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Staples Black Friday vs America Recycles Desktop Computer Discussion

len_mullen

By len_mullen
in 2019

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len_mullen

len_mullen

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This is kind of a self serving thread.  I am in the market for a desktop computer and was hoping we could flesh out some specs and brand information.  My current desktop is a Lenovo (mostly) i5-3330 with 8G of RAM and a XFX Radeon HD 7950 3GB GDDR5 Double D Video Card.  It's a very decent machine, but it's 2012 vintage hardware, could use some more memory, and is starting to throw up BSODs. 

 

[rationalization]

The current/last gen i5/i7 desktops are around twice as fast, come with more RAM, and use about half as much power.  They also have newer/faster USB ports -- a lot of them.  And they take up a lot less space.

 

Paired with a Zotac GTX 1050 Ti OC, I think I would get very decent performance, energy efficiency, and value.

[/rationalization]

 

For me, there is one additional wrinkle -- I'd like to buy this computer at Staples.  I'll have $80 worth of Rewards in a couple days, I have $240 in gift cards, and I have to spend $522.03 to maintain my Premier status for 2020.

 

I am looking at the HP Pavilions.  The BF 'deal' is the 590-P0066 for $349.99 ($120 after applying $80 of Rewards and $150 of gift cards and reducing my Rewards deficit to $252.03)...

  • 2.8GHz Intel i5-8400 6-core processor with up to 4GHz and 9MB cache memory
  • 12GB DDR4 SDRAM 
  • 1TB hard drive
  • Intel UHD Graphics 630
  • 802.11a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 4.2 technologies
  • DVD-Writer
  • Use 2 x USB 2.0, 6 x USB 3.1, and 1 x USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 ports
  • Built-in HDMI and VGA out ports
  • Dimensions: 13.3"H x 6.69"W x 10.9"D
This PC is also available for $479.99 this week with a $100 rebate (visa card) if you recycle a PC.  Applying $80 in Rewards and $150 in gift cards, OOP is $249.99 ($149.99 treating the Visa card as cash) and Rewards deficit is reduced to $122.04.
 
Value wise, paying $30 to avoid spending $130 feels like a push to me -- especially when you consider the likelihood that this machine will sell out on BF and likely be avoided this week by most given the imminent discount and rebate risk.
 
Still with me?
 
There is another desktop that qualifies for the rebate this week.  Both are the same price but the second has less RAM but adds Optane...
  • 2.8GHz Intel Core i5-8400 6-core processor with up to 4GHz turbo frequency and 9MB cache memory
  • 8GB memory
  • 1TB hard drive
  • Intel UHD Graphics 630
  • 802.11a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 4.2 technologies
  • DVD-Writer
  • 4 USB 2.0, 6 USB 3.1, and 1 USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 ports
  • Built-in HDMI, VGA, and VGA out ports
  • Dimensions: 13.31"H x 6.69"W x 10.91"D
What do we think of Optane vs more RAM.  HP has a decent explanation here.  Either machine can be upgraded to add the missing feature.  It costs $28.49 to add 16g of Optane to the first machine and $17.99 to add 4g to the latter.  You can go to 16g for $31.99.  Still kind of a wash, but 16g+Optane seems like a no brainer.
 
There is an i7 for $659.99 on BF, and the i7 is between 20% and 30% faster, but the $310 premium is more than it would cost me to upgrade the CPU right now.  Probably a lot less by the time I NEED 30% more muscle.
 
I am looking at the ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1650 OC 4GB GDDR5 128-Bit Gaming Graphics Card as an upgrade for this computer.  Reading the Q&A on Amazon, I know this card will work with all of these machines.  It should be about 20% faster than my current card.
 
I'm thinking i5-8400 with 16g of RAM and 16g of Optane and a ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1650 OC 4GB GDDR5 128-Bit Gaming Graphics Card for $332 OOP is a good deal -- better than BF.
 
What do you think?  What did I get wrong?
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len_mullen

len_mullen

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Yesterday, I pulled the trigger on the HP Pavilion 590-p0050.  Here is why you might want to...

 

Staples has deals on three HP desktops.  These are deals because the platform is powerful out of the box, prices are very reasonable, and discounts abound.  Any off these can be upgraded to match the performance of the others.  All accept very good video accelerators without requiring a power supply upgrade.

 

The front page Black Friday deal is the 590-p0066 for $349.99...

  • 2.8GHz Intel i5-8400 6-core processor with up to 4GHz and 9MB cache memory
  • 12GB DDR4 SDRAM 
  • 1TB hard drive
  • No Optane
This machine is on sale this week for $479.99.  If you recycle an old laptop or desktop, they will send you a $100 visa gift card, so $379.99 after rebate.  Up to you to decide if not waiting in line and risking a sellout is worth $30.
 
