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help me slim down this system a little :)

Rallispec

Rallispec

Lifer
my roomate asked me if i could build a computer for him the other day.. Personally i'm a little sketchy about doing it becuase i dont feel like being his only source of tech support down the line... however i still told him i'd look into it.

his only request was to make it decently fast- so that no upgrade would be needed anytime soon, a cd-r drive, and to try and get the price below 800. He really has his heart set on a 15" LCD monitor- but i on this budget i dont think its going to be possible.

main use for the computer will just be play music, internet stuff, and maybe some simple games (we're talking simcity type games... ). I dont need to buy the OS.


here is what i have now

Case: Enlight 7230 Case-$50
Processor: AMD 1700+/266 FSB Athlon XP - RETAIL-$131
Motherboard: EPoX EP-8KHA+-$90
RAM: 256 MB PC2100 DDR-$64
Hard Drive: 40GB Maxtor D740X 7200 RPM-$84
Video Card : GeForce2 MX400 32MB -$49
Monitor: LG Electronics Flatron 17" 795FT Plus-$224
Sound Card: SoundBlaster Live! Value-$25
CD-R: LITE-ON 24x10x40 CDRW -$80
Communications: Creative Labs Modem Blaster 56k-$28
Mouse: Microsoft Intellimouse Optical-$20
Keyboard: MS Internet Keyboard-$15
Floppy: Generic-$10

total = 870 (before shipping and tax and all that fun stuff)

so basically i'm trying to cut about 100 dollars off of it now- not sure where though. I know that right now its probably overkill for what he wants.... so what do you suggest?

 
T-Bird instead of an Athlon would save ~$30. (Or maybe one of the high clock Durons? Haven't really checked out the benches too much...)

Shuttle AK31 motherboard saves ~$20.

Gets a little tricky after that... an old ATI card would save a few bucks... depends on how important the gaming is. A 5400 drive would be cheaper, but probably not enough to take the performance hit. Could get a K7S5A and lose the sound card, but I don't that would fit his needs. But the board alone would be another $20 less than the Shuttle, and still with decent performance.

So, there's $50-70, at least.
 
How about getting a Samsung 753DF monitor. After the $40 rebate you can get it for 160 or less if you use a coupon on it or PM some where. Also, instead of the GF2 MX I would get a GTS-V from Newegg. It is the same price as the MX you have listed but will perform better.
 
"his only request was to make it decently fast"

Heh get him a 1gig or 1.2. I think 1700+ XP is overkill for simcity type games,music and surfing the net.
 
I'm with nightowl. Save some $$ on the monitor, ditch that MX400 and get a GTS-V. I bought a LT modem from NewEgg for $10. Other than that....looks good.
 
If the games are that simple, then even a Geforce2 MX is overkill for him? Maybe a Voodoo3 maybe?

Why not get an XP1500, he doesn't need all the performance of 1700. Or go to a 20 or 30 GB HD? The burner can be skimped on too, maybe a 12x or 10x burner.
 


<< If the games are that simple, then even a Geforce2 MX is overkill for him? Maybe a Voodoo3 maybe?

Why not get an XP1500, he doesn't need all the performance of 1700. Or go to a 20 or 30 GB HD? The burner can be skimped on too, maybe a 12x or 10x burner. >>



i think the price between the 1500 and 1700 is only like 20-30 dollars.. so i figured the extra speed might be worth it.. its something to keep in mind though.
i thought about a 12x burner- havent ruled it out.

the voodoo3 is a good idea- i was also thinking about an older radeon card.

i dont think i'll be able to go less than a 40gig hard drive (he likes to download things) although- i did price some 5200rpm drives... if i can find one much cheaper i'll probably go with it instead.

going to look into the K7S5A ... becuase on board audio was one of my first thoughts-- just didnt know of any good boards that had it.
 


<< "his only request was to make it decently fast"

Heh get him a 1gig or 1.2. I think 1700+ XP is overkill for simcity type games,music and surfing the net. >>



you're right...i have the itch to build a new system, but my current pc that i built about a year ago has a 1.2 and there isn't anything this machine can't do for me. and the a7v133 is super stable. kind of funny how up until i built my own i got used to pc's that would crash...now i have had one crash in one year!
 
