Can you guys critique this system? (part II)

[ChoppedBroccoli]

Ok after getting some feeback on my first post: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=27&threadid=839254 I have tried to search for another system that suits my needs.

I am going to college this fall and although I am very enthusiastic about building my own computer, my mom isn't willing to contribute to such a project. Thus i am forced to buy a computer from a computer manufacturer...

Although I initially passed over ABS for an AMD system, a 2nd closer look has surprised me. The company is rated quite well at resellerratings.com and I recently read in an earlier thread that ABS is the packaged computer division of the same company that includes nutrend.com and newegg.com. I was surprised at some of the components I could choose (WD SE 80g HD, Lite On CDRW and DVD, they even packaged this system with G4 ti4400).

I configured a system for myself (configurator here) :
(You can see/read all the images/info on each component buy clicking more info in the config components)

Awesome 3120 Base/Sale Price: $999
Item Description Quantity Price

CHIEFTEC Server Chasis (Aluminum Workstation Tower with Plastic Front Cover) Blue w/Acrylic Window (Item#ABS11125500) 1 $1
OR
Enermax, FS-710B. Black, 10-Bay, 330W P-4 PS, Server Tower Case (Item#ABS11124001) 1 Standard
Although I like this case, I am not too sure about the Power Supply. The Chieftec uses a 400W AMD approved Power Supply, Powered by Foxconn (Deer). I don't know anything about this PS??? Can anybody ring-in on how good it is? FYI: this is the same pre-modded chieftec case shown @ newegg here. Would this 330W enermax case be a better option because its uses an enermax PS, or does this system demand more than a 330W PS? Price is not a factor (they cost the same using the configurator).

*Gigabyte GA-7VRX KT333 AC97 Sound 4X 2.0 USB ATA133 Motherboard (Best With PC2700 DDR RAM) (Item#ABS13128137) 1 Standard
AMD Athlon XP 2000+/266 FSB 256K Processor (Item#ABS19103323) 1 Standard

Any thoguhts on this mobo? According to the corresponding ABS item# it is the rev 2.0 board, which is supposedly better (I will call and confirm this). I don't need RAID and the Audigy will take care of FireWire. Would i be better off with a ASUS board? I don't plan to seriously overclock or anything...

Dynatron DC1206BM-L615 High-End Cooler w/ 5300 RPM Fan (Support Upto 2100+) (Item#ABS35114005) 1 Standard

This should do the job, right?

*Kingston 512MB PC2700 DDR RAM (Best with Supported Motherboard) (Item#ABS20144201) 1 Standard
Western Digital 80GB 7200RPM Hard Drive - 8MB Cache Special Edition (Item#ABS22144122) 1 Standard
Leadtek Geforce4 TI4400 128MB 128-Bits VIVO Video Card (Item#ABS14122146) 1 Standard
Lite-On Black 16X DVD ROM Drive (48X CD-ROM Speed) (Item#ABS27131103) 1 Standard
Lite On 40X12X48 RTL40125S CD-RW Drive - BLACK (Item#ABS27106181) 1 Standard
Sound Blaster Audigy Sound Card w/1394 Firewire Port (Item#ABS29102148) 1 Standard
Creative Labs Inspire 4.1 4400 Speaker System (Item#ABS36116113) 1 Standard
I already have promedia 2.1's to replace this
none Communication Cards 1 $-16
I'll just add a nic for $5/free by myself
MITSUMI 1.44 MB Floppy Drive - BLACK (Item#ABS21104101) 1 Standard
Mitsuko Blue Desktop bundle with: Enhanced Windows 2K keyboard & Blue 3 button wheel mouse (Item#ABS23136001) 1 $12
Has anyone heard of mitsuko before? would i be better of getting the system color keyboard/mouse or just buy it myself? (this combo actually costs me $25 not $12 b/c of the base config)
none Input Devices 1 $-6
Multimedia Microphone with Base (Item#ABS36111104) 1 $0
ABS Mouse Pad 8" X 9" (Item#ABS17114103) 1 $0
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition OEM (Item#ABS37110003) 1 Standard

Price with Option(s): $990
Price w/o out keyboard/mouse: $964


It prices out pretty nicely considering some of the nice components included...I am interested in your input on the case, mobo, and the company itself. Has anyone had any experiences good/bad with ABS?

Sorry for the long post, but I do appreciate your help!

 

[bigshooter]

i have pretty much the same system, except with 3 hard drives instead of one, and a littel slower processor. I have the enermax case, and 330W ps works fine for me. Deer is not a very good power supply, i've had two burn up on me. i really would never put them in a main system, i used them in a 4 computer test lab i built when i was getting my mcse. i will never use them again.

oh yeah, if you're going to use the comp alot, forget about a black or blue or whatever color keyboard and get a microsoft natural. it will save your wrists, also get the intellimouse explorer mouse, or at least go to best buy/compusa or somewhere and check them out.

