Buying a Prebuilt computer...

[imported_shaw]

All from newegg.com (bored)

Case
Antec Solution SLK3700-BQE Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case Single fan 350W SmartPower ATX12V Power Supply - Retail $79.99
N82E16811129148

Motherboard
DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 Ultra-D Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $135
N82E16813136152 SLI IMO is for suckers and people who want large e-penises for their benchmarks, I think they have a horrible price/performance ratio

Processor
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Toledo 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Dual Core Processor Model ADA4400DAA6CD - OEM $615
N82E16819103542Overclock is slightly and you'd get a 4800+ while saving $400, X2 is also better future proofing for Unreal Engine 3 and other future multi-thread games

Heatsink Fan
ZALMAN CNPS7000B-CU 92mm 2 Ball Cooling Fan/Heatsink - Retail $43.99
N82E16835118113

Thermal Paste
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM $7.99
N82E16835100007

Memory
OCZ 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Platinum System Memory Model OCZ4002048ELDCPE-K - Retail $269.95
N82E16820227210

Hard drive
Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 ST3200826AS 200GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM $111
N82E16822148066Seagate Barracudas are #1 in game load times, Raptors are overrated

KINGWIN KF-81-BK Black Serial ATA Aluminum mobile rack - Retail $22.99
N82E16817121165Not needed, but I like 'em in my PCs

Power Supply
Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-450 ATX12V 450W Power Supply - Retail $69
N82E168171039367800GTX recommends 350W PSU, 450W is only a few bucks more then the Antec 400W so I said.. oh what the hell

Video Card
eVGA 256-P2-N528-AX Geforce 7800GTX 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail $542
N82E16814130234

Keyboard
Logitech Internet Pro 967450-0403 Black PS/2 Wired Standard Keyboard - OEM $9.99
N82E16823126167

Mouse
Logitech MX518 931352-0403 2-Tone 8 Buttons 1x Wheel USB + PS/2 Optical Mouse - Retail $39.97
N82E16826104178

Optical Device
NEC Black IDE DVD Burner Model ND-3540A - Retail $55.99
N82E16827152052

Optical Device2
LITE-ON Black IDE CD Burner Model SOHR-5239V BK RT - Retail $22.99
N82E16827106997

Floppy Drive
NEC Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive - OEM $8.99
N82E16821152005Yes you need a floppy, Windows Vista ain't around yet!

Round Cables
Unincom ROUND, True ATA133/100/66/33 ( BLACK ) IDE Cable, 3-Head, 24 Inches Model IDE-24BLACK - Retail $3.59
N82E16812181082

Unincom ROUND, 10", Floppy drive cable, Booted, 2-Connector ( BLACK ), Single-device Model FLOPPY-10BLACK - Retail $2.49
N82E16812181002

Soundcard
CREATIVE Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS GAMER Limited Edition 70SB035000013 8 (7.1) Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail $114
N82E16829102171You do know this is the same thing as the regular Audigy 2 Zs, but they toss in a few games for you (most crappy)?

Operating System
Microsoft Windows XP HOME Edition With Service Pack 2 - OEM $88.95
N82E16837102151You don't need Professional unless you plan to connect to a domain or your a security freak with local policies


Total: $2243.87

No Speakers, no monitor, just like your config. Also included an X2 processor.

If you want that harness.

CASEACE GGPFKS GEARGRIP PRO (Standard) Computer Carrying Harness - Retail $26.50
N82E16811999901

 

[imported_Bukk]

Shaw,

thats not a bad deal considering AMD x2 like you said. Difference being about $370. But what about getting Battlefield 2, Farcry for free ($70ish total)? Now total difference about $300 and also if I did take the WD Raptor out, that would save $175 dollars, bringing difference to about $200. Now take the upgrade to X2 bringing difference back up to about $360 or so. Take the mobo Now take into consideration the 3year onsite warranty $99, which i think is a good deal.

One thing, this would be for my broher in another state. He knows little about computers. So the warranty would help him out if something was to go wrong. Not to mention he wants both games i listed. I dont think its to bad a deal.

Now I think im gonna change back to xp home, get rid of the WD raptor and keep the Seagate and change the mobo to DLI. Ill probably dump the SB Audigy ZS2 gamer and just get ZS2. Also ill look at upgrading the to X2 like you said.

