Got 1800 from a Neighbour to build / buy a system. One condition... its got to be Black.

[The Stigenator]

Well my neighbour's wife is presenting her husband with a new machine as a surprise. Since she doesnt know crap and I have been the one fixing up their peice of crap machine anytime the OS fails..

Here is teh deal.. I was thinking of an AMD system.. though my neighbour thinks pentium is teh way to go (oh well so much for intel's marketing). Her husband and I have discussed about AMD's and I personally would like to go teh AMD route.

I will need a Black Everything (case, monitor, keyboard, mouse,speakers). I picked most components off from Mwave.. and probably pay cash (she gave me cash) and pick it up from Mwave (cause I dont want to deal with shipping). I was looking at the MSI K7T266Pro2 I think.. Its DDR mobo with the KT266 chipset if I am right. How is that motherboard. otherwise I was looking at a Shuttle AK31 version 3.1. The processor I would like to be around XP 1800+ or higher. While I quoted it with XP2000+ it came to about 1600$ + tax and s/h.

Question is how stable is teh KT266, and which good cheap mobo / solid mobo manufacturer should I go with. I dont want to deal with ECS and Epox. I rather stay with Shuttle, MSI, ASUS, TYan etc etc.

Also assuming I do not build.. how are these two retailers.. one of my friends bought a computer off http://www.cyberpowerinc.com/ and seem pretty happy. I configed one there and it came about about 1600 but then there is shipping and tax and there is the 8 day wait for the package. However one nice thing is I dont have go give techsupport.
I was looking at Dell .. and its freaking expensive.. gateway doesnt come in black. I was also looking at www.asseenontvpc.com and their price and combo sound real good. I would like to wash my hands off with the "tech support".. though I wouldnt need much after the initial. Systemax (www.asseenontvpc.com) is a reputed builder in my book.. but how are they in yours..

I dont honest answers on this situation.

TGG

Oh by the way I am going to self ban myself for a while.. I am spending too much time on ATOT..so if I dont respond back.. just IM me.

 

[neutralizer]

BTW, MSI KT266A is a pos. I would get the Shuttle (I think it was made by ECS though), Asus, or Soyo.

 

[AkumaBao]

Just get a black case, and a 24oz can of black automotive grade spray paint. The stuff dries super quick, and you knock off about $150 on the cost of black parts. Definatly talk those people into an AMD! Show them the benchmark score between the two, and see if the price is that important to them anymore. I just talked to a person with a MSI K7V, and stabilty seemed to be a problem at first. I would go for the ASUS. Since they're going to save $$$ getting an AMD, I'm sure the x-tra $30 for the ASUS isn't going to bother them. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure that the MSI is pretty stable, I'm just telling you what I've heard so far. The Shuttle wouldn't be bad either! Good price for quality! As for the reseller, try this site. They have a 1 year warranty on everything at no extra cost! Just thought I'd add those things, since it seems that you don't really want to go over there a whole bunch. Also, I'm sure they'll want to go with Windows XP. Even if they go with 98 or ME, show them the "Windows Update" feature, that way they don't call you everytime a problem occurs. Hope that helps some.

 

[The Stigenator]

I have been talking to adul on this..

I think I am going with the Nforce mobo's...possibly.

As for shuttle.. I am running an AK12A on my system.. runs fine.. I love it.

 

[zzzz]

I would advice you to get a dell with the 845D chipset. They are not that expensive. I am sure you can find one within your budget and you don't have to troubleshoot it for them. It comes in black too...
If you want to build it yourself, get the KT266A chipset mobo, not the KT266.

 

[newbiepcuser]

I would advice you to get a dell with the 845D chipset.

I agree 100%
You might be able to get a black LCD too. No need for your number to be on speed dial listed under 24-7 tech support.

 

[Daovonnaex]

<< I would advice you to get a dell with the 845D chipset. They are not that expensive. I am sure you can find one within your budget and you don't have to troubleshoot it for them. It comes in black too... >>

Or a Micron with the nForce 420D. Micron has excellent tech support as well. Anyhow, I recommending building as it is.

 

[Insane3D]

YGPM

 

[larciel]

get northwood 1.6A and oc it to 2.3ghz

you won't be disappointed. \


*logitech z540 speaker* z340 works too
*logitech optical cordless combo* black*
black case.. i'm sure mwave has it
black monitor.. hmm might be a tough... well i recommend NEC 950FE+ BK

there you have it.. all for about $1500 or so

 

[larciel]

from mwave

SKU Qty. Item Unit Price Ext. Price

266903 NEC 19"/18V FE950+BK .25 1792X1344 TOTALLY FLAT (Black) Detail Specs $340.62 $340.62

A10004 ENERMAX FS-710BB (BLACK) FULL SERVER TOWER W/330W (PENTIUM 4 READY) ATX POWER SUPPLY Detail Specs $99.00 $99.00

270258 LOGITECH CORDLESS FREEDOM OPTICAL KEYBOARD & MOUSE USB/PS2 Detail Specs $75.00 $75.00

600222 ATI ALL-IN-WONDER RADEON 8500DV 64MB AGP NTSC Detail Specs $308.98 $308.98

395106 LOGITECH Z560 400WATTS SURROUND SOUND SYSTEM W/M3D MATRIX Detail Specs $145.00 $145.00

A16290 LITE ON 32X/12X/40X EIDE INTERNAL CDRW BURN PROOF W/SW (Retail) Detail Specs $109.00 $109.00

