Where to buy hardware in Atlanta

MicroSeconds

6125 Roswell Road NE
Atlanta GA 30328
(404)252-7221
10-7 M-F
10-6 Sat

Good source for cheap computer parts. They also have whole used PCs. I had a sudden need for a server last spring and bought exactly what I needed for $80 or so here.

Their $100 (new) motherboards also work great with Linux. I've used a couple of them and have no complaints. When last I built a computer from scratch, I spent about $400 there and elsewhere around town. I didn't do a lot of bargain hunting -- you could probly get by for a lot less money if you were more careful. Their prices on cases are a little steep. Beware that as of Oct 2006 they won't give cash refunds; so far they seem willing to exchange parts if you have your receipt.

RadioShack.com (AKA Tech America)

Closed!

Looks like they're closing down as of Jan 2002.

Old-Fashioned Scrounging

Of course, if you cultivate your day-job friends carefully you'll seldom need to actually buy hardware. I acquired most of my current toasternet through barter, rummage sales, or begging. Create agricultural products if you can -- ain't nothing like a bottle of homebrew or a couple of cups of dried figs to make the guy remember to bring you that 2 gig hard drive he's gonna throw away anyway.

-- CharlesShapiro - 09 Oct 2001

Micro Center Marietta

1221 Powers Ferry Rd.
Marietta GA 30067
Tel: 770-859-1540
Monday - Saturday 10 to 9
Sunday, 12 to 5

Map to store

Don't overlook the Micro Center store on Powers Ferry Road as a source of various new and used equipment. Their used equipment is varied and often ecclectic but can provide some good values. Cables, power supplies, cases, even occasional values like new PCI SMC 10/100 e-net cards for $4.95 (now gone). Staff knowledge quite variable.

-- TWiki Guest 10 Oct 2001

Prime Computers - Marietta

180 Cobb Parkway				(Just south of the big chicken on US 41)
Marietta Georgia 30065
Phone: 770-426-9692
Fax: 770-426-8313
Open until 6pm m-f
open until ?? Saturday
closed sunday

Prime Computers Web Site (perpetually out of date)

This place sells new and used hardware. They have a large selection of used monitors and usually a large selection of complete used systems for a good price. They have great deals on new hardware too.

Austin Electronics

6050 Center Place
Norcross, GA 30093
770-449-8679
fax 770-263-9488
Mon-Fri 9am-5:30pm

Great place to get electronics and old computer hardware. -- EricAyers - 11 Oct 2001

Computer Renaissance

4135 La Vista Road #630
Tucker GA 30084
(770)492-1333
M-F 10a-7p Sat 10a-6p

Alas closed as of July 12 2003.

These guys are part of a loosely organized chain with stores all over the US.

They appear to have no stores at present in the Atlanta area, although their website is still up and lists stores in Macon and Martinez(?).

-- CharlesShapiro - 07 Oct 2002

Nothing listed in Martinez as of 21 Feb 2004. Only Macon remains close by:
Computer Renaissance
3555 Mercer University Dr., Suite 1021
Macon, GA 31204
Phone: (478) 757-9299
Fax: (478) 757-9887

Ginstar

Suites A and B
6000 Dawson Blvd
Norcross, GA 30093-1225 
Phone: 770 409-0883
Fax:	770 409-8287

(other locations in Marietta, Alpharetta and Midtown)

I've dealt with both the main store in Norcross and the former Kevin Computer location in Midtown. The Midtown store helped me out tremendously with a WinXP config issue (ironically, for a WinModem-based modem, which I later replaced with a Linux-friendly USR modem), and the system I bought from Kevin Computer is still going strong (as is the system I bought from the Norcross store for my folks). Others in ALE, however, have had less than desirable experiences with their sales and/or support staff.

The website is atrocious; consult at the current Computer User ad for the latest prices.

-- FultonGreen - 06 Nov 2002

CompUSA

(various locations)

All Atlanta area stores are closed as of March 2007.

Whoops ... I forgot this was the CheapAtlantaHardware page.

-- FultonGreen - 06 Nov 2002

---

Monarch Computer

5242 Royal Woods Parkway #160
Tucker, Georgia 30084
M-F 9:30-18:30
Closed Sat & Sun
(770)939-8886

They're not exactly cheap, but this store features a very good selection of new computer parts and cases, including supplies for adding fancy overclocker//case mod features such as liquid cooling and variable-speed fans. They specialize in AMD boards and chips, although they also have Intel stuff on hand. Check the website for current price and availability; they have terminals in the low-key showroom to print out your order right there. They sometimes feature good deals on discontinued motherboards and video cards. Visit them and you can play on their free pac-man machine!

These guys are rumored to be In Trouble as of Winter 2007, although their website is still up. The hours listed here may not be current. Call before you visit.

-- CharlesShapiro - 10 Jan 2007

---

Bluestar Productions Computer Show

Usually rolls through the Atlanta International Convention Center near the airport every January or so.

This was fairly small show, with only about 20 vendors present. One of the merchants told me that this kind of show was a little bit of a crapshoot -- some are a lot better than others. The crowd was mostly techno-peasants, some with high-school age children who seemed more knowlegeable than the dad with the money. Few vendors would take checks -- if you go, use cash or a credit card for your purchases.

Much of the gear was the kind of stuff most of us already have bangin' around in our attics and basements: ISA sound cards at $2 apiece, piles of 10 MB NICS,spools of cat5 wire, broken or outdated laptops. I was specifically looking for a Lian Li Aluminum case & a decent power supply. Alas, the only Al cases I saw there were way overpriced. They had some alleged 400W power supplies, but they were suspiciously light to me. One dealer had the PCI sound card of my dreams, but alas he wanted $30 more for it than I'd pay in town. And he wouldn't bargain. Foo.

I did get a couple of cheap 1.44" floppy drives, a 20-gb drive, and a $12 video card. The computer book vendor had a good selection of O'Reilly books also, although they tended to be a little out of date. But I found a couple of Python books and the TCP/IP administrators guide for $10 apiece.

All in all, good if you're into rummage sales. I'd definitely go there if I were looking for a cheap server for connecting to the net or hooking your printers up to your LAN. I think I'd buy or build my main machine elsewhere though.

---

Fry's Electronics

3296 Commerce Drive NW
Duluth, GA 30096
M-F 08:00-21:00
Sat 09:00-21:00
Sun 12:00-19:00
(678)405-6800

3065 Webb Rd 
Alpharetta, GA 30004  
M-F 08:00-21:00
Sat 09:00-21:00
Sun 12:00-19:00
(770) 569-1880

Awesome selection, pretty ok prices. These people stock everything from RJ-45 crimpers through hard drives, sound cards, and motherboards to electric shavers and telescopes. Prices are OK but not great. Located at the intersection of Ring Road and Commerce Drive just outside of Gwinnett Place Mall. The store even includes a good selection of junk food and a coffee shop inside. Three of us were so jazzed we went up there for the opening and managed to get a portrait before a store clerk stopped us.

As of Nov 2006 they've just opened a new store in Alpharetta, a little North of Windward Parkway (exit 11 from GA 400) near highway 9. No word yet on what it's like.

-- CharlesShapiro - 08 Nov 2006