Tech Bargain Thread: Post Your Deals Here!

Marceline

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You can get a 2tb drive that runs off usb power, although you will pay a little more. I just picked one up at Costco for $115.
 

canderson

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Omar's Wacky Neighbor

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Leaving in a bit to the studio :)
For the past few hours, the Lenovo Outlet has had 21.5" (c440)  AllInOnes with touch screens in the $300 range.  They keep popping in and out of stock one at a time.  Includes 4GB memory, 1TB hdd.
 
Granted, the CPUs are nothing much, but for a kids room this would be pretty neat.  Or, with the touch screen, you can pretend you're Mike Francesa and cut off callers in mid sentence......
 

Marceline

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canderson said:
That looks like it works perfectly. Is the cloud backup then actually worthwhile? I mean, having my iTunes library and various photo galleries on it and being accessible anywhere would be pretty awesome.
 
The one I have doesn't have the cloud backup, but it is otherwise the same drive.  For some reason the non-cloud-backup version is now $15 more expensive.
 

kelpapa

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Damnit. I had to log in to my TigerDirect account, and after I logged in, it was gone.
 

Omar's Wacky Neighbor

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Leaving in a bit to the studio :)
Lenovo outlet has some AIO c540 i3 23" touch screens for $369.  Cons: no USB 3.0, and another couple of GB of ram wouldn't hurt:
 

Lenovo C540 - Scratch & dent
Part number: CS00879091-57RF0117

  • Processor: Intel Core i3-3240 3.4GHz 3MB Cache
  • Operating system: Windows 8 Standard 64 - English
  • Display: 23.0" Full HD (1920 x 1080) MultiTouch LED backlight w/720p HD Camera
  • Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 2500
  • Memory: 4 GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600MHz SODIMM Memory
  • Hard Drive: 1TB, 7200RPM Serial ATA 3.5" Hard Drive
  • Optical Drive: DVD Recordable Serial ATA
 

Couperin47

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Couperin47

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Today ONLY  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883255379
 
Newegg Shell Shocker deal
 
This is a very good buy on a desktop, as long as you have NO interest in 'improving' this box.
 
New Lenovo IdeaCentre K410  $590, free shipping
 
The Good:
 
Intel i7 3770 (3.40 Ghz) cpu
8GB DDR3 ram
2TB 7200 rpm HD
DVD burner
Gigabit ethernet
Integrated b/g/n wifi
2 USB 3 ports
4 USB 2 ports
NVIDIA GT620 1 GB video card
9-1 card reader
Win 8
Full 1 year warranty
 
Powerful cpu, big fast hd, decent video.
 
The CONS:
 
The mb in this is based on the Intel H61 chipset, which you will not find in pretty much any separate mb for sale, because of the compromises made in this chipset:
 
1. Only supports SATA II at a time when all chipsets were now including SATA 3... this means thruput limited to 3 Gb/sec instead of 6 Gb/sec. As a practical matter this has no effect on mechanical hd which can't really saturate the 3Gb/sec spec. but...
2. This chipset does NOT support AHCI or RAID - add this fact to SATA II and this is not a good candidate for adding any SSD, which can use the greater SATA III thruput, wants to connect via AHCI , and maintains it's performance in large part via the Trim command (supported in Win 7 and 8) which requires AHCI mode (Intel and Samsung SSD include a toolbox that allows you to manually run Trim, no other SSD makers currently include such a tool).
3. Only 2 memory slots, already filled.
4. The 2 USB 3.0 ports are not on the front of the case.
5. The Nvidia video card seems to be a 'stripped' version of the card: only has vga and hdmi ports...vga is virtually obsolete, hdmi is ok but many will expect a dvi output..which seems to be missing.
6. 280 w power supply, inadequate for any serious video card upgrade.
 
So, if you want a serious i7 cpu, decent amount of ram and a big fast hd and can live with the box as is, it's a good deal.
 

Couperin47

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XFX  Pro 550W power supply until 2/24 $51 with a $25 rebate = Net cost $26
 
For those offended by recommendations for larger PS, here's a real bargain on a 550w unit. It's not modular, but the basic quality is excellent (it's a unit made by Seasonic) and uses quality Japanese caps, and realistically, wtf are you going to buy for less than 26 bucks ?
 
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207013&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL021814&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL021814-_-EMC-021814-Index-_-PowerSupplies-_-17207013-L07B
 

Couperin47

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Intel 335 Series Jay Crest  240 Gb SSD
$150 at Newegg with Promo Code EMCPHWB86 @ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167128&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL021814&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL021814-_-EMC-021814-Index-_-SSD-_-20167128-L0K
 
Good price on an Intel SSD, main reason to want this is if you want to add an SSD and your mb or laptop does NOT offer the AHCI  SATA option. These Intel SSD will use the Intel Toolbox software which will allow you to run Trim function manually, great if you have the hardware limitation of no AHCI mode or if you're still running Win XP, which doesn't support Trim either. It's 9.5 mm thick so it won't fit in the latest ultrathin laptops.
 