The 590-p0050 is in the Black Friday ad for $479.99.  No way I would spend $100 more for this box, but it's on sale this week for $479.99.  If you recycle an old laptop or desktop, they will send you a $100 visa gift card, so $379.99 after rebate...
  • 2.8GHz Intel Core i5-8400 6-core processor with up to 4GHz turbo frequency and 9MB cache memory
  • 8GB memory
  • 1TB hard drive
  • 16GB Optane
 
The 590-p0070 is in the Black Friday ad for $659.99.  No way I would spend $310 more for this box, but it's also on sale this week for $659.99.  If you recycle an old laptop or desktop, they will send you a $100 visa gift card, so $559.99 after rebate...
  • 3.2GHz Intel i7-8700 6-core processor with up to 4.6GHz and 12MB cache memory
  • 12GB DDR4 SDRAM smoothly run your games, photo, and video editing applications
  • 1 TB HDD
  • No Optane

The i7 machine would likely have a 10-30% performance edge over the others.  The others could be upgraded to the i7 cpu for $310.  Probably a lot less by the time you need it.

 

I believe 16g or RAM plus 16GB of Optane would be the best performance configuration.  Upgrading to 16g or RAM would require adding an 8g stick to each machine as the two 12g machines use both slots, so a 4g would need to be replaced not added to.  A Crucial 8GB DDR4-2666 UDIMM costs $31.99.  Adding a 16GB Optane module would cost $28.49.

 

Adding a stick of matching RAM is easier than adding 16GB of Optane given potential bios and software upgrades.

 

Best price for stock...

  1. HP Pavilion 590-p0060 $349.99 on BF
  2. HP Pavilion 590-p0050 $379.99 this week after rebate
  3. HP Pavilion 590-p0070 $559.99 this week after rebate

Best price for 16/16 configuration...

  1. HP Pavilion 590-p0060 $410.47 on BF
  2. HP Pavilion 590-p0050 $411.98 this week after rebate
  3. HP Pavilion 590-p0070 $620.47 this week after rebate

Best price for 16/16 configuration with 3.2GHz Intel i7-8700... 

  1. HP Pavilion 590-p0070 $620.47 this week after rebate
  2. HP Pavilion 590-p0060 $720.46 on BF
  3. HP Pavilion 590-p0050 $721.98 this week after rebate

If you don't mind waiting in line on BF, have no fear of sell out, and are content with the 590-p0060 configuration, then that would be the best deal for you.  If want SSD performance, are concerned the 590-p0060 might go out of stock on BF or you do not want to deal with installing Optane, the 590-p0050 is in stock right now.  If you never want to open the case, the 590-p0070 rebate deal offered this week might be best for you.

 

I'll be adding some RAM and a GTX 1650 OC 4GB video accelerator to my 590-p0050 for a total cost of $561.97.

 

As for my Staples situation, after this transaction, my Rewards deficit is $82.04, I have $90 worth of gift cards left, and I have $40 worth of Rewards available as of this morning and will add either $60 or $80 next month (depending on whether double rewards on ink apply to 10 or 20 carts) -- which means I will have to spend $122.04 at Staples by the end of the year and can spend up to $182.04/$202.04 with no OOP.  I'm thinking this HP Acer 32" monitor would look nice next to my new PC...

 

http://weeklyad.staples.com/StaplesSD/WeeklyAd?storeid=2278777&adref=staplesheader#!/store/2278777/promotion/Staples-191128BF($104.99 OOP)

 

https://www.staples.com/amazon-echo-show-2nd-generation-10-1-hd-screen-charcoal-b077sxwsrp/product_24377589 ($90 in gift cards + $34.99 OOP)

 

https://www.staples.com/Crucial-8GB-DDR4-SDRAM-UDIMM-DDR4-2400-PC4-19200-Desktop-Memory-Module-CT8G4DFD824A/product_2580601

https://www.staples.com/charmin-ultra-soft-2-ply-super-mega-roll-white-18-count-75224/product_24325343 ($40 in Rewards + $15.25 OOP)

 

Staples Rewards deficit = $0!

 

 

Happy shopping!

Edited by len_mullen
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len_mullen

len_mullen

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But I love putting computers together - that's the best part!

 

I do too, but I'm a bit busy right now.  I had gotten as far as a parts list, but I would have paid a bit more for a bit less computer other than the fact that I would have had a standard atx power supply and an excellent video card.  

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