DescentBB

Time to throw this mac in the corner

I dont need a long post, just keep it simple. Since I dont build pcs, or atleast have the intelligence to build one, i'm gonna get a pc this week sometime. anyone have a suggestion on something that's worth gettin that's about $800 or lower? if not, at LEAST within $1000? any help is appreciated.

Edited

This is not a WTB thread.

-Stress

actually I'm interested in the same thing...been looking at the ads and on ebay lately. Want to keep it at about $1000.
dont need a monitor, just a tower, 3.4, gb RAM, I have a 5900 nvidia I can use...)

good thread

First off, what do you intend on using it for, and do you have any existing hardware you plan on using in this new box?

I dont have any existing hardware since I had a..well..mac

I only need it to play counter strike, D3, and halo. oh, and a 200GB hard drive at least.

See above

-Stress

Ace, stfu plz. We have had plenty of people ask for advice on computers in this forum.

best to use two smaller drives, one for system/installed apps the other for achives, personal data etc. 200 gig plus drives have not been out too long so the smaller ones have more info on relirablibility

ABIT AN7 NFORCE2
AMD Athlon XP 3000 - 400 FSB
GeForce FX 5900 XT 128 MB DDR AGP8X w/ CRT TV-OUT & DVI
2xKingston 512MB PC3200 DDR 400
Maxtor 120GB 7200RPM Model 6Y120P0 Hard Drive 8MB Cache
SONY Black 16X DVD-ROM Drive
Sony CRX320EB 52X32X52X CD-RW & 16X DVD-Rom Combo Drive
Chieftec Matrix Blue ATX Mid-Tower Case with Clear Side and Fan
Antec SL450 450W
XP Pro
APC 800VA Battery Back-Up System
Keyboard & Mouse

$1070 USD

Monitor extra - I might be able to shave some off this price - but a monitor is only about 270 more for a 19"

Depending on the vintage of your Mac, you might be able to take one or two items out of it. Though even then, it's probably things that you wanted to upgrade anyway. (Latest Macs you'd be able to cannibalize the RAM and HDD and optical drive, older Macs from the SCSI/ADB era wouldn't be much use.)

And since he's not asking to buy someone's computer, I think this is the proper forum. We deal with advice on what parts to buy here, Marketplace would be for "hot deals" you've seen, or if you're wanting to buy or sell something on the forum. I know, the crazy ideas I have....

Capm wrote:Monitor extra - I might be able to shave some off this price - but a monitor is only about 270 more for a 19"

Just to add-on to that, Sams Club (if you have one in your area) had a Samsung 900DF (19" monitior, 18" viewable with a .20mm dot pitch) for $178. They're not on display here anymore, but thats still a DAMN good price for such a good monitor. I think Best Buy carries them too for about the same price.

Capm that's a nice rig...but Javed is looking for one prebuilt...is that prebuilt and available somewhere?
that's just about what I'm looking for (only swap amd for intel cpu)

I'll build it and ship it to him - Thats not just a parts list - its a sales pitch.

This type of thing is my second income, If Descent is my first obsession - building computers is my 2nd.

It is. Just did some point & click and came up w/ $933 -- easy to put together, all you need w/o GF/X card, monitor or keyboard/mouse. 420W PSU will feed up to a 6800GT fine. No need for XPP. Not the cheapest rig but it should get some decent performance w/ a good GF/X card (I left it out because ppl can be religious about it and the price range is quite wide). I'm sure you could shave some $$ by doing some more serious price searches.

What, you suggest using XP Home? Its Crap, I flat out don't sell it, I get XP Pro cheap anyway.

And sure, you can get some of the parts cheaper, but what quality of parts are you looking at? I won't sell a cobbled together POS. And did you include a battery backup in your price? I won't sell a system without a good one - bad power is the #1 killer of PC's, especially new ones.

Considering theres no battery backup in there, and no video card and you listed XP Home - my price is still better (and it's a faster system too).

It's all goood Capm, I think I found what I'm looking for:

-HP Pavilion Desktop Computer with AMD Athlon XP

Processor 3200+
512MB PC2700 DDR SDRAM memory
200GB 7200RPM Ultra DMA hard drive
DVD+RW & CD-Rom drives- Windows XP Home
HP Pavilion 17"Flat CRT Monitor, 16" viewable area

I'm gonna get a video card, which is probably gonna be a Geforce FX 5900 XT, cuz that was suggested to me. and Best Buy will most likely put it in, since I'm a newb with that kinda stuff

Thanx guys. I'm most likely getting it tomorrow.

oh, and if your gonna say HP sucks, go ahead But I know someone that's been using HPs forever now, and they've never given him a problem.

