Answer to several recent computer questions

[quaddawg]

I have given advice to folks that wanted to buy, build or upgrade their computer. Well, here is the proof. I built the following computer today for my nephew. Just take a look at what he got for under $1200.00!!! Most of this stuff is the best of the best, I had a keyboard and mouse lying around, and got him a used 17 inch HP monitor for $100, (All day long) so the basic computer was right around $1050.00!!! CHECK IT OUT!! hell its better than mine!

Asus A7V 266 FSB (with Raid support)
AMD T-Bird @ 1333 MHz,
256 meg Micron PC133 RAM
ASUS (Nvidia) Geforce2 GTS PRO 64 Meg DDR Video card
IBM Deskstar 7200 RPM 60 Gig HDD
HP 9500i CDRW 12x8x32
Toshiba 16x DVD rom
Soundblaster Live 5.1 digital PCI sound card
3com nic
Altec Lansing subwoofer speaker system

This computer would be close to $2000 at "gateway" or "Dell"
totally upgradable. Nice system.


Truly wonderful computing times we live in!!!!

This box just plain screams!


Quaddout!

[Alaccountant]

Guess you don't live near a big discount store. LOL

Pentium 4's are selling for $999 on TV....Don't want to rain on your parade, but, you said somewhere that you wanted someone to harrass.....LOL

[wannano6]

Quad stop it I quit looking at computer sh!t I was upgrading every month I have a pentium III 933 and I know there are a lot better systems but where do you stop. I upgraded for 7 or 8 months there is no end new processors,video cards,memory it never ends I just quit looking I want to wait until at least a year goes by and then MAX OUT MY CARD AGAIN!!!!>>>LOL:D

[quaddawg]

Al, buddy, LOOK at what is in the computer (not to mention P4's suck) The video card alone costs over $200 most places and this spring it was over $300.00 The RAM, where do you find a "Store Bought" box with 256Meg for $999, 12x CDRW AND a DVD rom, not to mention the live value 5.1 digi. Jeex, harass all you want, but lets compare apples to apples here dude. A deskStar 60 gig at 7200 rpm, not some cheesy 60 or 40 gig 5200 unit, this one is full ATA100, and that motherboard, sweet mother of god, don't get me started, time for our illustrious Mayor to learn a little about computers I think. (Sorry Al, you asked for it!!)oh and by the way, IT IS NEW!!!! full warranty, AND it is filled with about $1000 or more worth of software. Did we mention the altecs???? LOL go back to computer 101 man.


Just for the hell of it, I went to my source and priced the componants for a pretty decent Pentium 4 system,(1.4 GHz and 40 gig drive) and I can build one for about $700 or so................. And this one can be upgraded in all areas, EASILY!!! Really, there is no comparison between a purpose built computer and a store bought! Really, the $999 specials are mostly all onboard peripherals and really don't take to being upgraded too well. in other words...JUNK AND TOO EXPENSIVE, I dare you to find me a computer with similar specs at the T-bird above for even close to $1100.00!!! Come on now, you are quick to judge, can you back it up?????? we will see. LOL http://www.5oclock.com/online/basket.asp?mscssid=AE2XTLVAHCSR2JR300L1RV6A4024CRCF







.[Edited by quaddawg on August 8th, 2001 at 11:54 PM]

[Hellspawn2]

Great setup quad :) The only thing i may differ on is the hp 9500 how come u didn't get a plexy drive now that the 24x is out and it support safedisc2 burns?

Look good though:)

[Kemuel]

The way I look at it, you can go out and purchase the LATEST and most SUPED UP PC out there, and 5 seconds later, it will be outdated.

[quaddawg]

Originally posted by Hellspawn2
Great setup quad :) The only thing i may differ on is the hp 9500 how come u didn't get a plexy drive now that the 24x is out and it support safedisc2 burns?

