Building a nice budget system...

[50]

Hello all, I want to spend between 600-700 dollars for a computer for my dad. Here's what I have so far...
AMD Athlon 64 2800+ 512k L2 Cache 64-bit Processor - OEM $173(I thought I saw the 3000+ for 180 a few weeks ago though?)
ECS 755-A SiS755/SiS964Chipset DDRRAM,1xAGP8X,5xPCI,1xCNR LAN Audio ATX. 755A 76$
Antec (Cases) - ANTEC LIFE STYLE SERIES SONATA PIANO BLACK Model# Sonata w/ ANTEC TRUE380 380W Power Supply 99$
Seagate ST380013AS 80GB Serial ATA 7200rpm Hard Drive 63$
ATI Radeon 9800SE AGP 8X 128MB DDR Video Card w/Dual DVI TV-Out 133$

Now I have a stick of 512mb GEIL ddr 400 ram non dual channel lying around. Can I use this? I know the speeds will be lowered down to DDR333 speeds but will the A64 support this RAM?
As for accesories, I estimate I will have to spend an extra $25 in cables and whatnot. Can someone reccomend inexpensive quiet fans? Panaflos?

Also can someone help me find a cheap heatsink/fan combo to use with the CPU?

Finally, here's my dark question...I bought an OEM system a few years ago, it came with a full version of windows xp home edition. Could I install it on my dad's new comp and use it while still using it on my current comp? If I reformat my comp will I be able to still use my activation code? What's the deal with people buying Windows XP licenses? How does that work?

Please feel free to comment and make suggestions. Thanks

 

[DaveSimmons]

A prebuilt with warranty and legal copy of Windows might be a better idea -- you'd only get a Dell P4 2.66 or Office Depot other brand Athlon XP, but is your dad a gamer?

Or is this a system for you and your dad to both use?

For legal copies of XP, newegg.com sells OEM versions for around $90 (home) / $140 (pro) that you can buy at the same time as the parts and an OEM Norton AV (or System Works Pro for AV + Ghost).

 

[Markfw]

any GOOD quality DDR400 should work, so yours will probably run at 400. Why would you think it would go down to 333 ? I like my Thermaltake Silent boost K8. $25 some places, newegg has it for $32 I think.

As far as the licences, in theory, you should be able to format your old one, and get Microsoft to issue you a new activation (make sure you tell them you formatted the other drive), but I am not a legal-eagle, so maybe not.

 

[50]

Alright, I think I'll play it safe and look for windows xp OEM online and try to find the best price. Anyone have any suggestions/comments on the configuration I ordered? Can someone explain the "buying windows xp licenses" too?

Oh btw DaveSimmons, my RAM would run at DDR333 because the board does not support DDR400 🙂

EDIT: what if I got this?

 

[Markfw]

Originally posted by: 50
Alright, I think I'll play it safe and look for windows xp OEM online and try to find the best price. Anyone have any suggestions/comments on the configuration I ordered? Can someone explain the "buying windows xp licenses" too?

Oh btw DaveSimmons, my RAM would run at DDR333 because the board does not support DDR400 🙂

EDIT: what if I got this?

This one does 400 for $80

 

[Falloutboy]

not a bad start. I would recomend getting a NF7 instead of the ECS much better board for the same price or a little more if you go with the S version.

and to save a bit of money get a 2500 for $75. its over half the price for only little loss in performance.

 

[Teclis2323]

Here's my recommendation for a solid, inexpensive system:

AMD Athlon XP 2400
Gigabyte GA-7N400-L
512 MB PC 3200 RAM
80 GB Western Digital Caviar drive
Geforce 4 TI4800


Tops out below $500

 

[50]

Originally posted by: Markfw900

Originally posted by: 50
Alright, I think I'll play it safe and look for windows xp OEM online and try to find the best price. Anyone have any suggestions/comments on the configuration I ordered? Can someone explain the "buying windows xp licenses" too?

Oh btw DaveSimmons, my RAM would run at DDR333 because the board does not support DDR400 🙂

EDIT: what if I got this?

This one does 400 for $80

Thanks...BTW I saw the thread about free windows xp 64 bit for a year. Does that require you to have windows xp installed and its just an upgrade?

 

[NervousNovice]

If I were you, I won't use A64 on a budget system. Get a Barton 2800+ and save the money for something else.

 

[Markfw]

Originally posted by: 50

Originally posted by: Markfw900

Originally posted by: 50
Alright, I think I'll play it safe and look for windows xp OEM online and try to find the best price. Anyone have any suggestions/comments on the configuration I ordered? Can someone explain the "buying windows xp licenses" too?

Oh btw DaveSimmons, my RAM would run at DDR333 because the board does not support DDR400 🙂

EDIT: what if I got this?

This one does 400 for $80

Thanks...BTW I saw the thread about free windows xp 64 bit for a year. Does that require you to have windows xp installed and its just an upgrade?

I have it installed in a quad-boot setup. Yes, free for a year, just signup, and download it. drivers are hard to find though.....

 

[someone16]

I believe the ECS has an A2 version out, it's supposed to correctly support ddr400 speeds, definitely get that instead.

 

[Mik3y]

well, for $700, you can get:

AMD Athlon 64 2800+ $187 (retail with hsf)
$100 socket 754 motherboard
Mushkin 512MB DDR PC-3200 Ram $96
Antec Sonata Case $84
PowerColor radeon 9800 128MB $173

Total Price: 640 + Tax is about $700.

if you want a cheaper vid card, go for the radeon 9600 pro, since i doubt your dad will be gaming much. if you plan on buying xp with the budget price, then go with the barton 2500+ with an abit nf7-s, radeon 9600XT, antec sonata, and mushkin 512 ddr400 ram. this will still be plenty of performance.