Basic specs, great price. No coupon or rebate needed.
ThinkCentre A55 Tower -Year Depot Warranty 8705CTO $199 Processor: Intel® Celeron® 420 Processor (1.6GHz 800MHz FSB 512KB L2) Operating system: Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic Operating system language: Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic - US English Form factor: Mechanical Package Tower 4x4 no FDD Total memory: 512MB PC2-5300 SDRAM (1 DIMM) Video adapter: Intel GMA Integrated Graphics Audio adapter: Integrated SoundMax w/SPX Audio (ADI 1986 HD) First hard drive bay: 80GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200RPM Serial ATA First optical device bay: DVD-ROM 16X Max Networking: Integrated Gigabit Ethernet Keyboard: Lenovo Preferred Pro Full Size Keyboard - US English Pointing device: Lenovo Optical Wheel Mouse USB
Basic specs, great price. No coupon or rebate needed.
ThinkCentre A55 Tower -Year Depot Warranty 8705CTO $199 Processor: Intel® Celeron® 420 Processor (1.6GHz 800MHz FSB 512KB L2) Operating system: Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic Operating system language: Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic - US English Form factor: Mechanical Package Tower 4x4 no FDD Total memory: 512MB PC2-5300 SDRAM (1 DIMM) Video adapter: Intel GMA Integrated Graphics Audio adapter: Integrated SoundMax w/SPX Audio (ADI 1986 HD) First hard drive bay: 80GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200RPM Serial ATA First optical device bay: DVD-ROM 16X Max Networking: Integrated Gigabit Ethernet Keyboard: Lenovo Preferred Pro Full Size Keyboard - US English Pointing device: Lenovo Optical Wheel Mouse USB
Made in China only $199! Hey that's where I bought all my clothes.
catbertsf
Member
posted: Jun. 18, 2008 @ 4:41p
although not my cup of tea, it's a VERY good deal for people who wants a simple web surfing box...
berite100 said: isnt this good enuff as a websurfing computer?
Not as is, would need to add Wifi to it, unless your're hooking up a cable modem.
If it was a laptop I'd be all over it
duanzhe
New Member
posted: Jun. 18, 2008 @ 5:26p
No monitor, plus a LCD monitor, it will be near $400 after tax.
For such a system, I can not believe anybody think this as a deal. Maybe you guys are using time machine from 2005.
pixelking
Member
posted: Jun. 18, 2008 @ 5:53p
closeupman said: berite100 said: isnt this good enuff as a websurfing computer?
Not as is, would need to add Wifi to it, unless your're hooking up a cable modem.
If it was a laptop I'd be all over it
Since when does a computer need wifi to be on the internet, and why in the world would you want a laptop without wifi?
luanma
Member
posted: Jun. 18, 2008 @ 6:12p
This is COLD compare to this one I got a couple days ago: http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/837072
sworshs
Greedy Member
posted: Jun. 18, 2008 @ 6:19p
How's this system compares to the WalMart special hardware wise? The one that they sell for $199? I think this is a good deal, given that the S/W itself is about $100. For those who think that this is not a good deal, please provide a better deal rather than just thread crap! I am in the market to buy a new entry system for my grandma who don't need anything fancy. Any suggestion is welcome.
rkdesingu said: Looks like a good deal. Actually how about the next model that is there in that page...
Has (1) Dual Core vs Celeron (2) 1GB RAM vs 512 (3)DVD Recorder vs DVD for $80 more... ($279 vs $199).
That sounds like a much better deal. I would rather pay a little more and get double the power + a DVD writer. How can a PC not come with a DVD writer these days. They cost $23 retail, the OEM cost must be much less!
Does anyone know how many expansion slots the case has? Does the mobo have a PCI-E x16 slot for an upgrade graphics card?
Does anyone know how much shipping costs?
Edit: You can upgrade from an 80gb HD to a 250gb HD for $35, and there's a FAR Canon Pixma printer for $50 too.
Beersy
Senior Member
posted: Jun. 18, 2008 @ 7:28p
sworshs said: How's this system compares to the WalMart special hardware wise? The one that they sell for $199? I think this is a good deal, given that the S/W itself is about $100. For those who think that this is not a good deal, please provide a better deal rather than just thread crap! I am in the market to buy a new entry system for my grandma who don't need anything fancy. Any suggestion is welcome.
