buying a new computer

[solarhawk]

I'm in need of expert advice on the two systems listed below:
which one would you buy?
are all the components compatible?
would you change any components?

I'm trying to keep the system under $1K(i had to save my a@@ off to get this money, so...). I would appreciate any advice or input... Thanks.


BASE_PRICE: [+546]
2ND_USB: STANDARD 2 USB PORT CONNECTORS [+0]
CABLE: Round Cable Upgrade for Hard Drive, Optical Drive & Floppy Drive [+19]
CAS: (NEW !!!) X-BLADE Mid-Tower 450W W/ WINDOW & LCD Temperature Display + FAN CONTROL [+31] (SILVER COLOR)
CASUPGRADE: NONE [+0]
CD: 56X CD-ROM [+19] (SILVER COLOR [+9])
CDRW: NONE [-32]
CPU: (800Mhz FSB) Intel® Pentium® 4 CPU @ 3.0GHZ 512K w/ Hyper Threading [+50]
FAN: INTEL CERTIFIED CPU FAN & HEATSINK + 3 EXTRA CASE FANS [+9]
FLASHMEDIA: None [+0]
FLOPPY: 1.44 MB FLOPPY DRIVE [+0] (SILVER COLOR [+7])
GAMING1: NONE [+0]
HDD: 80GB 7200 RPM ATA 100 HARD DRIVE [+0]
HDD2: NONE [+0]
IEEE_CARD: NONE [+0]
KEYBOARD: PS2 MULTIMEDIA INTERNET CONTROL KEYBOARD [+0] (BEIGE COLOR)
MEMORY: 512 MB (256MBx2) PC2700 333MHz Dual Channel DDR MEMORY [+184]
MODEM: PCI 56K V.92 FAX MODEM W/ VOICE [+12]
MONITOR: NONE
MOTHERBOARD: (DDR400-800MHz FSB)Intel® ORIGINAL D875PBZ 800MHz FSB 8X AGP W/ GB LAN [+108]
MOUSE: PS2 INTERNET MOUSE W/ WHEEL [+0] (BEIGE COLOR)
MP3PLAYER: NONE [+0]
NETWORK: ONBOARD 10/100 NETWORK CARD [+0]
NVIDIA_GAMES: NONE [+0]
OS: NONE - FORMAT HARD DRIVE ONLY [+0]
POWERSUPPLY: STANDARD CASE POWER SUPPLY [+0]
PRINTER: None [+0]
PRINTER_CABLE: None [+0]
RAID: NONE [+0]
RUSH: NO; SHIP OUT IN 5~10 BUSINESS DAYS [+0]
SCANNER: NONE [+0]
SERVICE: STANDARD WARRANTY: 3-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY PLUS LIFE-TIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT [+0]
SOFT1: NONE [+0]
SOFT2: NONE [+0]
SOUND: Creative Labs SB LIVE VALUE 5.1 [+30]
SPEAKERS: 600WATT PMPO SUBWOOFER STEREO SPEAKERS [+5]
TEMP: NONE (AS SHOWN) [+0]
USB_PENDRIVE: NONE [+0]
VIDEO: nVidia GeForce-FX 5200 128MB DDR W/ TV OUT & DVI [+31]
VIDEOCAMERA: NONE [+0]
WIRELESSCARD: NONE [+0]
WIRELESSPOINT: NONE [+0]
ZIP: NONE [+0]
_PRICE: (+1028)
_view_: detail