For what your roomate wants to do, your system is a way overkill. Why you don't pick some Duron or Celeron (around 1GHz) combo with motherboard (around $100)? For RAM he'd be fine with 128MB PC133 (costs nothing today), and can always add another stick later if he really will get into. I think you could fit that 15"flat (cheapest 15" models around $300?) in, as long as you'd get value parts (sound&video on motherboard if possible, modem $10 etc.)

But you both would do the best to buy him value PC from Dell, Gateway or similar; will save you a lots of headache....



<< main use for the computer will just be play music, internet stuff, and maybe some simple games (we're talking simcity type games... ). I dont need to buy the OS. >>



 


<< But you both would do the best to buy him value PC from Dell, Gateway or similar; will save you a lots of headache.... >>



yeah.. well especially for a value system i think your right... He just saw that i built my own top of the line P4 comptuer over the summer, and saved a lot of money doing it- and i guess wanted me to do that for him. Chances are i wont build it- becuase i just dont have the time or the motivation right now-- but i told him i'd at least look into it.

i agree with the 1ghz celeron or duron.. my 700 mhz laptop with 4mb video and crap sound is probably overkill for what he needs... but i guess since he said he was willing to spend around 800 dollars.. i was just trying to get the best computer for the money- most bang for the buck or whatever.
 


<<

<< But you both would do the best to buy him value PC from Dell, Gateway or similar; will save you a lots of headache.... >>



yeah.. well especially for a value system i think your right... He just saw that i built my own top of the line P4 comptuer over the summer, and saved a lot of money doing it- and i guess wanted me to do that for him. Chances are i wont build it- becuase i just dont have the time or the motivation right now-- but i told him i'd at least look into it.

i agree with the 1ghz celeron or duron.. my 700 mhz laptop with 4mb video and crap sound is probably overkill for what he needs... but i guess since he said he was willing to spend around 800 dollars.. i was just trying to get the best computer for the money- most bang for the buck or whatever. >>



so spend the money on parts that will last the longest...a nice lcd screen will still give him enjoyment in a year or two, whereas ANY processor you buy today will be outdated. so save the bucks on the processor, you can always substitute something more powerful in a year if he wants a little performance boost.

and he'll thank you he's not still looking at some fish bowl monitor!
 
Case: Enlight 7230 Case-$50 - nice case. OK price. Make sure it comes with a power supply that will drive that Epox board. Those are very particular about power supplies. (needs a VERY stable and high +5V rail).

Processor: AMD 1700+/266 FSB Athlon XP - RETAIL-$131 - Good choice. Don't cheap out on the proc. Think about getting an OEM chip and a decent HS/fan. This may actually add a FEW bucks to the price, but a good sink is important with these chips, and the retail sink sucks. Also, don't use the thermal pad that comes with any sink. Scrape it off and apply a thin layer of arctic silver II or III thermal compound.

Motherboard: EPoX EP-8KHA+-$90 - nice board (I have one). Again, VERY touchy about its power supplies, and a few issues. Once you get it working, it is a great board for overclocking though. If you are not interested in overclocking, you can probably save $15-$20 by getting an 8khaL (dip switch non-soft-menu version of same board which is good but harder to overclock, also using KT266A chipset. I think it also has one less PCI slot).

RAM: 256 MB PC2100 DDR-$64 - Good choice. You should be able to get good quality memory for that price (not generic).

Hard Drive: 40GB Maxtor D740X 7200 RPM-$84 Again, good choice.

Video Card : GeForce2 MX400 32MB -$49 OK card for sim games.

Monitor: LG Electronics Flatron 17" 795FT Plus-$224 - If you are willing to wait for the next deal, you should be able to get a 15" LCD for about that price. It should be EASY to get a 15" LCD for under $300 if you look for a sale. Check the Hot Deals forum.

Sound Card: SoundBlaster Live! Value-$25

CD-R: LITE-ON 24x10x40 CDRW -$80

Communications: Creative Labs Modem Blaster 56k-$28 - Isn't that a winmodem anyway? Just get the free with rebate variety (preferably with a lucent chipset if you can find one) the next time one of the computer or electronics stores has a sale.

