The perfect sub $600 System

[elau81]

Hello, after doing some research, I spec out the following AMD and Intel system that cost below $600, what do you guys think? I have a hard time deciding which system to buy.


Core (Apply to both system)

Antec PLUS860 Mid Tower w/True 330W $120
DiamondMax Plus D740X Ultra ATA 133 $75
Toshiba DVD-ROM DRIVE 16X/48X EIDE WITH RAM READ $40

Total: $235

AMD

Abit KR7A RAID - AMD Socket A - DDR - VIA Chipset (VIA KT266A) $80
Palomino Athlon XP 1500+ (1.33GHZ, 256KB, 266Mhz,) ¡V OEM $65
Kingston 256MB DDR266 PC2100 CL2.5 DIMM $70
GeForce 2 MX 400 64 mb $40
Sound Blaster Live Value $25
Thermaltake A1139 Copper Base Volcano 6Cu CPU Cooler $13

Total: $293

Intel

Gigabyte GA-8IGIntel 845G Socket 478 400/533 FSB 3DDR ATA100 $110
Pentium 4 1.4GHz Processor -400Mhz FSB, Socket 478 ¡V OEM $120
Kingston 256MB DDR266 PC2100 CL2.5 DIMM $70
Thermaltake P4 Volcano 478 up to 2.0GHz $15

Total: $315


I appreciate your advise

 

[babah]

both are nice systems, if you do not overclok your system i will choose amd based since it's cheaper and not bad performance for the money you spend, and if you do overclock i'll choose intel even tought i dont know how to overclock.
currently my system is xp 1800 and can't complaint for the price and performance my next new system will be intel instead of amd, maybe i'll start purchase on mid sept.
well good luck .

Thanks

 

[Wingznut]

My recommendations to improve the P4 setup...

• Spend less on the case. How about this Chieftek for $70 (includes PS)?
• Use the hs/fan included with the retail P4.
• Save another $20 and get the EPoX 4G4A from mwave.com

Spend the extra money on upgrading to a P4-1.8a and 512mb DDR.


In other words...

Chieftech case (Antec SX1040 clone) $70
DiamondMax Plus D740X Ultra ATA 133 $75
Toshiba DVD-ROM DRIVE 16X/48X EIDE WITH RAM READ $40
EPoX EP-4G4A (i845G chipset) $93
P4-1.8a retail 512k cache $166
Mushkin 256mb PC2700 $168
-------------------------
Total = $612

Or, you could go with 256mb PC2700 and get a GF3 (or Radeon 8500) off the FS/T forums and still remain around $600.

 

[JackBurton]

Wingznut has some very good suggestions but I'd like to make a case recommendation:

I'd get this case instead. It is the newer style with some nice improvements. For instance, it has multiple hard drive LEDs (well they could be used for other devices too) in front to monitor all your hard drives. It also has front side IEEE1394 and 2 USB 1.1 ports (I'm going to try and mod those to USB 2.0). You also get a 400W PSU for all your power hungry devices. For $100 I think it is a no brainer.

I'd go with the other changes Wingznut suggested. Very good stuff.


P.S. If it is a choice between the P4 1.4GHz CPU and AMD XP1500+, get the XP1500+ hands down! That 1.4GHz P4 just sucks!

 

[elau81]

Thanks for the advise guys, but I still can't make a decision, in particular:

1. Is the GeForce 2 MX 64mb better than the Intel Intergrated one found on the 845G?

2. The case you guys recommended is MUCH CHEAPER; however, doesn't Antec make one of the most reliable AMD approved power supply?

 

[Wingznut]

1. Yes, the GF2 MX would be faster than the integrated graphics of the i845G. Which is why I like my "you could go with 256mb PC2700 and get a GF3 (or Radeon 8500)" above suggestion.
   
2. I don't know how picky the Athlons are with the PS you choose... But I do know that the PS choice isn't a big deal with the P4. (I have a P4-2.4b/GF4/CDRW/DVD/2 hd system running on a generic 250w PS.)

