have a comparable system. Also I can't believe you think generic PSU are as good as quality
ones. Pair a 750W generic (~30 dollars ) against a TX750 and you'd find that a generic one
couldn't handle a single 4870x2 while the 750 could handle CF.A crappy PSU could outlast a
quality PSU ( rarely ) but the crappy PSU won't be able to handle a graphics card on load."
Jesus, you're the typical wanna-be-mister-know-it-all that appears in every forum to try and show off your intellectual "Whoa's". Don't try and lecture me on this shit, or your mother and I will send you back to your room. I was building computers when I conceived you.
The Coolermaster Case(dont know the model case)/PSU I mentioned? RS-460-PMSR-A3 was the PSU, available on newegg, 5 EGGS OMG!!! Efficiency FTW!!! Did I recommend this PSU for a 4870X2? No. (Generic red "X" through your paragraph)
"At 10 dollars a case they'd have to be making them for 5 or less. I hate to even think of
the build quality. Might as well skip the case and just leave the components lying around."
Refer to above rhetoric, proceed with red "X" again.
"I still can't believe you say the link for a 25 dollar mobo on pricewatch and thought it
would work. Did you even bother glancing at what you were selecting?"
No, I didnt read it. Picked the cheapest Socket 775 Mobo ASSUMING it would accept the specs. So you win. $9.
"Also a bet a majority of these "stores" are scam sites. If the vendor can't make a website
and uses yahoo, are you going to trust them?"
This further proves your inability to branch away from what might be known as "safe". MemoryLabs, as well as other stores started on Yahoo, and never had a reason to leave them. If they are getting the steady business, why spend money to fix something that isnt broken?
Ratings for them: http://shopping.yahoo.com/merchrating/user_rv.html?merchant_id=1025841
I chose those distributors to make that $400 mark, but have used quite a few of them in the past and have never had a problem with anything on pricewatch.com. It was alive before newegg, and was a staple before you quit sucking your thumb.
"Good PSUs have not been dropping in price, bad ones have. I'm still laughing at your absolute
ignorance of anything computer related. 50 dollars would barely cover the cost of upgrading
the "motherboard" to a micro ATX decent one."
Null. Laughs returned back to you with $9 upgrade fee.
"In summary your build wouldn't have posted period. Show me a 400 dollar build with the same
quality parts as ibuypower or even one that can turn on and you'll have proven that you can
make a crappy computer. Right now you've only proven that you can't read product specifications.
Make a new list with parts from newegg, under 400, same specs. You won't be able to do it."
This is your little brain stopping you from crossing the street little Jonny. Not only does Newegg provide shitty components like every other distributor, they charge shipping most times. They also charge a restocking fee for everything not defective. Why limit yourself to Newegg? Do you work for them? Do they sponsor your pacifier? You are correct in that my build would not have posted at $400. It did however post at $409, a mere $301 cheaper than the ass-rape up top. Its not that I can't read, its that I didnt, because at one point in time this was an insignificant suggestion so that someone could save $310. Now, its only $301. Quit being so scared and venture out into the world, its a great place. Good luck!
My comment was that you could not build it for 400. And by IT I meant that computer. Sure if you swap out every decent component with some crap you found in a dumpster you could do it ( sorta, probably would break pretty fast ).
Newegg is the gold standard for buying parts online. Shipping is charged occasionally, as I recall for every component ( including case ) it was 15 dollars and arrived in 2 days. Here's the ratings for each vendor: http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Memorylabs and http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Newegg. I'm surprised you even linked their feedback page. Not exactly encouraging with comments like: "Ordered a HD, was DOA and they ignored all my calls/emails." Sounds like quality service to me!
Again, excluding random crazy black friday-esque deals that are time limited, show me a build from newegg with all those parts. Again, you can't do it. Your whole argument appears to be that you are an old computer nerd who had sex with my mother. When I point out that there is more to consider than wattage that is all you offer in retort.