Same here. Thinking this might fit the bill for my grandfather (with a small memory upgrade)
I think this would make a nice little HTPC. The small form factor will fit nicely into a TV stand. With XP MCE it would be just fine as an HDTV DVR as-is, just add a tuner. With Vista Media Center, you'll probably want to upgrade it to 2GB RAM, but that doesn't cost much. Celeron 420 isn't bad and uses the Conroe-L core. It's very overclockable, I have one that overclocks to 2.67GHz with a 1333FSB. I don't know if the BSEL mod works on this motherboard, but the CPU can definitely handle it if it does.
dougdavies
Thrifty Member
posted: Jun. 18, 2008 @ 9:18p
This is a good deal, but yes, you will want to add another GB of memory. If you are looking to burn CDs or DVDs it appears to also lack write capability. Just browsing the web??? go for it.
GnatGoSplat said: I think this would make a nice little HTPC. The small form factor will fit nicely into a TV stand. With XP MCE it would be just fine as an HDTV DVR as-is, just add a tuner. With Vista Media Center, you'll probably want to upgrade it to 2GB RAM, but that doesn't cost much. Celeron 420 isn't bad and uses the Conroe-L core. It's very overclockable, I have one that overclocks to 2.67GHz with a 1333FSB. I don't know if the BSEL mod works on this motherboard, but the CPU can definitely handle it if it does.
Depends on what type of HTPC you are looking for. If you need something with HD upconversion then this might not scale up to that level.
For anyone who whines about this deal, look at how cheap some of the upgrades are. The hard drive and processor upgrades are cheap from Lenovo. The RAM is cheap, but you can do better - just as you can with the DVD-burner. For $10 more you can have a combo drive, and since this is a tower form factor, you can drop in a second optical drive easy.
I think some people aren't catching that this is configured pretty basic as it is aimed at commercial/educational use where some of the functions we take for granted like a large hard drive or DVD burning aren't needed and every penny saved counts.
Also consider the next model to the right. It's the same unit fitted with a Pentium dual core, 1 GB of RAM (one strip - one open slot), a DVD burner. Really equal money - plus you can add a 19" monitor for $100 AR. But also figure in Lenovo build quality vs. the bargains we get from HP/Compaq and Acer/GW/EM and of course Dell.
khatru said: GnatGoSplat said: I think this would make a nice little HTPC. The small form factor will fit nicely into a TV stand. With XP MCE it would be just fine as an HDTV DVR as-is, just add a tuner. With Vista Media Center, you'll probably want to upgrade it to 2GB RAM, but that doesn't cost much. Celeron 420 isn't bad and uses the Conroe-L core. It's very overclockable, I have one that overclocks to 2.67GHz with a 1333FSB. I don't know if the BSEL mod works on this motherboard, but the CPU can definitely handle it if it does.
Depends on what type of HTPC you are looking for. If you need something with HD upconversion then this might not scale up to that level.
I think it's at least a GMA950, it should be good for HD. I've got a GMA950 and it scales to HD with no problems whatsoever.
GnatGoSplat said: I think this would make a nice little HTPC. The small form factor will fit nicely into a TV stand. With XP MCE it would be just fine as an HDTV DVR as-is, just add a tuner. With Vista Media Center, you'll probably want to upgrade it to 2GB RAM, but that doesn't cost much. Celeron 420 isn't bad and uses the Conroe-L core. It's very overclockable, I have one that overclocks to 2.67GHz with a 1333FSB. I don't know if the BSEL mod works on this motherboard, but the CPU can definitely handle it if it does.
The photo is misleading. When I click on customize, I noticed the Form Factor is the full size tower.
Not bad, but my Fry's $199 Compaq pc came with 2 gigs of memory and a 160 gig hardrive. The memory was the clincher for me. I can't imagine running vista on less than 2 gigs. Only happens once or twice a year at Fry's. The anniversary sale is one day I will watch out for. Better than standing in line on black friday.
just want to point out that it looks like the default selection is for ps/2 keyboard and the upgrade to usb is $0.00
rowlodge
Member
posted: Jun. 19, 2008 @ 8:28a
wonder if you could put a honking huge nvidia geforce 8800 gt graphics card in it and get a quick upgraded cheap computer for yourself, i mean some graphics cards are really cheap now.
therawuncut
Member
posted: Jun. 19, 2008 @ 8:40a
closeupman said: berite100 said: isnt this good enuff as a websurfing computer?