Look good though:)

He He, you caught me! They were out of the Plextor unit, and my Nephew didn't want to wait! Actually we had our eye on the Plextor 16x10x40 for $195, GOOD EYE!!
I told him that when the plex came in stock I would switch it out for him. We were still on a budget here, so I had to have him make some tough decisions. It is a budget smoker, not a lets see what we can spend box. I do want to build one of those though! About $2000, will get you just about the best of everything (within reason, no slammin!!!)[Edited by quaddawg on August 9th, 2001 at 07:34 AM]

[quaddawg]

Originally posted by Kemuel
The way I look at it, you can go out and purchase the LATEST and most SUPED UP PC out there, and 5 seconds later, it will be outdated.

Eh...... not really. I build mine so they can be upgraded. And the advances made are not always for the better. A good $200-400 upgrade every year will keep you in the thick of it. I built my present computer in January of this year, its a 1000 T-bird, running at 1156 ( I forget where I have my bus, but sandra sees it as 1156) and 256 Meg of pc 133, I have the Geforce2 GTS, it is still a VERY Viable system, I could sell the CPU and Vid card right now, put a little with it and be good to go.


Oh yeah, I forgot, My nephew didn't get the GTS he had the Geforce2 Pro 64 DDR, which is a little better than the GTS.

I built my Partner a computer January of 2000, it is getting outdated now, but it will still do almost everything mine will. He only spent $500.00 on his. I guess the point is....Build your box for what you want it to do, THEN add a couple hundred extra for a couple of steps up that you don't think you need (cause you will want it later!!) If you pick your componants for their "real world" performance level, and not just cause they are the Newest stuff out, then you will have much better luck at the Price Vs Performance battle. Choose wisely and your computer will last you over a year or two before upgrades are needed. If you are like me, you just upgrade for the hell of it. The computer I built myself last year would still do what I need it to, I just wanted to go faster, like building a Hot Rod! (now I am getting the itch!) I want a Geforce3 for example, now 99% of the games out run just fine on my GTS, BUT......... (see how it goes!!!)

I have a Plextor 8x4x32, I want a 12x Plexy, but I don't even use my burner very often, and the difference is about 5 minutes a CD. (damn those new plextors are nice) there are other concerns, such as the compatibility with burning protected cd's, but I dont do much of that anyway.

It's all in what you need your machine to do!


enough of my rambling!!! Quaddout.

[Hellspawn2]

Originally posted by quaddawg
Originally posted by Hellspawn2
Great setup quad :) The only thing i may differ on is the hp 9500 how come u didn't get a plexy drive now that the 24x is out and it support safedisc2 burns?

Look good though:)

He He, you caught me! They were out of the Plextor unit, and my Nephew didn't want to wait! Actually we had our eye on the Plextor 16x10x40 for $195, GOOD EYE!!
I told him that when the plex came in stock I would switch it out for him. We were still on a budget here, so I had to have him make some tough decisions. It is a budget smoker, not a lets see what we can spend box. I do want to build one of those though! About $2000, will get you just about the best of everything (within reason, no slammin!!!)[Edited by quaddawg on August 9th, 2001 at 07:34 AM]



Yep the plexy's can surely hurt in the budget area the last time i check the 24x were around 300 which is very high but if you do alot of backups of newer games it's worth it. I myself just picked up the 16/10/40 for 170 and it's a great drive I haven't made a coaster yet and backup many of my ps2 and vcd stuff.

[quaddawg]

thats a good price for the 16X where did you get it??

[ac4zu]

Good post Quad, I have never owned a name brand pre-made computEr (except my first computer the commodore 64 :)). I've been building my own since a friend showed me how with my first 286.
I know people are different but I have always enjoyed building my own pooter. I love it!

[Hellspawn2]

Originally posted by quaddawg
thats a good price for the 16X where did you get it??




go to pricewatch and search for plextor 16/10/40 i just went there and there are a couple of site that are selling them from 165 to 180 for the full retail version but there are some that just sell the OEM(drive only):)

[Kemuel]

I can see your point quad. My first post was just figuratively speaking.

