Buying this computer from ibuypower

[Blonde]

Hey, I'm going to order a computer from ibuypower. Just looking for last second opinions before I order it:

MB: BIOSTAR M7NCD-PRO NFORCE-2 ULTRA-400 CHIP W/USB 2.0, LAN, 5.1 AUDIO, 8X AGP
CARD_MEDIA: [FREE!!!] INTERNAL 6-IN-1 FLASH MEDIA CARD READER/WRITER
CAS: RAIDMAX SCORPIO-868 MID-TOWER CASE + 350 WATT POWER + WINDOW...[as shown]
CASCOLOR: SILVER COLOR
CD: 16X DVD-ROM
CPU: AMD ATHLON XP 2800+ QuantiSpeed CPU [512K CACHE]
FDD: MITSUMI 1.44 MB FLOPPY DRIVE
HDD: WESTERN DIGITAL 80 GB 7200 RPM ULTRA ATA-100 8MB CACHE BUFFER MEMORY: 1024 MB DUAL CHANNEL DDR-400 [512MB X 2] PC3200 MHZ
MONITOR: [SPECIAL!!!] VIEWSONIC 19-INCHES E90 .23H DPI HORIZONTAL SVGA MONITOR
USB: STANDARD 2X USB 2.0 PORTS ONBOARD
VIDEO: ** 8X AGP ** ATI RADEON 9800 128MB W/ DVI + TV OUT
WARRANTY: STANDARD WARRANTY: 3-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY + LIFE-TIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT


$1025.05 with free shipping

I already have a couple other parts from my old machine (audigy, cdrw, etc) in case you're wondering about a few parts I didn't get. Feel free to contact me on AIM with your opinion: ElanX

Thanks,
Blonde!

(editing out the numbers next to the components since people are getting confused and thinking those are the prices for the parts)

 

[BaboonGuy]

i strongly suggest building your own computer. you can get a lot more stuff for that amount of money!

 

[Blonde]

Originally posted by: BaboonGuy
i strongly suggest building your own computer. you can get a lot more stuff for that amount of money!

if so, please show me

 

[BudAshes]

i dun know that actually looks like not to bad a deal since, they are building it for you and probably give you some kind of warranty and tech support and all the components seem pretty solid in it. Though 350 watt ps maybe a little small but its acceptable.

 

[Blonde]

Originally posted by: Xafgoat
i dun know that actually looks like not to bad a deal since, they are building it for you and probably give you some kind of warranty and tech support and all the components seem pretty solid in it. Though 350 watt ps maybe a little small but its acceptable.

Yeah, I was gonna pay the $29 to upgrade to a 420 watt, but I went over my $1000 budget to get the 2800 vs. the 2500. The system with 420 watt and a 2500 instead would be $962.35 which fits into my budget, so if you think that's better...

 

[sh4nsen]

Get the better power supply and then just OC the 2500, its a great chip.

 

[Blonde]

while we're talking options, I might also pay a little more for a perfect-flat viewsonic monitor. it's like $40 more. but again, I might want to cut out that cpu, since from a lot of benchmarks, it's not a huge difference. here's the page where I'm configuring if you guys want to see what other options on parts they have: http://www.ibuypower.com/confirm/configurator-special-b.htm (they take off another 5% at checkout)

 

[Nebor]

Um... Radeon 9800 for $165... good deal.

 

[Blonde]

Originally posted by: Nebor
Um... Radeon 9800 for $165... good deal.

It's not 165, it's 165 to upgrade from whatever the default video card of that special is.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: Blonde

Originally posted by: Nebor
Um... Radeon 9800 for $165... good deal.

It's not 165, it's 165 to upgrade from whatever the default video card of that special is.

Yeah, you should buy a bunch for $165 and resell them for more. Retail is like $250. You could make enough money to pay for your computer!

 

[Bryans]

I would recomend the better power supply paired with the 2500+ chip. Even if you choose not to overclock the chip (and I dont see why you would choose not to) the performance difference will be negligable.

Otherwise, it looks like you are paying an additional $185 for the E90 monitor. There were several threads in the hotdeals forum advertising 21" refurb monitors from teamexcess.com /merkortech.com /allthingstech.com. There were 21" perfect flat monitors selling for ~$250-260 once shipping is factored in. With the $70 you would save from going with the 2500+ and the $185 you budgeted for the E90 monitor you could get a far better monitor.

