yet another system build

[Howard]

If he wants a system now and doesn't plan on upgrading soon, then:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ - $463
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103546

ASUS A8N-E - $95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131530

Corsair ValueSelect 2x1GB DDR400 SDRAM - $136
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145579

Sapphire X1900XT - $450
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102003

Creative Labs SB Audigy SE - $29
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102003

WD 740GD - $160 /w $30 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144160

WD WD4000KD - $190
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144423

NEC ND-3500A black/white DVD+/-RW - $38/39
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152058

Fortron FX600-GLN - $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104014

Thermalright HR-05 passive mobo chipset cooler - $20
http://store.yahoo.com/svcompucycle/hr-05.html

So far, that's $1721 before rebate and shipping not including case, monitor, speakers, keyboard, mouse. Ask him what kind of case he's looking for and then we can find something that works from there.

If he doesn't have a monitor I would recommend the Dell 2005FPW when it's under $400. Pretty much anything works as a keyboard but I love my Microsoft split keyboard - some people don't like it for gaming, though. I would go with a wired mouse like the Logitech G5 or Microsoft Laser Mouse 6000.

As for speakers... I'm a bit of an audiophile (I hate that term ) so I would recommend a headphone amp and headphones or a multi-channel amp and good speakers. Besides, speakers will last basically forever while a PC only lasts one or two years before needing to be upgraded to play the latest games.

EDIT: For PC use, I personally would use headphones, because for the same amount of money, headphones are much more accurate than speakers. Now, speakers will do movies better, but that's what a real home theater is for.

EDIT2: If his budget is significantly higher than the cost of what I've put together, go ahead and replace the A8N-E with the A8N32-SLI (getting rid of the chipset cooler in the process) and the X1900XT with two 7900GTs.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

premium is much better than a8n-e

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
premium is much better than a8n-e

In what way? That is, if SLI isn't considered (obviously, since the A8N-E doesn't support it).

Remember, I already accounted for the fanless chipset cooler. Still ends up being cheaper.