To build or buy?

[merlin802]

I have about $900 to spend on a new PC (I already have a monitor, keyboard and mouse). What would be my best bet, to build or to buy? This will be for mostly gaming. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[merlin802]

Well, I think I have pretty much decided. Please let me know if I missed anything or if I am making any mistakes with these :

CD/DVD Burners (RW Drives)
►Hot Item! Lite On 48x24x48 CDRW Model LTR-48246SBlack (Comes with Software, Manual and Audio cable.) more info>
N82E16827106189 $66.99
$66.99

Floppy Drives
SONY 1.44MB 3.5 INCH INTERNAL FDD DRIVE - OEM-BLACK
$18.00

Hard Drives
►Hot Item! WD WESTERN DIGITAL "SPECIAL EDITION" 80GB 7200RPM EIDE HARD DRIVE MODEL # WD800JB - OEM, DRIVE ONLY
$109.00

Memory (System Memory)
CORSAIR MEMORY XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series 256MB 64MX64 PC-2700C2PT With Platinum - Silver Heat Spreader OEM
Specifications:
Speed 333 MHz
Organization 32M x 64
CAS Latency 2-3-3-6-T1
Memory type DDR
Part number: CMX256A-2700C2PT more info>
N82E16820145410 $99.00
$198.00


Motherboards - AMD
Asus Motherboard for AMD Athlon/XP/Duron Processors, Model# A7N8X Deluxe Retail
$153.00

Processors
►Hot Item! AMD Athlon XP 2000+/266 FSB Processor CPU - 2000+/ 1.67GHz -Retail Box
BOX2000DMT3C. 3 Years Warranty. The AMD Athlon XP processor with QuantiSpeed architecture powers the next generation in computing platforms, delivering extra performance for cutting-edge applications and an extra-ordinary computing experience.world's highest overall performing PC processor.
Specifications:
CPU: 1.67 GHz
Type: 2000 XP
Cache: 256K
BUS: 266MHz
Socket A (PGA)
Retail (Box with Heatsink and Fan) more info>
N82E16819103327 $92.00
$92.00

Video Cards
POWERCOLOR RADEON 9500 PRO 128MB DDR DVI/TV/CRT RETAIL
Specifications:
Chipset:Radeon 9500 Pro
Memory:128MB DDR Ram
Bus: AGP 8X
Supports resolutions (32-bit color) up to 2048x1536
8 parallel rendering pipelines process up to 2.6 billion pixels/second
8.8 GB/sec bandwidth
2.2 billion pixels per second.
Ports:
Retail Box (see pictures for details) more info>
N82E16814131202 $189.00
$189.00

Grand Total » $ 829.99

I will also pick up a case locally for around $100....

 

[letdown]

Looks rock solid. I'd expect to put a Barton in there (cheaply) in about 8 months. You *could* invest in some PC3200/3500 right now to match that, but it's probably not necessary.

You might want to add a DVD-rom (lite-on's is under $40) to let you watch DVDs and burn on the fly.

Of course you need cables and such, and make sure you get a nice power supply with that case. At least 300w, preferably around 350.

Have fun!

 

[merlin802]

I thought about the DVD player but I don't really need it because my PC is in the living room (nice and close to the TV/DVD) and I also have a PS2 that runs through my PC to my monitor if I did want to watch a DVD on my monitor.

I'll see how much more it would be for the PC3200/3500...

 

[merlin802]

Since it was only a few dollars difference, I exchanged the 2700 for 2 sticks of this:

CORSAIR MEMORY XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series 256MB 32MX8 PC-3200C2 With Heat Spreader OEM
Specifications:
Speed 400MHz
Organization 64M x 64
CAS Latency 2-3-3-6-T1
Memory type DDR
Part number: CMX256A-3200C2 more info>
N82E16820145415

So, this setup looks ok then?

 

[papasmurf]

I would not so much ram and go for a 9700 pro, I think you will regret buying the 9500, if you dont want to slack on the ram get a geforce ti 4600 which I believe is a good deal faster than the 9500 though it doesnt support dx9... just go for the 9700! come on! You know you wanna

smurf A- I saw you leave with smurfette
smurf B- oh man as soon as we got out of the bar she started smurfing me
smurf A- shut the smurf up
smurf A- right in the smurfing pariking lot?

 

[dhlucke]

I think it looks good, but do you really need a $18 floppy?

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[Rob423]

lmao, yeah i know.. get one for like 8$

Is THG Slightly Slacking??

 

[dhlucke]

Just don't get one. I don't use one and haven't for over a year.

My brother was using a floppy still when I saw him over the holidays. In 11 days I had 3 die on me losing all the data on there. A whole MB gone forever....sniffle.

Seriously, a floppy is not necessary anymore (for most people). Especially since he's getting a CD-RW.

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[merlin802]

Yeah, you are probably right about the floppy drive, lol.
Oh well, it is already ordered...
Anyone have any good suggestions for a case? Looking for black...

 

[merlin802]

Damn you papasmurf! You talked me into it, I cancelled the order and then placed it again with the 9700 Pro and did not re-order the floppy drive. New total (excluding case & CDRW) = $815.98 including 2-day UPS

 

[letdown]

That sounds too cheap... you did still buy SOME ram, didn't you?

 

[merlin802]

ORDER CONTENT:
2 x (80092) Corsair CMX256A-3200C2 256MB PC3200 400Mhz 32Mx64 184 DIMM Cas2 Memory w/Heat Spreader Retail @ $91.00

1 x (240272) Asus A7N8X Deluxe nforce2 Athlon(XP)/Duron SktA DDR ATX Motherboard w/Audio, LAN, RAID, Serial ATA Retail @ $147.99

1 x (101206) Western Digital Caviar Special Edition WD800JB 80GB ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drive w/8MB Buffer @ $107.00

1 x (320775) ATI Radeon 9700 PRO AGP 8X 128MB DDR Video Card w/TV-Out & DVI by PowerColor @ $275.99

1 x (80163-R) AMD Athlon XP 2100+ 1.73GHz Processor Retail @ $99.00

------------------------------
SUBTOTAL : $811.98
SALESTAX : $0.00
SHIPPING : $4.00
TOTAL : $815.98

 

[dhlucke]

I like Antec cases. Check out their site.

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[jedge78]

if you wanna save some money, i think newegg has some relatively inexpensive enermax cases that come with quality 300w or 350w power supplies

 

[merlin802]

I am thinking about the Antec SX1040BII. It looks nice and has a 400w power supply. I can get it locally for $89.60

http://www.antec-europe.com/products/enclosures/sx1040bii_spe.html

Any opinions on this one?

 

[Booky]

Antec PS are the best there is. I have only heard of random DOA, but if it works when you boot it up then it will give you steady power for a stable system. I think the 1040BII is a nice case (I don't like black though) and the 400W will last a few upgrades if not forever. Things get faster, then they get hot, then they get lower voltage rebuilds to lower temp Its a big cycle. Anyway, if you can fork out more, I would get the Antec PLUS1080 (comes with 430 truepower PS, better than the standard 400W the 1040 has) I would get the Lite on CD-RW that you listed, but I don't use DVD on my PC, so if that is a necessity, then I can't help you there.


Booky

Crap, all the good ones are already taken.

 

[merlin802]

Well, I picked up the Antec SX1040BII today and now I just have to wait a few days to get all of the other parts. Wish me luck! (and thanks for all your guys help!)