waste of money??

mihasya · Feb 28, 2005

I have browsed the forums for past month trying to read all i can without asking stupid questions as i see these forums get flooded with these typs of questions every hour.

while doing my research i have compiled the most common components advised for an AMD system socket 939.

i am sure this might not be true since many people split on what they think is best for memory / sockets / mobo and PSU for the money/performance difference with ocing posibilities and stability but i think i like this setup as is

now i used chiefvalue website since they are cheaper then newegg but i am still looking for website that will not charge me sales tax since i live in CA.

MOBO -
DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 Ultra-D Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard http://www.chiefvalue.com/app/productdetails.asp?submit=&item=13-136-152&ATT=Motherboards&CMP=OTC-pr1c3watch $142.00
- OR -

EPoX EP-9NPA+Ultra Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard http://www.chiefvalue.com/app/productdetails.asp?submit=manufactory&item=13-123-236 $132.00

CPU -
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Winchester Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3200BIBOX http://www.chiefvalue.com/app/productdetails.asp?linkid=117&item=19-103-502 $190.00
PSU -
Thermaltake Silent PurePower 560W Power Supply for AMD and Intel ATX 12V, Model "W0023" -RETAIL http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-153-015&depa=0 $99.00
MEMORY -
CORSAIR XMS 1GB (2 x 512MB) DDR400(PC3200) System Memory Model TWINX1024-3200C2PT http://www.chiefvalue.com/app/productdetails.asp?submit=manufactory&item=20-145-450 $188.00
VIDEO GPU -

Radeon X800XL Video Card, PCI Express, 256MB DDR http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=318335&pfp=BROWSE $299.00

HD -
Western Digital Raptor WD740GD 73 GB 10,000 RPM Hard Drive http://www.chiefvalue.com/app/productdetails.asp?submit=manufactory&item=22-144-160 $177.00

i will get a case in local store since its cheaper/faster , you get charged too much for shipping.
CASE - $70.00
$1300.00 + some fees i guess

this has grown by 300 bucks

if you think this is a waste money please let me know, i would really want to know if these recommendations are the most advised in this forum.

originaly i was trying to compile a gaming system for my little brother for around 500 bucks but since he is saving more money im wating till he hits the 1k mark to built him a completly new system worth waiting for.

thanks for all info - this website is gold mine

Edited by mihasya on 03/01/05 10:40 AM.

Flinx · Feb 28, 2005

Lots of nice components.

Trouble with evaluating things for other people is that at some point it becomes what is right or wrong for them. 

Besides blatant poor choices there is a gray area of pros and cons that can only be evaluated from a personal side. That means how much and what to spend you $$ on. There will always be something faster or better or cheaper or with better price performance. In the end you have to make a decision. Do your homework and ask around a bit and you should be alright.

The loving are the daring!

mihasya · Feb 28, 2005

well this system is not really best extrem performance system, but if you where to get the same thing from a store it would cost you twice as much, i know shouldnt of put down THE MOST recommended system but reading post after post i came to compile the most common components recommended for people who want o build a system for around 1k. offcource with each day everything changes thats why it is difficult for clueless newbs like me to figure out this info. By the time i compiled this info im sure its already outdated and you can get something better for the same price and this is best i can do. The info is so scattered that it realy takes time to get all this together, the buyers guid gives tips but doesnt help much anymore since much has changed since NOV '04.

sorry for my english/grammer/sentence structure im not trying to set standard just trying to see if what i compiled is close to whats commonly recommended and get some input on other possiblities.

Edited by mihasya on 02/27/05 08:59 PM.

endyen · Feb 28, 2005

My personal preference would be the DFI mobo, and the XFX graphics. Where I am, the corsair is a lot more expensive, so I usually avoid it. At that price though, it looks good.
Nice choices.

Guest · Feb 28, 2005

I would go with that DFI board, otherwise it looks great for your budget

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mozzartusm · Feb 28, 2005

I am a Thermaltake person, but im not really excited about that particular PSU. I have one, and its ok but it doesnt quite hold up to the level that it should. The PSU IMO is as important as the most expensive piece of hardware that you can buy. If your not going to push the system by OCing then for the price that PSU will do fine. I would suggest that you considered a Fortron Source with close to the same specs.

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Guest · Feb 28, 2005

I agree with Mozz on that, take a look at the forton source Blue Storm 500w PSU, maybe abit more, but good quality

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mihasya · Feb 28, 2005

thanks much for the reply guys i was a bit hesitant to spend big bucks on a 500 watt PSU but i am convinced since i did burn a system before on a 420 watt PSU that came with the case burned my MOBO/CPU/HD and offcouse burned PSU, but was able to save VIDEO card and MEMORY and dont wanna risk that again since my systems run 24/7 practicly, but then again i did get lucky with two systems where my PSU's have been running 24/7 for about 2 years now and still alive and kicking.

btw. does any one know a website that doesnt charge tax when shipping to CALIFORNIA USA ?

Guest · Feb 28, 2005

Yeah that does suck about CA, I hate the sales tax crap **sigh** oh well. Pretty much I believe all resellers based in CA charge tax, so try some based down south or out east, like maybe monarch.com. You will have to check them to be sure. GL

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mihasya · Feb 28, 2005

i was thinking maybe two 100 gig drives from WD so if one fails i have another to back-it up instead of one go down with everything. I already had that happen

maxtor does suck badly. but dont need this at the moment since i already have a 40 gig ATA 133 that should be inuff for storage.

Ohhh i forgot the DVD burner :/ guess thats another 75 bucks

so you say $288 for X800XL hmmm guess the budget is increasing by 100 bucks, i will have to search for that one thanks

.