That system won't perform as well because of the parts they use, not to mention all the crap software they load those things down with. In the long run, proprietary is bad - replacement parts cost more, don't perform as well, etc. Regardless of how well they function...

I'd be sure get an APC for it, is my only advice on getting that HP.

I'd have to throw in with capm on the HP idea Javed.
HP is a decent throw away computer (you cant do much to upgrade it...and its not built to be upgraded) meaning once it is slow, you toss it away (perhaps keep the gfx card) and buy another.
I have a friend who does the same every 2 years or so.

However in constrast, I've upgraded my current pc a couple of times since 2000 (at about $500 each time) and it still rocks! (currently p4 2.2 w/ gffx 5900)

Capm, I'm wanting to upgrade my wife's machine and give her my current rig....so I'd be interested in the price for the 5900 (I have a gf4 4400 in her rig now, which I could just swap for my current 5900) to see if it's worth keeping in that rig, the change to a p4 3.4 cpu, no kb/mouse/16x dvd (the one cdrw/dvd drive should be fine...right?), and a WD 80 gb drive (that's about all I'd need, as i have an 80gb now and it's only half full)...add in a couple of fans (and I think I'd like to go with XPhome as I have 2 copies now, making for 3 machines with the same OS).

Is a sound card necessary anymore? I have a sbgamer live in my current pc, and a sblive in my wife's.
heh, maybe a cool case with some lights?

If you're going to go with the extra cost on an Intel chip, you might as well get an Athlon 64 - they're the same price and the Athlon will walk all over that prescott cpu. Especially with the new 90nm cpus shipping this week.

I'll dig up some prices on both ends when I get back from work.

I'll look for something else when I get to Best Buy. But if there isn't anything, then I'm probably gonna get that.

If you're looking at the cheapie prebuilt stuff, take a look at the eMachines, as well. They aren't as bad as they used to be. I have one (insta-ban from DBB, I know ) that we got as a "need a decent cheap desktop and not allowed to build one". It's worked well, but I'll probably be allowed to build next time, since we've pushed the thing about as far as it'll go. Only so much you can upgrade before you have to start over from scratch.

The top-of-the-line T3256 is at Best Buy ($600): http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp ... pe=product

Though they were supposed to have Athlon 64s (list it on their main page), I have yet to see a model with one in it.

I'd want to build my own, but I'd probably look at eMachines over HP/Compaq when shopping for a prebuilt. But then again, I'm not keen on HP from a support standpoint (hard to get real answers), and I have yet to deal with eMachines (now Gateway?) support. Could be worse for all I know, but less tends to require support in desktops versus laptops (my old Compaq, replaced with a Sager ). And it depends on whose product meets your needs better. They're all probably really about the same (good, though not great).

ReadyMan wrote:[..] change to a p4 3.4 cpu, no kb/mouse/16x dvd (the one cdrw/dvd drive should be fine...right?), and a WD 80 gb drive (that's about all I'd need, as i have an 80gb now and it's only half full)...add in a couple of fans (and I think I'd like to go with XPhome as I have 2 copies now, making for 3 machines with the same OS).

Well, did you check out my selection ? Just swap out the Northwood P4 for a Prescott and there you go. And Capm, I'm not pitching in your water here, I's just trying to help ReadyMan -- this is not the marketplace Also remember you're talking to ppl that want a working computer w/ as little maintainance as possible, not a monster that you have to watch constantly w/ one eye while running..

ReadyMan wrote:Is a sound card necessary anymore? I have a sbgamer live in my current pc, and a sblive in my wife's.

No, a good MB should have a very decent AC'97 compatible 5.1 soundchip build in like the AD1985.

but now how would that soundchip compare to a sbgamer or a 7.1 card? I'm old school/gotta have a dedicated sound card type....

thanks for the input too Grendel and Capm!

I (still) think that HP system sounds really bad, anyone else notice the PC2700 memory with a Athlon XP 3200+ CPU? PC2700 memory cant run as fast as the Athlon XP 3200+ bus speed, so they are most likely running it async, or they just have it listed wrong. Hopefully they just have it listed wrong.