Note that memory labs has a 20% restocking fee and you have to pay shipping back. Newegg offers low rate automatic rma service with ups ( just a label you stick on the box it came with for 5 bucks ). Restocking fee for newegg is 5% less. No refunds at all for CPUs and 10 days for ram also make this store inferior.
I suppose if you're willing to make a completely different computer that performs differently than this one you could for 400 dollars. I looked up what actually goes into this computer however and you couldn't build one for 400 if you were trying to replicate this computer.
These are some the parts that are in this machine:
hxxp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131232&Tpk=Asus%20P5N-D
hxxp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182150
hxxp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115207
hxxp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184
hxxp://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=9600GT+1gb&x=0&y=0
hxxp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395
hxxp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136139&Tpk=LG%2020X
hxxp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146041
If you add these up and actually compare these to the crap parts you picked you'd find the 2 computers would not be remotely the same. Is the 35 dollar mobo SLI enabled? Definitely not. Does the power supply support SLI? Definitely not. Does the graphics card actually have 1gb of memory? No, it's 256mb which is horrible ( 1gb may be a bit excessive but 256mb is pitiful ). I doubt your computer would OC very well either. So no, you can't build this computer for 400. You can build a computer with no expandibility with different and inferior parts (256mb=/=1gb of memory ) for 400.
Again: make a list of parts from newegg and try to actually get the same parts this time. You're not going to get under 400. For being so great with computers you sure do suck at building them. Until you do you will be admitting that you can't build THIS MACHINE for under 400. The above parts, excluding the burner total 660 (w/o tax + shipping ).
Get Newegg out of your head. I myself probably spend more money at newegg than i should to be honest, but i'm not genetically predetermined to purchase from them. Again, had i known the specs of the other computer, or rather, gave a shit, i would have done more research. You are obviously against me trying to save other people money. Of couse, most people know whether or not they should make that endeavor. You can continue to bring back "New Facts" about the atrocity above, but the bottom line is, its STILL cheaper to build it yourself using your "NewEgg Only!" routine. Thanks for that ;)
Why would I be limited to using "THE EXACT SAME PARTS OMG" as above? You smell fishy. You are so closed minded in this matter that it is quite amusing to me.
"I'm surprised you even linked their feedback page. Not exactly encouraging with comments like: "Ordered a HD, was DOA and they ignored all my calls/emails." Sounds like quality service to me!"
As long as you're willing to admit that youve read the other horror stories about iBuyPower from other engadget posters here in this thread, i have no problem with this. Im not even going to bother pulling sob stories from newegg ratings, you know where to find them.
"make a list of parts from newegg and try to actually get the same parts this time. You're not going to get under 400. For being so great with computers you sure do suck at building them. Until you do you will be admitting that you can't build THIS MACHINE for under 400. The above parts, excluding the burner total 660 (w/o tax + shipping )."
What kind of ultimatum is that??
"Make list from newegg" - I dont have to buy from there to be comfortable with my purchase, apparently you do? Since WHEN DID I SAY I WOULD EVER USE ONLY NEWEGG TO BUILD THE $400 COMPUTER. (shakes my head in astonishment at your infatuation with NewEgg).
"try to actually get the same parts this time" - I searched parts from the Engadget article, no other research was made. According to you the 9600gt is 1gb instead of 256mb. Thats cool. add $65 to my total.
SLI PSU? Cool, add $20
"For being so great with computers you sure do suck at building them." Your assumptions still seem to be getting the best of you. Ive never created an issue by my apparent sucky ability to builld computers. Just handshakes, pats on the back, and a few "Thank you for saving me +\- $500!" with no complaints following. Over 15 years.
"Until you do you will be admitting that you can't build THIS MACHINE for under 400." You know what? You win! Using NEWEGG I cant build that computer for $400. Wow. If only I wasn't so in love with newegg, I may have won this conversation.