CA tax is already killin me as is and now websites are doing this, its almost not worth to order on the net, by the time you add up all services, shipping , taxes it equals same as in-store price + tax.

thanks again for info.

mihasya · Feb 28, 2005

X800XL is around $350.00 - $400.00 it took some time to scan through the thread... i guess you need a special code to get it @$299.00 i hope by the time the money is saved i wont need the code hopefully.

Edited by mihasya on 02/28/05 04:56 PM.

Guest · Mar 1, 2005

I just went to compusa.com and got one for pickup at $299, no special code (wish i had one)

check it out

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mozzartusm · Mar 1, 2005

They are starting to pop up for $299.00 Mine is going to be here in the morning I got it straight from ATI for $288.00 and thats with the shipping.

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Guest · Mar 1, 2005

Nice deal, swear I looked on that site this afternoon and couldn't find anything... oh well

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Guest · Mar 1, 2005

Lol ok I'm an arse, you ordered it how long ago?

awesome deal though, and you get to avoid that wondeful CA sales tax. **sigh** Weren't taxes one of the reasons we revolted from Britain so long ago? Man I hate taxes...

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mihasya · Mar 1, 2005

great!!! @$299 ill add it to my list.

thanks again...

Guest · Mar 1, 2005

Anytime

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Rugger · Mar 1, 2005

Just don't tell us who you want to use them with... :evil:

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Rugger · Mar 1, 2005

I am neither asking nor telling about any supposed homosexual activities that might occur with said Wingy.

Edit: Heard you came out of the closet recently in another thread...didn't think my dry humor was THAT dry.
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:tongue: Have you read the FAQ? Searched for other posts on this topic?Edited by Rugger on 03/01/05 05:41 PM.

fishmahn · Mar 2, 2005

The thing about sales tax: State sales tax is tax on everything purchased in the state. The tax isn't on what is sold, it's on what is purchased. The state is making it easy on the purchaser by making the seller (store) collect it for them, but in reality it's the purchaser (that's us) responsibility to pay the tax.

So, if the store has a physical presence in your state, state sales tax is assessed. For out-of-state stores, the state can't do anything about it (yet).

If you order an item online from a store in, say, OH, and you lived in CA, the state believes you have an obligation to pay state sales tax on the item.

Not to say that I do send my state sales tax on items I buy online, but technically, I should, as should the rest of us.

Mike.

Guest · Mar 2, 2005

Uh, right.... exactly, what he said...

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mihasya · Mar 3, 2005

well if the state spends 90% of my tax money on bs chit then i aint gonna be honest about my purchasing items with no tax, i would like to keep some of the independence that america originaly had, i guess that independence mostly exists on the NET but already is being limited.

Guest · Mar 3, 2005

Exactly!!! What she said!!

i like the way you think

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mihasya · Apr 8, 2005

ok, i went in to check my wish list @ newegg.com to make sure i have inuff money to buy this and it looks like its getting more expensive

prices are rising? darn this market.

AMD Athlon 64 3200+, 512KB L2 Cache, Socket 939 64-bit Processor - Retail Item# N82E16819103502 $190.00

Thermalright Heatsink for P4 & K8 CPUs, Heatsink Only, Model "XP-90" -RETAIL Item# N82E16835109119 $42.99

DFI "LANPARTY UT nF4 Ultra-D" NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra Chipset Motherboard For AMD Socket 939 CPU -RETAIL $133.00

OCZ Platinum Enhanced Bandwidth Revision 2 Limited Edition 240-Pin 512MB DDR2 PC2-4200 - Retail $156.00

Plextor 16X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW SATA Drive, Model PX-716SA/SW, Retail Item# N82E16827131351 $139.00

Western Digital Raptor 74GB 10,000RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model WD740GD, OEM Drive Only Item# N82E16822144160 $185.00

Fortron 550W EPS12V PSU, Supports Dual Xeon CPU, Model "FSP550-60PLN" -OEM $92.00

Rosewill ATI Radeon X800XL Video Card, 256MB GDDR3, 256-Bit, DVI, PCI-Express, Model "RX8XL-256PX" -RETAIL Item# N82E16814164041 $269.99

Product total: $1,207.98

Total (Before tax): $ 1,207.98

does any one know any better deals out there for the same parts? i am getting these prices from newegg.com and thats before tax since i live in california, if you know any promotion codes for first time buyers for newegg.com please pass it on it would really help. thanks

Rugger · Apr 9, 2005

Try searching using <A HREF="http://www.Pricewatch.com" target="_new">http://www.Pricewatch.com</A>, <A HREF="http://www.bensbargains.net" target="_new">http://www.bensbargains.net</A> or <A HREF="http://www.Techbargains.com" target="_new">http://www.Techbargains.com</A> for better prices or alternative components. For you:
1. Why are you paying $139 for the Plextor dual layer?
2. That RAM is DDR2 and is not compatible with your system - you need 184-pin DDR.
3. I'd go with the <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=17-104-934&depa=0" target="_new">Fortron Blue Storm 500W</A> or the <A HREF="http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=270402" target="_new">Enermax 535W Whisper II model EG565P</A>.
4. The <A HREF="http://heatsinkfactory.com/cgi-bin/HFAstore.pl?user_action=detail&catalogno=HS-008" target="_new">XP-90</A> is on sale at Heatsinkfactory.com.
5. If you're not going to use the retail HSF from the AMD, then get the <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-500&depa=1" target="_new">OEM 3200+</A>. If you're not going to OC then save the price of the XP-90 and use the HSF in the retail box.

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waste of money??

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