input welcomed on this system build

[TP]

I'm building 3 systems. 1 for my dad, 1 for my uncle, and 1 for myself. I'm going to build all of 3 systems basically the same, because they dont know what's up, and dont really want to. This way I can keep them up to snuff. I am trying to keep the systems around $1500 each, but I am still running a little high, and dont really want to cut back any more, so I am gonna push for more funds. (I'm gonna o/c mine but not theirs).

I am looking for input from y'all. I'm still a few days from having the cash in hand (actually cash on card, lol), so I am trying to watch for the deals, and keep up with user reports on stuff. Here's what Ive got so far. (mostly Newegg)


Lian Li PC-65 case (with the groovy window) $169

Enermax EG365P-VE PSU approx $50

Athlon XP 1600+ $152

Pal6035 Heatsink (not sure on heatsink, or which fan, looking for something not noisy, & decent for o/cing.) $25

Shuttke KT266A mobo, $85

CARDEXPERT GEFORCE2 PRO/450 64MB GOLDEN SAMPLE W/ TV-OUT DDR 4.5ns...$129 (or best card in this $ range)

Samsung 17' DynaFlat 755DF monitor 17" $175

512MB Crucial DDR $74

60GB HDD. Seagate, Western Dig, or IBM. All seem about same quality and price. (is the Deskstar 60GXP good or not???) $135

Audigy Platinum sound card $170

Klipsch Pro Media 2.1 speakers $179

LITE-ON LTR-16102B 16x10x40 CD-RW $72

LITE-ON LTD-163 SPEED - RETAIL16X DVD ROM 48X CD-ROM $51* (basically cuts out the need for standalone CD-Rom drive doesnt it???)

Scanner UMAX ASTRA 3400 SPKG-13439 $63

EPSON STYLUS COLOR C60 INKJET PRINTER (not sure if this is any good) $90

Creative Modem Blaster V.90 PCI 56k $18

Mouse $6

Keyboard $8

Arctic silver $6

[I already hav NIC's and floppy drives.]

Webcam $24

Total $1681 (x2)

Mine is minus $175 monitor, minus $90 printer, minus keyboard/mouse $14, minus modem $18, minus CDRW $72. Total $1312

 

[RaiderJ]

I recommend Western Digital hard drives. IBM drives may perform a bit higher, but I've had nothing but a great experience with WD drives. The one drive I had to RMA was defective when I got it from a friend, but they went ahead and replaced it for me. Excellent customer service

 

[thedarkwolf]

"Audigy Platinum sound card $170"

Do you really need all that crap and what about your uncle and dad?

CREATIVE LABS SOUND BLASTER AUDIGY WITH 1390 4 - OEM $63

I would much rather speen that extra $100 buck toward a 19inch monitor

Also the case and power supply. I can understand you wanting the neato really expensive case but what about the dad and uncle again? I am sure they will think its neat but how much time are they going to spend looking at the case? Again 19inch monitor hell maybe even 21 inch

 

[Nutdotnet]

I was going to say the exact same thing that darkwolf said. Do you really need the gizmos that come with the Audigy Platinum? As well as the cases and powesupply.

I can understand you wanting these things, but your uncle and dad? I think that that stuff may be a bit extreme.

Everything else looks alright, except for the printer. GO HP! Just my personal advice.

 

[ChrisIsBored]

$169 case... $50 PSU... save yourself the money and get a $50 case from a local shop or something
Athlon XP 1600+ $152... save more money and just get a T-Bird 1.4Ghz for about an even $100
Audigy Platinum... get a cheaper sound card for $50...
2.1 speakers... almost $200??? you're crazy.. you can buy a 5.1 system with that..

Ok that saves you over $400 right there...

I agree with the others, unless your uncle and father are hardware & gaming nuts.. they don't need all that extra junk... you can drop another $30-40 with a 1 Ghz T-Bird and there's not much difference.

The rest is just a waste of money....

 

[thedarkwolf]

How bout the video card.

Is your dad and uncle a hard core/light/not at all gamer.

If they are just light gamers the Radeon LE is around $67 and has better 2d quallity and can be hacked into a full blown Radeon. Mine seems to handle everything I thow at it just fine. If they don't game at all just slap some $30 ATI card in there.

 

[TP]

You guys are preachin it! You are right. I knew in my gut that I was wasting money on the gizmos. My thing is I want to build systems that are gonna keep everybody happy for the longest amount of time. With a newer system (my dad and uncle are running old 233's with 32mb ram, etc...) comes more interest, curiosity, and time spent on the computer. Part of giving them the gizmos was to get them more into that exploration, and to build them something that will keep them in the game, considering this is my dad's first upgrade in like 4 years...

But you guys are right. They are just gizmos. I do like the Audigy gizmos though, especially having all the gizmos right on the front of your rig...But I should cut cost where it can be cut.

Are there any decent HP's printers for under $100?



<< you can buy a 5.1 system with that >>

Which system is this?

Thanks for bringin me back to reality. :Q