THC

Hi,
I am about to buy a new computer and have done some research, but I am far from a wiz so I was hoping for some advice. Basically, is the system that I list below a good and compatible system? Have I included the "wrong" thing somewhere that is a week link in getting good performance?
The two things I am mostly uncertain about are the hard drive and the videocard.
Any help/comments are greatly appreciated! I would hate to have to upgrade 2 weeks after buying the stuff.
Thanks!



CPU Intel Pentium4 - 1.7 GHz Retail Box, 3 yrs warranty, w/Fan $379.00
Motherboards ASUS Asus P4T Pentium 4 M/B 400MHz FSB, 5x PCI, AGP Pro/4X, 2x UltraDMA/100, 4 USB, support 4x PC800 RIMM $192.00
Cases Generic ATX Super Middle Black/Silver Case w/ ATX 320W Power Supply + Dual USB Port $49.00
Memory Major 512MB RDRAM (Major) 800 MHz (2xPCS 256 MB Rambus)ECC $209.00
Hard Drives Maxtor 81 GB Maxtor Hard Disk Drive, ATA/100 $209.00
Floppy Drives Mitsumi Mitsumi 3.5inch 1.44MB Floppy Disk Drive $12.00
CD/DVD ROMs Hitachi Hitachi 12X DVDROM, IDE, Special $42.00
CDRW Creative Labs Creative 12x10x32X Internal IDE CD-RW, Retail Box $116.00
Video Cards Chaintech 64 MB Nvidia GeForce2 MX400 4X AGP TV OUT VIDEO CARD, Retail Box, Chaintech $81.00
Sound Cards Creative Labs Creative Labs Sound Blaster 128 $34.00
Networking ASOUND 10/100 Base-T PCI Network Adapter $12.00
Operating System Microsoft Microsoft Windows Me $89.00
Total Price $1424.00

xsiled

1. win ME sucks
2. P4's suck
3. dont pay more then 700 for a new system
4. rambus sucks
5. get an athlon and get 1.5gb ram fer $90
6. ur never gonna fill 80gb

[Edited by xsiled on 08-20-2001 at 07:03 PM]

Mezpin

The Maxtor drive is pretty solid. I'm an IBM fan, but both drives are solid.

About the video card. With the nice setup you're getting, I'd ditch the MX400. You want at least a regular GeForce2 GTS. The MX400 will be a big bottleneck if you're looking to play some high end games. A GTS will cost you probably around $50 more and you'll be happier.

I agree that Windows Me does suck. Windows 2000 is a much stabler OS, but games don't run as fast (in my experience, at least).

I'm an Athlon fan, so $379 is looking pretty damn steep to me, but P4s aren't too bad. Just keep in mind that your upgrade path will be limited.

For a few dollars more, you maybe be able to get a variant of a Sound Blaster Live or even an SB Live 5.1. Might be worth it to you.

Finally, just make sure you're getting a solid power supply in your case. 320 watts is definitely enough power for a P4. Just try to get a reliable one. Bad PS's are silent computer killers.

I don't really agree with the "$700 rule" if you're building from scratch. That's a bad guideline. You'll get what you pay for. $700 isn't a system that will stand the test of time.

Mezpin

THC

Thanks for the input!
I'm somewhat a sucker for numbers, and that's one reason why I decided to go for a P4 instead of a AMD. 1.7Ghz sounds pretty good along with the 400mhz bus and Rambus memory... Figured I could pay a little extra for that. But there's an upper limit to what I'm willing to spend, and maybe I would get a better overall system for the same price if I went with an AMD-based system. Those numbers look good but maybe they don't translate into any real performance. (?)
I think I also will have to go for a GTS videocard instead of the MX, didn't know the difference in price was so small.
Reason why I picked Win Me was because someone told me there might be compatability problems with some games/apps if I used Win 2000. Not true?
And as far as monitor, I havn't quite decided what monitor I will get, but am hoping to get a decent 19" for less than $500. Since I don't think I want to spend more than 500 I probably will get a good 19" instead of a mediocre 21". But I certainly agree that a good monitor is extremely important.
BTW, any tips of where I can get good deals? The best place I've found so far (where you can configure whole systems) is http://www.digirex.com

Thanks again!


[Edited by THC on 08-20-2001 at 08:46 PM]

GraingerGuy

A good FD monitor is the 19in KDS FD monitor. My friend has that one and it is really nice.

And....here's another vote for AMD over here.

__________________
potato gun + marshmallow gun = FLAMING MARSHMALLOWS OF DOOM!!!!!
-Welfareloser
4/13/05

Time to switch to AMD now I guess... (just kidding... )
-Darkfury
5/23/05

I don't think this'll stop anything though - the better you idiot-proof a system, the more impressive the idiot becomes.
-ShawnLee
5/30/08

xsiled

i dont care what you think ddr is cheaper then rambus and athlons are faster and cheaper, you could still load that sucker with pc133 512 only costs $30.


if ur goin fer the nuty system pay the extra $50 and get the maxtor 100gb

[Edited by xsiled on 08-20-2001 at 09:35 PM]

xsiled

i built a duron system for $350 , dur 750 256 pc133 30gb hdd 300w p/s cheesy graphics card. i figure i could up to a hot athlon sys fer less then 700 you just have to hit the rite deals.

xsiled

ill send you win 98 fer free if you pay for the shipping

clutchy

p4's are okay, they don't really get my vote, but they're alright chips. AMD Athlon 1.4 for 117 will rock your little 1.7 p4, and yes you're exactly right p4 speeds don't translate into real world results.

personally i do athlons and duron's but that's just becuase AMD is a worthy company and has commanded my respect since my old k6-2 400. i also don't have the cash that you're looking to throw around. Even if i was going to build super high end i'd stay clear of p4's for another couple of months.