Case ( Raidmax Scorpio-868 ATX Mid-Tower Case w/420W Power Supply Silver )
Power Supply ( Standard Case Power Supply )
Processor ( Intel® Pentium-4 Processor 3.0 Ghz CPU [512K Cache, 800MHz FSB, Hyper Threading Ready] )
Processor Cooling ( Certified CPU Fan and Heatsink + 2 Extra Case Fans )
Motherboard ( Intel Original D875PBZ i875 Chip 800Mhz FSB w/LAN, USB 2.0 8x AGP Motherboard [No Audio] )
Memory ( 512 MB Dual Channel [256MB X2] DDR-400 PC3200 Memory Module Major Brand )
Video Card ( Nvida Geforce-FX 5200 128MB w/TV Out 8x AGP Video )
Hard Drive ( 80 GB HARD DRIVE 80 GB 7200 RPM Ultra ATA-100 Hard Drive )
2nd Hard Drive ( None )
Raid Controller ( None )
Raid Configuration ( None )
CD/DVD Drive ( 56x CD-ROM Drive Silver )
CD-RW/DVD-RW Drive ( None )
Sound Card ( Creative Lab Sound Blaster Live Value 5.1 )
Speaker System ( Cintre 600W PMPO (RMS: 16W) 3 PCS Super Bass Subwoofer Speaker System )
Fax Modem ( Creative Labs V.92 56K Fax/Modem w/Voice )
Network Card ( 10/100 Network Onboard )
Floppy Drive ( Mitsumi 1.44 MB Internal Floppy Drive Beige )
Zip Drive ( None )
Monitor ( None )
Keyboard ( None )
Mouse ( None )
Meter Display ( None )
Flash Media Reader/Writer ( None )
Case Lighting ( None )
Case Round Cable ( Rounded Cables for Floppy/HDD/CD/DVD/CD-RW/DVD-RW Drives )
IEEE-1394 Fire Wire Card ( None )
TV Tuner ( None )
Video Camera ( None )
Scanner ( None )
Headset ( None )
Printer ( None )
Printer Cable ( None )
Operation System ( None- Pre-formatted Hard Drive Only )
Warranty ( Warranty Service Standard 3-Year Limited Warranty )
Rush Service ( Rush Service Fee (not shipping fee) No Rush, Ship Out in 5~10 Business Days )

Sub Total: $911.00
Current Coupon: None or you entered an invalid coupon.
(Optional) Est Tax by Enter Ship to ZIP TBD
Select Shipment: Ground Shipping ($65.00) Fedex Express Saver ($85.00) Fedex 2 Day ($95.00) Fedex Standard Overnight ($150.00) USPostal (APO/FPO) ($149.00) $65.00

(Optional) Coupon Code: Total: $976.00

 

[The Merlin]

I'd go with the 2nd system It's a good budget system and CyberPower is a good place to purchase from

 

[solarhawk]

I was starting to think I wasn't going to gey any expert advice from anyone. Thanks for stepping up, Merlin. Your advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks again...

 

[The Merlin]

NP, if you have anymore questions I'll do my best to help

 

[OrionGazer52]

I see in both system u have the nvidia 5200, however id def recommend an ATI 9600 xt. because, well, ati just rules. however, the 5200 is crap compared to the 9600 xt, which, for its price, is an extraordinary card.

 

[Thrice]

for the price??? are you kidding me??? 9600xt is the most overpriced card ati has.
also its horrible, my friend had one and it fried under normal conditions

 

[Fragino]

Got an ATI 9600XT. Works just fine after 2 months. Of course I haven't tried overclocking it yet.

 

[OrionGazer52]

Thrice, I'm not sure where you live, but here in the US of A, the 9600 XT gives the most BANG for the buck. Your friend might not have had proper cooling for his case. Ask anyone here on these forms, the 9600 XT is a very good choice for a budget gamer.

 

[solarhawk]

Thanks for the offer of future help, Merlin. From looking at your system, I take it you're into racing? As for me , I'm into CS. I have a friend who's into racing and CS. Aftering getting my new system, which will be in serveral weeks, I'm going to give racing a try.
OrionGazer52, I would like start off with someting better than a 5200, but it's the money thing at the moment-- I don't have a lot of it at the moment. I can always upgrade later. The cost of the 9600 and the 9800 should be quite less in several months, too. Thanks for the advice.

 

[The Merlin]

Thanks for the offer of future help, Merlin. From looking at your system, I take it you're into racing? As for me , I'm into CS. I have a friend who's into racing and CS. Aftering getting my new system, which will be in serveral weeks, I'm going to give racing a try.
OrionGazer52, I would like start off with someting better than a 5200, but it's the money thing at the moment-- I don't have a lot of it at the moment. I can always upgrade later. The cost of the 9600 and the 9800 should be quite less in several months, too. Thanks for the advice.

We'll since it's a money issue then your right you may want to see whats the best card they offer that you can afford, if it's only the 5200, then yeah, just save up and upgrade that later, because the 9800 Pro is currently the best deal around and will only get cheaper