Work computer build

[kirab]

Hey all, a client asked me to build him a computer for work, and he gave me some requirements. I'll list them here and I will post a non-final build later.

Requirements:

$1000 - $1300 CAD
2GB RAM
~100 GB HDD
DVD Burner
TV Tuner card
Slim case

My thoughts:

The budget is good and I'm thinking Intel for the CPU since their dual-cores are pretty cheap ATM. The other stuff won't be a problem, but I kinda don't have experience with TV tuner cards. Which option would be better - a seperate TV tuner card or a video card with TV tuner capabilities? So is dual-core a good idea? And if so how is the Pentium D 805?

Will post my build later.

 

[john3]

YO WASUP, i also live in toronto. im glad someone here is from it, and so is Chankama i think, anywayz the point is. u can get a GREAT computer with $1000 to $1300.

http://www.torontopcstores.com/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=538

thats the link to the 25 stores in the 2 blocks of Spadina and College, lol, all crambed together. anywayz. here is a list of what you want.

first of all, u dont want intel unless of course if ur waiting like 3 weeks for the new Intel Core 2 Duo to hit toronto. if ur buying now, then you want AMD. u dont really need Am2 because the only difference is the new platform of ram, DDR2, which isnt better than DDR its just different. anywayz. here is ur list

http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=006688&cid=MB.693

http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=009419&cid=CPU.611

http://www.filtechcomputer.com/product/ProdList.asp?nCatID=1004
go there, press Ctrl+F, and type in 'OCZ5002048 ELGEGXT' without quotes.

http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=007311&cid=HD.96

http://www.filtechcomputer.com/product/SearchList.asp

http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=007056&cid=PS.808

that adds up to about $997
but this exludes case and tv tuner. as for those, pick basically any tv tuner by Hauppauge that will fit ur needs, or leadtek. they make good tv tuner cards, but they serve different purposes, there are some for tvs, and hookin up ur xbox or something to it, its up to you, just post here, and we'll tell you. and as for case, just pick one that looks good, and has decent cooling, like it comes with 2 fans or 3 or something. thermaltake ones are ones that come with fans and are good cases. so u have $300 for everything. left correct, so approx $100 goes to case, and $100 goes to Tv tuner, u have $100 left, and this is the keyboard/mouse for you.

http://www.filtechcomputer.com/product/ProdDetail.asp?nProductID=8516

http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=007679&cid=PE.703

and u still have about $35 to spare.

P.S. those stores, if you ever need anything technology related just keep those in mind, memorize those stores, live it, breath it, love it. lol and good luck. if u have any questions jsut ask.

 

[Pwnz0r]

ddr2 is better, its faster, soetimes twice as fast. and in the future all amd chips will be am2 to wait a few weeks and either get a cheaper am2 dual core (price drop on 23rd) or conroe (better than amd) on the 23rd. its gotts be outa them two options. ddr2 will speed up your CAD.

 

[Pwnz0r]

although conroe will be very expensive, id wait till the drops in rpice then get top of the range dual core amd am2.

 

[john3]

ddr2 is better, its faster, soetimes twice as fast. and in the future all amd chips will be am2 to wait a few weeks and either get a cheaper am2 dual core (price drop on 23rd) or conroe (better than amd) on the 23rd. its gotts be outa them two options. ddr2 will speed up your CAD.

hahahaha..........wow..................ddr2 doesnt mean twice as fast, thats not wat the 2 is there for, its just a different platform of ram.

 

[kirab]

I got the final build here guys:

CPU: Pentium D 930 Dual Core

Mobo: Asus P5LD2-VM (w/ onboard vid)

HDD: Western Digital Caviar SE 160GB

RAM: 2 sticks Crucial Rendition 1GB PC2-4200 DDR2-533 240PIN DIMM

CD/DVD: LG GSA-H10N DVD+RW 16X8X16 DVD-RW 16X6X16 Dual Layer

Floppy: Sony Black 3.25 inch

OS: Win XP Pro

Case w/ PSU: Antec Sonata II Black ATX

TV-Tuner: Theater 550PRO PCI TV Tuner MPEG-2 Encoder /W Remote

How does this look?

 

[mophead740]

maybe look at a dvico tv tuner card
they r supposed to be really good

 

[john3]

that is awful. reasons are here

1) All intel, befoer the Conroe (Intel Core 2 Duo) doesnt stand a chance against AMD

2) Why would u want onboard video? i understand onboard sound, at least get like a $60 video card that is WAY better than the onboard

3)LG doesnt make that great optical drives, best brands are like NEC, and BenQ.

4)U never want to buy a case that comes with a PSU, its an accident waiting to happen, and when the PSU screws up, it takes the whole computer with it.

with that in mind, now revise ur list.

 

[Spartan]

that is awful. reasons are here

2) Why would u want onboard video? i understand onboard sound, at least get like a $60 video card that is WAY better than the onboard

It's a WORK computer. A video card doesn't matter.

LG doesnt make that great optical drives, best brands are like NEC, and BenQ.

What?? LG makes perfectly fine optical drives.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827136085

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827136059

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827136065

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827136067

 

[kirab]

Furthermore...

1) All intel, befoer the Conroe (Intel Core 2 Duo) doesnt stand a chance against AMD

In terms of price/performance, Intel has better options for dual-core. Most of AMDs dual-cores are better, I admit - but not for the price they are asking. The Pentium D 9xx are very good and have gotten good reviews for the performance you get for the price and are the best dual-cores for that price-range.

4)U never want to buy a case that comes with a PSU, its an accident waiting to happen, and when the PSU screws up, it takes the whole computer with it.

The Antec Sonata comes with the Antec SmartPower II 450W which is a very good PSU. And also, when the PSU screws up - the computer doesn't always good down with it. I've had a faulty PSU that gave me problems (comp turning on and off) so I just replaced it.