Not as is, would need to add Wifi to it, unless your're hooking up a cable modem.
If it was a laptop I'd be all over it
Oh my. If you bought a wifi card and didnt use a cable modem/DSL, aren't you stealing someone's internet?
Not speaking from experience, I question how well a celeron can handle HD content. GM950 Graphics chipset aside, h.264 puts a pretty good strain on most CPUs. I'd say smooth 1080P is probably out of the question.
Having said that, upgrade the RAM and you've got a great basic system.
wonder if you could put a honking huge nvidia geforce 8800 gt graphics card in it and get a quick upgraded cheap computer for yourself, i mean some graphics cards are really cheap now.
I'd be surprised if the PSU could handle an 8800GT. I'd go for something that doesn't need an extra PCI-E power connector. 8800 GT would probably be overkill with this CPU anyway.
flwrpowr
Senior Member
posted: Jun. 19, 2008 @ 8:57a
Thanks OP...your timing is perfect, my computer just crashed.
7lords
Senior Member
posted: Jun. 19, 2008 @ 10:00a
Beersy said: sworshs said: How's this system compares to the WalMart special hardware wise? The one that they sell for $199? I think this is a good deal, given that the S/W itself is about $100. For those who think that this is not a good deal, please provide a better deal rather than just thread crap! I am in the market to buy a new entry system for my grandma who don't need anything fancy. Any suggestion is welcome.
Same here. Thinking this might fit the bill for my grandfather (with a small memory upgrade)
For the computer or your grandfather?
therawuncut
Member
posted: Jun. 19, 2008 @ 10:36a
7Lords said: For the computer or your grandfather?
rowlodge said: wonder if you could put a honking huge nvidia geforce 8800 gt graphics card in it and get a quick upgraded cheap computer for yourself, i mean some graphics cards are really cheap now.
The PSU is only 230 watts so you would probably have to replace it.
poundfoolish
Member
posted: Jun. 19, 2008 @ 10:48a
VirtuaL said: rkdesingu said: Looks like a good deal. Actually how about the next model that is there in that page...
Has (1) Dual Core vs Celeron (2) 1GB RAM vs 512 (3)DVD Recorder vs DVD for $80 more... ($279 vs $199).
That sounds like a much better deal. I would rather pay a little more and get double the power + a DVD writer. How can a PC not come with a DVD writer these days. They cost $23 retail, the OEM cost must be much less!
Does anyone know how many expansion slots the case has? Does the mobo have a PCI-E x16 slot for an upgrade graphics card?
It has onboard video but also has 1 PCI Express x16 1 PCI Express x1 2 PCI
It is LGA775. There are many c2d that you can put in if you want. I don't think it can take all c2d or a quad though.
As opposed to the many motherboards people list here which are overclocker-friendly, the a55 is overclocker-hostile. (That may not be a problem for some people).
I don't know if it's XP-friendly. The website doesn't seem to offer such an option.
I don't know how much shipping is. I wonder too. (Also how long does it take).
pixelking said: closeupman said: berite100 said: isnt this good enuff as a websurfing computer?
Not as is, would need to add Wifi to it, unless your're hooking up a cable modem.
If it was a laptop I'd be all over it
Since when does a computer need wifi to be on the internet, and why in the world would you want a laptop without wifi?
You misread my post.
If it was a laptop at this PRICE Point I'd be all over it. I never said a laptop would be without wifi, Duh!
bubbawolf
New Member
posted: Jun. 19, 2008 @ 11:27a
I don't know how much shipping is. I wonder too. (Also how long does it take).
Shipping via UPS ground is free.
Skipping 42 Messages...
BuyBuyBuySellSellSell
Member
posted: Aug. 25, 2008 @ 4:02p
Beersy said: sworshs said: How's this system compares to the WalMart special hardware wise? The one that they sell for $199? I think this is a good deal, given that the S/W itself is about $100. For those who think that this is not a good deal, please provide a better deal rather than just thread crap! I am in the market to buy a new entry system for my grandma who don't need anything fancy. Any suggestion is welcome.
Same here. Thinking this might fit the bill for my grandfather (with a small memory upgrade)
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