Thanks for the input Shaw and everyone.

 

[rise]

yeah, i was going to say to save yourself by buying it all now. you can get some of the non-essentials cheaper elsewhere later and add them as you want. i mean, the nec-3540 is selling all day long for 50ish delivered from newegg, the soundblaster gamer is a waste, you certainly don't need the raptor, etc.

or buy my rig anda add the 7800gtx sriusly though, if you're spending that kind of bank, get an x2 in the equation.

 

[imported_meatball]

Avoid Monarch like the plague for systems. And make sure anything else you purchase from there is backed by a reputable credit card company.

 

[imported_shaw]

Now take into consideration the 3year onsite warranty $99, which i think is a good deal.

More than likely it wouldn't screw up until the 4th year.

Unless he's a major PC n00b that clicks on random links that people send him on AIM, I don't think there's much that can go wrong as long as you tell him a few tips on taking care of his PC.

There's alway Bestbuy's geek squad! *rolls eyes*

Plus, probably could drump the uber expensive memory unless there's going to be some overclocking going on.

OCZ Value Series 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model OCZ4002048V3DC-K - Retail $193.95
N82E16820146841

Though a minor OC would be good, like I said you could save money by slightly OCing the X2 4400+ up 200MHz and you have a X2 4800+.

 

[Weatherton]

My father bought a system from ABS and other than being sparce on case fans and also loud due to the speed of the case fans, I found them to be a good deal and their customer support is top-notch.

As for monarch, I just bought a combo from them, and got a few freebies like Far Cry on DVD and most of my components were cheaper than I could find elsewhere (the proc most notably was about $30 less). Monarch's sales reps have been helpful btw.

 

[mwmorph]

Tusanmi-$115
XP Pro $88-OEM (pro only adds a few networking options, nothing else) + ship
Works OEM-18.95+ ship
Antec Truepower 550W Retail Free $89.10ship
Asus A8n Sli Deluxe $161.99 free ship
Amd 64 3700+ San Deigo $323 Retail
EVGA 7800GTX with Free Battlefield 2 $529 Free ship
OCZ Value Series 2GB Dual Chnanel Kit 197.80(Batllefield 2 Needs 2 gigs of ram and games in the future are going to run a lot better with 2 gigs. Besides Low Latency ram helps performance of Athalon 64s exactly 0-1%)
Audigy 2 $79.99+ shipping
Raptor 74gig $175 free ship
Seagate 7200.8 $108 + ship
TOSHIBA Black 16X DVD-ROM 52X CD-R 32X CD-RW 52X CD-ROM 2M Cache IDE Combo Drive - OEM $29.99
NEC 3540a (best burner out there)41.99 + ship
Mx518 $34.96
NEC Black Floppy Drive $11.49
Logitech Elite 967234-0403 Black 104 Normal Keys 19 Function Keys USB + PS/2 Wired Standard Keyboard - Retail $38.99

total is 2042.25 without shipping.
all items that dont say + ship already include shipping costs.

it costs hundreds less, will be just as fast or faster in gaming and has the Best Gaming Kwyboard and mouse as well as a free copy of Battlefiedl 2. To pad it out to what it used to cast for ABS pc, add a 7.1 speaker system, the 2 games and a quality CRT monitor for gaming.

 

[nick1985]

overclocking != less stability

 

[wpshooter]

I can't believe they would include $14.00 for thermal grease which would be about the size of a grain of rice !!!!!!!!

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: wpshooter
I can't believe they would include $14.00 for thermal grease which would be about the size of a grain of rice !!!!!!!!

Hopefully they at least give you the rest of the tube.

 

[Zebo]

Oh My, $2500 and no monitor!!!!?!?!?!

You could build a dual core setup that would rape that with 20" LCD monitor for $2000 -- but with top of the line case/mem etc $2400

First things first is those high end processors are a waste. 100% price premium for 5% more performance?? I don't think so. Get a 4200 or a 3800 single core. Even if you don't wish to OC the speed difference is negligible, and 4200 will destory FX in any multitasking, multitreaded scenario.


