Build myself or buy this system locally?

[kjacobs]

Hi,
I've replaced about evverything in a PC myself except for the mobo; that includes upgrading a CPU, replacing hard drives, cards, etc. I'm tempted to see if I can put the whole thing together. I guess I'm just afraid to!

Build it myself:

AMD XP 1600+ CPU
Epox EP-8KHA+
Geforce 2 MX 200 or equivalent video
Soundblaster Live or equivalent audio
NIC card
256 DDR 2100 RAM
WD 7200 30 mg hard drive
Plextor 12x10x32 (I think) CD-RW
Internal 100 zip drive
Floppy drive
Antec SX635 case

Around $750


The local shop (run part-time)
Enlight 7237 case
ECS K7AMA mobo
AMD XP 1600+ CPU
Use onboard audio (hmmmm...)
NIC card
256 DDR 2100 RAM
Internal 100 zip drive
Floppy drive
NEC 16x10x40 CD-RW ( I didn't know they made them)
WD 40 mg 7200 hard drive
Daytona TNT2 video card

His price including $50 to build is around $750-$785.

Is the ECS board any good? I hear alot of good things about the Epox and Shuttle

See I've been doing my homework on this forum!

All opinions welcome.

 

[DN]

I'm not sure which way to tell you to go, ie.. build yourself or buy because I don't know your qualifications, but I will say one thing about the hardware that you've chosen.. You SERIOUSLY need to get a better video card, neither of those will please you at all.. I strongly suggest getting AT LEAST a Geforce 3 Ti 200 based video card, even if that means not getting the zip drive (or cdrw), as those can be purchased at a later date.. You might also want to consider getting a better sound card, such as the Audigy.. However, you make no mention of the speakers you have or will get, so.. If you are going to get the Plextor, get at least the 16x as it comes with burnproof, as far as I know, the 12x doesn't have that, correct me if I'm wrong..

 

[erub]

the 12x plextor does come with that - but 12x cdrw's are last year's tech. Best Buy had a 16x for sale for $30 after MIR last weekend. You can do better for the $, espically if your not impatient and willing to shop hot deals. I personally think Zip drives are worthless, 3 year old tech. As far as the graphics card, those are both also older tech, but if you don't game at all, I guess they would be okay. You don't need to spend almost $200 to get a Geforce3 Ti200, although again, if you had shopped hot deals, you could have gotten one for $99 last weekend. Onboard audio will be fine if you are just using it for windows sounds, and it also depends on the quality of your speakers if it is worth it to upgrade. A $20 pair of speakers isn't going to buy you topnotch sound anyways. The Enlight 7237 is a fantastic case for the money, even if your building it yourself I'd recommend it. Also, a lot of local shops will let you pick out the parts (if you want to) and buy the parts to put together for you or allow you to bring in the parts and charge around a $50 build fee. Just ask around.

 

[John]

The Plextor 12x10x32a has Burnproof?.

kjacobs, 575 is the cost of the parts you listed for your local dealer to buy them. 200ish is a fair markup for the local dealer.

If you have the ability and desire to build your own PC, then by all means do it. We all started in your shoes at one time.

Here is my suggestion on parts.

AMD XP 1600+ CPU (retail)
Epox EP-8KHA+
Geforce 2 ti 64MB
Soundblaster Live 5.1 or Santa Cruz
10/100 NIC
256 DDR 2100 RAM
WD 7200 30GB hard drive
Liteon 24x10x40 CD-RW
Internal 100 zip drive
Floppy drive
Enlight 7237 case

Around $750 from Newegg.com

 

[kjacobs]

I forgot to add my use of the danged thing! It's mainly for business (writing and some graphics like Illustrator and Flash). I have a 450 Mhz PC now that has all the kids games on it. But the new one needs to last me awhile.

Zips just work better for me, swapping files between PCs, etc. I do not plan to network the two. Just sometimes I swap files back and forth and to use the color printer on the one. It's a good format.

I have some inexpensive Labtec speakers and yes I need good sound for MP3s!

I feel a bit limited by what components he offers....another reason to do it yourself. Maybe I should try another shop to do the assembly. I live near a major city.

I'm sure I'll end up putting a Star Wars game (or two!) on it. The monitor is a Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 87TXM 17 inch monitor.

I currently have an HP external 6200 CD-RW. It only burns at 2x ! SO anything would be an improvement!

 

[DN]

Ok, seeing as I know your requirements now and they aren't that high, what John has quoted sounds reasonable.. However, I'd probably only say that a 30Gb these days isn't much -- go to a 40 at the very least -- the difference in price is probably minute..

 

[kjacobs]

Well. when you are trying to raise three kids and a dog....ya can't have the ultimate machine!

Ken

 

[grumm3t]

I would not build a computer with any ECS products... they always seem to crap out on me.

 

[DN]

<< Well. when you are trying to raise three kids and a dog....ya can't have the ultimate machine!

Ken >>



Well, get your priorities straight, get rid of the 3 kids and then you CAN afford the ultimate machine.. lol.. j/k..

 

[Jerboy]

<< I'm not sure which way to tell you to go, ie.. build yourself or buy because I don't know your qualifications, but I will say one thing about the hardware that you've chosen.. You SERIOUSLY need to get a better video card, neither of those will please you at all.. I strongly suggest getting AT LEAST a Geforce 3 Ti 200 based video card, even if that means not getting the zip drive (or cdrw), as those can be purchased at a later date.. You might also want to consider getting a better sound card, such as the Audigy.. However, you make no mention of the speakers you have or will get, so.. If you are going to get the Plextor, get at least the 16x as it comes with burnproof, as far as I know, the 12x doesn't have that, correct me if I'm wrong.. >>



NAY!

any videocard would function as display board, but you can't record CD's without CD writer.

 

[DN]

Dude, if you read the entire thread, you'd realize he didn't mention WHY he wanted the PC until later.. I had originally assumed it was for gaming and the video cards he DID mention weren't suitable for a gaming machine.. It's not a question of NOT getting a zip drive or CDRW, it was more of a question that if he DID in fact want a gaming machine (which he cleared up after the fact) and if he WAS under a strict budget, my suggestion was to drop one part, either the zip or cdrw, and put a bit more into the video card as he could easily get the dropped part at a later date.. It made perfect sense unless he wanted to get everything he mentioned which would mean he'd be "wasting money" on a most useless video card for gaming and would probably end up having to buy another one after he realized it.. There's no NAY's about that strategy whatsoever..

In any case, he has cleared up what his intentions were for the PC, so I have since modified what I think he should get..