Choices.....choices....(New Computer Shopping)

[Gxp]

Well, I was debating about Building a PC, or just buying a nice one. Depending on where you shop, they can actually cost about the same. (Building one can even cost more a lot of the time).

So for now I'm loking at pre-built PC's.
I'm looking at both processors, the P4 and the Athlon.

What I want is a really powerful, balanced out PC. Because I'll be doing 3D Modeling, Graphics Work, Hardcore Gaming, and constantly multitasking (who doesnt?).

Things I DO Want:
-GeForce 4 4600 (Or maybe a 4400, or a GeForce 3 TI-500)
-24X or over Burner.(ReWrite Or Reading doesnt matter)
-16X DVD-Rom drive.
-512(or a Gig) of DDR or RDRAM.
-60 Gig or over HD
-Athlon 2100+ or a P4 2.0 or 2.2 GHZ.

I dont want a flat-screen monitor, as they suck and can only display one resolution. Plus they're $$$. Besides, with a GeForce 3 or 4, there'd be a T.V. out.

Here are some PC's I was looking at:

Gamer Xtreme DVD (From Cyberpowerinc):
512 MB PC333 PC2700 DDR Memory
80 Gigabyte Ultra DMA 100 Hard Drive
Nvidia GeForce-4 TI 4600 128Meg DDR Video Card
16X DVD-ROM and a 24X10X40 CD Re-Writer
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 5.1 With Firewire
Klipsch Promedia 5.1
19" ViewSonic E90 .22MM SVGA Monitor
56K Modem, and 1.44MB Floppy Drive
Microsoft Keyboard
Microsoft Mouse
Antec SX1030 Soho Server Tower (The case of course)
Windows XP Home (Or Windows ME)
Corel Wordperfect Office 2002
Athlon at 2100+ = $1899
Athlon at 2000+ = $1859


United M4000
AMD Athlon Quantispeed Architechture
256 Megs of DDR Ram
128 Meg GeForce-4 4400
80 Gig ATA133 HD
16X DVD-ROM drive
32X10X40 Cd Burner
56K Modem
Sound Blaster Audigy
Creative Inspire 5.1
Microsoft Internet Keyboard & Mouse
Windows XP, 2000, or Me
Network Controller, Broadband Ready
Mid-Tower, with front USB
19" .26 SVGA Monitor, 1600x1200
Athlon XP at 2200+ = $1399
Athlon XP at 2000+ = $1469

vpr Matrix
Intel® Pentium® 4 processor 2.2GHz with 400MHz system bus
512MB 266MHz DDR SDRAM, 2 total DIMM slots upgradable to 1.0GB
Western Digital 120.0GB (7200 rpm) hard drive
16x maximum speed DVD-ROM (40x maximum speed CD-ROM)
32x12x40 CD-RW drive
nVidia GeForce4 MX-440 64MB DDR graphics card
Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 audio card
10/100 integrated network interface card
V.92 high-speed modem; see more features
3 IEEE 1394 ports, plus 6 USB ports
Windows XP Home Edition operating system preinstalled
Price---------$1,499.99



The problems I have with these are the Mouses and the Sound Systems that come with them.

I already have a mouse I'm going to use (It's a Wacom Graphire 2)
And I am going to hook the ound card into my stereo (be it 2 channels or the 5.1)
All those are doing is upping the price on the packages.

Also the fact that I want a GeForce 4 4600(or 4400), and so many computers use the sub-par MX GeForces :bigmouth:


Well, any computer recommendations or opinions?

[NuTs62]

Well, personally, I always build my own systems. I think it saves a bit of money, but adds to the headaches. Building your own systems also allows you to pick each and every component you want in your system.

But of course buying a full system, you get the company's tech support. If you already know a bit about computers, chances are you'd be fixing it yourself anyways.

Sounds like you're lookin for a top-notch system, kinda like what mine was (specs below). If you know enough about computers, I'd say just build it yourself! And if you ever have problems with it, the friendly users of G|A are always quite helpful, and can offer you advice/solutions.

[Bires]

Even if you don't know a lot about computers, pickup a "barebones" computer from googlegear (or similar, but gg used good mobos) and pick your own video card, sound card, and storage systems. You'll feel better about your comp and will learn a great deal more about your computer and its performance/idiosyncracies.

[Cantacuzene]

I love preformance idiosyncrcies. They make me feel accomplished when i can solve them.

[bachviet]

I built my own also but I don't get the tech support! :D

[Memo]

If you're not comfortable building your PC but want to be able to choose your parts then that Cyber Power PC is a good place to buy from. You get the tech support and you really do'nt pay much more than you would building it yourself. I bought a PC from them a while back. I like building my own just cause it's fun and you save a little more and just know more about it. But it's all up to you.

