Hi and thanks for reading this.
I'm going to be buying a new system within the next few days. (Waiting is not an option.) Here's the setup I'm come up with. It just meets my $1250CDN budget after taxes. All prices I mention are Canadian dollars, BTW. Roughly speaking, $3CDN = $2US.
I've pretty much picked the place I'm going to buy from. It's NCIX (.com) and I hope they are reputable. As you'll see, I've selected quality components because I want to minimize headaches in the future.
CPU = AMD Duron 650 - It's only 25$ more than the 600 and NCIX doesn't carry the 700MHZ Duron. I pray that the Duron will be reliable and run all the stuff I want. (e.g. Diablo II)
Mobo = Gigabyte GA-7ZM - Not like there's much choice at the moment. It's the only socket A mobo they have.
RAM = Corsair 128MB (133MHZ). I've had serious problems with cheap RAM in the past, so or sure I'm getting quality this time. The Corsair RAM is only $30 more than their regular 128MB stick. The only question is, which of their RAM offerings do I get? I have no idea what the differences between the following are:
CORSAIR PC133 CAS 2 SDRAM 128MB 6 LAYER 168PIN CM654S128-133C2 ($288)
CORSAIR PC133 SDRAM 128MB 168PIN 16MX64 CM654S128-133 ($271)
CORSAIR PC133 SDRAM 128MB 168PIN 16MX64 CM654S128A-133 ($270)
HD = QUANTUM LM 10.2GB 8.5MS 2MB 7200RPM FIREBALL PLUS. Since I don't have a cable modem, I won't fill this up any time soon. I guess I'm not much of a downloader.
Sound = MONSTER SOUND MX300 PCI A3D 2.0 OEM. While the Gigabyte mobo has AC97 audio on it, I'm told it leeches processor cycles and slows everything down. And it supposedly doesn't sound so great. I have a $60 pair of Yamaha M7's so I don't expect awesome sound from the MX300. But I do figure that since it costs $30 less than the SB Live, I might as well get this one. It's either the MX300 or Ensoniq 128 something like that.
CD-Rom = ASUS 40X ULTRADMA CD-ROM. I figure this is fine. No reason to shell out more for the 50X is there? And I'm guessing that ASUS makes good stuff.
Videocard: I suspect THIS will be the most debated issue. For some reason, this store has a really wierd selection of video cards. Here's what I can get. (Keep in mind I play 3D games on occassionally. I figure this summer will be Diablo 2, StarCraft and ST: Armada or ST: Elite Forces.)
MATROX MILLENIUM G400 16MB AGP SINGLE HEAD OEM. ($141)
3DFX VOODOO3 2000 16MB AGP 142MHz OEM ($118)
VOODOO III 3000 W/TV OUT AGP 16MB OEM *PROMO* ($172)
3D BLASTER SAVAGE4 32MB AGP ($119)
ATI FURY PRO 32MB W/ VIDEO IN/OUT AGP OEM ($167)
CREATIVE TNT2 VALUE 16M AGP OEM ($122)
ASUS V3800 NVIDIA TNT2 PRO 32M AGP 128BIT ($184)
Now, before you immediately eliminate the lower priced offerings, please note that the extra 50$ separating a voodoo 2000 and 3000 DOES make a difference to me. I'm already over budget as it is. So only recommend the TNT2 Pro if you really do think it'll make a significant difference over the TNT2 value.
FIRST, allow my to offer you my sincerest thanks for you advice. This computer means a lot to me. I've been working hard at my summer job to afford this system . . .and I really am getting tired of playing Diablo 2 on my Pentium 120 (it's REALLY unplayable, and yet I managed to get up to a level 18 necro so far).
Please do comment on the whole Duron (& Gigabyte mobo) stability issue. In many ways, it is my #1 concern. Performance is important . . . but most of all I want to be able to run all programs and they should be rock solid.
For example, if you know what this Content Creation 2000 problem is with the Gigabyte mobo is, then please do include that. I'm very interested in what exactly this is, and how serious.
My sincerest thanks.
I'm going to be buying a new system within the next few days. (Waiting is not an option.) Here's the setup I'm come up with. It just meets my $1250CDN budget after taxes. All prices I mention are Canadian dollars, BTW. Roughly speaking, $3CDN = $2US.
I've pretty much picked the place I'm going to buy from. It's NCIX (.com) and I hope they are reputable. As you'll see, I've selected quality components because I want to minimize headaches in the future.
