Best place to purchase computer hardware?

[kn]

There are so many American vendors that offer great custom configurations for both PCs and notebooks but is there anywhere local or even in Canada that does the same?

I won't deal with FutureShop but other than Dell.ca, I can't find any. And since I'd rather stick with AMD, Dell isn't an option. Velocity Micro has my ideal system but they're in Virginia! However, they're one of the few American outlets that will ship to Canada.

Thanks.

[photon]

Yup, they're not the absolute lowest for prices on some stuff, but they're not overpriced and I've never had a problem with their service.

http://www.ncix.com/ is another one out of Vancouver.

http://www.extreme-pc.ca/ is another. Though I've not dealt with them, they get very good reseller ratings.

Here's a list of online vendors in Canada ordered by the # of votes they have, you can see the reseller ratings. (I didn't sort by reseller ratings because there's a ton with high ratings and 2 votes, not reliable).

http://www.computers-canada.com/top1...ex.html?sort=3

[kn]

Awesome, thanks!

[Bertuzzied]

If you know how to put the hardware in yourself www.oemdepot.com has the best prices in Calgary. Dont' expect a lot of support or service or a good return policy But i must have bought at least $3000 worth of stuff from them and it all works. Of course if anything craps out i'm hooped! hehehe

The funniest thing about them is that they keep taunting memexpress on their flyer page with things like, stop whining and crying, come out and play and it's only round one and other crap like that. hehehe

[Bertuzzied]

Originally posted by fotze@Apr 14 2005, 07:45 PM
or buy this supercheap laptop from dell

http://configure.dell.com/dellstore/config...0L_FEAT_CB1LP11

That's a pretty good price! But they had better deals during Dell Days last month.
I bought a 20" LCD widescreen monitor for only $599 including free shipping. You can twist it so it becomes a vertical monitor. I don't even have to scoll on some websites. It even comes with a DVI cable! and can hook up a vcr or a dvd player to it. I wanted to buy 2 but it was only 1 per household.

[ratech]

Why oh why do I read this board.

I just dropped 13 hun at mem express

must think quick

what to tell the wife

i'm fata'd

but I got some real cool stuff

[Bertuzzied]

Originally posted by ratech@Apr 14 2005, 09:19 PM
Why oh why do I read this board.

I just dropped 13 hun at mem express

must think quick

what to tell the wife

i'm fata'd

but I got some real cool stuff

Don't get me wrong MEm express is probably the best comp store i've been to, but if it's the exact same product, i'll save a few bucks and chance it at oem depot. Even they have a crap ass return policy you still get the manufacturers warranty. you just have to send it out yourself.

what kinda cool stuff? did you pick up the Pioneer dvd burner? that thing is awesome!

[ratech]

I'm real lazy so oem stuff doesn't work for me. I built a new system excluding monitor, keyboard, speakers and mouse. It's pretty slick, but I don't have time to give specs right now. I will try to later.

Fun, fun, fun, till your wife takes your computer away....

[Bertuzzied]

Originally posted by ratech@Apr 14 2005, 09:38 PM
I'm real lazy so oem stuff doesn't work for me. I built a new system excluding monitor, keyboard, speakers and mouse. It's pretty slick, but I don't have time to give specs right now. I will try to later.

Fun, fun, fun, till your wife takes your computer away....

wow and you still spent $1300? you must have the top of line stuff.

I just tell my wife that it's necessary for my job and she buys that. hehehe

[ah123]

A colleague of mine swears by TigerDirect (www.tigerdirect.ca) -- their prices look really good...

[photon]

TigerDirect has great prices, though I've heard a few problems with their service (no company is perfect).

I'd say stay away from their in-house rebates however, I've heard LOTS of people having problems with them (i.e. offering two rebates for the same product where both require an original UPC code). If it's a manufacturers rebate, no biggie.

I picked up a box of cheap stuff from TigerDirect not too long ago, everything came fast and was well packaged.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

I used to build systems for my friends to help them save a few bucks but lately, I send em straight to Dell, preferably during a sales event. There's no way I can come close to building a system with an LCD flat panel (15") for $599. Especially with a Win XP license.

I grabbed that Dell laptop fotze mentioned.... sweeet deal! Far better than the 10 days of Dell one!