[Gxp]

I'm computer savvy enough not to need the tech support, but I calculated up all the parts and things and it'd be cheaper to buy a pre-assembled one.

A Falcon Northwest PC would be best....if they werent so pricey. lol

[NuTs62]

Originally posted by Gxp
I'm computer savvy enough not to need the tech support, but I calculated up all the parts and things and it'd be cheaper to buy a pre-assembled one.

A Falcon Northwest PC would be best....if they werent so pricey. lol

But when you're pricin it, are you pricin it with DEALS? Like the stuff that Apex posts on the deals page, or what ppl post in the Deals forum?

[DoPeY5007]

also looks like you really don't have a budget!!! ;)

[Jeffbx]

What about Dell?

Dimension 4400 2GHz P4
512MB DDR SDRAM
19" monitor
128MB GeForce4 Ti 4600
80GB HD
Mouse & KB
16x DVD
24x CDRW
SB Live
56k Modem
10/100 NIC
$1678, free shipping

OK with a refurb?
Dimension 8200 2GHz P4
256MB PC800 RDRAM (2 RIMMs)
80 GB EIDE Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
128MB DDR NVIDIA GeForce4™ Ti 4600 Graphics Card w/DVI and TV-Out
56K Telephony Modem for Windows-Sound Option
SB LIVE! Value Digital Sound Card
Intel Pro 100 PCI Ethernet 10/100 NIC
24x/10x/40x CD-RW Drive with Roxios Easy CD Creator
Microsoft Windows® XP Home Edition
You'll have to add your own DVD
$1515 - $500 promotion = $1015

[Ladogaboy]

Welcome, Gxp...

:P

[Gxp]

Originally posted by Ladogaboy
Welcome, Gxp...

:P


'bout time you replied, oh wise one :rolleyes:

[Ladogaboy]

Originally posted by Gxp



'bout time you replied, oh wise one :rolleyes:

Hey, I have a life... :hihi:

Oh, and BTW, you do have a budget! ;)

[Gxp]

Originally posted by Ladogaboy


Hey, I have a life... :hihi:

Oh, and BTW, you do have a budget! ;)


You've got a life, yet you're subbing at EC.
That seems like an oxymoron :P

[Gxp]

Need help again,
If I AM going to build a PC, what MOBO should I go with?

ATX850, KT266A,K7N420Socket478SocketADDRSDRAMFSB
AAAAHHH!!!! *stops before head explodes*

I havent been keeping up on the Mobo cycle so I have no idea what all these friggin jumbled letters mean X_X


I want DDR-RAM support, as it seems to be more solid than RDRAM. (And normal SDRAM just plain sucks). Although 512 megs of RDRAM is cheaper than 512 of DDR Ram :-\

The best deals on processors have been
AMD ATHLON XP 2100+ Econopc.com $218.00
Pentium 4 2.2GHZ Runtimecc.com $377.00
P4 2.4GHZ Accubyte.com $528.00

as for combo(already paired with components) mobos, I've found

Athlon XP 2100 with cpu, fan Econopc.com $274.00
Pentium 4 2.2GHz with cpu, fan micropro.com $473.00


Comp Specs So Far:

CASE Electroseller.com $39.00
Xtasy GeForce4 4600 Compuplus.com $339.00
56K Modem TheNerds.net $9.35
16X DVD-Rom Googlegear.com $39.99
CD-WR DRIVE Dell.com $80.99 (snicker)
512 Megs DDR Ram Ocsystem.com $190.00
Iomega 100megzipdrive pclink2000.com $28.00
Crappy keyboard nexthardwareshop.com $8.00
80 Gig HD thecomputercenter.com $86.00
Monitor 1600x1200 Provantage.com $197.99
Athlon XP 2100 with cpu, fan Econopc.com $274.00 (Pre-acessorized MOBO)
X-GAMER 5.1 Sound Card Compuplus.com $41.00

Total = $1333.32 So Far....

[Ladogaboy]

Originally posted by Gxp
Need help again,
If I AM going to build a PC, what MOBO should I go with?

Personally, if you are going with AMD, I'd say a KT266a or possibly a KT333 chipset. As for the features, just look at what each board provides/includes, and pick the one that best suits your needs. I can't really make an informed suggestion for a P4 processor.


Originally posted by Gxp
The best deals on processors have been
AMD ATHLON XP 2100+ Econopc.com $218.00
Pentium 4 2.2GHZ Runtimecc.com $377.00
P4 2.4GHZ Accubyte.com $528.00

www.pricewatch.com (http://www.pricewatch.com)

The thing you want to remember is the price of shipping as well. Also, if you buy a retail version, you not only get a heatsink/fan, but also a warranty. For example:

www.newegg.com (http://www.newegg.com) has the XP 2100+ Retail box for $235 with free shipping.