Not using NewEgg however brings the total to just under $500. Again, $200 cheaper. Until you actually buy the overpriced computer above, and physically benchmark it against my half-newegg/half other distributor, YOU will be admitting that my build is the overall winner. (Yes, thats exactly how ridiculous you sound).
Ordering from a shoddy vendor wasn't the worst thing ( you can get lucky ), it's the fact that the specifications aren't the same. Obviously it doesn't matter if it's EVGA or BFG, but if the memory is 1/4 it will. Here's what you're missing: 40 more for the graphics card 20 dollars for a CPU with cooler, case + PSU used in this computer for 120, motherboard is 100ish, burner is 30 more By then you're already past the 710 budget even. Let alone you're claim of 400. While ibuypower doesn't have the greatest ratings ( http://www.resellerratings.com/store/iBUYPOWER ) it still eats memory labs alive. I'm sure you can find a couple horror stories for newegg ( due to their huge volume ) but overall it's unanimous that newegg has good service. Making THIS computer for 400 can't be done, building a different computer with inferior specifications yes. 400 doesn't even cover the cost of motherboard, CPU, case and power supply. You don't need benchmarks to know that a 256mb 9600GT won't perform better than a 1gb 9600GT, that a 450W generic PSU won't perform better than a 600W SLI certified PSU or that DDR2 533 won't perform better DDR2 800.
A friend of mine just got an ibuy rig for $999 with a core i7 920, 9800gt, 750GB hdd, 3gb ddr3 ram and what not....this engadget deal seemed a little weak to me but I guess a 920 might be a little less powerful then a q8300; but I haven't been reading up on core models recently...
Ho, and I would get higher Ghz in dual-core (3ghz ok) ratehr than the 2.5ghz quad and boost the videocard a bit more.
Still that computer would be ok for 3d work.
9600...fail
iBuyPower Fail...
Not a bad price, but I wouldn't buy from iBuypower anymore. Components are off-the-shelve. Support is, well, not useful. I ended up having to replace components myself, adding to the total cost. Might as well build my own machine from the get go. Good starting point for DIYers that want pre-assembled barebone though.
Why not a 4850 or 9800GT ?
What's the motherboard?
Is a quad core more important than a powerful gpu, especially since it's SUPPOSED to be a gaming pc?
No, whoever built that doesnt have a clue about gaming.
Quad core is useless for gaming, sure it might have more threads than a dual core but a lot of games thesedays arent multithreaded compatible, so choosing a Dual Core with higher clockrate/cache would make a more effective gaming processor.
Im not even gonna touch on the graphics card thats pretty much self explanitory.
Cheap case with probably an even cheaper PSU, no gaming keyboard or mouse, everything is just a bit generic and blah.
I could build a better gaming machine for less that would run rings around that thing.
That's what I said.
Well, I'm just downright confused.
The description on the site says Core 2 Duo.
lawl.
Gamers do not buy these setups anymore. They stick with what they got, or upgrade, until the i7 builds are affordable.
Think that's what I'll do. Mr. Socket 939 / AGP slot motherboard is getting tired.
The price here is a good sign though, I don't think I could have found a deal this great last year.
I had a horrible experience with iBuyPower back in the day. It was 2005 I believe, buying my first real computer, didn't know much about them except which graphics cards were good.
Ordered a nice yellow PC, got it, installed SW Battlefield and had a small LAN party with friends. Few minutes into playing and my computer just shuts off. I start it back up and it shuts off after again playing a few more minutes.
Called tech support and they made me look in BIOS at the temp, and sure enough it was overheating. So what do they do? They tell me they are sending replacement parts. I think ok? Sure? I'm smart enough to install this shit. What do they send me? A fucking motherboard!
Keep in mind they didn't ask my about computer experience or didn't even tell me how to install it or where do go to get it installed. And by the way... why in the fuck would they send me a motherboard for an overheating problem?? (didn't know this back in the day) I figgit around and actually try to install the thing but they screwed the damn MB in so tight none one could get it out.