[4X4]

Originally posted by ah123@Apr 14 2005, 03:23 PM
A colleague of mine swears by TigerDirect (www.tigerdirect.ca) -- their prices look really good...

I am in the market for a laser printer... I checked all the sites you folks have posted, and that Tigerdirect place is pretty damn good. I think I might order this thing...

[Inferno]

Originally posted by photon@Apr 14 2005, 05:30 PM
TigerDirect has great prices, though I've heard a few problems with their service (no company is perfect).

I'd say stay away from their in-house rebates however, I've heard LOTS of people having problems with them (i.e. offering two rebates for the same product where both require an original UPC code). If it's a manufacturers rebate, no biggie.

I picked up a box of cheap stuff from TigerDirect not too long ago, everything came fast and was well packaged.

I've bought from TigerDirect.ca and they're pretty good though when I bought from them it was when they had free shipping so alot of their stuff you can buy from places like Futureshop and it'll be the same or cheaper since Futureshop has free shipping. The motherboard I bought from them was also defective and I was able to return it for a refund no questions asked.

[Hack&Lube]

Memory Express is horrible. They are overpriced and have selection so bad, I don't know what happened to them...
Oh wait, that's what the lack of competition will do to you.


For in town prices, I shop at Bcom Computers when they have their super surprise sales (512MB ram for $43 anyone? How about 17" 12ms LCD for $277?)

For overall best selection in Canada and pretty great price, I shop NCIX.com during their sales also (1GB OCZ VX Gold for $220!) . It will cost you a bit to ship from BC though. Still, I'd go with NCIX, they have the best website, thousands of members in their forums ready to give feedback and help, great customer service, nice member rewards point system, and sales all the time with whacky $0.09 items as well as great bundle says every now and then with bonus free things.

[kn]

Ok... I've decided on a desktop replacement. I don't play intensive games, so it doesn't have to be all tricked out like the Dell XPS Gen2. What it does have to have is:

* wireless connectivity
* ethernet connectivity
* firewire (IEEE)
* widescreen
* as much RAM as possible up to 1GB

From there I'm flexible but I figure 64bit support is around the corner so that's probably wise as well as DVD-RW since burning onto DVD seems to be growing. I'm also partial to AMD over Intel. That said, I think it will be one of the three:

Staples ($1399.85)
http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/cat_sku....&AffixedCode=WW

NCIX.com ($1873.81)
http://secure.ncix.com/ncixpc/index.php?ac...=174330&subid=2

TigerDirect.ca ($2564.99)
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/Sea...1260791&CatId=0

The first seems to be good bang for the buck...

[Hack&Lube]

Originally posted by kn@Apr 15 2005, 01:04 AM
Ok... I've decided on a desktop replacement. I don't play intensive games, so it doesn't have to be all tricked out like the Dell XPS Gen2. What it does have to have is:

* wireless connectivity
* ethernet connectivity
* firewire (IEEE)
* widescreen
* as much RAM as possible up to 1GB

From there I'm flexible but I figure 64bit support is around the corner so that's probably wise as well as DVD-RW since burning onto DVD seems to be growing. I'm also partial to AMD over Intel. That said, I think it will be one of the three:

Staples ($1399.85)
http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/cat_sku....&AffixedCode=WW

NCIX.com ($1873.81)
http://secure.ncix.com/ncixpc/index.php?ac...=174330&subid=2

TigerDirect.ca ($2564.99)
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/Sea...1260791&CatId=0

The first seems to be good bang for the buck...

The make or break point for a laptop for me is the videocard, but if that GeForce 440 Go in the Compaq is all you'll need, by all means.

You can get better and cheaper systems with widescreen however, if you remember to check our the refurbished section of Tigerdirect:

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ref...ook%20Computers

[kn]

I decided to spend a little more and get a Dell Inspiron 9300, 2GHz, 1GB RAM, 17" True Life WSUXGA, 256MB NVidia GeForce Go 6800, 60GB 7200rpm HD, 24x CD-RW/DVD, wireless and Bluetooth. What tipped me in this direction was when Dell put on sale the GeForce card at no extra charge than the 128MB ATI card.

Add to this the Logitech MX-900 optical mouse and a Targus backpack and I hopefully will be set for a long time...

Thanks for the links and advice.

[dustygoon]

Anyone heard of this place in the US?

click this

[flamingchina]

Similar company located in Calgary:
VooDoo PC