Can you guys critique this system? (easy on the newbie please :)

ChoppedBroccoli

Senior member
Jul 28, 2002
352
0
0
Ok, here it goes. My first new topic post!

I am going to college this fall and I was all set on building my first computer. Unfortunately, my mom didn't like the proposal too much (she is paying for most of it...i hope). I am not really interested in buying a big brand Dell, etc. system unless i get some ridiculous price because I want to get a lot of custom parts. I am looking into an AMD based system under $1000 (w/o monitor). I have seen cyberpowerpc advertise in a cnet magazine and ive seen their name pop up a few times in the anandtech forums too. I went to their AMD configurator here http://www.cyberpowersystem.com/highendsystem/memorial1.htm and customized this system:


Price: $802
CABLE: Round Cable Upgrade for Hard Drive, Optical Drive & Floppy Drive [+19)
CAS: ATX 350W Mid-Tower w/ See Through Windows & Sound Active Neon Light [AS SHOWN]
CASE COLOR: BLACK
CD: ---Optional---- [-30]
CDRW: ---Optional--- [-45]
COOLING SYS: AMD CERTIFIED CPU FAN, HEATSINK & 3 EXTRA CASE FANS
CPU: NEW AMD XP-2000+ [1.67 GHZ QuantiSpeed] 266FSB PROCESSOR [+659]
FLOPPY: BLACK 1.44 MB FLOPPY DR [+0)
HDD: MAXTOR 80GB 7200 RPM ATA 133 HARD DRIVE [+10]
HDD1: ---Optional---
IEEE_CARD: NONE
KEYBOARD: SILVER PS2 INTERNET KEYBOARD
MEMORY: 512MB PC2700 DDR PC333 MEMORY
MODEM: PCI 56K V.90 FAX MODEM W/ VOICE
MOTHERBOARD: ASUS A7V333 KT333 MB W/ ATA 133,USB 2.0 AND 5.1 AUDIO [+45]
MOUSE: SILVER PS2 INTERNET MOUSE w/ WHEEL
MP3PLAYER: NONE
NETWORK: NONE OR BUILD IN 10/100 NETWORK CARD FOR MSI 6390-L MAIN BOARD
OS: NONE-FORMAT HARD DRIVE ONLY
PRINTER: NONE
RAID: ----- OPTIONAL REQUIRES (2) IDENTICAL HARD DRIVES-----
RUSH: NO; SHIP OUT IN 5~10 BUSINESS DAYS
SCANNER: NONE
SERVICE: STANDARD 3-YEAR PARTS AND LABOR WARRANTY INCLUDED
SOFTWARE1: NONE
SOFTWARE2: NONE
SOUND: SPECIAL!!! Creative Labs SB Audigy W/ IEEE [+65)
SPEAKERS: 480 WATT SUBWOOFER STEREO SPEAKERS [SK-102-102]
Subtotal1: (+802.00)
Subtotal2: 802.00
VIDEO: ATI RADEON 8500 128MB AGP DDR w/ VIDEO OUT [+79)
VIDEOCAMERA: NONE
ZIP: NONE

I am not really into customized cases, but the apparently this configurator comes with one standard.

I haven't included CD drives/NIC card/WinXP Pro/Software/monitor/speakers....all of which I can buy independently for much cheaper elsewhere.


Does this look like a decent system? Has anyone had any experiences with this company? I have checked their reseller ratings which seem to be decent (6+). The comments posted about the company seem to be more positive this year than last year.

I like the components I can get with this system (ASUS mobo, Maxtor HD, Kingston/Nanya/Samsung RAM, etc.) and it is a very reasonable price.

Any comments on the components I have chosen (I am not a big gamer, but I like to play/capture video, play dvd/tv, play an ocassional game (although this may change once I get to college :)), work with Photoshop, music, webpage creation, etc.)

Thank you in advance!
 

xpr8

Member
Jul 22, 2002
55
0
0
It looks like you have a nice system there. That will do great with all the latest games or as far as your mom is concerned, it will type up a mean paper! :)
 

CrazySaint

Platinum Member
May 3, 2002
2,441
0
0
If you can downgrade your RAM to PC2100 you can save a few bucks and only lose about 3% performance. In fact, the PC2100 RAM would probably OC to PC2700 so you probably won't lose anything.
 

