youngflyer12
Solid State Member
- Messages
- 20
After a year, I am finally ready (if an interested buyer does buy my laptop) to buy the parts to my first computer. I posted a list of parts a year ago and after all that passed time a lot of things of change. Prices have gone down, AMD processor sockets have changed (changing my motherboard and ram), and new products have emerged. I am a busy student, athlete, and muscian. I don't have a vast amount of free time so I am far from a hardcore gamer. I do enjoy playing Command and Conquer at night or on the weekends though. I have never owned a computer that can actually play a fps. That's mostly what I am after. Something that I can actually play first person shooters without worrying about my computer crashing. So here is my current list of parts:
CPU
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+(65W) Windsor 2.0GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor - Retail $160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103733
I don't know if I need dual core or not. If I go single:
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Orleans 2.0GHz 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor - Retail $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103637
here it is. It's half the price and maybe good enough?
Motherboard
DFI INFINITY NF ULTRAII-M2 Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $93
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136015
I want something that can last a while and can be upgradeable later on. The important thing is the new AM2 socket. Bad reviews makes me question the product.
RAM
Kingston HyperX 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 533 (PC2 4300) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail $130
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820144176
This seems like some pretty good memory. I would like to take advantage of the DDR2 ability.
Video Card
eVGA 256-P2-N541-TX Geforce 7600GS 256MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 Video Card $106
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130020
Inexpensive, reliable, seems like a good choice.
Hard Drive
Maxtor MaxLine III 7V250F0 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144031
This hard drive has 16 MB cache and a 5 year warranty. However, the reviews aren't the greatest.
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250820AS 250GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148142
This hard drive has only 8 MB cache and no warranty. It does have better reviews though, recommended by Elbatrop1, and $5 less.
Optical Drive
LG Beige 16X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 16X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 5X DVD-RAM Read 2M Cache IDE DVD Burner $36
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827136064
I wanted an all in one and something cheap. I figured I can upgrade later if I need to.
Power Supply
OCZ PowerStream OCZ520ADJSLI ATX, BTX, EPS12V 520W Power Supply 100~120Vac / 200~240Vac 10/6a - Retail $125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817711002
Elbatrop1 recommended the modstream, but I can't seem to find it on newegg.com anymore. I figured this may be the next best thing.
Case
ASPIRE X-CRUISER-BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144151
I like this case...
NZXT NEMESIS ELITE BLK Black 1.0 mm ALUMINUM ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 400 WATT PS2 ATX 12V Power Supply $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811146007
and this one too. However, it's $50 more so I'll probably go with the Aspire.
Monitor
CHIMEI 937A Silver-Black 19" 8ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 330 cd/m2 600:1 Built in Speakers 0.285mm Pixel Pitch $190
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824252002
For a 19" widescreen LCD, it seems like a bargain. Good reviews also reveals that it isn't cheap...
Mouse and Keyboard
Logitech Cordless Desktop EX110 967561-0403 Black 102 Normal Keys 12 Function Keys USB + PS/2 RF Wireless Standard Keyboard Mouse Included $27
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16823126174
Another item recommended by Elbatrop1. He said he like the quality of the item. I also like the price.
Operating System
Microsoft Windows XP Home Upgrade with SP2 - Retail $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16837116194
Since this is an upgrade, does it mean that I can only use it on a computer with an older version of Windows?
Total+Dual core: $1116
Total+Single core:$1057
Well, what do you think? I have spent a lot of time researching, reading, and shopping and this is the best I have found so far. However, please give me any advice that you have. I am beginning to worry if maybe my thousand dollar computer costs too much for the amount of usage it will actually get. (Also, I wonder if I can get a better deal from Dell or HP.) If your referring an item please include a link if possible. I would like to get the price under a thousand plus tax and shipping, but that doesn't really seem possible. However, maybe someone can recommend some cheaper parts. I have also thought of buying a CRT from a friend and using it until I can buy the LCD. As always, thank you for your time.
youngflyer12
Edit:
After ten minutes on Dell, I can build this:
Dimension E521
PROCESSOR AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core 3800+
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005 with re-installation CD
MEMORY 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz- 2DIMMs
HARD DRIVE 250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
OPTICAL DRIVE Dual Drives: 16X DVD ROM Drive and 48X CD-RW/DVD Combo
MONITOR 19 inch Ultrasharp™ 1907FP Digital Flat Panel
VIDEO CARD 256MB NVIDIA Geforce 7300LE TurboCache
SOUND Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
KEYBOARD & MOUSE Dell USB Keyboard and Dell 2-button Scroll Mouse
FLOPPY & MEDIA READER 13 in 1 Media Card Reader
MODEM 56K PCI Data Fax Modem
Total: $892.00
I know that my unbuilt computer is better, but is it worth it?