That 5900 is listed at ~$190

These are all starting from the base price listed above ($1070):

Any P4 3.2 processor (except EE), Add ~$120
Any P4 3.4 processor (except EE), Add ~$210

To go with an Athlon 64 3000+ 90nm 939pin - Add ~$200
64 90nm 3200+ Add ~$250
64 90nm 3500+ Add ~$350
--altho I can do them about $100 cheaper, if you use the cheaper MSI or Epox motherboards, but since I'm not familiar with them, I list the Gigabyte board I am familiar with, which is more expensive, so, with MSI or epox, those 64 prices are:
64 90nm 3000+ Add ~$100
64 90nm 3200+ Add ~$150
64 90nm 3500+ Add ~$250


80Gig hard drive, subtract ~$15

No 16x DVD drive, subtract ~$20 (for 20 bux, do you really want to swap cd's when copying?)
no keyboard mouse, subtract $20


Point out case and lights you want, and I'll look them up and see what kind of prices I can find.
The Case I used by default was about $70

As for Sound cards- the onboards are good enough now, that they're not so critical to get an Audigy or anything, altho I like the Sound Blaster midi alot better, it'd be an upgrade you could do later on.


Javed - emachines are the devil, I'd use an hp over one of them rotten things.

Grendel - I don't build monsters that you have to watch with one eye - unless you pay extra.
I do warranty my systems.

Capm wrote:That system won't perform as well because of the parts they use, not to mention all the crap software they load those things down with. In the long run, proprietary is bad - replacement parts cost more, don't perform as well, etc. Regardless of how well they function...

proprietary ehhhh?

well my HP doesnt have but only 3 factory items left in it

the mobo and the DVD-ROM drive it came with.
Mobo supported HT but CPU did not, CPU was a P-4 2.55 GHz, replaced with a 3.06GHz HT
PSU got replaced with a Antec 400W True
factory CD-RW got replaced with a Sony 52x26x52 CD-RW
RAM got replaced with 2x Kingston 512 MB 2700 DDR
Intel Graphics was disabled and drivers deleted and replaced with a GFFX 5600 Ultra
AC'97 is a 5.1 Channel chip
CPU/HS got replaced with a cooler master quite fan
Case fan got replaced with a Cooler Master 80mm
factory Samsung 80GB 7200HDD remains, Western Digital 80GB 8MB 7200 added

mobo did not use proprietary PSU plugs, everything was ISO specifications.

*Javed* wrote:It's all goood Capm, I think I found what I'm looking for:

-HP Pavilion Desktop Computer with

AMD Athlon XP Processor 3200+
512MB PC2700 DDR SDRAM memory
200GB 7200RPM Ultra DMA hard drive
DVD+RW & CD-Rom drives- Windows XP Home
HP Pavilion 17"Flat CRT Monitor, 16" viewable area

oh, and if your gonna say HP sucks, go ahead But I know someone that's been using HPs forever now, and they've never given him a problem.

personal note: id ditch the AMD for a P-4 HT, but its your system to choose.

i have not had to take this PC in for service yet and ive been running it for the last 2 years

Javed, HP's are good PCs you just need to know what your looking for and how to spot poor setups.

Capm wrote:$1070 USD

It's funny because it would probably cost me (at least) twice as much here in the UK. Sigh. Good luck by the way

Thanks Capm!
I'm not ready to buy just yet, but now that I know I can get this machine, I'll drum up some cash.
I'll email you when I'm ready.
RM

capm1@midnightsquadron.com

does that motherboard allow overclocking (of an intel chip) thru the bios?

here's a case that I was looking at.
http://www.coolerguys.com/840556000440.html
cool lights :p

only problem is that it comes with a 400w ps.
I'll probably upgrade to a 6800 at some point (perhaps just get one with the system), so power
may be an issue...

anyone have any options for cool cases?

Almost all Abit boards offer oc options in the bios.

That case seems to be pretty decent, all the reviews I've read on it seem to be positive. Replacing the PSU would probably be a good idea though.

You can also take a rather ordinary case and Skin it.

RM, if you've a Fry's nearby you should check them out -- I saw that case there and thought "looks fancy, but the quality -- what a POS"..

Finaly..a pc! w00t!. I got the same HP I mentioned, with the geforce fx 5700 added. It seems fine for now, but krom keeps scaring me

ignore krum, he never bashed me about having my HP at the Chicago LAN!!

nice choice Javed, just make sure you delete all that HP Software BS and it will work just like a non-prefab PC

AceCombat wrote:ignore krum, he never bashed me about having my HP at the Chicago LAN!!

I couldnt help but notice you were the only one at the LAN who had to uninstall his CPU at any point...

Krom wrote:

AceCombat wrote:ignore krum, he never bashed me about having my HP at the Chicago LAN!!

I couldnt help but notice you were the only one at the LAN who had to uninstall his CPU at any point...

thats becuase it had a dust ball on the ZIF socket!!

and i STILL dont know why my D3 wouldnt play, it works fine, hell i even tested it the day i got back here in ATL, it worked perfectly fine