Alright, I am by no means a newbie to computers or building systems, but I would like everyone's input on putting together a rig. The only reason I bring this up in a thread is because lately my mom has been asking me all kinds of things, "is this computer good? *pointing at computer ad*", etc. She's been looking at systems $900-1550. This is in Québec, Canada.. so Canadian currency.
It will technically be for her, but I am the one that will be likely taking care of it, setting it up, choosing components, etc. So I, obviously, want the best components and things that I would choose for myself. I would go Athlon XP, DDR memory, DVD *MAYBE*, probably not... 17" Optiquest monitor, maybe a 17 or 19" samsung.. minimum 30GB hard drive, has to be either Quantum or Maxtor 7200rpm, sound and speakers are unimportant but must at least exist, modem extremely unimportant, NIC important but I know what i want, dfe-538tx (dlink), keyboard doesn't matter much as long as it works well, mouse will be logitech or MS standard plain wheelmouse maybe optical, hmm what else?
I just need suggestions on the place that would have the best price on all components. I'm not sure if my mom is doing this but she MAY buy it all from one place. You can't get the best price that way, but she has a plan at work where she pays no interest and some special deal thing.. but she has to buy from one place, like a whole system. If she doesn't have to buy from one place, I'd find the best deal on each individual component at different stores, and do it all m'self.
What about video? There's no way in HELL we are going to pay $800 for a video card. hell, $300 is still out of the question. why are video cards so insanely priced these days? Is it because 3dfx died and Matrox/ATI are being pretty quiet? Sup wit dat? Matrox had some good stuff, and ATi too ... why don't they speak up? Anyway... I will go nVidia, cause I want the best bang/buck BUT also GOOD DRIVERS AND SUPPORT. I don't want a single problem, especially with a system for my parents.
It's still not certain if they're buying one or not, but I figured I'd get some advice in advance. What do you guys think? Price me this system :
-300, maybe 350w ATX medium case.
-<Insert the mobo of your choice for the system, I am uninformed here>
-AMD Athlon XP 1600+
-256MB PC133, 256MB DDR, 512MB PC133 or 512MB DDR? Which should be the best pick for the $?
-30 or 40GB quantum/maxtor 7200rpm 8.5ms yaddyaddya ata100 probably
-64MB video card. GeForce2 MX400? GeForce2 GTS? GeForce 3 (unlikely)? Radeon..?
-52x cdrom.. maybe a 16x dvd. no cdwriter, I have one in my comp and that's enough
-one of those Aopen FM56 PCI modem or Diamond Supra Express?
-Basic SBlive PCI and some $50 speakers perhaps
-D-Link DFE-538TX 10/100mbps PCI
-17" Optiquest... preferrably just any monitor that can do 1600x1200 at a good refresh and is crystal clear at 1024x and 1280x.
-Logitech or Microsoft Wheelmouse, maybe Optical
-Good keyboard?
what am i missing... someone please help me out.
thanks..
-RSI
It will technically be for her, but I am the one that will be likely taking care of it, setting it up, choosing components, etc. So I, obviously, want the best components and things that I would choose for myself. I would go Athlon XP, DDR memory, DVD *MAYBE*, probably not... 17" Optiquest monitor, maybe a 17 or 19" samsung.. minimum 30GB hard drive, has to be either Quantum or Maxtor 7200rpm, sound and speakers are unimportant but must at least exist, modem extremely unimportant, NIC important but I know what i want, dfe-538tx (dlink), keyboard doesn't matter much as long as it works well, mouse will be logitech or MS standard plain wheelmouse maybe optical, hmm what else?
I just need suggestions on the place that would have the best price on all components. I'm not sure if my mom is doing this but she MAY buy it all from one place. You can't get the best price that way, but she has a plan at work where she pays no interest and some special deal thing.. but she has to buy from one place, like a whole system. If she doesn't have to buy from one place, I'd find the best deal on each individual component at different stores, and do it all m'self.
What about video? There's no way in HELL we are going to pay $800 for a video card. hell, $300 is still out of the question. why are video cards so insanely priced these days? Is it because 3dfx died and Matrox/ATI are being pretty quiet? Sup wit dat? Matrox had some good stuff, and ATi too ... why don't they speak up? Anyway... I will go nVidia, cause I want the best bang/buck BUT also GOOD DRIVERS AND SUPPORT. I don't want a single problem, especially with a system for my parents.
It's still not certain if they're buying one or not, but I figured I'd get some advice in advance. What do you guys think? Price me this system :
-300, maybe 350w ATX medium case.
-<Insert the mobo of your choice for the system, I am uninformed here>
-AMD Athlon XP 1600+
-256MB PC133, 256MB DDR, 512MB PC133 or 512MB DDR? Which should be the best pick for the $?
-30 or 40GB quantum/maxtor 7200rpm 8.5ms yaddyaddya ata100 probably
-64MB video card. GeForce2 MX400? GeForce2 GTS? GeForce 3 (unlikely)? Radeon..?
-52x cdrom.. maybe a 16x dvd. no cdwriter, I have one in my comp and that's enough
-one of those Aopen FM56 PCI modem or Diamond Supra Express?
-Basic SBlive PCI and some $50 speakers perhaps
-D-Link DFE-538TX 10/100mbps PCI
-17" Optiquest... preferrably just any monitor that can do 1600x1200 at a good refresh and is crystal clear at 1024x and 1280x.
-Logitech or Microsoft Wheelmouse, maybe Optical
-Good keyboard?
what am i missing... someone please help me out.
thanks..-RSI
Facebook
Twitter