Originally posted by Gxp
as for combo(already paired with components) mobos, I've found

Athlon XP 2100 with cpu, fan Econopc.com $274.00
Pentium 4 2.2GHz with cpu, fan micropro.com $473.00

Which motherboard is that teamed with? Remember, don't skimp on the motherboard. Also, does this include shipping?



Originally posted by Gxp
Comp Specs So Far:

CASE Electroseller.com $39.00
Xtasy GeForce4 4600 Compuplus.com $339.00
56K Modem TheNerds.net $9.35
16X DVD-Rom Googlegear.com $39.99
CD-WR DRIVE Dell.com $80.99 (snicker)
512 Megs DDR Ram Ocsystem.com $190.00
Iomega 100megzipdrive pclink2000.com $28.00
Crappy keyboard nexthardwareshop.com $8.00
80 Gig HD thecomputercenter.com $86.00
Monitor 1600x1200 Provantage.com $197.99
Athlon XP 2100 with cpu, fan Econopc.com $274.00 (Pre-acessorized MOBO)
X-GAMER 5.1 Sound Card Compuplus.com $41.00

Total = $1333.32 So Far....

My list/prices:

XP 2100+ w/ Heatsink/fan $235 shipped
512 megs of Kingston DDR PC2100 Ram $136 shipped
Both at newegg.com

Oh, and BTW, what kind of 80 gig hard drive is that? I'm not sure if I would trust an $86 80 gig drive unless I knew the manufacturer and speed.

I won't make a suggestion on the video card other than that you might have better performance for the price with a Ti4400.

Also, I'm starting to get lazy now, so I'll leave you with this: Don't forget the shipping! A lot of companies will take advantage of of you by offering a lower price and then jacking you on the shipping charges.

[Cantacuzene]

I'm not convinced one way or the other in the DDR vs Rdram issue. Although I will say, if Rdram was better, they would use it in 3dcards, wouldnt they?

[Cantacuzene]

Originally posted by Gxp
Athlon XP 2100 with cpu, fan Econopc.com $274.00 (Pre-acessorized MOBO)


What does preaccesorized mobo mean? On board sound and video? If so thats not cool at all.

[JPR]

Well this is why I build them and not buy them. While an assembled computer may be the same price as building one yourself ,or even a little cheaper, that price includes the cost of assembly. So typically you are paying for inferior parts and then someone to put it all togethere for you. For example two machines may both have GeForce cards in the manufacture is going after the lowest price and wuality of the card.

[DREDD]

prices from pricewatch...all prices are US dollars as of today

Abit KX7-333R motherboard $129
512MB PC2700 DDR333 memory $122
Athlon Xp 2100+ CPU $217
Geforce 4 Ti4200 $169 or Ti4400 for $226
Antec SX1030 case with 300W Powersupply $73 or $75 in black
Lite On 16X DVD rom $32
Lite On CDRW (40x/12x/48X) $81
Samsung floppy $3 (optional)
Hercules Game Theater Xp Soundcard $106 or Turtle Beach for $58
Maxtor 60GB 7200RPm ATA/100 drive $82 or ATA/133 interface for $90
Windows Xp Professional Full $121

If you switch out for intel..
Intel D850GB Motherboard $95
Intel P4 1.8Ghz Northwood $158
512MB RDRAm PC800 $61x2 (Must buy 2 memory sticks for RDRAM...cannot install one so if you want 512MB you gotta install two 256MB chips)

You can also fo for intel D845Gb which uses DDR memory but uses a different socket.

All together for a Athlon rig you'd be looking at $1002 plus shipping. which is way under what those other places charge. Do add $30 for IDE cables and Floppy cables about $5 each or so depending on whether you buy rounded ones or not.

[DREDD]

Look at my specs...all the best and most high dollar parts and it will ONLY run you $1032!

$1032

That will be less if you decide not to get rounded IDE cables or floppy or get the Ti4200 instead of 4400 etc.

[DREDD]

if you can't install it yourself get someone that knows what they're doing and ay them $50 to put it together...hell if you pay for shipping I'll put it together for ya :-)

[Gxp]

The Xtasy GeForce-4 4600 is a must,
top of the line, with TV in-and-out ports,
plus teh Xtasy line has always been great.


By Pre-Acessorized Mobo I emant that it came with a fan attached and a processor in it already.

[DREDD]

shows how much you know...the Gf4 cards perform within 3% of eachother. So it's not worth spending more when you don't need it. Not to say that the Visiontek is expensive but I'd rather save a few bucks knowing that I am getting within 3% the performance of the higher priced cards.

if you need the Ti4600 you can get it for 4380 on pricewatch sometimes. Still...I'd build it yourself.