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$1500 Computer Set-up w/o monitor.

R

razor2025

Diamond Member
Hey! I need some suggestions from you guys. I'm trying ot help someone build a system for $1500 that'll last for awhile. She doesn't plan on playing games, so no hardcore gaming system. Just feature rich would do.

Right now, I have speced on Newegg
A64 3200+, Newcastle-754, 512kb L2
Asus K8V
2x512 MB Mushkin Basic PC3200 retail
ATI AIW 9600 XT
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz 6-ch
2x 160GB Seagate SATA
Artec 16x DVD
NEC ND-2510A Dual Layer 8x DVD+/-RW

+ other junks later (she's picking case)

LMK some opinions on this.
 
320 GBs of HDD storage? what is she planning on doing Video editing? And You dont really need a 9600XT AIW just get a 9000 Pro AIW
 
FLAWLESS VICTORY!

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ DTR 1MB L2 - $226

Asus K8N-E Deluxe - $143

Thermaltake Silent Boost K8 - $29.99

Mushkin 1024MB PC-3200 - $158

ATI AIW RADEON 9000 PRO - $131

NEC 8X DVD +/- RW - $69.99

2X Hitachi 7K250 160GB SATA 7200RPM 8MB Cache - $187.98

Antec Sonata w/ 380W PSU - $99.94

BenQ FP951 19" LCD Monitor - $539

TOTAL: $1584.90

The Athlon 64 DTR version is the new CG stepping, so it runs cooler and overclocks better than the regular desktop Athlon 64's. The K8N-E also works well with DTR Athlon 64's, and it has the newer NF3-250GB chipset. Excellent motherboard by all accounts.

The BenQ 19" LCD is a BEAUTIFUL screen. If your girl friend is anything like my girlfriend, she will be mesmerized by it. It's definitely a quality screen at a great price, and it has tons of positive reviews on Newegg.

I would ditch the Santa Cruz, because the onboard 8-channel sound from the Nforce3 Motherboard is very good. No advantage in getting the Seagate drives, because their current SATA drives are outclassed by Hitachi and Samsung in noise and speed.

If you need a second optical drive, look at Toshiba or Samsung DVD-ROMs or Combo Drives; they are quieter than the Artec, and they are better companies IMO.

No need to get the 9600XT AIW when the 9000 PRO AIW will peform the exact same non-gaming functions.
 
Originally posted by: jpeyton
FLAWLESS VICTORY!

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ DTR 1MB L2 - $226

Asus K8N-E Deluxe - $143

Thermaltake Silent Boost K8 - $29.99

Mushkin 1024MB PC-3200 - $158

ATI AIW RADEON 9000 PRO - $131

NEC 8X DVD +/- RW - $69.99

2X Hitachi 7K250 160GB SATA 7200RPM 8MB Cache - $187.98

Antec Sonata w/ 380W PSU - $99.94

BenQ FP951 19" LCD Monitor - $539

TOTAL: $1584.90

The Athlon 64 DTR version is the new CG stepping, so it runs cooler and overclocks better than the regular desktop Athlon 64's. The K8N-E also works well with DTR Athlon 64's, and it has the newer NF3-250GB chipset. Excellent motherboard by all accounts.

The BenQ 19" LCD is a BEAUTIFUL screen. If your girl friend is anything like my girlfriend, she will be mesmerized by it. It's definitely a quality screen at a great price, and it has tons of positive reviews on Newegg.

I would ditch the Santa Cruz, because the onboard 8-channel sound from the Nforce3 Motherboard is very good. No advantage in getting the Seagate drives, because their current SATA drives are outclassed by Hitachi and Samsung in noise and speed.

If you need a second optical drive, look at Toshiba or Samsung DVD-ROMs or Combo Drives; they are quieter than the Artec, and they are better companies IMO.

No need to get the 9600XT AIW when the 9000 PRO AIW will peform the exact same non-gaming functions.
Click to expand...

Without monitor !!!!
 
Without monitor !!!!
Click to expand...

Holy butt cherries Batman!

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ DTR 1MB L2 - $274

Asus K8N-E Deluxe - $143

Thermaltake SilentTower Heatpipe - $42.95

Mushkin 1024MB PC-3200 - $158

HIS Hightech ATI Radeon 9600SE 128MB - $67.99

Hauppauge WinTV PVR250 - $129.99

Samsung 16X/52X DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive - $42

NEC 8X DL DVD +/- RW - $78.99

2X Samsung 160GB SATA 7200RPM 8MB Cache - $210.98

Antec Sonata w/ 380W PSU - $99.94

TOTAL: $1247.84

If your lady friend is looking for something to watch TV, time-shift, etc., the PVR 250 + SageTV 2.0 will kill any ATI AIW card. I picked a 9600SE as a good standard no-frills FANLESS video card, but there's still $250 left over if you want to get freaky and pick something high-end for someone who doesn't play games.

All components were chosen for quietness and performance. The only fans are the queit 120mm exhaust, the fan on the quiet PSU, and the fan on the SilentTower.

I am the self-proclaimed king of system configuration. Aiyeeeeeeeeeeee!
 
I wouldn't think this'll be overclocked at all... so I'd just get a 3400+ 2.4GHz 512K (or save money with the 3200+ 2.2GHz) + Thermaltake Silent Boost K8 or Zalman CNPS7000A-AlCu. Also, the M-Audio Revolution is the best choice for the sound card if she's not gaming, and sound is important.
Also, she's not playing games, but what *is* she doing? Could easily be that an Intel system would be a better choice.
 
Thanks for the suggestions. She's kinda rich, so she wants a loaded system that'll last for a few years. I would rather go A64 over P4 route, because it's better bang-for-the-buck.
 
How? If she's doing, for example, rendering, the A64 will be slower, and less bang for the buck. There's currently no such thing as a processor that's categorically better than the rest at everything, it all depends on the application.
 
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