Eric Vogel

As many of you may know, I troubleshoot hardware and software issues on computers for part of my living. I do branch out to more areas. I have replaced every component in a computer, including some that require removing most parts to get to the motherboard (main circuit board). I was under the illusion that is was cheaper to buy a PC from a company like Dell than to build your own. When I helped a friend pick out his parts with a store employee (was too busy that time to research and build the computer) for $1,900 and Dell wanted $2,228 for a bit less powerful version.

My main system, a laptop I am going to wait at least a year to replace. But, my Windows Media Center Computer has been giving me a few issues and I fear that once I fix the current issue something else will pop up. Plus to it is sooo slow. So I decided to build a new computer with my friend, Justin H. I do not watch every motherboard, video card and so on that is released into the market, because I do not have the time anymore since they are updated frequently. He helped me with brand selection, and to confirm if the motherboard and CPU will work well together and to ensure that I can upgrade to the current latest possessor down the road, as well as other things.

Since I do not want to spend alot of money, and I do not needs a screaming fast computer, I decided to go with a AMD Athlon X2 2.8Ghz dual core CPU,  a ASUS motherboard with a ATI HD Radion 3300 Video card, VIA 7.1 surround sound and 1000mbs network card all on the mother board, all of good quality so no having to buy these two separately. a Plextor 20x DVD +/- R R/W DVD-R Dual Layer Burner, a Western Digital Green 1 Terabyte hard drive, Corsair 40-watt 80 Plus Certified Power Supply, 4 gigs of memory and a Cooler Master Sileo 500 RC Case all for $467.23 (Includes $5.99 S&H). Most items I bought had free shipping. There were a dew special deals yesterday to knock $5 off the CPU and I changed cases, because the first one had $15 S&H and slightly higher to one on sale for $50 and free shipping cutting $20 off the price. I took 4 days of thinking things over, do I really need this computer? Some things went up and down, but I did still get everything as a whole cheaper on the day I bought it.

I will also get $9.22 back in my eBates account for this purchase, as I get 2% back from NewEgg on the pre S&H / Tax total. Every time you get $5.01 or more back from many  stores you can buy from (Alot of popular stores to shop at online), you get a check or PayPal for that amount of money. If not, the money carries over till you hit the minimum. I already got two payments from them. Please sign up through my link so I get a tell-a-friend referral. You will also get $5 for signing up! (This $5 does not count toward the minimum so basicall your first payout will be ($5+$5.01 =) of $10.01, then back to the $5.01. Please click here to start saving.

When I get time, I will compile a document of all of my new Windows Media Center specs and post it here on my blog, along with the energy effecientcies this computer has to be green!! Oh, and of course how it went building it and what I thought of it. I do not think it will ship till tomorrow or Friday. Plus of course shipping time.