news.eternal-september.org wrote:
> "terryc" <newsninespam-spam@woa.com.au> wrote in message
> news:jbhetv$p5m$2@dont-email.me...
>> news.eternal-september.org wrote:
>>> I'd like to buy a barebones (PSU, CPU, single Disk, graphics card, etc),
>>> for a linux box. Can someone suggest a good place to buy good HW?
>> One of my five local computer shops is very good for this. Looks for the
>> parts list and prices near the door way for a hint. Otherwise, web search
>> for a few and you should fine thousands of online sellers.
>>
>>
>
>
> Do you think eBay sellers are legit?

Can't you find a better source ? There are certain items on
Ebay, where you're just asking for trouble. (These
are things I've read, not experienced first hand.)
They include

1) High capacity USB flash drives (most all are faked capacity)
2) Laptops (they make excellent fishing bait, many scams possible)
3) Operating system software (that "original copy" of WinXP you always wanted)

I'm sure there are others that are deadly deals as well.

Barebones aren't necessarily a good deal. You really need
to examine the component list, and comparison shop. In some
cases, the motherboard might be inferior, in which case,
a low price goes hand in hand with the $39 motherboard you
got with the deal.

Newegg has reviews for components which are popular, so if you
have any doubts about that $39 motherboard, check the Newegg
reviews. And if Newegg doesn't list it, try Amazon.

If you're going to build your own computer, you should be
reading reviews for everything. That way, there are fewer
surprises later, and fewer "returns" to the retailer.

The only thing a barebones does for you, is bundle a bunch
of hardware together in a cardboard box for you. There is
no value added. There have even been cases, where bundled
components are not compatible with one another. So idiotic
things can happen. As a consumer, your eyes must be "wide open".

A lot of those bundles, will include power supplies I wouldn't
touch with a barge pole. And if the make and model number of
the supply is not stated, you can't read the reviews.

Paul