Building a new system...comments pls

[Bonesdad]

I am building a "lowish" end system for a co-worker. He is into some gaming, and wants some upgradeability. Budget is around 600.

Here is what I'm thinking:

Mobo: Biostar M7VIG Pro (Newegg $60)
CPU: Athlon XP 1700+ Tbred (Newegg $63 - retail)
Memory: 256 MB Crucial PC 2100 DDR (figure $40)
HDD: Western Digital 60 GB Drive ($70 locally)
Case: A Case (can be had for $60 locally with PSU)
Video: Abit Siluro GF4 4200 ($125 Newegg)
CDRW: A CDRW Drive ($20 with rebate-local deals)
Keyb/Mouse: MS Internet and Optical ($25 combined w rbt)
Flop: $15
Speakers: Just picked up Logitech Z340 for $25 at BB
Monitor: 17" Flat Screen CRT can be had for ~$100
Total Est: $633 sales tax included


Howzit look? Any ideas to make her cheaper? Also, this does not include OS. Add nother $90 for Win XP Home I guess. Which puts me bout $100 over range...

 

[compudog]

Looks like you've done your homework. Drop the floppy and save 15 bucks.

 

[LucJoe]

Why get a mobo with integrated video if you're going to be getting a vid card anyway?

 

[dinde]

what kind of self respecting person pays for windows xp? give him urs, drop the floppy and ur under budget

 

[Bonesdad]

Its a cheap mobo and its always good to have a backup output if your card goes south...

 

[Bonesdad]

Well...ethically its a little problem, plus....can WinXP be installed on more than one PC? I know Win 98 could, but I thought the activation requirement would be a problem with WinXP...Can I install WinXP professional on more than one PC??? Activation not a problem?

 

[Duvie]

You can install winxp on multiple computers!!! I have reformatted my computer twice in like 2 days and in between the reformats swapped out about all the parts...How would Microsuck now I wasn't installing multiple machines then??? They can't....

On the other hand if I was him I would want my own copy in case I had to do a recovery or install myself. I have seen some problems reported with ppl trying to copy winblows disk anyways.

 

[DannyBoy]

Originally posted by: dinde
what kind of self respecting person pays for windows xp? give him urs, drop the floppy and ur under budget

Wanna be careful with what you say. Ive just come of a 4 week ban for saying something about copyright infringment.

:|

 

[DT4K]

Originally posted by: dinde
what kind of self respecting person pays for windows xp? give him urs, drop the floppy and ur under budget

The kind that is NOT a thief.

 

[DT4K]

I would strongly recommend convincing him to spend 40 or 50 more and get a good NForce2 mobo. Check out the Abit and Epox boards.
An Nforce2 system will provide better performance and will be much more upgradeable in the future.
Everything else looks like really good choices.

 

[Dreadogg]

get more ram atleast 512 and if your going Nforce make sure you get two sticks not just one.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: Bonesdad
I am building a "lowish" end system for a co-worker. He is into some gaming, and wants some upgradeability. Budget is around 600.

Here is what I'm thinking:

Mobo: Biostar M7VIG Pro (Newegg $60)
CPU: Athlon XP 1700+ Tbred (Newegg $63 - retail)
Memory: 256 MB Crucial PC 2100 DDR (figure $40)
HDD: Western Digital 60 GB Drive ($70 locally)
Case: A Case (can be had for $60 locally with PSU)
Video: Abit Siluro GF4 4200 ($125 Newegg)
CDRW: A CDRW Drive ($20 with rebate-local deals)
Keyb/Mouse: MS Internet and Optical ($25 combined w rbt)
Flop: $15
Speakers: Just picked up Logitech Z340 for $25 at BB
Monitor: 17" Flat Screen CRT can be had for ~$100
Total Est: $633 sales tax included


Howzit look? Any ideas to make her cheaper? Also, this does not include OS. Add nother $90 for Win XP Home I guess. Which puts me bout $100 over range...

Crucial ..last day at BB for $30 after MIR on 256MB DDR266 sticks..if you can goto Staples ..you can get a 40GB 7.2k Maxtor for $50 after MIR ..today last day..agreed on the others' suggestions on NF2 mobo if you are getting a separate vid card to start..XP Home upgrade @ BB for $89..PM to Staples use a coupon ..place your order online at Staples..check out HotDeals forum....but .. you already know that..