 

[ChoppedBroccoli]

Anyone else?

Basically i guess my questions are a bit more simple than I made them earlier:

1) Which is better at powering an amd xp2000 system with a ti4400...a deer (foxcon) 400W PS or a 330W enermax PS?
2) Which is a better mobo for me considering i won't be using RAID or the onboard FireWire and that the asus mobo is an extra $60... gigabyte ga-7vrx or asus a7v333 Raid?
3) Has anyone heard of/used Mitsuko keyboards?
4) Has anyone dealt w/ABS before?

 

[newbiepcuser]

Anyone else?

Basically i guess my questions are a bit more simple than I made them earlier:

1) Which is better at powering an amd xp2000 system with a ti4400...a deer (foxcon) 400W PS or a 330W enermax PS?
2) Which is a better mobo for me considering i won't be using RAID or the onboard FireWire and that the asus mobo is an extra $60... gigabyte ga-7vrx or asus a7v333 Raid?
3) Has anyone heard of/used Mitsuko keyboards?
4) Has anyone dealt w/ABS before?

1. I would rather go with Enermax or Antec. Funny thing is I just built a system with my friend with Chieftec 420 watt ps, Asus A7V333 Raid, 18 gig SCSI, 1 80 gig Maxtor, 1 lite-on burner, 1 Gig of Samsung DDR 2700, 4 fans, etc, 1 Dr. Thermal heatsink/fan combo no hicups. OC xp2000 to 1.7xxx
2. You can get non-raid verison for Asus board. its pretty rock solid for me. Have you check out the MSI boards?
MSI Motherboard for AMD Processors Model KT3 Ultra2-R(6380E-060) With RAID and USB 2.0 Retail
Specifications:
Supported CPU:A (Socket 462) for AMD® Athlon XP/ Athlon/Duron
Chipset:KT333+VT8235
FSB:100/133 MHz
RAM:3xDDR DDR266/333 184-pin Max 3GB
IDE:2xUltra DMA133/100/66/33 Up to 4 Devices
Slots: 5xPCI (32-bit) ,1AGP(AGP 2.0 1x/2x/4x )
Ports:1xFDD,2xCOM,1xLPT,2xUSB 2.0
Onboard Audio: ALC650 6-channel audio
Onboard RAIDromise 20276 0,1 Model#: KT3 Ultra2-R Special FedEx Saver Shipping $6.00
- Product Link - Chipset Info -See It! (image count 4 ) -Price Alert (N82E16813130355)
(avg rating out of 4 voters)
$102.00
3. I prefer Microsoft natural myself.
4. homebuilt or Dell for a newbiepcuser like me

 

[pitupepito2000]

Hi,

I would take a look at the antec true power supplies, I have one and they are pretty good. I like your mobo, but why don't you take a look at this msi motherboard MSI KT3 Ultra. I have this motherboard and it is pretty good. It provides a lot of features and it only costs $85 and a Linksys EtherFast 10/100 LAN costs $10 (this includes the $10 rebate). The processor looks good to me. Everything else looks good. I don't know anything about that brand of keyboard. Why don't you get a MICROSOFT NATURAL KEYBOARD ELITE it only costs $17.

I hope this helps!

By the way what are you going to be using this computer for, gaming, music, etc. This would help us to give you a better answer.

 

[newbiepcuser]

If you don't need raid and other onboard stuff , get the new verison of the MSI KT3, the KT3 Ultra2, USB 2.0 too!

MSI Motherboard for AMD Processors Model KT3 Ultra2(6380E-050) Retail
Specifications:
Supported CPU:A (Socket 462) for AMD® Athlon XP/ Athlon/Duron
Chipset:KT333+VT8235
FSB:100/133 MHz
RAM:3xDDR DDR266/333 184-pin Max 3GB
IDE:2xUltra DMA133/100/66/33 Up to 4 Devices
Slots: 5xPCI (32-bit) ,1AGP(AGP 2.0 1x/2x/4x )
Ports:1xFDD,2xCOM,1xLPT,
Onboard Audio: ALC650 6-channel audio Model#: KT3 Ultra2 Special FedEx Saver Shipping $4.00
$82.00

 

[ChoppedBroccoli]

Sorry if i didn't make this clear...I was looking into buying this computer through ABS, not build it myself.

Using their MSI mobo config it actually works out to being more expensive with less stuff. With the MSI Model KT3 Ultra2 mobo and a G4ti4200 it came out to be $970.

 

[pitupepito2000]

Hi,

Sorry for the suggestion of that other motherboard. I took a look at the motherboard that you chose and it looks pretty good to me and it has great reviews. Go for it.


I hope this helps!

 

[ChoppedBroccoli]

bump

 

[ChoppedBroccoli]

bump