Can I bring down the cost without sacrificing performance?

[EtillaTheOne]

Here is the gaming system I am looking to get:

CPU: P4 1.8A GHz
RAM: 512MB PC-2100 DDR SDRAM
Mobo: ASUS P4B533-E
Hard Drive: IBM 40GB, 7200rpm
CD-ROM: AOpen 56X CD-ROM
Video Card: MSI GeForce 4 Ti 4200 128MB
Sound Card: Sound Blaster Live 5.1
OS: Windows XP Home

I need to shave about $200 off the price, but don't how I could do so without really hurting performance. Any thoughts?

 

[mchammer187]

256 MB PC2100

get epox 4g4a or a BG7

64 MB Ti4200 or a Radeon 8500 LE 128 MB

buy stuff from FS/FT forums

 

[GoodRevrnd]

An Asus P4S533-C should bring the cost down $60 or so. EDIT: Also, I think MSI and PNY GF's are manufactured at the same place so there's another $20. EDIT AGAIN: You could also save ~$30 dropping to a 1.6A. I think they OC about the same.

 

[neutralizer]

Originally posted by: EtillaTheOne
Here is the gaming system I am looking to get:

CPU: P4 1.8A GHz
RAM: 512MB PC-2100 DDR SDRAM
Mobo: ASUS P4B533-E
Hard Drive: IBM 40GB, 7200rpm
CD-ROM: AOpen 56X CD-ROM
Video Card: MSI GeForce 4 Ti 4200 128MB
Sound Card: Sound Blaster Live 5.1
OS: Windows XP Home

I need to shave about $200 off the price, but don't how I could do so without really hurting performance. Any thoughts?

CPU: P4 1.6A Ghz
RAM: 256MB PC-2100 DDR SDRAM
Mobo: ASUS P4B533-E
Hard Drive: Maxtor D740 40 GB
CD-ROM: Some cheap Liteon drive
Video Card: GF4 Ti4200 64MB
Sound Card: Sound Blaster Live 5.1 OEM
OS: Windows XP Home

 

[GoodRevrnd]

Originally posted by: neutralizer

Originally posted by: EtillaTheOne
Here is the gaming system I am looking to get:

CPU: P4 1.8A GHz
RAM: 512MB PC-2100 DDR SDRAM
Mobo: ASUS P4B533-E
Hard Drive: IBM 40GB, 7200rpm
CD-ROM: AOpen 56X CD-ROM
Video Card: MSI GeForce 4 Ti 4200 128MB
Sound Card: Sound Blaster Live 5.1
OS: Windows XP Home

I need to shave about $200 off the price, but don't how I could do so without really hurting performance. Any thoughts?

CPU: P4 1.6A Ghz
RAM: 256MB PC-2100 DDR SDRAM
Mobo: ASUS P4B533-E
Hard Drive: Maxtor D740 40 GB
CD-ROM: Some cheap Liteon drive
Video Card: GF4 Ti4200 64MB
Sound Card: Sound Blaster Live 5.1 OEM
OS: Windows XP Home

See, but it's just no right to take away the joys of XP w/ 512MB.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: mchammer187
256 MB PC2100

get epox 4g4a or a BG7

64 MB Ti4200 or a Radeon 8500 LE 128 MB

buy stuff from FS/FT forums

I agree with all of the above, with the exception of downgrading the DDR. Imho, you'll definitely see a performance decrease if you go down to 256mb.

 

[FishTankX]

Now, no shouts of blasphemy please. But if this is for gaming only, and you aren't going to upgrade any time soon, this setup would do just fine.

AthlonXP 1800+ ~75$
KG7 RAID (AMD chipset, you'll never have any problems) ~70$
512MB PC2100
Maxtor D740
CDROM:Any you can find! It doesn't matter, if you use virtual drive any decent amount anyways. My advice is to get a 32X, please please! Save your ears! Those 50X mofos are *LOUD!!*
Videocard:Ti4200 128MB (Have to say that i'd take more RAM)
Sound card SB-Live! Value 5.1

This setup will get you performance similar to a 1.8A stock, overclocked it will provide performance similar to a 1.8A overclocked. AMD chipsets are rock solid, and will never disapoint on the stability department.

 

[meefmah]

EtillaTheOne:

I need to shave about $200 off the price, but don't how I could do so without really hurting performance. Any thoughts?

$200 off of what? A list of your prices please.

 

[EtillaTheOne]

CPU: P4 1.8A GHz ($272)
RAM: 512MB PC-2100 DDR SDRAM ($213)
Mobo: ASUS P4B533-E ($265)
Hard Drive: IBM 40GB, 7200rpm ($108)
CD-ROM: AOpen 56X CD-ROM ($39)
Video Card: MSI GeForce 4 Ti 4200 128MB ($282)
Sound Card: Sound Blaster Live 5.1 ($51)
OS: Windows XP Home ($146)

Total: $1376. All prices in Canadian Dollars. My budget is $1300 before taxes and I still need a case, fan, and power supply.

Following some of the above ideas (thanks btw):

P4 1.8A GHz --> P4 1.6A GHz (-$34)
512MB PC-2100 DDR SDRAM --> 256MB PC-2100 DDR SDRAM (-$108)
ASUS P4B533-E --> ASUS P4B533 (-$63)
MSI GeForce 4 Ti 4200 128MB --> LeadTek WinFast GF 4 Ti 4200 64MB (-$67)

Any good value case suggestions?

