i need a simple computer to be used as a server. here are the specs:
Intel dual core processor (speed not important)
8gb ram
500gb hard drive
dvd r/w drive
windows xp professional 32 bit OS
ethernet card
video card/memory not important

The guy setting up the network recommended I go to HP and configure it but I sense that's overpriced.

Where would you folks recommend to buy such a system?

Dell is cheap as shit, because it's, well, shit. You're outta luck on the XP from them. If you don't mind building the system, try newegg they still have copies of XP for sale.

go to dell and configure what you need... save it in your wish list then go haggle with an online rep and see whats the best price they can get you. once they give you the best price go ballistic and refuse .. chances are they will go even lower and throw in extra freebees to get you to buy.

Thanks. omeone else recommended pcusa.com and they look good right up til I get to the OS. They only seem to offer XP Professional as 64 bit and I'm sure that will cause some problems.

I'm leaning towards ordering it from HP because A: The IT guy recommended it and if I buy elsewhere and anything fucks up he will say it's because it isnt the system he specified and B: the old lady heard him specify it and if anything goes wrong with another system it will be unpleasant listening to that shitstorm.

From HP that machine is 1,082.00 plus shipping. I can do the same thing at pcusa.com for about 700.00 except for the OS issue.

For many reasons, No Dell for me.

you should have specified that shit from the get go B.. get my fingertips all tired typing out.

www.tigerdirect.com

i bought some memory off of tigerdirect recently...i was amazed at how quickly it was delivered and the whole operation seems real smooth.

Happy New Year Bornyo

Outpost.com/fry's sometimes has good sales on these types of systems. They may have one going one right now.

Every time I go through these sites and "build" a system, I hit a glitch with some aspect of the config. Usually the OS. Conquistador pm'd me a link to a site where you actually order the parts and build it yourself but that's not what I need here. We need a rock solid conservative machine. Thanks for all the good links. If I don't use them for this unit I'll use them for my next machine. I've used tigerdirect and newegg in the past with good results. Anyone have any experience with CDW?

Edit: I've also had good experience with Outpost- I recommend them.

Happy New Year to you too, Elaborator.

Conq is a solid geek. When I had a problem he was one the first to reply and as much as DDG helped, Conq had him by a few days.

Bornyo

CDW are alright, good service and will take things back a lot more easily than others. It's the prices that are the gotcha.

I used CDW a lot a few years ago and the company I worked for (a small IT startup) used to buy laptops, tape drives, etc from them. They are not dirt cheap but they are pretty solid, as someone mentioned above.

NCIX built my current box. They have an American option at the top of the page.

You can just pick parts and they'll build it for you w/ warranty or they can send your parts and you can cobble it together along with adding any upgrade you have laying around.

maybe