Yaz4Ever

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Hell, I'll sell my 32GB iPad 4 with Retina Display - wifi and 4G - for less than that.  I could use the scratch anyhow.
 
 
edit:  oh, that was a for a 128GB model.  Even still, I've got a 32GB with a keyboard case available if anyone is looking for one.
 

Couperin47

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128 GB USB 3.0 drive $70 in strange format.  http://www.neweggflash.com/Product/N82E16820313456
 
Team Group tries a different format for a drive, not thumb/keyring and already being discounted/closeout ? It won't block adjacent usb ports, but hanging off that miniUSB socket I'm guessing it's only a question of when, not if, the damn thing gets broken. Also no reviews I can find, but I'm guessing performance will be limited by the USB 3.0 implementation on your puter (and the dirty secret is those vary all over the lot, esp boxes that don't use NEC/Renesas chips).
 

Couperin47

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Seagate 600 Series 240GB SATA III SSD - $120
 
Newegg here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820248016&nm_mc=EMC-EXPRESS022214&cm_mmc=EMC-EXPRESS022214-_-EMC-022214-Index-_-SSD-_-20248016-L01A
 
The Seagate uses a LinkA Media controller, rarely used before, it's a decent performer, you can see a complete review here: http://www.thessdreview.com/our-reviews/seagate-600-series-ssd-review-480gb/
The review is for the 480GB model, the 240 would perform slightly slower, overall this is a very good SSD at a current rock bottom price, virtually the same as sales on many 120GB drives, it uses top quality Toshiba flash memory, has a 3 year warranty and you know Seagate will be there if/when.
 

Couperin47

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Good (but not great) buy on a top quality 24" Monitor
 
HP ZR2440w
 
The things you want in a serious monitor: 16:10, 1900x1200, it's a monitor not a tv, IPS true 178° x 178° viewing angles, DVI, HDMI and Displayport inputs, 2 built in USB 2.0 ports.
Probably the main competitor to the Dell Ultrasharp 24" models, many of us think the HPs have somewhat better build quality.
 
$300 with free ship at Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824176221&nm_mc=EMC-EXPRESS022214&cm_mmc=EMC-EXPRESS022214-_-EMC-022214-Index-_-LCDMonitors-_-24176221-L02B
 
This is $30-40 better than you can usually find it for.
 

locknload

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Still loving the laptop I got from the Lenovo site  and I would never be able to get anything close for the $700 total I paid but goddamn their trackpads are god awful.  I finally just disabled it and carry around a wireless usb mouse.
 

Couperin47

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locknload said:
Still loving the laptop I got from the Lenovo site  and I would never be able to get anything close for the $700 total I paid but goddamn their trackpads are god awful.  I finally just disabled it and carry around a wireless usb mouse.
 
All the more reason to stick to the Thinkpads that always give you the trackpoint option too.
 

Couperin47

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Fantom Gforce 2 TB USB 3 external hard drive - $70
 
http://www.rakuten.com/prod/fantom-gforce-3-gf3b2000u64-2tb-usb-3-0-64mb-buffer-desktop-hard-drive/221030675.html?scid=em_20140305_Dedicated&adid=17916
 
The Fantom is in a fanless aluminum case that's larger than the typical WD or Seagate drives of this type, which should allow for better ventilation of the drive, case has an actual power switch and there's a 3 year warranty which is far better than most. Reports that it's a Green Seagate 5900 rpm inside but Fantom can change supplier at any time, in any case the warranty is better than Seagate will give you. This drive DOES use an external power supply.
 

Couperin47

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SeaSonic G-750 power supply at Newegg  $100 - $20 rebate = $80 final cost
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151132&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL030714&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL030714-_-EMC-030714-Index-_-PowerSupplies-_-17151132-L011B
 
This weekend only, this is a truly top of the line, semi-modular Plus Gold 750w power supply, Seasonics rarely get discounted. If you want the best and are running 2 video cards, you won't beat this deal or the quality.
 
at the other end of the spectrum, Newegg also has the Corsair CX430 $40 - $20 rebate = $20 final cost.
 
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL030714&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL030714-_-EMC-030714-Index-_-PowerSupplies-_-17139026-L0K
 
This is the bottom end of decent power supplies: 430W Plus Bronze .. when only the cheapest will do, anything below this is inviting your new build to get fried.
 

