Value Gaming PC: iBuyPower AM900Z for $1300

If you are a looking for a value buy type of a gaming PC, there’s a new release that has rolled out at Amazon, it is the iBuyPower AM900Z, and despite that “AM” in the model name, this is an Intel-powered computer 🙂

The starting price is $1300 at Amazon by Amazon actual, and for that, you get:

  • Intel i7-7700K Quad-Core which currently ranks #113 at cpubenchmark.net
  • 8GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Dedicated Graphics Card (that’s how you know it’s a gaming PC for real!)
  • 16GB RAM of the DDR4 kind
  • 240GB SSD _AND_ 1TB 7200rpm HDD
  • HDMI, DVI and DisplayPort connections
  • 802.11AC Dual Band Wireless USB Adapter
  • usual assortment of USB ports and such
  • keyboard and mouse included (iBUYPower brand)
  • LED lightning and such
  • Windows 10 Home of the 64-bit kind

September 14, 2017 Filed Under: tech Tagged With: , ,

ASUS M32CD Win10 Desktop with DDR4 memory for $450

I have an on-going (and slow-moving) review (five parts so far) of the ASUS M32CD Windows 10 Desktop PC going on. The one I purchased for $430, when it came out in the Fall of 2015, had DDR3 memory. Now there is a new version out with DDR4 memory instead, on sale for $450 at the moment with a limit of five per customer at Amazon by Amazon actual.

I only have the DDR3 version, and I’m a poor blogger, I can’t just buy the DDR4 version just so I can do a side-by-side comparison. I went back and looked at my CPU-Z results, indeed, the one I received was DDR3.

NOTE: as you can see at the Amazon page over there, in addition to the DDR4 PC on its own, Amazon is also bundling it with the 23.8″ Acer R240HY bidx computer monitor, however, at least as of the time of writing, there is no bundle discount. You pay the same price whether you buy them together or separately.

PS: yes, the irony is not lost on me, bundling a PC and a monitor from two bitter Taiwanese rivals 🙂

February 24, 2016 Filed Under: tech Tagged With: ,

Back In-stock: ASUS M32CD Win10 Skylake i5 PC for $410 [updated]

If you are looking for a bang for the buck i5 Skylake Desktop PC, the ASUS M32CD is back in-stock at Amazon.com for $410 (was $430) with free shipping. It is powered by the i5-6400 quad core, with 8GB RAM, and 1TB hard disk, DVD burner, lots of USB ports (3.1, 3.0, 2.0), and Windows 10 out of the box… Price updated here 11/16/15…

If you are interested in this, we have a slow-moving on-going review of it at our brand new content blog:

  1. UNBOXING (text & pictures; no audio/video)
  2. TURNING it ON for the FIRST TIME
  3. The SPECS
  4. Findings After Three Weeks’>FINDINGS after THREE WEEKS
  5. more coming up
November 11, 2015 Filed Under: tech Tagged With: ,

Win10 Skylake Desktop Deal: ASUS M32CD for $430

If you are looking for a brand new Windows 10 desktop computer using the brand new Skylake i5 processors and want to stay under $500 even after sales tax, Amazon has a potentially great deal for you. For $430, you can get the ASUS M32CD Desktop. As of the time of writing, it is in-stock.

UPDATE 10/14/15 – the REVIEW has just began!
+ Part #1: Unboxing – what’s included in the box?
+ Part #2: Turning it ON for the FIRST TIME – Surprise: No trialware!
+ Part #3: The Specs
+ more coming soon
+ if you have any questions or things you want me to check, please leave a comment at the review posts over there!

Below I highlighted the different ports from the back of the desktop (this is using the Amazon gallery picture, since mine hasn’t arrived yet)

asusCD32desktop_back_ports

So what makes this interesting?

  • Intel i5-6400 Skylake processor – ranks #252 at cpubenchmark.net – pretty good for the price!
  • this is the entry-level of the Skylake i5 line-up but they are all 4/4 (Cores/Threads) – see Wikipedia)
  • 8GB DDR 3 1600MHz RAM
  • 1TB 7200rpm
  • DVD burner (Super Multi)
  • Intel Integrated 530 HD Graphics
  • HDMI and VGA ports (no DVI)
  • all USB formats includes: USB 3.1, USB 3.0, and USB 2.0
  • 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet and Bluetooth 4.0
  • keyboard and mouse included
  • and more
October 11, 2015 Filed Under: shopping Tagged With: ,