Anyway it should go somthing like this:

AMD 4200 $500
XFX 7800GTX $500
Lain Li v1100 $200
http://www.newegg.com/OldVersion/app/Vi...Desc.asp?description=11-112-052&depa=0
OCZ BH-5 1G $140
Dell 2005 LCD $350
Audigy ZS platnium $90
Enermax 465 33A12 $65
Logitech Cordless Desktop MX3100 $110
Abit AN8 ultra $122
Raptor $160
Maxtor 200GB $90
NEC dual layer 3520 $40
NEC dual layer 3520 $40
Floppy $10


Grandtotal = $2400 you actually get a monitor, better mouse, better keyboard, Better processor, better case, better PSU, Two DVD burners, better sound card. and 5x better case etcetcetc


And most of us save our copy of XP so that's just fluff along with all that other software you'lll never use.

 

[rstove02]

Originally posted by: JToxic
Hopefully they at least give you the rest of the tube.

Nope...tis just for the application.

 

[imported_Bukk]

Well I finally placed an order with Monarch computers last night. Thanks for all the inputs in helping me make my decision. Here it is:

220139 Logitech Media Keyboard PS/2 (967415-0403) 1
$20.00 $20.00

230239 Logitech MX518 Optical Mouse (Black) (931352-0403)
1 $39.00 $39.00

270386 10' CAT6 Patch Cable 500Mhz/Molded Boot (Blue) 1
$5.40 $5.40

80390 Monarch Furia Custom Desktop with SLI 1
$59.00 $59.00

Case: 100165 - No PS - Thermaltake Armor Full Tower Alum
$165.00 $165.00

Power Supply: 100122 - PS 535W - Enermax EG565P-FMA
REV.2.0 ATX $89.00 $89.00

Motherboard: 110222 - DFI Lan Party NForce4 SLI-DR
Audio/GB-LAN $187.00 $187.00

Processor: 120241 - AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Dual-Core 1MB
Per $670.00 $670.00

Thermal Grease: 800018 - Shin-Etsu G675 Thermal Grease
(Cools CPU $14.00 $14.00

Heat Sink Fan: 130150 - Thermaltake A1772 AMD
Recommended for Opt $49.00 $49.00

Memory: 140226 - DDR (400) 3200 - 2 GB DDR (2 pcs 1GB)
OCZ $273.00 $273.00 ...(platinum series)

Hard Drive: 150034 - SATA - Seagate (ST3300831AS) 300
GB/7200- $159.00 $159.00

CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW: 160239 - DVD±RW - NEC
ND-3520A-KIT-BL 16X Dual Lay $49.00 $49.00

CD-RW/DVD-RW: 160860 - Combo - Lite-On SOHC-5236K
52x32x52x16 DV $41.00 $41.00

Floppy Drive: 170108 - Mitsumi Floppy 7-in-1 USB Card
Reader/Sma $25.00 $25.00

Sound Card: 180329 - Creative Audigy 2 ZS
24BIT/5.1/IEEE/MIDI/ $93.00 $93.00

Video Card: 190416 - eVGA GeForce 7800 GTX 256MB
DDR3/PCI-E/VI $525.00 $525.00...(comes with Battfield 2 for free)

Round Cables: 270157 - Round Cables UV Kit 2-24" IDE
1-18" FDD 1 $29.00 $29.00

Operating System: 210112 - Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition w/SP2 $89.00 $89.00

Warranty: 800072 - 24/7 Tech Support + Plus 3 Year
Onsite Wa $99.00 $99.00

Hot Rush: None - Standard Order ( ships within 8-13
business
Far Cry Promotion: 270332 - FREE Full DVD Version of Far
Cry 64/32 -

Napster Promotion: 270136 - FREE Napster Music Download
for 4 Months

Half Life 2 Promotion: 27F854 - FREE Half Life 2 Full
Version Coupon with

CD-RW Software: 210613 - Ahead Nero 6.3 Suite DVD+-RW
Software (OE $6.99 $6.99

DVD-ROM Software: 210601 - Cyberlink PowerDVD 6.0 (OEM)
$6.99 $6.99

Shipping: Federal Express Ground - Five (5) to Seven
(7) Day: $46.40

Sales Tax: $0.00
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total: $2,739.78