Some advice about a new comp

FroGGer · Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2004 9:17 pm Post subject: Some advice about a new comp

I am interested in building a computer for my cousin. He was going to buy a dell with integrated sound and audio for 1299 us dollars but I told him you could build a much better system for that kind of doh. Anyways I am trying to get a list together of some parts that I could buy his budget is around $1000 dollars. Of course, the cheaper the better. Mainly looking for a motherboard, Good quality RAM at a good price, video and sound card that are a good bang for the buck too. He has an existing burner and I can pick up a tower and WD Caviar for it. I don't think I'll be overclocking it because he keeps it in an enclosed area so as to generate the least amount of heat as possible.
Oh, and I preferably want to use a P4 CPU.
If anyone has any good suggestions I'd appreciate it.
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[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

We need more information on what he needs.

A general P4 computer is not enough info for us to help.

We need the features.
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FroGGer · Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2004 11:34 pm Post subject:

He doesn't do much intense gaming, so he doesn't need the best graphics card. Something that will not have to be upgraded within a year or two. The motherboard could have SATA, not RAID though and of high quality. I was thinking either the ABIT IC7 or the Intel 875P Chipset board. Probably a CPU at about 2.6 or 2.8 GHz. It's hard to say everything though. I know that they use AOL, the SIms, and madden 2004. He needs a new one becasue he had a Compaq from 4 years ago that was a piece of crap. He said it was slow and got different types of error messages all the time. Anyway, he got pissed and threw it out the window a couple of days ago. He's looking for something that is of good quality so that it lasts at least three years without having to be upgraded and doesn't become obsolete so quickly. He's not into anything specific, so I guess I would say a reliable good quality machine.
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Sally · UberTweaker Joined: 31 Mar 2004 Posts: 1158 Location: WA

Well, this leaves the job pretty well open to you because he doesn't really know what he wants. As I sell computers in a retail environment, when a "customer" doesn't know what they want (or really what they'll be doin with it, esp. in the future), you basically have to tell them. Questions:

1) WHAT THE HELL DO THEY NEED? Did he throw everything out the window? I am speaking of things like monitors and other external oddities like keyboards, printers, mice, and speakers. All this stuff may seem insignificant, but it can EASILY cut into your budget. It seems from your summary that he isn't going to be systematically overtaking the world's computer communication needs by powering SYNAPSE ("ANTI-TRUST"), nor is he taking gary kesperov on in a game of chess (Deep blue style) therefore he doesn't need a racecar, he needs a pickup....with dual exhaust.

For starters, a Power Plant. You suggest a Pentium 4 ABIT board...but it is a known fact that if you are "ballin on a budget", you gotta conserve costs. For the best in regards to COST/BENFIT analysis, go AMD.

BOARD:
ABIT NF7-S $100
PROCESSOR:
Athlon XP 3000+ Barton 400FSB $158
MEMORY
Corsair XMS 512x2 PC3200 twin pack $260

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-127-166&depa=1

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-394&depa=1

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-500&depa=1

as for the rest of the components, that really depends, again, on what exactly they wish to replace. If they need "the works" and want it under $1200, the $520 in parts I just mentioned can be adjusted as needed.

Most importantly, i guess, is that the focus is kept on the goal: a rock solid, dependable system that won't be outdated immediately.
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FroGGer · Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2004 2:03 pm Post subject:

I know he still has the monitor, keyboard, and mouse. But he wants to buy a new monitor though. Also, I was leaning toward a P4 because I've only built P4 systems and don't want to crack the AMD cpu because I heard about how fragile they are. Other than that, it's basically the same to build them.
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ABIT IC7 MAX 3, Corsair PC4000 Pro, P4 2.6C @3.23 GHz 1:1, 2.5-4-4-7, 2 WD Raptors in RAID 0

[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

What is he going to be using the computer for?
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FroGGer · Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2004 12:53 am Post subject:

Mostly going online chatting, playing simple games, using a digital camera, burning cd's and dvd's.
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ABIT IC7 MAX 3, Corsair PC4000 Pro, P4 2.6C @3.23 GHz 1:1, 2.5-4-4-7, 2 WD Raptors in RAID 0

meobius · Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2004 7:42 am Post subject:

I agree with Sally Go AMD but if you really want to stick to intel
abit IS7 based on the 865 chipset
or a gigabyte board based on the 655 chipset from SIS

Ram... what sally said.
case, depends what he wants, the raidmax scorpio is a nice fairly cheap case.
PSU if not included in the case i would recommend an antec smart 350 or better
another good alternative is the sonata from antec comes with a 380watt PSU
Video card a 9200se (or non se preferable) since they don't do heavy games
LG 4082 DVD burner, or the Liteon LDW DVD-burner. both are cheap and give good performance
Harddrive.... go seagate very quiet

FroGGer · Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2004 11:30 am Post subject:

Ok, thanks guys I'll check out the prices.
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ABIT IC7 MAX 3, Corsair PC4000 Pro, P4 2.6C @3.23 GHz 1:1, 2.5-4-4-7, 2 WD Raptors in RAID 0

FroGGer · Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 7:08 pm Post subject:

I am looking at the P4S800D-E Deluxe and P4P800 boards from ASUS and the IS7-E from ABIT. Between the first two, which has the better chipset, the intel or SIS? Or would the ABIT be the better choice?
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ABIT IC7 MAX 3, Corsair PC4000 Pro, P4 2.6C @3.23 GHz 1:1, 2.5-4-4-7, 2 WD Raptors in RAID 0

meobius · Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 7:37 pm Post subject:

that the 655fx chipset? very similar performance if so...
i would go for the abit is7

JayDubya · Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 7:56 pm Post subject:

if you go amd try to pick up a mobile barton 2500+ or 2600+. you will save some money here and you can use that money on some other components (ram, video card, cooling, or anything else)
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