I07-Q073-48-A08523- PENTIUM 4 - 478 PIN (RETAILED) & DDR BUNDLES
(MSI 845ULTRA-ARSpec; INTEL PENTIUM 4 1.6AG - 478; KINGSTON 512MB NON-ECC PC2100; NO TESTING) $412.50 $412.50

A12180 PIONEER DVD-106S 16X-DVD EIDE SLOT INTERNAL #106S(Bare drive) Detail Specs $69.00 $69.00

A15190 MAXTOR 40.0GB DX6L040J2 EIDE ULTRA-ATA 133 8.5NS 7200RPM 2MB BUFFER (Bare drive) $96.00 $192.00

Sub Total $1,751.10

TOTAL: 1896.19 .. so you might want to get GF4 MX440 ($109) instead of 8500DV and get it in the budget.

 

[Ausm]

<< BTW, MSI KT266A is a pos. I would get the Shuttle (I think it was made by ECS though), Asus, or Soyo. >>




Shuttle made by ECS WTF you smok'in


Ausm

 

[RickH]

Never build a computer for anyone!!!!! If they pay you for it, they will have you over there everyday fixing something or installing software. If you do build get Intel, it is much better for the average person. They don't want the fan noise etc. They aren't worried about the performance, only the color. Trust me on this one. RRRRRRRRRRR

 

[bozo1]

<< Shuttle made by ECS WTF you smok'in >>


ECS has been making Shuttle's boards for a couple of years. However, the boards are made to Shuttle's specs, using components they specify and using Shuttle's design.

 

[oldfart]

<< would advice you to get a dell with the 845D chipset. >>


Yup, not a bad way to go. No spray paint required.

 

[LuNoTiCK]

I would go for an intel chipset. I would rather go with an i850 if your going to build it because the cost difference is very little, and rdram does work better on P4's.

 

[acidpad]

dear lord i think alot of you are on crack or something. if you head on over to pricewatch, watch the warranties, (make sure at least 1 year on the processor) you can build a top of the line system for like 1600 ! thats including an audigy, geforce 4, abit kr7a motherboard, 512 ram, monitor, speakers, and an xp 1800 + . definantly stick with AMD, dont even think about using intel unless you want to bust well over that 1800 limit. if you get the retail chip, like 10 dollars more, it comes with the heat sink and fan and its really not that loud. and i completly agree with the comment of spray paint to take care of the black. you really shouldnt have to worry about tech support that much when you build a system such as i just detailed, ive never had something like that go sour on me. if you build an intel on the other hand .... your on your own. make the smart choice, stick with amd.

 

[DcHoliday9]

I vote for a Dell also. I used to build computers for friends untill I became there help desk. Just have them buy a Dell and then you will not have them bugging you everytime they need a driver update.

 

[BreakApart]

Another vote for a Dell setup, they carry all kinds of components in black.


This cracked me up... "make the smart choice, stick with amd." Thanks for the laugh! AMD is cheaper but there is no way anyone can honestly say AMD is better than Intel, neck-in-neck perhaps, but better? Put down the crack son.

 

[zzzz]

click here

 

[meson2000]

BreakApart,
In my own personal experience, AMD is just as stable, just as fast, and costs half as much as Intel.
So yes, AMD is better than Intel.

 

[christoph83]

In my own personal experience, AMD is just as stable, just as fast, and costs half as much as Intel.
So yes, AMD is better than Intel.

Have you ever even built a new intel based system? Probably not. For most setups AMD costed half as much a while back but times have changed with the northwood.

 

[BreakApart]

christoph83, it's my fault i just pointed out a funny comment. I should have known the young AMD users would rush to it's rescue.


My apologies to the original poster, i didn't mean to go fishing in your thread. Guess the Friday rush clouded my judgement.


The popular Antec 830/1030 cases can be found in black, and the Lite-on CDRW drives can be found in black also. Becauseful though the shade of black used in some black parts RARELY matches the rest of your black components. Looks funny unless a company like Dell custom selects/matches the parts. Becareful becoming tech support for people you build for, it can be a huge mistake.

 

[oldfart]

<< and costs half as much as Intel. >>


An AMD system does not cost half as much as an Intel system.

 

[Uclagamer_99]

hehe if amd cost half as much as intel then everyone would have two amd systems

 

[Huma]

I've learned that if someone has doubts about a brand (like AMD) and you talk them into it, any problem with the machine at all, regardless of whether or not it has to do with your recommendation is your fault.

I used to build machines for people, now I just tell them to buy a dell.