 

[Zugzwang152]

I'd only be concerned about brand name PSU's as you go higher up the XP ladder. for a 1500+, you don't need to be overly concerned with an expensive PSU. I have a OC'd T-bird on a generic 300W psu. You shouldn't need much more than that, maybe a brand name one instead of generic.

 

[JackBurton]

Alright guys, I fixed the link in my previous post. Sorry about that.

Thanks Wingznut.

 

[ultimatebob]

If you are planning on doing any gaming, the integrated Intel "Extreme" graphics aren't going to cut it. Get at least a GeForce 3 Ti200, which is about $90 now.

If you're not a gamer, however, you could save some money on your AMD setup by getting a mobo with an Nvidia NForce chipset. It has integrated GeForce 2MX video, and has integrated sound that is just as good as an SB Live Value.

 

[vanln]

Originally posted by: elau81
Hello, after doing some research, I spec out the following AMD and Intel system that cost below $600, what do you guys think? I have a hard time deciding which system to buy.


Core (Apply to both system)

Antec PLUS860 Mid Tower w/True 330W $120
DiamondMax Plus D740X Ultra ATA 133 $75
Toshiba DVD-ROM DRIVE 16X/48X EIDE WITH RAM READ $40

Total: $235

AMD

Abit KR7A RAID - AMD Socket A - DDR - VIA Chipset (VIA KT266A) $80
Palomino Athlon XP 1500+ (1.33GHZ, 256KB, 266Mhz,) ¡V OEM $65
Kingston 256MB DDR266 PC2100 CL2.5 DIMM $70
GeForce 2 MX 400 64 mb $40
Sound Blaster Live Value $25
Thermaltake A1139 Copper Base Volcano 6Cu CPU Cooler $13

Total: $293

Intel

Gigabyte GA-8IGIntel 845G Socket 478 400/533 FSB 3DDR ATA100 $110
Pentium 4 1.4GHz Processor -400Mhz FSB, Socket 478 ¡V OEM $120
Kingston 256MB DDR266 PC2100 CL2.5 DIMM $70
Thermaltake P4 Volcano 478 up to 2.0GHz $15

Total: $315


I appreciate your advise

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is the greatest deal

Maxtor 40G from staples $40 after $15 coupon and $30 rebate
Artec 16x40 DVD from staples $8 after price match and $20 rebate
Cendyne 24x10x40 $19 from office max after $40 rebate
AMD 2Ghz XP $129 from price Watch
Shuttle KT266 $49 from fry's
256M DDR $34 from fry's
GeForce 2 MX 400 64 mb $40
Sound Blaster Live Value $25
Thermaltake A1139 Copper Base Volcano 6Cu CPU Cooler $13
Case Fong kai $25 from micro center
56k modem 0$ from Fry's after $20 rebate

Total $382

I'm thinking change the case to cooler master 110 for $159 + 300 watt PS for $40

So total ( new case and PS ) = $556

 

[CrazySaint]

AMD 2Ghz XP $129 from price Watch

Er, did you mean XP 2000+? There are no 2GHz XPs

 

[vanln]

Originally posted by: CrazySaint

AMD 2Ghz XP $129 from price Watch

Er, did you mean XP 2000+? There are no 2GHz XPs

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, It is XP 2000+ , thank for the correction ,
So what you guy will do , take the Cooler master case or buy a better video card like GF3 ??

 

[RagingGuardian]

If I were to go AMD I'd get the KT3 Ultra. It costs about the same as the KR7A but is faster. I'd also get a XP1600+ from newegg for $2 more. You'll aslo need some pc2700 DDR. If you set the board to 166/166 you'll have a XP2200+. Just about all Xp1600+ cpus are hitting that speed with stability.

All in all you get a way faster system for just a few dollars more.

 

[arynn]

If you decide to go AMD, using the nForce chipset would lower your total cost by saving you on a sound card and/or a video card.

The Abit nForce boards are rather inexpensive.