VBboy

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2000
5,793
0
0
Like you said, they have a low rating on ResellerRatings. Are you sure you want to take your chances? mWave sells computers now, maybe they can give you a better deal, more reliably? :)
 

cmdrdredd

Lifer
Dec 12, 2001
27,052
357
126
looks good, but check around the NEt for parts price and maybe build it yourself and save some bucks?
 

Maggotry

Platinum Member
Dec 5, 2001
2,074
0
0
What features of XP Pro do you need? You could save another $50 or so and get the home version. Check this. I've found that just about everybody I know that uses XP Pro doesn't use any of the features of the pro version.
 

Zugzwang152

Lifer
Oct 30, 2001
12,134
1
0
You might want to lose that AMD stock HSF, and grab one of your own, especially with higher clocked XPs that are hot hot hot hot. If you don't want to tinker with y our rig yourself, consider asking them about any HSF upgrades they may have. It's money well spent if you divert the cash from the downgrade to PC2100. And why are they charging you 659 dollars for an XP 2000+?
 

Zeeliv

Golden Member
Oct 10, 1999
1,213
0
0
And why are they charging you 659 dollars for an XP 2000+?

It appears to me that the base system price is shown next to the proc, and then prices are added and subtracted depending on how you customize the machine.
 

ChoppedBroccoli

Senior member
Jul 28, 2002
352
0
0
Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
looks good, but check around the NEt for parts price and maybe build it yourself and save some bucks?

Well that is what i wanted to do in the first place, but my mom wasn't keen on funding that project. So i tried to save some $$ by eliminating the CDRW/DVD drive from the config to save the most money (deals for CDRW drives are getting pretty hot now!)
 

ChoppedBroccoli

Senior member
Jul 28, 2002
352
0
0
Originally posted by: Maggotry
What features of XP Pro do you need? You could save another $50 or so and get the home version. Check this. I've found that just about everybody I know that uses XP Pro doesn't use any of the features of the pro version.

True. I will be in a college network though, and I do like the idea of accessing files from my computer remotely from another campus computer or my ancient laptop I may bring with me.
 

Rayden

Senior member
Jun 25, 2001
790
1
0
www.newegg.com search for windows xp
they have windows xp pro upgrade student version for $82 dollars. you have to buy something else with it, but the price on the other thing doesn't matter. $.50 floppy will work.
the student version is identical to the normal xp pro upgrade, it is just cheaper if you are a student. i think you probably have to send them a copy of something proving you are enrolled in college though.
 

ChoppedBroccoli

Senior member
Jul 28, 2002
352
0
0
Originally posted by: Rayden
www.newegg.com search for windows xp
they have windows xp pro upgrade student version for $82 dollars. you have to buy something else with it, but the price on the other thing doesn't matter. $.50 floppy will work.
the student version is identical to the normal xp pro upgrade, it is just cheaper if you are a student. i think you probably have to send them a copy of something proving you are enrolled in college though.

Yup! I was planning on doing something similar. My college has an onsite computer store at which I can buy software at student discounted prices.
 

Rayden

Senior member
Jun 25, 2001
790
1
0
www.journeyed.com is a site that solely sells student software and stuff. it just the windows xp pro upgrade is $100. newegg has a better deal on that particular piece.
 

AnAndAustin

Platinum Member
Apr 15, 2002
2,112
0
0
:D Absolutely EVERYBODY I have spoken to LOVE www.newegg.com, certainly worth a very hard look.

;) As for the config (I usually ramble on for pages) but all in all it is VERY good. The Rad8500 128MB is a very good choice for the cost, but do consider a GF4TI4200-128MB as it beats both the Rad8500 and GF3TI500 and offers excellent 3D perf, '2D' image quality, great AA, high quality Aniso, dual monitor support, cheap VIVO/TVout and o/c's fantasticly and easily thorugh simple Windows settings, expect GF4TI4400 speeds as a minimum (that's going from 250/444 to 300/550 BTW).

:) As said you could save on the RAM and get PC2100, that would mean you wouldn't need the KT333 either and could save more on a KT266A (essentially the same but doesn't allow PC2700 operation, but that's only 3% anyway). You may want 4 point surround speaker WITH a subwoofer to get the most out of your Audigy, but it isn't essential.

;) HTH!