I have $1500, whats the best system i can get!

[DBavaria]

I have $1500, whats the best system i can get! I was wwondering should i realy build my own with 1500 or should i buy one for 1500? what do you think? and can someone tell me what i can realy get for $1500.

If you want my email is Limca3@aol.com

 

[LXi]

Good enough to get this

P3-700E ~$200
Asus CUSl2 ~$150
128MB PC133 ~$150
GeForce2 GTS 32MB ~$250
SB Live! value ~$50
30GB hard drive ~$180
19" monitor ~$400

The list goes on, anyway, the configuration can be very flexible depending on what you want to get. The Durons/Athlons deserve good considerations as well. I like this setup because you can overclock the 700E to 933.

 

[hubbs]

Build your own system DEFINATLEY. And some more credentials would be nice. Like what do you need it to have. Monitor? Etc.............

 

[Moonshield]

I would say cut the 700MHz P3 and go for a 750-800MHz at least. ASUS CUB4x or CUSL2 is fine. 30GB HD? 15-20GB is all you need. 19" monitor? Get a 17" unless you think you will actually like a 19. 128mb PC133? Heck, get 256MB PC133. Screw the GeForce 2 GTS, get a GeForce 2 MX, buy a faster processor with the money saved

my $0.02

 

[LXi]

<<I would say cut the 700MHz P3 and go for a 750-800MHz at least.>>

Haha... if you dont want to overclock, that's fine. But I have to say 700E@933 is the best way to save money, and it has the best performance.


<<ASUS CUB4x or CUSL2 is fine.>>

Fine? You mean Abits are better?


<<30GB HD? 15-20GB is all you need.>>

I was even thinking about throwing a 45GB at him. Hard drives are so cheap these days there is no reason to get 15-20GB, which I dont think is enough anyway.


<<19&quot; monitor? Get a 17&quot; unless you think you will actually like a 19.>>

Yep, you got it, 19&quot;, the difference is day and night. 17&quot; are too small these days, you'll slap yourself later for going with 17&quot;.


<<128mb PC133? Heck, get 256MB PC133. >>

Why waste an unnecessary $150 on this. Unless you do photoshop or other professional apps, or unless you multitask a lot, 128MB will be more than enough.


<<Screw the GeForce 2 GTS, get a GeForce 2 MX, buy a faster processor with the money saved>>

Heh... funny, with $1500, I dont see why he should go for the lowly MX. Faster processor? Is 750/800 faster than 933? I dont think so.

 

[obeseotron]

I agree with lxi almost entirely. I have a 40GB and 17GB HD, and I'm thinking about getting a 60GB 5400RPM Maxtor as a big, cheap, albiet slow way of relieving stress on the other two drives. If you don't have a fast connection, don't use mp3s, don't install too many games, don't download programs of &quot;shady&quot; origins, are strapped for cash, and don't think there will be a reason to have a big drive, by all means get a 15GB, but almost everyone in this forum falls into one of those groups. p3 700 @ 933 is no garuntee, but it is the best performance for the price, ditch the i815, get a BX though. Get the 17&quot; only if you have no contact with larger monitors, if you start using big screens at work or something then you won't be able to live with 17&quot;. Besides they only cost $300 now. GTS is still a good buy for a $1500 system, MX for sub $1K.

 

[hubbs]

I use a 15inch monitor and I'm not upgrading it

I now it's bad but I guess the size of the screen doesn't really bother me. I have really good eyes. My resolutiong runs at 1024x768 or something like that.

I am sure I will get a bigger monitor in the future but just not now I don't need one for any purpose.

 

[LXi]

<<p3 700 @ 933 is no garuntee, but it is the best performance for the price, >>

It's no guarrantee, but your chances are more than a worthy try. If things dont go well, you can always go with 600@800 or 650@866.


<<ditch the i815, get a BX though. >>

Part of the reason why there is no guarrantee in P3 overclocking is because the lack of 1/2 AGP divider. BX does not have 1/2 AGP divider despite being the best performer, which is why I think he should get i815E and overclock more and get back the performance difference(not that big of a deal anyway, i815E performs very close to BX so it doesnt really matter).

 

[Ulysses]

Take a look at AnandTech's monthly Buyer's Guides at the home page.

LXi' first recommendation is probably the best, generally speaking.

 

[DBavaria]

wow thats a mouthful guys!. well i was thinking here are my bare requirements:

17in monitor
cpu 700mhz minimum
mobo i dunt know howbout a very good one to overclock with
CDrom/Dvd drive
128 ram atleast
atleast 15 gig
no modem, no lan
soundcard a good one, mainly for mp3s and gaming

well now i was wondering, the age old question AMD or Intel (athlon or p3)

another thought was by building my own system , wtf do i do if somthing goes wrong, im pretty expericanced and all, but do i have any warrenties on the parts i buy?


**check this quote from ABScomputers.com

-ABS Athlon 950 Special-
Description/Options Price:$1629
Inwin ATX Mid Tower 250Watts Case
AMD Athlon 950MHz
128MB (One Piece) SDRAM
20GB Ultra 66/33 HD
10X DVD ROM
32MB Matrox G400 Dual Head Monitor AGP TV OUT
17in .27 Viewsonic E771
Sound Blaster Live! Value
Labtec 2414 Speakers w/Subwoofer
1.44MB Floppy Drive
ABS Scroll Mouse
Internet Keyboard (No NT Support)
Win98 &amp; Corel Office 2000
Standard 3 Years Limited Warranty Standard


can i beat that with a home made computer including the warrenty???

 

[Ulysses]

Take a look at AnandTech's monthly Buyer's Guides at the home page.

LXi' first recommendation is probably the best, generally speaking.

 

[Ulysses]

You get all the warranties, but you have to deal with the vendors yourself, of course. And you're on your own if it doesn't work.

If you think you can build it, then go for it. You'll definitely have a more flexible upgradeable and overclockable system than if you buy one. If you don't think you can, then just get a Dell for Intel or a Gateway for AMD.

 

[DBavaria]

ok im jus confused on what to do

does anyone know of any small computer companys making computers and selling them online, no big brand names

 

[DBavaria]

is a 950 mhz athlon good? and are they overclockable??

 

[veryape]

I really think that you would be doing yourself a great injustice moneywise and knowledgewise by not buiolding your own system yourself. Its really quite easy if you have any mechanical aptitude at all. Once you do it you say to yourself, &quot;I was going to pay someone a crapload of money to do THIS?&quot; You will also take pride in the fact that you built something that everyone considers to be a very technical endeavor. You will also learn your ass from your elbow and will never get screwed by a company again. The list of reasons to build it yourself goes on and on. Take my word for it, you won't be sorry.
[EDIT]Yes,Athlons are awesome and a much better deal moneywise than Intels P3 and they are also faster in most real world test despite what you will hear from Intel pushers and AMD bashers. For your money,go Athlon. Take it from someone who has had a P3 and an Athlon. Athlon is better in my honest opinion.nn