Buying Parts from the US

[Fidgits]

Okay, my home PC is struggling nowadays, and probably is in need of an upgrade (again! It had one not 3 years ago! pah!)

So my plan is to just build a brand new one, maybe using a few of the newer parts I have bought for this one (you know how it goes - I have a 3 month old HDD etc)


However, with a trip to the US in the very near future, I was considering heading to Fry's, picking up a Motherboard/CPU combo (maybe with some RAM as well?), and even throwing in a DVD-R and GFx card since the 'one piece of handbaggage' rule - if i've got to check bags i may as well make it worthwhile

Now ignoring the customs issue which is irrelavent at this point - If I plan on buying a case and power supply over here for all these new bits - will I have any problems?

I realise there is a risk, if something doesnt work or breaks on the way home i dont have any comeback, but has anyone done this? any comments/helpful hints?

[Mattt]

My old housemate did this, but his family lived in the US - used to buy bits when he went to visit. Never had any problems, be a bugger if you did though.

Why is customs irrelevant? If you get caught, they won't work out much cheaper than bits here.

[Fidgits]

well, customs is irrelavent at this juncture - as i havent decided to do this yet.

Of course, yes, should i declare the parts (as i legally should for anything over the value of £20 IIRC) or get caught, then it will be expensive.

However, the other option is if one of my friends in the US is upgrading his old PC, and gives me his old parts as a 'gift', just in the new boxes (for safe transport), then I dont imagine it is an issue?

[TheLearner]

Ok.

The BEST way of doing this is to use fleabay and find an international seller; assuming you don't have a friend in the states ready to repackage.

It's a GIFT.
If has ZERO value.

Ask them to write that on the docket and it should appear on your door.

Several expensive dresses have come over the pond that way.

[Fidgits]

hi mate - you missed the bit about me BEING IN the states then?

[TheLearner]

Fidgits said:

hi mate - you missed the bit about me BEING IN the states then?

Nope. but bringing back parts in luggage/carryon isn't the same as a laptop loaded up with your personal details whilst you were out there.

A CPU/HDD/Mobo and such is a wee bit of a ringer

[Mattt]

What sort of prices would you be looking at on both sides of the pond?

[Deva Link]

Don't forget the prices at Fry's will be ex-sales tax. Approx 7% in California.

Fry's is convenient but I wouldn't have expected them to be very cheap 9I could be wrong though). I often see this place mentioned on US forums: http://www.newegg.com

[jimmyjimjim]

Returning to the original issue - if you buy a case or power supply, be careful; a lot of the cheaper PSU's (i.e. ones supplied in cheap cases) are 110v only.
More expensive psu's which say 'US spec' on the box are dual voltage, but have a US power cable supplied.
If you can see the bits before you buy them, you shouldn't have a problem.
Fry's are by no means the cheapest.

[Fidgits]

Mattt said:

What sort of prices would you be looking at on both sides of the pond?

I dunno to be honest.

more out of need than desire.

Just need a reasonable spec machine - perhaps just as cheap to get one over here?

[Mattt]

If it's nothing too extreme, prob safer to buy here - I imagine it does work out cheaper if you wanted the best of the best of everything.

[leorest]

IIRC you have an allowance of £147 though it's been a good few years since I looked it up and I may have remebered the number wrong too! I recommend you do proper reserch and know where you stand. Don't forget you can also buy in duty free. I did this way back when 200Mhz was sh.. hot fast.