Couperin47

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"I want a really cheap desktop computer"
 
Today Newegg will oblige you http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1585069
 
What you will get:
 
Intel i3 3.4 GHz dual core Ivy Brigde cpu (2500 level graphics) - acceptable low end dual core
Gigabyte H61M motherboard - Gigabyte is decent quality, the H61 is the crippled chipset: No Sata III 6 GB, No Raid, No AHCI mode
Logicsys Mid-tower with 480W PS - Crap case, all plastic front, but does have one USB 3 front port, one fan and a power supply which probably produces around 280w of barely clean power
Seagate 1TB 7200 rpm HD - OK
4 GB Adata DDR3 1600 ram (in one stick) - 2nd level supplier, but if it tests OK you're probably alright
A game: Total War - Rome II
 
All for $280
 
You will be hard pressed to get within $50 of this price, let alone match it, no matter what assemblage of crap stuff you mate to the Intel i3.
If it all goes together and works it's probably OK for a year or two...sooner or later the junk power supply will betray you, hopefully it will just die without frying the motherboard when it goes, adding memory or another drive is probably OK, attempting a separate video card is begging for grief unless you replace the ps.
 
Sale Good til Midnight Pacific time.
 

Couperin47

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Multifunction Laser Printer/Copier/Scanner/Fax       Canon MF4770n    $99 til 3/31
 
At Rakuten (used to be Buy.com) http://www.rakuten.com/prod/canon-imageclass-mf4770n-black-white-laser-multifunction/238756585.html?scid=em_20140313_Daily&adid=17654
 
This is the best possible sale (it's often discounted, but this sale involves NO rebate nonsense) on the best basic Multifunction b&w laser you can get. It uses the Canon 128 cart which is available quite cheaply as rebuilts or aftermarkets at Amazon and elsewhere. The carts it uses are 'complete" (toner & drum) and are the only consumable. These units have one paper tray and a multifunction feed that handles envelopes and labels very well. 35 page doc feeder, quality color scanner, as a copier does reduction and enlarge and very versatile. Complete fax that understands distinctive ring (if anyone cares anymore). The unified driver/tools are excellent including versatile direct scan to useful pdf formats. I've been using various incarnations of this series for years and they are bulletproof. There are other versions that include ethernet and wifi connect but otherwise the same functionality, cannot beat this value.
 

Couperin47

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You want a REALLY cheap desktop ? Til Midnight Pacific time
 

HP DC7900
for $179 at Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA2081E16574
 
Compact form factor, 3.0 Ghz Intel dual core, 4 GB ram, integrated Intel GMA 4500 graphics, Gig ethernet. Refurb but 1 year warranty.
 
The gotchas
 A MASSIVE...160 gig hard drive
 Video output is ONLY VGA (obsolete) or Displayport...that's right no DVI or HDMI
 In an era where even the best DVD combo burners sell for $16-$18, they have contrived to equip this box with a DVD-ROM (read only)...sheesh
 2 USB on front, 6 on back..all USB 2.0.
The power supply is 240w and the case has no room to add much of anything
 
basically a brand new assemblage of mostly obsolete stuff in a stupidly small box...but it's cheap
 

Couperin47

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Battle of the Cheap Thinkpad refurbs
 
Really cheap Thinkpad - T400     $250 Refurb
http://www.neweggflash.com/Product/9SIA3TX1C36650
 
Pros:
It's a Thinkpad, way better than average build
Core Duo T9400 (2.5 Ghz) decent speed - Intel 4500 series graphics
Gig ethernet - a/g/n wifi (careful the ad says agn, 'n' didn't exist when these were made...may be a mistake)
4 Gig ram
Trackpoint & trackpad control
DVD burner
PCMCIA Type 2 slot (semi-obsolete), 1394 port, fingerprint reader
 
Cons:
ONLY USB 2 ports
14" WXGA screen (1280 x 800)
160 Gig HD
Windows Vista OS (there's your hint how old this is...)
 
Now real caviats: 30 DAY WARRANTY
 
This is how Lenovo dumps the stuff that they won't sell at their own site. best guess: the overall condition will show real wear, the battery will have, at best, half it's rated capacity, at worst it will barely hold a charge.Unlike with the Lenovo Outlet stuff, real risk you will be disappointed...otoh it's $250...
 
The probably better option at Rakuten:  T410   $275
http://arrow-direct.shop.rakuten.com/p/lenovo-thinkpad-t410-intel-i5-2400-mhz-160gig-hdd-4096mb-dvd-cdrw-14-0/228694316.html?scid=em_20140323_SS2&adid=29091
 
Pros:
Newer, i5 2.4 Ghz cpu
4 Gig of faster ram
Win 7 32 bit OS
60 day warranty
 
Cons:
Only a/b/g wifi
 
Same 160 Gig HD, still only USB 2 ports, no fingerprint reader, no 1394 port, same DVD burner
 
This is coming from a 3rd party.. Arrow, which means refurb is going to be sketchier, otoh the laptop is going to be years newer. For $25 more it's the better buy.. besides you have twice the time to return it...be especially wary of the condition of the battery on this sort of refurb, replacements can be very costly.
 

