system configurations (give review)

[Duvie]

Hey...I am putting together a couple systems (1 extreme budget, 1 budget, and 1 mid range) now and have decided to come up with three standardized configurations...

Give me your suggestions as well as see if you can beat the prices and point me to some other vendors...MrHelpful!!!

couple thngs:

ram is cheap so that is why 256 is pretty standard...I could go 128 in buget system but it would only change the system cost by 20 bucks and the vid card on board is going to steal 32mb of that anyways...

also I am familiar with win98se and me only at this point..I will get more famaliar with win2k and thus offer that as well...


BUDGET SYSTEM:

AMD DURON 800MHZ (200FSB) W/HSF
BIOSTAR M7VKE
W/ 32MB VID & SND
256MB PC133 CAS 2 SDRAM
MAXTOR 20GIG ATA100 7200RPM
AOPEN 12X40X DVD-ROM
1.44MB FLOPPY
AMBIENT/INTEL 56K MODEM PCI
MID TOWER ATX CASE W/ 250WATT PSU
17? KDS VS-7I (.27DP)
INTERNET KEYOARD
PS/2 SCROLL MOUSE
OEM CD WIN98SE

TOTAL COST = 714.00


MIDLINE SYSTEM:

AMD THUNDERBIRD 1000MHZ (266FSB) W/HSF
EPOX 8KTA3
256MB PC133 CAS 2 SDRAM
LEADTEK GEFORCE 2 PRO 32MB DDR (4xAGP)
MAXTOR 40GIG ATA 100 7200RPM
AOPEN 12X40X DVD-ROM
AOPEN 12X10X32X CD-RW
SANTA CRUZ SOUND CARD
1.44MB FLOPPY
AMBIENT/INTEL 56K MODEM PCI
MID TOWER ATX CASE W/ 300WATT PSU
19? KDS VS-19SM (.22HDP)
INTERNET KEYOARD
PS/2 SCROLL MOUSE
OEM CD WIN98SE

TOTAL COST = 1217.00


HIGH-END SYSTEM:

AMD THUNDERBIRD 1333MHZ (266FSB) W/HSF
EPOX 8K7A DDR
256MB PC2100 (266MHZ) DDR
LEADTEK GEFORCE 3 64MB DDR W/ TV &DVI OUT
MAXTOR 60GIG ATA 100 7200RPM
AOPEN 16X48X DVD-ROM
PLEXTOR 16X10X40X CD-RW
HERCULES GAMING THEATER XP
1.44MB FLOPPY
AMBIENT/INTEL 56K MODEM PCI
MID TOWER ATX CASE W/ 350WATT SPARKLE PSU
19? KDS VS-19SM (.22HDP)
INTERNET KEYOARD
PS/2 SCROLL MOUSE
OEM CD WIN98SE

TOTAL COST = 1778.00


note some items are out of stock at newegg, and I need items in stock if you can find cheaper comparable pieces...Thanks

 

[p0tempkin]

Up the RAM to 512MB on the high-end system. For Win2k, and especially the upcoming WinXP, this is a must.

I applaud your use of Maxtor drives; they're the only ones I've installed on systems I've built for a reason; reliability.

I hope the budget system has a decent 250W PSU; I tried to build a low-end Duron rig with a unbranded 250W PSU, and that was a no-go.

Also, the midline system has quite a few components as well; I hope the 300W PSU is a solid one.

 

[Duvie]

I talked to the company and they said both of the cases had ps's that were amd recommended...

My 250watt ran my 750tbird@840 with 3 fans, 1 hdd, 3 cd-rom devices...

I agree with the 512mb with win2k, but right now I have limited experience and knowledge on win2k system...I will do 512mb if I truly believe it will help in win98se/me...


any other thoughts...better prices for comparable system...

I am doing most of my shopping at newegg, Thompson computer warehouse, Crucial (for ddr), premiersystem (ram)...

These computers will have a little markup as well as installation fee...My goal is obviously to target the non computer savvy who want to avoid the high in store retail prices while getting the best components and the best upgradability route.

 

[p0tempkin]

More than 256MB will not make a noticable difference in Win98/ME, so X that option.

 

[Duvie]

ANY OTHER THOUGHTS????

I removed Toshiba DVD-rom drive because I heard a rumor the 16x model will only rip dvds at 2x...Is this true...better safe then sorry so I put in the aopen 16x at newegg...

NOte all cd-rw and dvd-roms are retail boxes and include software as well as vid cards and sound cards...

Also I buy the recommended HSF at www.tcwo.com to get the 1 year warranty for the oem chip...none of the chips do I plan on ocing unless the customer specifically ask.

 

[eLiu]

a 1.2ghz tbird@266 is only a wee bit more expensive (2 bucks), at thompson's...

122 for the 1.0, 124 for the 1.2 (@ 266 fsb...minus like 15 bucks for a 200fsb)

just to let ya know 🙂

-eric

 

[lankor]

IBM 60 GXP is a tad faster than maxtor diamondmax + 60.
I had both ibm and maxtor harddisk and i think both are great drives.
SO I will suggest u checked out the price btw these 2 and the all impt warranty issues.

As a high end computer
I suggest Song G400/420 series- best 19 inch available in the mkt for tat price tag

crucial ddr ram are so cheap nowadays...so u can up it to 512 ram if u can still spare soem dough

a lian li pc 60 casing with emermax psu will be nice..i suggest 350 watts but probably 300 will be sufficient

personal opinion
cheers

 

[Duvie]

thanks for the heads up on the price...I will try to give and option with the systems for upgrade to the next two processors anyways...so the 1.2 won't always be that close usually 20-30 dollas separate the higher chips...


Any recommendation on cases other than the lian li (overpriced) I like large ps for future upgradeability...

I am going 350watt for 1.2 or large but 300watt below that...I may find case design I like and just buy known good PS separartely...I like sparkle & enermax...