• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

EXTREMELY BUDGETED pc advice

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
Originally posted by: FishTankX
I say drop the floppy. Get a 1700+. Then get a CDRW instead of a 2000+. The optorite 48X24X48 goes for like.. 35$. Then add on 5$ shipping. By dropping the floppy and going for the cheaper CPU, you've prettty much made up the difference.

ill have to talk to her about that. she said she has a burner in her parents computer, so she could always transfer files through LAN and then burn them. the 2000 is a lot nicer than the 1700 when not overclocking, so id hate to give that up, but if she REALLY needs a burner, then we can look into it more. im pretty sure she needs the floppy for school work and such.
 
i added in different ram. is dane elec a good name? its the cheapest 512 ddr available at newegg. anyone here with this chip?
 
BB has 512mb of PC2700 Kingston Value Ram for $40 after mir. Unless the Dane Electric is cheaper I'd go with a name brand like Kingston.
 
Originally posted by: FishTankX
Also with the Nforce2 i'd go with 2X256 instead of 1X512, as it can *drastically* impact performance in games.

the problem with 2 256 is that it costs more than 1 512. the problem there is $$$
 
1) its a compaq
Can't argue with that. Sux0r++

2) its most likely not nforce 2
Nope, VIA KM266.

3) that onboard video blows hard
It's an S3 ProSavage. The proper term here is "Blows goats for quarters."

4) only 256 ram
This is a budget system, you know. 256MB is still enough for general office tasks.

5) no monitor
Zing.

6) i dont know the rpm of the HDD
5400.

</compaq specs>

- M4H
 
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
1) its a compaq
Can't argue with that. Sux0r++

2) its most likely not nforce 2
Nope, VIA KM266.

3) that onboard video blows hard
It's an S3 ProSavage. The proper term here is "Blows goats for quarters."

4) only 256 ram
This is a budget system, you know. 256MB is still enough for general office tasks.

5) no monitor
Zing.

6) i dont know the rpm of the HDD
5400.

</compaq specs>

- M4H



/me high fives mercenary
 
ok, i added 2 256's becuase it looks like dual ddr GREATLY improves the igp graphics performance. i still have a whopping 7 bukcs leftover to bump up something else.
 
Originally posted by: nick1985
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Originally posted by: HappyCracker
Why not get a boxed processor? It comes with a heatsink that way. No sense going nuts if you don't want to overclock it. And CounterStrike runs just fine on a P3 800, heck even a p2 333 (no eye candy). I would always choose a video card over internal, but that's me. I was going to say get a Dell, but after perusing their site, they have bastardized their machines as of late. Why the nForce2 motherboard? I think they're overrated myself. You could get a cheaper KT400 board. Also, since you're only getting one stick of RAM, you have no need for dual channel. These are my opinions on what you could do. Of course, I haven't priced any of this and since you're set on getting stuff from Newegg, you could be paying more than you have to

I'm going to pretend you didn't just trashtalk the nF2 in favour of a KT400. :Q

Where else are you going to find quality integrated LAN, DTS audio, and onboard video that doesn't suck? 😀

- M4H


couldnt have said it better myself. and about not getting a retail heatink....the retail heatsinks tend to be low quality and i want to be sure there is no heat-related instabilities in the system

have you seen recent retail heatsinks? they aren't low quality at all. they beat most cheapo aftermarket heatsinks easily. they are designed and tested to match the specs of the processor and probably then some for safety. neither amd or intel need their systems going bad because of a shoddy cooler obviously.

no reason to switch unless you got some heavy duty overclocking, or if you want to run a silent fan.



 
Originally posted by: nick1985
ok, i added 2 256's becuase it looks like dual ddr GREATLY improves the igp graphics performance. i still have a whopping 7 bukcs leftover to bump up something else.

software..?
all she wants to do is basic windows acitvities(word, and what not..)
 
Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
Originally posted by: nick1985
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Originally posted by: HappyCracker
Why not get a boxed processor? It comes with a heatsink that way. No sense going nuts if you don't want to overclock it. And CounterStrike runs just fine on a P3 800, heck even a p2 333 (no eye candy). I would always choose a video card over internal, but that's me. I was going to say get a Dell, but after perusing their site, they have bastardized their machines as of late. Why the nForce2 motherboard? I think they're overrated myself. You could get a cheaper KT400 board. Also, since you're only getting one stick of RAM, you have no need for dual channel. These are my opinions on what you could do. Of course, I haven't priced any of this and since you're set on getting stuff from Newegg, you could be paying more than you have to

I'm going to pretend you didn't just trashtalk the nF2 in favour of a KT400. :Q

Where else are you going to find quality integrated LAN, DTS audio, and onboard video that doesn't suck? 😀

- M4H


couldnt have said it better myself. and about not getting a retail heatink....the retail heatsinks tend to be low quality and i want to be sure there is no heat-related instabilities in the system

have you seen recent retail heatsinks? they aren't low quality at all. they beat most cheapo aftermarket heatsinks easily. they are designed and tested to match the specs of the processor and probably then some for safety. neither amd or intel need their systems going bad because of a shoddy cooler obviously.

no reason to switch unless you got some heavy duty overclocking, or if you want to run a silent fan.


well my friend had a retail 2000 and he was suffering from random BSOD's and reboots. i touched his heatsink and it was boiling. i gave him a better HSF taht i had lyin around and all his problems went away. im weary to try out another retail HSF
 
his case must have sh*tty cooling or his heatsink must be on wrong. the default xp 2000+ is rather decent. its like a hc002 coolermaster cept aluminum.

it cooled my palomino just fine.


the retail xp 2000+ comes with a skivied cooler, its not bad.

uthink they'd still be in business if everyone that used their retail heatsinks came up with bsod's? lol

i replaced it with a real hc-002 copper heatsink so i could run a quiet 12cfm fan instead.


now im also running a tbred xp2000+ using a tually celeron heatsink. its just fine and dandy.
 
Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
his case must have sh*tty cooling or his heatsink must be on wrong. the default xp 2000+ is rather decent. its like a hc002 coolermaster cept aluminum.

it cooled my palomino just fine.


the retail xp 2000+ comes with a skivied cooler, its not bad.

uthink they'd still be in business if everyone that used their retail heatsinks came up with bsod's? lol

i replaced it with a real hc-002 copper heatsink so i could run a quiet 12cfm fan instead.


now im also running a tbred xp2000+ using a tually celeron heatsink. its just fine and dandy.

look, i know the retail will PROBABLY do just fine. i just want to be sure that there is no problems with heat in the system. i think that justifies purchasing a 7 dollar heatsink. BTW, he had 4 case fans and his heatsink was on correctly

 
Originally posted by: nick1985
ok, i added 2 256's becuase it looks like dual ddr GREATLY improves the igp graphics performance. i still have a whopping 7 bukcs leftover to bump up something else.

Told ya. 😉

If you're gonna bump something, get a nice keyboard and mouse. They're your gateway to the computer. Oh, and a nice mousepad! Those are great too.
 
READ THIS! www.cyberpowerinc.com-- builds xtreme cheap computers w/ 3 year warranty


u can get all that u said plus better processor, motherboard, more fans, bigger power supply, nice video card (no video card was included on that newegg thing) for like 430 plus 50 shipping and no tax

CAS: ATX MEDIUM TOWER CASE 350 WATT [+ 33]
CASUPGRADE: ---Optional----
CD: ---Optional---
CDRW: (WHITE) CD-RW 52X24X52 [+47]
CPU: AMD Athlon? XP-2200+ Processor [+82]
FAN: AMD CERTIFIED CPU FAN & HEATSINK + 3 EXTRA CASE FANS [+9]
FLASHMEDIA: --- Optional ---
FLOPPY: MITSUMI 1.44 MB FLOPPY DR [+10]
Gaming1: ---Optional---
Gaming2: ---Optional---
Gaming3: ---Optional---
Gaming4: ---Optional---
Gaming5: ---Optional---
HDD: 40GB 7200 RPM ATA 100 HARD DRIVE [+67]
HDD2: ---Optional---
KEYBOARD: ---Optional----
MEMORY: 256 MB PC2100 266MHz DDR MEMORY (REQUIRES DDR MB) [+34]
MEMORYUPGRADE: ---Optional----
MODEM: ---Optional----
MOTHERBOARD: GigaByte? GA-7N400-L1 nForce2 400FSB DDR400 AGP8X w/Audio,USB2,&LAN [+82]
MOUSE: ---Optional----
NETWORK: ---Optional----
OS: NONE FORMAT HARD DRIVE ONLY
RAID: ----- OPTIONAL REQUIRES (2) IDENTICAL HARD DRIVES-----
RUSH: NO; SHIP OUT IN 5~10 BUSINESS DAYS
SERVICE: 3-Year STANDARD WARRANTY PLUS ONE-YEAR ONSITE SERVICE
SOFT1: ---Optional---
SOFT2: ---Optional---
SOUND: AC97 3D WAVE ON-BOARD SOUND CARD
SPEAKERS: ---Optional---
SUPER_PAK: ---Optional----
Subtotal1: (+439.00)
Subtotal2: 439.00
TEMP: ----- Optional [as shown] -----
VIDEO: nVidia GeForce-FX 5200 128MB DDR W/ TV OUT & DVI [+75]
WIRELESSCARD: ---Optional----
WIRELESSPOINT: ---Optional----
ZIP: ---Optional---- 439.00 439.00 Remove
Subtotal for Cyberpower Inc. 439.00



go to the site and use amd custom configurator to get some fine tuned more customized 4 ur needs (diff video card, a modem, less of a MB or processor or wutever...)


hope this helps and hope u diindt buy already plus this computer gets a 10 rating on cnet u can see 4 urself
 
dammit i fgt monitor--- well u can prob find 1 in ur local paper or on ebay for like 20-40 bucks 17" and find cheap shipping--- a solid hours work can find u a monitor for under 50 i guess...it doesnt hafa be brand spankin new...as the matter of fact drivin donw the street yestreday i saw 2 nice monitors...picked em up...they worked....sum1 retard was throwin em out!
 
not havin a monitor deffinatley will put me back a lot. plus that has 256 ram, so thats like another 30 for the 512. so im still leaning towards the build. good suggestion tough. thanks
 
Back
Top