Online auction panic attack

I wrote an article recently on how I was ripped off on Ebay. But just like everyone else who is on a budget, I'm always looking for a good deal. About a year ago I discovered that the local tech school holds a monthly online auction. Knowing the seller gave me confidence to place bids. The main items I look for at this auction are office furniture and used computers. I was able to get a P3 450 mhz pc with monitor, keyboard, and mouse for $75 bucks. Not bad if you don't need the latest technology. On a more recent auction, I had my sights set on a P4 1.7 ghz pc. The price was $150 for about a week and didn't change. During the last half hour of the auction I placed a bid for $175. Someone quickly placed a higher bid so I went up to $195. I didn't want to go over two hundred because I knew I would need a bigger hard drive, better sound, and graphics card which would add at least three hundred to the price. As I way typing in my next bid I started to panic because I knew that time was running out and someone else was bidding against me. I didn't know how much time I had to work with because the auction site doesn't have a timer like Ebay. I entered my bid and I saw a message that said that someone had already out bid me and of course, by then, it was too late to place another bid. I was disappointed to say the least. Hopefully they will have similar systems for sale next month and I will have better luck.