Cheap/Good computer?

I have 550 USD and I want to know what's the best I could do with it?
I've been thinking of maybe ordering one of these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16883107100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16883103011R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16883107103

all fail: DO NOT BUY

all fail

do not buy

WTF? It's newegg, buy parts build something superior to those systems. Save up moar and build a good AM2/Conroe machine. With a graphics card.

Hmmmm.. Well, in about 7 weeks, I could get about 1,200 to 1,500-ish.. any ideas on what I could do then? I know building my own would be ideal, since that saves money.. But what should I look for?

>>5
Lurk moar. Read newegg reviews. Read xbitlabs, tomshardware, hardforums, anandtech, arstechnica, etc.

>>4
Yes, but some people do not have the technical know-how to build their own system.  Like most things, the extra price is for convenience and maybe tech support.

>>5
for $1,500 US I could build a nasty, nasty system

I can do top-of-the-line for $500

>>8
LOL, Define "Top of the line".

Good cheap computers is a contradiction and it's just like saying George Bush is a smart president.

>>9
Indeed.

computers are so easy to put together these days
I mean they are just kits
read more

>>9
2, < 3 ghz P4, ~100gb hard disk, gig of ddr400, nice looking $50 case. You can do that for about $350 US

put a video card in it and bam, $500. Does everything better than any premade system ever. I know personally I would spend like $1200 on a machine for myself, but face it, we really tend to go over the top when we make our own personal machines. If someone is too stupid to build a computer they shouldn't be trying to personalize their hunk of junk, they'll just wind up spending $2800 for an alienware system if they try.

>>13
I love using computer made with shit cases, that aparently don't use things like "motherboards", and "power supplies". P4? YES PRESCOTT IS THE ULTIMATE PROCESSOR, DON'T LET THOSE NERDS FOOL YOU WITH THEIR TALK ABOUT "PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS" AND "HEAT DISSIPITATION". Especially the <3ghz ones, lol. But then you somehow offset this by spending $150 on the graphics card. Oh, I just noticed while typing this that you top of the line computers don't have cooling of any kind. "Does everything better than any premade system ever." HAHAHA! I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that the $50 case includes a PSU, in which case you'll have a case/PSU combo that you bought for $50, in addtion to a cheap mobo, and that "everything" as you put it, is code in some secret language for "overheat and burst in flames", which it will likely do on an order of magnitude better than any homemade system. Especially with P4! gg

"If someone is too stupid to build a computer they shouldn't be trying to personalize their hunk of junk, they'll just wind up spending $2800 for an alienware system if they try." n00bs trying to "personalize", through some indescribable process, buy alienware systems costing almost $3K? Again, define personalize. I mean, that could be putting a sticker on their new Dell Shit-spiron400000 that they gimpishly nicknamed "compy-san" or something.

Now I'm noticing you called that case "nice looking". Considering it is $50, it's probably one of those no-name brands that make all-plastic cases painted up to look vaguely like something Alienware would have made 5 years ago. Cases that fall to pieces if you drop something on the floor next to them.

My claim: I can make a good low-end PC for $500. It would be made of quality, low-end parts. None of them would be awesome, but it would have decent cooling, and parts that aren't shit. It would have a low end graphics card that would cost less that either the RAM or the CPU because most users don't need a nice GPU, and if they do, then they'll be sorely dissapointed by any attempt to build a $500 computer around one, because it would just be a nice graphics card inside a clunky silicon ladden firehazard.

Sage, because I'm tired of "hay /comp/ will you tell me how to build a supercomputer for $20?" and then someone inevitably suggests "save moar" or "get a job" and they give that tired old response that is the internets equivalent of either "shut up rich kid" or "ur not my real mom! i waste my money how i want!"

You have some kind of stick up your ass. Also you're stupid.

>>16
Troll harder.