CPU = AMD Duron 650 - It's only 25$ more than the 600 and NCIX doesn't carry the 700MHZ Duron. I pray that the Duron will be reliable and run all the stuff I want. (e.g. Diablo II)
Mobo = Gigabyte GA-7ZM - Not like there's much choice at the moment. It's the only socket A mobo they have.
RAM = Corsair 128MB (133MHZ). I've had serious problems with cheap RAM in the past, so or sure I'm getting quality this time. The Corsair RAM is only $30 more than their regular 128MB stick. The only question is, which of their RAM offerings do I get? I have no idea what the differences between the following are:
CORSAIR PC133 CAS 2 SDRAM 128MB 6 LAYER 168PIN CM654S128-133C2 ($288)
CORSAIR PC133 SDRAM 128MB 168PIN 16MX64 CM654S128-133 ($271)
CORSAIR PC133 SDRAM 128MB 168PIN 16MX64 CM654S128A-133 ($270)
HD = QUANTUM LM 10.2GB 8.5MS 2MB 7200RPM FIREBALL PLUS. Since I don't have a cable modem, I won't fill this up any time soon. I guess I'm not much of a downloader.
Sound = MONSTER SOUND MX300 PCI A3D 2.0 OEM. While the Gigabyte mobo has AC97 audio on it, I'm told it leeches processor cycles and slows everything down. And it supposedly doesn't sound so great. I have a $60 pair of Yamaha M7's so I don't expect awesome sound from the MX300. But I do figure that since it costs $30 less than the SB Live, I might as well get this one. It's either the MX300 or Ensoniq 128 something like that.
CD-Rom = ASUS 40X ULTRADMA CD-ROM. I figure this is fine. No reason to shell out more for the 50X is there? And I'm guessing that ASUS makes good stuff.
Videocard: I suspect THIS will be the most debated issue. For some reason, this store has a really wierd selection of video cards. Here's what I can get. (Keep in mind I play 3D games on occassionally. I figure this summer will be Diablo 2, StarCraft and ST: Armada or ST: Elite Forces.)
MATROX MILLENIUM G400 16MB AGP SINGLE HEAD OEM. ($141)
3DFX VOODOO3 2000 16MB AGP 142MHz OEM ($118)
VOODOO III 3000 W/TV OUT AGP 16MB OEM *PROMO* ($172)
3D BLASTER SAVAGE4 32MB AGP ($119)
ATI FURY PRO 32MB W/ VIDEO IN/OUT AGP OEM ($167)
CREATIVE TNT2 VALUE 16M AGP OEM ($122)
ASUS V3800 NVIDIA TNT2 PRO 32M AGP 128BIT ($184)
Now, before you immediately eliminate the lower priced offerings, please note that the extra 50$ separating a voodoo 2000 and 3000 DOES make a difference to me. I'm already over budget as it is. So only recommend the TNT2 Pro if you really do think it'll make a significant difference over the TNT2 value.
FIRST, allow my to offer you my sincerest thanks for you advice. This computer means a lot to me. I've been working hard at my summer job to afford this system . . .and I really am getting tired of playing Diablo 2 on my Pentium 120 (it's REALLY unplayable, and yet I managed to get up to a level 18 necro so far).
Please do comment on the whole Duron (& Gigabyte mobo) stability issue. In many ways, it is my #1 concern. Performance is important . . . but most of all I want to be able to run all programs and they should be rock solid.
For example, if you know what this Content Creation 2000 problem is with the Gigabyte mobo is, then please do include that. I'm very interested in what exactly this is, and how serious.
My sincerest thanks.
As for the GigaByte mobo well if yu really have to by now then i wont stop yu, but if yu can wait i would.. for a mobo that shows a little more promise. On to the ram.. well i have order ram from NCIX corsair PC133 in fact recieved Micron and Infineon chips so i wouldnt worry about quality as these are the top of the line. The ram that is CAS2 and is $288 is rated a bit better and spending the little extra wouldnt hurt. But its up to yu. The MX300 is good card but there was probs with vortex2 cards and the Kx133 boards i dont know if this applys to the Kt133 or not...maybe someone else can clarify. Asus 40x is good 50x is a bit better but not worth it because its alot louder as well. Vid card well i would have to say G400, V3 2000, TNT2 16mg and in that order but again its up to yu. All of these should be fine. 
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