Is My Computer Ready for a Dirt Nap?

[LordMorpheus]

I've always wanted to do this:

Take it to the highest floor in your builing (roof if apartment).

Then make sure no one and no cars are below you (use a courtyard or something.)

Then scream something about a POS computer, run to the edge and hurl it as hard as you can, followed by the monitor, keyboard, and any other paraphenalia that goes with it.

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: 1YellowPeril
It's cheaper to buy a new pre-built PC--You get a warranty and latest software. But if you'd rather have fun, try building your own. You can build a new one all at once, or upgrade a little bit at a time. Do you have a decent case right now? If your Gateway's case is small or weird, then it will be hard to upgrade the motherboard/CPU/memory, which is the first thing I'd do in your case (no pun).

The good thing about gateway casses is that the larger ones always conform to ATX standards I say don't chuck it - you just need a new hard drive, and a super cheap video card and/or sound card and you've got yourself a mice little server

 

[TheToOTaLL]

Originally posted by: LordMagnusKain

Originally posted by: Amorphus

Originally posted by: TheToOTaLL
NEVER!

Throw an 80GB or something in it, get a 2 port KVM, and make it a file server beside your brand new PC

why have a separate file server when you can just put another HD in it? I'm assuming he doesn't have a great # of computers in his house.

oh.. they start to add up.

No better time than the present to start!

 

[Carbo]

Did some configuring and customizing at Dell. Here's the specs of a rig I would like:
1) P4 3GHz, 800 fsb
2) 1024 MB DDR SDRAM at 400MHz
3) 128MB DDR ATI RADEON? 9800 Pro Graphics Card with TV-Out and DVI
4) 19 in 1901FP Dell Ultrasharp? Digital Flat Panel Display
5) Sound Blaster­ Audigy 2? sound card with DVD Audio
6) Altec Lansing® ADA745 4.1 Surround Sound Speakers w/ Subwoofer
7) 80GB Ultra ATA/100 Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
8) 16x DVD-ROM Drive
9) 48x CD-RW Drive with Sonic RecordNow
10) 3.5 in Floppy Drive

Plus the usual odds and ends that one can expect with a system. Total cost is $2,462. Free shipping. Tax brings it to $2,600.

A good deal, or am I overpaying and can do better on my own? Enough so that it is worth the time and hassle of shopping online and then building it? I mean, saving $200 probably isn't worth it. Saving, say, $600 just might be.

 

[tyler811]

Women and computers are like tires, always keep a spare:beer:

 

[tyler811]

Originally posted by: LordMagnusKain

Originally posted by: Carbo
Is My Computer Ready for a Dirt Nap? Gateway. Or, in other words, is it time to dump the old bastard and treat myself well?

yes.

What should I get, and where should I get it?

build it yourself, NewEgg.com i sugest you wait t'll jan or feb.

Newegg

:beer:

 

[McCarthy]

Did some configuring and customizing at Dell. Here's the specs of a rig I would like:
1) P4 3GHz, 800 fsb
2) 1024 MB DDR SDRAM at 400MHz
3) 128MB DDR ATI RADEON? 9800 Pro Graphics Card with TV-Out and DVI
4) 19 in 1901FP Dell Ultrasharp? Digital Flat Panel Display
5) Sound Blaster­ Audigy 2? sound card with DVD Audio
6) Altec Lansing® ADA745 4.1 Surround Sound Speakers w/ Subwoofer
7) 80GB Ultra ATA/100 Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
8) 16x DVD-ROM Drive
9) 48x CD-RW Drive with Sonic RecordNow
10) 3.5 in Floppy Drive

I like a man who takes big steps. 2500mhz increase at a time, there's an upgrader with restraint.

Ok, the biggest individual chunk of that is the display, currently the 1901FP is $611 by itself. So call it $2000 for the computer.

Hmm. I assume that you started with the XPS line and configured from there. The Radeon they're charging you $140 extra for to replace the FX5200 with. You said you weren't a gamer, any particular reason for such a monster videocard?

Newegg price for Radeon 9800Pro - $292

Up to $903 for video card and monitor, still nothing to feed them information to display. Newegg prices unless otherwise stated.
$276 for retail box P4
$160 for 1gig of DDR400 ram (call it two sticks of 512 @ $80)
$292 for Radeon 9800Pro 128
$611 for 1901FP
$ 88 for the Audigy 2 ZS...think that's what the Dell has?
$ 63 for Altec Lansing ADA745 @ Buy.com (currently with rebate to bring them to $28)
$ 70 for 80 gig HD (few brands)
$ 30 for 16x DVD reader (few brands)
$ 50 for 48x CD burner (can get a burner that also reads DVDs)
$ 8 for floppy drive
Total so far....
$1648

Still need motherboard, case, keyboard, mouse, mousepad....but looking tempting to build since you don't need software. Looking this up reminded me I need to go to the store...