Mouse: Microsoft Intellimouse Optical-$20 - good

Keyboard: MS Internet Keyboard-$15 -

Floppy: Generic-$10

No speakers? Hard to play music without those.

Overall, good system. I don't see how you can take much out of it without crippling it a lot. You can get an OEM XP1500 for about $105 if you really want to save $26 that way (remembering that you would still need to buy a $12 heatsink). It sounds like you need to talk your friend into parting with more like $900-$950 to get the sort of machine he really wants with the 15" LCD and everything. People have to be realistic about what nice things cost. Yes, you may be able to cut $100 off of that, but it already has a mediocre video card (the first obvious corner to cut for a machine that isn't for a hard core gamer), AND he wants it to be fast, AND he wants a burner, AND he wants an LCD flat panel... You get the idea. 🙂 If you can talk him out of the flat panel, the saving is easy. Just get a nice but not SUPER NICE $120 17" monitor instead of a $230 17" monitor. There are very nice 17" monitors in the $100-$150 range, if he is really that worried about the $100. Sam's club has a cheapo 17" CRT flat-screen monitor for $130. Yes, it is made by KDS, but the screen WAS flat (I looked at it carefully), and the image quality, while not up to the spec of a first-class 17" CRT montor and certainly not that of an LCD flat panel, was VERY nice for only $130.

You might check newegg.com for some of this stuff. Most of their prices are actually $1-$2 higher than the ones you have listed (which are probably cheapest listed on pricewatch and don't include expensive shipping), but the ground shipping at newegg is REALLY reasonable, and you will probably end up saving some money.

Nack
 
EVERCASE E4252WEF25 300watt Case $42
AMD DURON 1.0 GHZ SOCKET A PGA PROCESSOR $52
ECS K7S5A SiS® 735 SOCKET A MOTHERBOARD - RETAIL $56
RAM: 256 MB PC2100 DDR-$64
Hard Drive: 40GB Maxtor D740X 7200 RPM-$84
VISIONTEK Xtasy 5632 GEFORCE2 GTS-V 4X/2X 32MB AGP - OEM $49
CD-R: LITE-ON 24x10x40 CDRW -$80
Communications: Creative Labs Modem Blaster 56k-$28
Mouse: Microsoft Intellimouse Optical-$20
Keyboard: MS Internet Keyboard-$15
Floppy: Generic-$10
Cheap coolmaster fan: $5

onboard lan and sound. Total before shipping and monitor is 505 bucks. This is what he will have to do if he wants that flat panel.
 
Dude! he's gettin' a Dell!

I just did a check at outlet.dell.com, and you really can't beat a couple of the deals they have there on nice Dell refurbs:

Dimension 4400 (Service Tag No. 8SRG611)
Dimension® 4400 Series,Pentium® 4 Processor at 1.6 GHz, Integrated Sound

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

System Price $814.00
Promotion Discount ($150.00)
Discounted Price $664.00
Promotion End Date Feb 21, 2002

Memory: 128MB DDR SDRAM
Floppy Drive: 1.44 MB Floppy Disk Drive
Hard Disk Drive: 120 GB EIDE Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
Video: 16MB ATI Rage Ultra 4X AGP Graphics Card
Modem: 56K Telephony Modem for Windows-Sound Option
CD ROM Drive: 48X Max Variable CD-ROM Drive
Software: Microsoft Windows® XP Home Edition
Picture Studio Software - Dell Edition
Software
Microsoft® WorksSuite 2002
AOL 6.0 Software
Music Match ver. 6.0 Software
Resource CD
Norton Antivirus® 2002
Misc: Shipping Material
Microsoft Intellimouse (Midnight Gray)
Dell Enhanced Quiet Key Keyboard (Gray)

You are short a burner and a monitor.

Get a $50 16X burner and a $100 17" monitor. You are almost in budget, and it is just what your friend needs. Even better, you don't have to support it. This one will probably be sold by the time you get around to reading this, but there will be more (maybe even with better video cards). If he can part with a little more (say $800+ $100 monitor), he can get something even better, including a nice burner, etc.

Nack
 
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