Can I get some help for my computer for college?

[mosdef]

I'm putting together a computer for college and I have already purchased the following components. Tell me what you think of the components & price. Like most people, I'm looking for max bang for the buck.

Components I ordered
--------------------
Monitor - Samsung SyncMaster 955DF - $257.90
Sound Card - SB Live! X-Gamer - $54.21
Hard Drive - Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 40GB - $224.99
RAM - 2 x Kingston 128 MB DIMM PC133 non-ECC CAS-3 <- - $251.99
Case &amp; PS - Antec KS282 (mid-tower) &amp; PP303X - $58.33
Mouse - Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer - $42.53
Keyboard - Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro - $42.42
CD-RW - Plextor PlexWriter 12x/10x/32x

Components that I will order
----------------------------
Mobo - Socket A, any suggestions? Price isn't a big issue, though quality is.
CPU - AMD Duron, should I get 600, 650, or 700?
Video Card - GeForce2 MX
Network Card - 10BaseT, any suggestoins?
Floppy Drive - Do I even need this anymore?
CD-ROM - Must be quiet, any suggestions?
Fan - I don't know much about cooling besides that I need it. There is a compartment built into the case for a fan, any suggestions/specs? I'd prefer to get one kick-ass fan over several lesser quality fans.

Components that I may order
---------------------------
SCSI Controller - I haven't decided whether I want a SCSI CD-ROM (and possible CD-RW).
DVD-ROM - We will already have a standalone DVD player in my room, so I doubt I'll get one.
Speakers - My friend is bringing a kick ass 5.1 sound system (powered by Infinity RS-10s!), and I figure I'll be able to leech off him for games and music. If I do get speakers I'll almost definately go with a 2 speaker + sub setup, because I probably won't have a DVD-ROM to utilize 5.1.

Any comments, suggestions, ideas, etc. are MORE than welcome! Thanks guys &amp; gals!

-mosdef

 

[Mister T]

where did you get that antec case for 58.33
seems like a fat deal if its shipped.

 

[claw]

I suggest getting a 3com network card (choose from one of the 3c90x or 3c59x models). I believe these cards are one of the most widely supported among college campuses. You may want to consider getting a 10/100 instead of just 10BaseT since they may end up upgrading the network to 100BaseT in the future.

I'm a college student as well, and actually I find that my CD-RW is one of the most used components in my computer. Once you get on the network, I'm sure you'll find lots of goodies to burn.

 

[mosdef]

Mister T - I got all the case&amp;ps combo, along with all most of my other parts. They have great deals and free shipping + no tax unless it applies to your area. Then use (but don't abuse!) Pointclick for 10% off.

-mosdef

 

[cdrakejr]

mosdef,

I think you forgot to give us the link to where you bought.

 

[mosdef]

Well this isn't a custom built system, I just picked up some components. For the monitor, sound card, hard drive, RAM, and case &amp; ps, I used Onvia. I am truly in love with them right now! Great base deals, free shipping, no taxes (for me). Unfortunately they had two $25 coupons which just expired, but they are still a very worthy merchant. And who can forget that Pointclick has a 10% cash-back program with Onvia. For the mouse and keyboard I followed a current thread in the hot deals forum. Basically, pricematch Staples with anyone else (check out Egghead) and that drops the price by ~$20, then use the $20 off $50 coupon (check out TechBargains). I'm not going into any more detail than I have because that's not what I wanted this post to be about. (But if you follow those directions you should figure it out.)

But enough about me , what do YOU think of my system and the components I may not purchase?

-mosdef

 

[mosdef]

Well I just changed my mind after I saw the sweet deal for the Plextor 12x/10x/32x EIDE CD-RW. ~$210 for this beast! It's off the chain!

-mosdef

 

[Pennstate]

Don't get a 3com 3c905B NIC, linux doesnt like it. Unless you know how to recompile the kernel.

 

[mosdef]

What NICs do you recommend? I didn't know performance really differed that much from card to card. Also, does anyone know if that 2 Intel NICs for $40 is still around? I heard a little here and there about it but I didn't know any full details. Any help?

-mosdef

 

[dszd0g]

The 3com 3C905B works fine under Linux. I recompile my kernel with any driver change. I always try and keep the smallest kernel possible. It's not like it's hard to recompile the kernel or anything. (make clean; make menuconfig; make dep; make bzImage; make modules; make modules_install; cp arch/i386/boot /boot/vmlinuz-version; Then if you use lilo: vi /etc/lilo.conf; /sbin/lilo -- It's in the README file if you forget)

Personally I think Netgear makes better NICs if you are looking for bang for your buck. Netgear also makes better Linux drivers.

 

[jaydee]

Where did you see that price for the cd-rw?

 

[Mikewarrior2]

That is the price after coupon+ pointclick discounts..i believe its $259 before the discounts.



Mike

 

[zippy]

19&quot; monitor...may wanna cancel that order!

Get a nice, flat screen, trinitron Sony or KDS 17&quot;. College desks are not big. I'm not in college, but I've helped move my sisters into college each year and I've never seen a desk (cept in apartments) that could take a 19&quot; CRT. I have the SyncMaster 900p here (at home...like I said...not in college...in HS) and it is a 58.xx pound monitor.