I would say it's probably not worth it.  You can get a 19" Samsung monitor
for $250, but you can buy some 19" monitors for as little as $175 (or even
less if you look hard).  If they are closing down, I would go in and offer
$350 for one of the systems.  If they turn you down...  Oh well.  Save the
money for the monster machine later.  If they accept the offer then hey, you
get a decently configured machine plus save the trouble of purchasing a new
large monitor later on.

Good luck!

Kyle Elmblade
Distinct Computer Solutions
Installation - Sales - Upgrades - Training
[log in to unmask]

From: "Steve Rossiter" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2002 12:23 PM
Subject: [PCBUILD] Can a two year old Asus computer be worth $500?


> Hi everyone,
>    A local gaming shop is closing down and selling all their pc units for
$500. They're configured roughly as follows:
>
>  Brand:    Asus
>  Drive:    20 GB
>  CPU:      800 MHz Pentium III Celeron
>  RAM:      Guy didn't know but I'm guessing 32-64 MB for gaming
>  Graphics: Voodoo III of some sort
>  Monitor:  19" Samsung Synchmaster 955DF
>  NIC:      Couldn't tell if it was integrated
>  CD-ROM:   No indication of type or price
>  Speakers: Little runt units but they're there
>
>  That's all I could tell from looking at the backside and asking the
attendant. I thought the monitor alone might make the deal worth it but
looking at PriceWatch shows they go for around $250, in fact a quick tally
showed I could get of all the components for about $500 so the only real
deal is perhaps the convenience of being able to pick it up and start using
it until AMD Hammers come out when I plan to build the big rig.
>
>  Looking at the Asus sites shows these units are probably older versions
of their Terminator III series. Their site is so sparse on information that
I could hardly tell what went into the things but it looks like they're sold
new for about $400. Take a look if you want the thrill of seeing a true
generic box. http://usa.asus.com/desktop/termp3/overview.htm
>
>  Since these are the same guys that make great motherboards I might be a
little more confident in the build quality versus say an e-machine. Would
you spend money like this or put together something considerably better by
building it yourself for a few hundred more?

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