 

[Mavrick007]

Where are you ordering all your stuff?

 

[EtillaTheOne]

Canada Computer. There is a neat online estimate form that I have been using: Quotation Form I would like to get all my components from one place so everything will be covered by one extended warranty.

 

[Mavrick007]

Those aren't too bad for prices in Canada. The big question is, are you going to overclock?

 

[EtillaTheOne]

Overclock? No, I don't plan on it.

 

[Mavrick007]

If you're not going to overclock, then this opens up a whole different ball game.
I wouldn't go with the P4 unless you will overclock cause for price and performance you can't beat an AMD Athlon XP system.

I would probably go with an AMD 1600 - 1800+ cpu and a good KT266a/333 mobo, some good ram like Crucial, Samsung, Corsair and the rest can be left as you have picked out. You should be able to cut even more off of the price of your system and still end up getting a faster machine overall.

If you want a really good deal on a good mobo. Then try an Asus A7S333 mobo (around $110 Can), an AMD Athlon XP 1600+ (for around $115), or a 1700+ (for around $140), or an 1800+ (for around $160 Can). Then get the 512Megs of Samsung DDR333 ram for around $230, or go less with the 256Megs.

This bundle will cost you much less than you had allotted and then you will still be able to get a good hard drive, sound card if you like(it has good c-media sound too which is good for onboard sound), a better vid card if you like, and a burner instead of just a cdrom as well as other extras if you'd like. My friend just bought that mobo and an 1800+ and he has had no problems with it so far and likes it alot with the Samsung ram.

This would be my choice cause it will be faster than the 1.8a P4 and it's cheaper and just as stable.

 

[DainB]

Or better yet, go AMD and get an Abit NV7 133-R. That'll give you an onboard soundcard for free which is better quality than a Live! and onboard LAN.

Athlon XP 1800+
Crucial 512 MB PC-2100 DDR SDRAM
ABIT Nv7-133R nForce 415, w/RAID
Maxtor 40GB, 7200
AOpen 56X CD-ROM
LeadTek WinFast GF4 Ti 4200 128MB, OEM
Win XP Home

$1094

You can make minor tweaks in price/performance by going with a slower processor or getting a cheapo off the shelf CD ROM drive. For a nForce system to work at top speed you need two sticks of identical RAM. If you go with this setup specify you need 2 256 meg sticks of RAM. I suggest going with Crucial as AMD systems are still pretty finicky when it comes to RAM quality. Also, according to their site, one stick of 512 Crucial RAM costs $269, one 256 stick costs only $119 so you'd save even more bones by going with 2 256 sticks.

 

[foofoo]

i second the vote for the abit nv7 133-r. i've built 2 systems with this board and it's a great board (and way cheap)
lan and good audio built in.
this will free up some money for a faster cpu (amd)

 

[joe4324]

Can you only buy in canada? I hope not. I dont know if this helps but here is a cut/past from newegg.com


Lite On 52x Cd Rom - N82E16827101201 $26.00

GLOBALWIN's WBK38 CPU Heatsink & Dual Ball N82E16835107001 $17.00

MAXTOR 60GB 7200RPM Model OEM(Drive alone) 3 Year Manufacturer Warranty N82E16822143107 $92.00

Crucial Micron 512MB 64x64 PC2100 DDR RAM, 184-Pin, CL=2.5-Unbuffered 2.5V, N82E16820145005 $141.00

Shuttle AK35GT2 Motherboard Intregrated Audio C-media 8738 N82E16813150021 $74.00

AMD ATHLON XP 1800+/266 FSB PROCESSOR CPU - OEM N82E16819103307 $85.00

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition - OEM Full Version N82E16837102008 $90.00

VGA LEADTEK|GF4 TI4200BK 128M /TV OEM N82E16814122149 $170.00


Subtotal » $695.00

What would that be in canadian? can you get these prices in canada?

 

[EtillaTheOne]

$695 = $1094 Canadian

 

[EtillaTheOne]

Here is the current train of thought:

CPU: Athlon XP 1800 + 266MHz FSB ($148)
RAM: 2 x Crucial 256MB PC-2100 DDR (2x$119)
Mobo: Abit NV-133R nForce 415, w/ RAID ($143)
CPU Fan: ???
Case: ???
Power Supply: ???
Hard Drive: Maxtor 40GB, 7200RPM ($113)
CD-ROM: Asus 52X CD-ROM ($40)
Video Card: MSI GeForce 4 Ti 4200 128MB ($282)
Sound Card: On board
OS: Windows XP Home ($146)

Total: $1100 plus CPU Fan, Floppy, Case, Power Supply

Thanks for the help all. Any other thoughts before I go to the store?

 

[Mavrick007]

If you decide to go with Canada Computers still, I would get the retail 1800+ cpu cause it comes with a 3 year warranty and with a heatsink and fan, and it only costs a bit more. They also have a good Antec sx630 case for $119 or you can go with a cheaper but still good quality AOpen mid tower case for $65. This should still keep your price down to where you want and not sacrifice any performance or speed.

 

[majewski9]

Yeah buy an Athlon and increase performance!