Are u building this system yourself? or are u having it configured for you? If you're building it, how experienced are you? AMD systems can potentially take longer to configure than others depending, but usually not. Some people have headaches building AMD systems too, but personally i just think it's inexperienced people trying to build a computer when they shouldn't be. So weigh your choices... Do you really want to mess with building or would you rather have a prebuilt system shipped to you.

and you xsiled are the reason micro$oft is putting activation codes on all their new software. try and be a little more covert next time k? maybe an email or IM next time.

__________________
LK was treated unfairly

thanks X

\/\/|ZarD

If you don't want to go through the hassle of building and configuring your computer yourself take a look at http://www.northstarpc.com/default2.asp the company will be opening for business on Wednesday.

They have amazing computer systems available

Take a lot at their demo page and see what they have...

xsiled

amazingly high prices you mean, 1100 for a duron system

Grimm

Yet another vote for AMD and DDR.
I would go with a Western Digital or IBM hard drive.
For the CDRW you should get a Plextor.
The network card has got to go. Get a Netgear, Linksys, 3Com, Intel, or IBM card.

OverDrive

I feel sorry for anyone fooled by Intels add schemes n scams... AMD is SOOOO much cheaper, and SOOOO much faster at the same MHz, why spend $200 on a P4 1.7 when you can get a T-Bird 1.4 for $100, and the T-Bird will out run the 1.7 to the point of emberassement!

__________________
3 simple rules to computers.
1. Don't buy Intel
2. Buy AMD
3. If you don't get it overclocked, make it overclocked

lets roll

GraingerGuy

Wow.....I like this guy!

OverDrive

GraingerGuy
to whom are you reffering?

THC

Xsiled sent me an interesting link, http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/01q2/010423/index.html
and as far as I can tell, Athlon only whopps P4's ass in "office application performance". And who needs Word and Excel to run any faster anyway?
Other than that the two processors seem to have comparable results, except under internet applications and video performance where P4 seem to be stronger.

I wish to thank all of you that have posted and given me very helpful advice! Even though I havn't bought it yet, the system definately will look different than when I first posted.

OverDrive

Please don't say your going to shell out the extra $110 for 3fps more!! that was compaired to the 1.33 and just try throwing a 1.4 up against it, 1/2 the price and just as if not more powerful, plus dropping the overall price of the system by a couple hundred bucks!

OverDrive

Or at least spend the money to get a kryotech 1.88 T-Bird that will whoop up anything else on the market.

GraingerGuy

overdrive - I was refering to you.

I'm all about AMD....good to know you are too.

OverDrive

schweet man,
Hey, why settle for second best? Go AMD!

clutchy

ok so maybe you're looking at comparable results... maybe. but there's also a 300 MHz difference here buddy, and at least $200 that's not something to scoff over.

i hope i don't have to check you off on the duped list, with joey.

MrChad

Just for comparison, I'm planning on upgrading my system and I'm going the Athlon route.

• Athlon 1.4 GHz Thunderbird (retail)
• Epox 8K7A+ Motherboard
• 256 MB PC2100 DDR RAM
• CardExpert/Gainward GeForce 3
• Enlight 7237 Case w/ 300 PSU
• 2 IBM 40GB 7200rpm 60GXP HDs (for RAID 0)

From my old P2-400, I'll bring along:

• SoundBlaster Live!
• Pioneer 116 DVD-ROM
• HP 8100i 4x CD-RW
• 3COM 3C-905B NIC
• IBM 27GB 7200rpm 34GXP HD

So for about $900, I'll have a state-of-the-art system. Now I know that you're building from scratch, but you could switch the GeForce 3 for a GeForce 2 GTS, and with the money you save from that you can get a DVD- or CD-ROM, CD-RW and possibly an SBLive! Value. Then all you need is a NIC. Good luck on whatever you decide, and remember that both Intel and AMD prices will be dropping at the end of August!

attgig

I JUST ordered my new system, and it's similar to yours...
the chip(www.tcwo.com - pricewatch price), mb - though not the raid version-(newegg), ram (crucial).
i have my inwin full tower case, but needed a new power supply (newegg)
and my old ibm 40 gig hd., pioneer dvd, iomega cd-rw...

i'm pretty much set...

just waiting anxiously for the parts now =)

__________________

clutchy

i'm jealous... i have that case, it's great for the price.

OverDrive

Blah! Full tower cases! Evil! I have been to way too many LAN parties with my current full tower, I personally can't wait to get into a A-Top AT900 or maybe this its only 13 inches tall, and 13 inches wide





[Edited by OverDrive on 08-25-2001 at 12:37 PM]

OverDrive

By the way, this case is excellent for Air cooling, and built perfectly for water cooling, which ever is your disease, I am tossing around the Idea of pelts w/ water cooling... dunno yet....