Can anyone recommend a good site for buying a barebones system? I'd rather buy w/o OS as I already have that. TIA.

BB

Tigerdirect.com is a good one for barebones systems.

I know you said barebones, but Buy.com has a fantastic deal on a refurbished HP Pavilion p6230y.

I'm not sure how close you are to Renton, but Fry's has amazing B&M processor/motherboard deals. You can probably pick up most of the other parts inexpensively there, too. Otherwise, I recommend Newegg.

If you go through TigerDirect, don't forget to get your Bing cashback.

You can buy a new Dell without paying for Windows. Go to www.dell.com, under the Small & Medium Business pulldown at the top, select Desktops. Then on the sidebar, select FreeDOS. Not a barebones, but you won't pay for an OS. Not available on all models.

For used computers, I find it useful to check PacificGeek.com. They sell off-lease, repos, trade-ins, etc., all refurbed and checked out by PacificGeek. On any given day, they have plenty of low-price stuff. If you check frequently, you'll find some ultra-cheap computers.

Many of the websites like Dell and the rest also offer refruibs sometimes without the operating system. Returns, scratch and dent, open box, etc.

that does look like a good deal, but I've never had a good experience with HP computers. I could say more but I'm not in the ranting mood.

I was in Fry's for the first time just a couple of weeks ago, it's very big. Thanks for reminding me, it's only about 20 minutes away for me.

I usually go to newegg, but their combo deals seem very inflexable.

They seem like they want to push those Shuttle things. An office I worked in had several dead Shuttles laying around and I've been through one inside out. I wouldn't buy one...

I use Newegg but pick and choose components. I've rarely seen barebone packages that have components I'd choose at the given price point. Seems they usually bury something crappy in the package.

I'm considering buying this barebones system, I think it looks like a pretty good deal. I'd be interested what others think, I have everything else it needs already cept memory.

I do exactly what mbreuer does:

"I use Newegg but pick and choose components. I've rarely seen barebone packages that have components I'd choose at the given price point. Seems they usually bury something crappy in the package."

Although I agree with him, I would not tell someone to assemble their own PC from componets down to the motherboard level. It is too hard unless you have done it before, or you just enjoy taking on a technical challenge.

I am not in love with the TigerDirect barebones either. Again, I can get the same effect cheaper with better components and going piece-by-piece catching deals at Newegg. (Example: Antec 300 case + 450w PS + optical drive for about $60 shipped after a $15 rebate) (OK, that is an EXCEPTIONAL deal, and nobody is going to do that good on all of the components bought at the same time.

(The TigerDirect system is also unsatisfactory for recent 3D games because of the 350w PS and the integrated Intel graphics)

If you have not assembled a PC before from a motherboard and up, you probably should just buy a complete PC. (If you install Windows from a previous install, won't it fail the "Geniuine Microsoft" check? -- and keep you from getting valuable add-ons from Microsoft Download Service?)

I have assembled a PC before, but for someone who doesn't do it all that often it is kind of a pain in the a, and I'm lazy. I'm not a gamer, and typically don't do much that would require zoomy hardware.

I'm associated with an MS partner so I have access to any OS I want.