SumnerH

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Couperin47 said:
Corsair CX430...
This is the lowest quality and smallest supply you should probably ever consider.
 
That's funny, I just bought one of those because it's bigger and more overkill than I could conceivably see needing yet still fairly cheap..
 

OttoC

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SumnerH said:
 
That's funny, I just bought one of those because it's bigger and more overkill than I could conceivably see needing yet still fairly cheap..
 
Depends on what you are doing with your machine. I had to replace my video card a while back and the one I put in required a minimum power supply of 500 watt, so I had to replace my power supply, too.
 

SumnerH

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OttoC said:
 
Depends on what you are doing with your machine. I had to replace my video card a while back and the one I put in required a minimum power supply of 500 watt, so I had to replace my power supply, too.
Absolutely, gaming rigs with high-end graphics cards can need tons of power.  It's just funny to see someone say that a 430W supply is the smallest you should consider when it's overkill for a lot of people. At $20 it's tough to beat that choice, though.
 

Soxy

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And FWIW all video cards overstate their power needs, mainly because they don't want someone frying their computer and then blaming the video card company for recommending an underpowered PSU. I don't know what video card you have Otto, but there's a decent chance that 430w PSU would be plenty enough juice to power your rig, assuming you aren't overclocking.
 

SumnerH

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Yeah, gibdied posted some measurements in the build your own thread; the real reason to go with the Corsair is because a) it's cheap and b) it's hard to find a decent quality 300W power supply these days:

gibdied said:
Getting an overkill PSU isn't really a bad thing, especially with the high efficiency PSUs nowadays that can deliver 80+% efficiency even when operating at small fractions of their potential. However, to give a little perspective on wattage and what's necessary for anyone that's curious, I have an i5-3570K overclocked to 4GHz, ATI HD5770 video card, 120GB SSD, 2TB HD, combo bluray drive DVD/CD burner and several case fans. In other words, a powerful all-around computer, but nothing crazy. Right now, just browsing some sites, basically idle, the computer is drawing 63 watts from the UPS. That's all, and again, that's what it's drawing; what the PSU is putting out is less, about 80% of that number for my PSU, a Corsair 550VX. When I fire up LinX, a brutal CPU stress test, it hits 148. When I fire up Furmark, a brutal GPU stress test, it hits 175. So, really, 650+ watt PSUs are overkill for all but the most beastly builds.

I think for most people, the sweet spot is 400-450 watts. Truthfully, a well made 350 watt supply would be enough for most people, but it's hard to find quality supplies at that "low" a wattage in the typical ATX form factor.
 

OttoC

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Soxy Brown said:
And FWIW all video cards overstate their power needs, mainly because they don't want someone frying their computer and then blaming the video card company for recommending an underpowered PSU. I don't know what video card you have Otto, but there's a decent chance that 430w PSU would be plenty enough juice to power your rig, assuming you aren't overclocking.
 
I have an XFX R6750 Core Edition/PCI Express 2.1/1GB DDR3 card that will handle three displays. I have no idea whether it is just hyperbole on the card manufacturer's end or if that power is actually needed. I got a hefty card because Photoshop will use its processor to do some things.
 

SumnerH

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http://www.overclockers.com/sapphire-hd-6750 measures another 6750 based system. He has trouble getting it over 250W of total system draw. I'd definitely still go with the 430 or bigger in that (especially at the price), but it's probably more than you really need. For the majority of folks who don't use a discrete graphics card, though, 300W would be more than plenty even with a large margin for error.

Gaming rigs and the like are certainly an exception: when he pairs a second graphics card, power use rockets over the 350W threshold:

 

Couperin47

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Hard drives at both ends of the market today only.
 
4Tb 7200rpm designed for NAS Hitachi at Newegg:  $175 Use code
EXLEMC2237
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=22-145-912&nm_mc=EMC-GD032614&cm_mmc=EMC-GD032614-_-index-_-Item-_-22-145-912
 
3 year warranty, in retail box to really protect it in shipping...about as good as it gets from WD until you go to their real Enterprise drives.
 
at the other end:
 
WD 1 Tb Passport USB 3 drive: $60 use code
EXLEMC2238
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=22-236-576&nm_mc=EMC-GD032614&cm_mmc=EMC-GD032614-_-index-_-Item-_-22-236-576
 
Tiny, self powered via USB, also 3 year warranty (unusual for most of these super portable externals).
 
OR also (for after today)
 
WD "Titanium" version of same drive, same price, same features, same warranty
Use Code:
EMCPGHC225
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236579&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL032714&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL032714-_-EMC-032714-Index-_-ExternalHardDrives-_-22236579-L011D
 
NO REBATES IN EITHER DEAL.