Local Computer store

[scott1120]

I am looking for a local computer store. Richardson/Plano area preferable. I am wanting to build a new computer and am wanting to get some quotes. I know I can go online, but sometimes I prefer to see what I am getting. I am looking for a barebone system, as I have already have some componments. Any suggestions?

[Bruce M. Morris]

How close are you to a Frye's? They have specials almost every week.

[scott1120]

Originally Posted by Bruce M. Morris

How close are you to a Frye's? They have specials almost every week.

There is one close to my work. I have always heard bad things about computers from fry's, anybody have good luck?

[mivy00]

I have one i built myself ...all the parts were purchased at frys it has been good for 2+ years......I also bought a bare bones system from frys for my mother in law it is still working fine been about 2 years on that one as well

[picasso]

Also try Micro Center. I used to work there about 9 years ago and they are very knowlegeable. They get trained on the products pretty often and the prices are not to bad. They have really started catering to the custom builders. They are on the corner of Spring Valley and 75.

Paul

[Panama Kid]

I have used Fry's before, good prices, but, be careful about returned items.

I have built all of my computers and some for several people & friends. I usually buy the bulk of my stuff from www.newegg.com. Once I find what I want, I'll check their prices against what I can get at Fry's. I haven't had any problems with newegg, in fact, I bought a 4 gig CF card from them last month. Check them out if you are looking for a decent online store.

[scott1120]

Thanks guys. I will have to give Fry's another shot. Would you suggest picking a CPU then build around that? It has been years since I built a system.

[Torrey]

Are you planning on building yourself or having a store build it? I was in Fry's off 75 just last night, and they have a ton of cheap pc's already built. I couldn't tell you about quality, but they had some AMD 3500, 1gb ram, 200gb hard drive units for under $500. They also had a lot of video cards on clearance, I suspect leftovers from Christmas overstock. From what I've been told, with the introduction of Intel's newest processors, AMD prices have dropped through the floor.

Unless you're trying to design some ultimate machine, there's not a whole lot to build around a cpu except your motherboard choice. Of course, the motherboard will determine the memory type and size, video card slot type, number of add-on cards, on-board sound or video, etc. The hard drive, floppy (if you choose), and any cd drives don't care what cpu you have.

If it was me, I would get a cpu/motherboard combo through newegg.com as mentioned previously, and then pick up all of the additional parts at fry's. If you really want to get excited about it, go to the 1st saturday sale off of 75/ross avenue at about 2am. You might find everything you want right there.

[Bruce M. Morris]

Scott,
Fort Worth Star Telegram runs an insert every Friday tht lists all of Fry's specials for the week. Depending on what your urgency is, that might be the best way to look at what they have on special if you cant get in to the store.. Their website is www.outpost.com if I remember correctly..

[snidow]

Originally Posted by Bruce M. Morris

Scott,
Fort Worth Star Telegram runs an insert every Friday tht lists all of Fry's specials for the week. Depending on what your urgency is, that might be the best way to look at what they have on special if you cant get in to the store.. Their website is www.outpost.com if I remember correctly..

The Dallas paper runs it as well on Fridays and you have the website correct.

[scott1120]

I just need to make a list of what I want and then wait for my tax refund.

[mobilezen]

Fry's is a good spot...but I always go to newegg.com

[J. Scott Martin]

I highly recommend newegg.com or zipzoomfly.com. Both these are very reputable, have quick shipping, and near bottom-line prices. Fry's will have less selection and higher prices; their advantages is you can walk in, buy now, and talk to the sales staff.

You might also try a computer forum.

[pcdeatherage]

Fry's Ads: generally speaking...
Friday's ad is the big one - it runs thru the next Tue
Saturday - generally/may have a 1 or 2 page Sat ad - sometimes 1 will be a one day sale, otherwise will run thru the next Tue
Sunday - generally/may have a 1 page Sun ad, generally will run thru the next Tue
Wed ad with be good sometimes Wed only, generally Wed-Thur

If you buy something and it appears in a Fry's ad during the next 30 days you can get the price break DURING THAT AD. You don't need the item, just the receipt or receipt number. They can look up the receipt using your credit card number, checking account number, and/or phone number if bought with a quote. If you pay with cash and don't have a receipt you're probably out of luck. You can also "LPG" at a different Fry's store, i.e., if you buy it at the S Houston store you can walk into Webster and get the price break.

Basically LPGs (Low Price Gurantee) from other stores: It has to be a current ad from a local store and verifieable in stock - in other words, they look at the ad you bring in, and call the other store to verify the exact same item and that it is in stock. Point being, this is not something you want to try and do on a busy Sat or Sun or 10 minutes before closing.

They DO NOT match ANY on-line prices, even from frys.com

Returns are 30 days except some items like digital cameras, processors and memory to mention a few. Actually the extended warraty (PSC's) are a good idea on motherboards (not to mention computers). There's a lot more I could probably write about returns but will save for another time. For example, don't snap a memory stick in 2 or bend the pins on a processor or drop your camera and expect it to be accepted as a valid return...I probably have a receipt around here with the policy on the back and type it up...

If you buy a "combo", and want to return it, you have to return both processor and motherboard. If one of the two is bad you can "even exchange" the the exact same item. A lot of people buy the combo and are unhappy with the ECS m/b and try to swap it for say a Gigabyte but that's a no-no. (I always look at it like I'm getting a really good deal on the processor and the m/b is free and if the m/b lasts a few months I that much ahead of the game.)

At this point, FRYS.COM and FRY'S ELECTRONICS are TWO SEPARATE entities. You can NOT return something from frys.com at fry's electronics. You can return something from one Fry's Electronics at another Fry's Electronics.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL OF THE ABOVE IS A GUIDE FROM MY OWN MEMORY AND NOT NECESSARIALLY FRY'S POLICY - PLEASE SEE STORE AND .COM FOR SPECIFICS.

What'd I miss?

[msthomas]

Scott
I wish I could send my taxes that I owe to you. It would do more good then sending it to the IRS. I hope that is not to political statement. Good luck