I call and explain to them that I couldn't do it, and they tell me to send the whole PC back with the motherboard they sent me. I wait a couple weeks and finally get it back. They tell me they installed a better fan to keep it cool (which is bullshit looking back, but I again didn't know this). I fire it up and start playing games again and sure enough it enough it overheats.
I'm really pissed off and call tech support again. We fuss a bit and they tell me to send it back. I do and wait another couple weeks. I get it back and take it out of the box, noticing that something is rattling around inside the PC. I open it up and find that the RAM stick is just lying at the bottom of the case. I put it back in and turn it on.
Don't you know it, it starts beeping and doesn't start up, I'm just staring at a black screen. I call tech again and they figure out that the beeping is code for "something is fucked with the RAM". Turns out the RAM slot was just fucked for some reason.
They want me to send it back AGAIN (3rd time mind you), I say I don't want the damn thing, I want my money back. They oblige but say I'd have to pay for shipping this time. I put my mom on the phone (she paid for it since it was Christmas present), but they don't budge and we end up paying like $80 in shipping it back.
Long story short, their prices are good, but you really get what you pay for (shit customer service).
I learned my lesson and learned how to build computers myself. It's cheaper and just more fun than dealing with that shit.
I most definitely had a horrible experience as well.
My laptop began simply falling apart. It was a crappy build...and I was so hard headed in my decision to get an Ibuypower because it wasn't a dell. Their customer service was atrocious. They even told me to go buy my OWN parts for my laptop while it was UNDER WARRANTY.
Now that I am older and wiser I will never do business with them again. I will build my own desktops and buy from reliable companies for laptops. =\
It was just a bad first personal computer experience overall.
hp has c2q for much cheaper before
Desktop fail. What use is the Quad next to the 9600 GT?
However, I'm saving for their other 3D-vision high end option... and no, building it isn't cheaper. ($100 doesn't make it worthwhile)
Motherboard?
WHAT no one made a crysis comment ...
Ooooohhhh. Pretty.
I got 2 desktops from IBuyPower some years ago. The first was an Athlon 2500+ system with a Radeon 9600 Pro AGP, and the second was an Athlon 64x2 4600+ with a Geforce 7600GT. At the time, they were great deals and it was almost impossible to build yourself for a better price.
Now, the value isn't really there anymore. The 9600GT is nothing to rave about at this point, and in my opinion the Core 2 Quads are already outdated now that the Core i7 920 is affordable.
Decent attempt, better luck next time.
I bought an old FX from TigerDirect about 2 months ago 9800GT, quad core, 640GB, 6GB DDR2, vista for 705 bucks (shipping included).
Shop around before committing sales are always going on, and yes you may save 100 bucks putting it together yourself, but what happens if you mess up? Your screwed. If you don't know hardware well, mine as well buy whole.
PS. If you are looking to buy a comp., don't forget the price of monitor wires!!!!! (made that mistake)
Last time I checked IBP blows anyway....so I'm not seeing the point in this system setup
http://www.newbiecemetery.com
looks like it's time to upgrade the gaming rig.
You can easily build something much better for less, or a little more. Try a Q6600 core 2 quad for gaming or a E8500 for application development (ie: photoshop). Both processors are under $200 at newegg. Then purchase a $120 motherboard, $80 sexy aluminum case with 550watt ATX / micro ATX power supply, $19 for 4gb of corsair gaming ram (newegg again)... Etc.. Go to pricegrabber and search for HP W2007 20.1-inch Widescreen from buydig.com and get it for $199 with no shipping... Man this is too easy. Oh, don't forget to purchase generic SATA cables for $2 a piece. Most of them work just as great as the overpriced ones.
Good build, off the top of your head. Most decent motherboards come with a few SATA cables. Mine came with 4.
Only problem I see with that is the case+PSU bundle, bundled PSUs tend to be crappy generic ones that'll die at the touch of a finger.