CPU
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+(65W) Windsor 2.0GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor - Retail $160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103733
I don't know if I need dual core or not. If I go single:
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Orleans 2.0GHz 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor - Retail $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103637
here it is. It's half the price and maybe good enough?
Motherboard
DFI INFINITY NF ULTRAII-M2 Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $93
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136015
I want something that can last a while and can be upgradeable later on. The important thing is the new AM2 socket. Bad reviews makes me question the product.
RAM
Kingston HyperX 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 533 (PC2 4300) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail $130
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820144176
This seems like some pretty good memory. I would like to take advantage of the DDR2 ability.
Video Card
eVGA 256-P2-N541-TX Geforce 7600GS 256MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 Video Card $106
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130020
Inexpensive, reliable, seems like a good choice.
Hard Drive
Maxtor MaxLine III 7V250F0 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144031
This hard drive has 16 MB cache and a 5 year warranty. However, the reviews aren't the greatest.
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250820AS 250GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148142
This hard drive has only 8 MB cache and no warranty. It does have better reviews though, recommended by Elbatrop1, and $5 less.
Optical Drive
LG Beige 16X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 16X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 5X DVD-RAM Read 2M Cache IDE DVD Burner $36
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827136064
I wanted an all in one and something cheap. I figured I can upgrade later if I need to.
Power Supply
OCZ PowerStream OCZ520ADJSLI ATX, BTX, EPS12V 520W Power Supply 100~120Vac / 200~240Vac 10/6a - Retail $125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817711002
Elbatrop1 recommended the modstream, but I can't seem to find it on newegg.com anymore. I figured this may be the next best thing.
Case
ASPIRE X-CRUISER-BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144151
I like this case...
NZXT NEMESIS ELITE BLK Black 1.0 mm ALUMINUM ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 400 WATT PS2 ATX 12V Power Supply $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811146007
and this one too. However, it's $50 more so I'll probably go with the Aspire.
Monitor
CHIMEI 937A Silver-Black 19" 8ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 330 cd/m2 600:1 Built in Speakers 0.285mm Pixel Pitch $190
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824252002
For a 19" widescreen LCD, it seems like a bargain. Good reviews also reveals that it isn't cheap...
Mouse and Keyboard
Logitech Cordless Desktop EX110 967561-0403 Black 102 Normal Keys 12 Function Keys USB + PS/2 RF Wireless Standard Keyboard Mouse Included $27
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16823126174
Another item recommended by Elbatrop1. He said he like the quality of the item. I also like the price.
Operating System
Microsoft Windows XP Home Upgrade with SP2 - Retail $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16837116194
Since this is an upgrade, does it mean that I can only use it on a computer with an older version of Windows?
Total+Dual core: $1116
Total+Single core:$1057
Well, what do you think? I have spent a lot of time researching, reading, and shopping and this is the best I have found so far. However, please give me any advice that you have. I am beginning to worry if maybe my thousand dollar computer costs too much for the amount of usage it will actually get. (Also, I wonder if I can get a better deal from Dell or HP.) If your referring an item please include a link if possible. I would like to get the price under a thousand plus tax and shipping, but that doesn't really seem possible. However, maybe someone can recommend some cheaper parts. I have also thought of buying a CRT from a friend and using it until I can buy the LCD. As always, thank you for your time.
youngflyer12
Edit:
After ten minutes on Dell, I can build this:
Dimension E521
PROCESSOR AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core 3800+
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005 with re-installation CD
MEMORY 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz- 2DIMMs
HARD DRIVE 250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
OPTICAL DRIVE Dual Drives: 16X DVD ROM Drive and 48X CD-RW/DVD Combo
MONITOR 19 inch Ultrasharp™ 1907FP Digital Flat Panel
VIDEO CARD 256MB NVIDIA Geforce 7300LE TurboCache
SOUND Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
KEYBOARD & MOUSE Dell USB Keyboard and Dell 2-button Scroll Mouse
FLOPPY & MEDIA READER 13 in 1 Media Card Reader
MODEM 56K PCI Data Fax Modem
Total: $892.00
I know that my unbuilt computer is better, but is it worth it?