new components opinions / video card selection

saanobhaai

Distinguished
Feb 3, 2003
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Hello all,

I'm about to purchase new components as the start of a new system and wanted to get some feedback before I do. Any reactions? These look like they'd work together okay? The big question is, which video card do I choose? I'd like to simply get an AIW 9700 Pro, but don't think I can swing the price. What do you recommend in the sub-$200 range good for gaming / 2D apps / DVDs?

Here are the components I'm thinking of (note I'll use old components, like my crappy dvd drive, until I get more money to add to this system):

1 Asus A7N8X Deluxe w/ Athlon XP 2600+ 333 FSB, heatsink, fan, thermal grease, 1-yr warranty (monarchcomputer.com) -- 480
1 stick 512MB Corsair PC2700 CAS2 DDR CMX512-2700LL (2-2-2-5-T1) -- $175
1 Western Digital 120GB hard drive WD1200JB (8MB Cache) -- $150
1 Antec Plus 1080AMG w/ 430W PS case -- $130
1 floppy drive generic -- $10
1 video card - Sapphire Atlantis Radeon 9500 128mb 8x ($180)?

Note I'll get a second stick of 512 once I get some more dough to take advantage of the dual memory controllers. Thanks.
 

tuesday630

Distinguished
Dec 13, 2002
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18,680
It's a roll of the dice. I'm sure the cards are refurbed to work okay, but you never know about latent static damage caused by the original user that could have reduced its life expectancy.

I'd say, there's certainly a price point at which the risk is worth it, but it is a risk.

---There may be more than one way to do it, but why would anyone want to remove the fur from a feline?---