[Test-Tech]

http://www.mpcnow.com/web/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MPC&Product_Code=MB-AS-A7V-SA-C&Category_Code=Asus-Boards
Asus A7V 266 FSB Motherboard $112.88

http://www.allstarcomponents.com/tbird.html
T-bird 1333MHz (266MHz FSB) / Basic Fan $120.00

http://www.bzboyz.com/store/mem_256.html
256 meg Micron PC133 RAM $54.18

http://www.atacom.com/program/atacom_www.cgi?cart_id=5611267_63_61_50_169&USER_ID=www&Pagecode=2|VIDA|MEMV
ASUS AGP-V7700 PRO GeForce2 AGP4X VID ACCEL 64MB DDR $174.95

http://www.newegg.com/ (currently a front page special)
IBM 60GB 7200RPM #IC35L060AVER07 Deskstar 60GXP Ultra ATA/100 8.5ms $152.00

http://www.zeehoo.com/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=zeehoo&Product_Code=hp12832&Category_Code=B1
HP 12x8x32 IDE CDRW Drive $99.00

http://www.store.yahoo.com/pclink/tos16xdvdoem.html
Toshiba 16x DVD $54.00 (47.00 if you mention Pricewatch when ordering)

http://www.pc-beyond.com/scard.htm
Soundblaster Live 5.1 $47.00

http://www.bayads.com/str1ab003/shop/SearchResults.asp?Prodstock=NC-3C590-PCI
3Com 590 EtherLink III $9.00

http://www.pc-beyond.com/speaker.htm
Altec Lansing subwoofer speaker system $27.00

Total $843.01

[Test-Tech]

I know I know!

You need a case and if you’re planning on overclocking the Procs. You may want a bigger cooling fan and a case fan also!

And the shipping from each place individually would run around $100.00 but if you shop around you can find similar prices from one place.


TT

Prolly should have added the statement:

“And your still under $1200.00”
[Edited by Test-Tech on August 10th, 2001 at 12:33 PM]

[quaddawg]

I got better Altechs than that, a better nic, and otherwise the prices I got were similar, no shipping, one store. ( you don't show a Hewlett Packard 17 inch monitor on there anywhere)

I paid, ALOT less for the memory several of your deals were a little cheaper, and some of mine were, I got a nice case, 300 w, and some extras, for $60.00 which I consider high, but remember, he showed up at noon, and by 5 oclock that night, we had gone shopping, built and loaded it, as well as watched a little TV as the hd formatted and windoze installed, we even ordered and ate a Pizza, not to mention the priceless time spent with family, laughing and carrying on. So..... your total, $850, plus a case makes $910.00 plus shipping is $1010.00 The nicer NIC and SPeakers are 35 more (at least) and you still don't have a 17 inch monitor. You are at $1045 without a monitor my total is $1150,WITH A MONITOR. Tax is included in mine, since I don't live out of state, and that was $60, but still I am right there with the price, and I got everything in two stops no waiting for shipping, back orders, etc..... you have made my point exactly, AND I still met your price! Hmmmmmm. what was your point???[Edited by quaddawg on August 10th, 2001 at 07:33 AM]

[quaddawg]

Mcron 6 layer pc133 256 is $33.50 at my store

5oclock.com

[Kemuel]

Quad, I might look you up in the future when I am ready for a new PC. You sound as if you definitely know what you are doing. Just as long as you don't charge me an arm and leg for labor costs LOL!!!!

[quaddawg]

Uh.... if you are in the area, I could hook you up, but I don't know if shipping, labor and all would save you anything, I could probably talk you through building one though. It is rather simple (until the conflicts start rearing thier ugly heads!!)


Holler if you need something.


quaddout.

[Test-Tech]

Originally posted by quaddawg
I got everything in two stops no waiting for shipping, back orders, etc..... you have made my point exactly, AND I still met your price! Hmmmmmm. what was your point???[Edited by quaddawg on August 10th, 2001 at 07:33 AM]
Quaddawg,
Don’t get me wrong I wasn’t trying to make any detrimental point. It was more like trying to give supporting evidence that a system this nice could be built for under $1200.00. You know how the skeptics are? If you don’t give some kind of proof they think you’re blowing smoke.

TT

[quaddawg]

It's cool, I thought you were saying I paid too much.

Yep, you are right, also, people see the E-machines and stuff on TV and mail out advertisments, and they don't know any better and go get a bottom of the line system and 3 years of AOL! (god forbid!) He He, thanks man, we are all on the same team here.


Quaddout,

DOWN WITH SHEEPLE!!!