For example....

just something to think about, as far as monitors go I always recomend that you buy the best you can find (since you will be staring at it 100% of the time you used the PC its kinda the most importent component). The computer will be sitting down by your feet gathering dust and obsolete in a year, but a good monitor can last many years.

 

[Blonde]

Originally posted by: Bryans
I would recomend the better power supply paired with the 2500+ chip. Even if you choose not to overclock the chip (and I dont see why you would choose not to) the performance difference will be negligable.

Otherwise, it looks like you are paying an additional $185 for the E90 monitor. There were several threads in the hotdeals forum advertising 21" refurb monitors from teamexcess.com /merkortech.com /allthingstech.com. There were 21" perfect flat monitors selling for ~$250-260 once shipping is factored in.

Ok, as I'm configured now, I'm gonna get the 2500 with probably the 420 power supply, and I was gonna go with a perfect flat viewsonic monitor that's about 229. The thing is that you only get the 5% off if you spend 1000. So if everything is 828 without the monitor, then I get to add the E90f+sb monitor for only 176.15 more, and that's including free shipping. Shipping on a monitor like the one you just gave as an example is $54 dollars. But yeah, you just messed me up, cause I really wanted a 21 incher but didn't think it was in my league. If I can get one for about $250 with shipping I'd def. do it, but I still think it's gonna be a little more. Also, I do have a couple working ok 17 inch monitors, so including a new monitor with my order isn't a priority.

 

[BaboonGuy]

okay i lied, you can't get a lot more stuff, but you can get better, more quality stuff.

sonata 90
truepower 380w comes with sonata
9800 128 np 250
shuttle nf2 mobo 63
barton 2500+ 90
2x512 buffalo pc3200 200
wd 80gb se 80
NEC FE990-BK 19" Black Monitor 255
Lite-On 16x DVD-ROM 31
sk-7 with l1a 30

$1080 total

you'll have a great comp (you will be able to oc that 2500+ to a 3200+ at 200FSB no problem with those quality components) with a better monitor (flatscreen NEC, good one)
plus it'll run super quiet, and look awesome (the sonata is a very very nice case)

oh and those are all black components too, so it'll look real cool.

 

[Blonde]

Originally posted by: BaboonGuy
okay i lied, you can't get a lot more stuff, but you can get better, more quality stuff.

sonata 90
truepower 380w comes with sonata
9800 128 np 250
shuttle nf2 mobo 63
barton 2500+ 90
2x512 buffalo pc3200 200
wd 80gb se 80
NEC FE990-BK 19" Black Monitor 255
Lite-On 16x DVD-ROM 31
sk-7 with l1a 30

$1080 total

you'll have a great comp (you will be able to oc that 2500+ to a 3200+ at 200FSB no problem with those quality components) with a better monitor (flatscreen NEC, good one)
plus it'll run super quiet, and look awesome (the sonata is a very very nice case)

yeah, but you didn't factor in shipping, the pain of dealing with multiple vendors, a floppy drive, 3-year warranty.. I really do want to build it myself, I like choosing each exact part. but I don't think it's worth it to build it myself for maybe even more money.

 

[BaboonGuy]

all of that is free shipping i believe (from reputable vendors, most from newegg, 9800np from cc), floppies are like 10 bucks so add that on. 3-year warranty is good but if you spent quality time on building this, guarenteed with these quality components it would last longer than 3 years. personally i'd go self-built for look/noise/better components/satisfaction

 

[hurrikaane]

Build it yourself. One example of price differences is that WD HD of yours is at $95.. at newegg it's $78. Can save a good bit of dough if you DIY

Edit: plus if you DIY you can just buy the Sonata.. beautiful case w/ nice included Antec PSU.

 

[BaboonGuy]

Originally posted by: hurrikaane
Build it yourself. One example of price differences is that WD HD of yours is at $95.. at newegg it's $78. Can save a good bit of dough if you DIY

Edit: plus if you DIY you can just buy the Sonata.. beautiful case w/ nice included Antec PSU.

the 9800 NP on there for +165 only killed me in trying to get a better deal with diy. ask yourself though blonde, do you REALLY need a 9800NP? that's a lot of power, which no game right now can utilize (unless you are big on having full aa/af... personally i see little difference). you could just build it yourself, get a great computer and buy a 9600 pro for around 140 or something.

 

[Blonde]

Originally posted by: hurrikaane
Build it yourself. One example of price differences is that WD HD of yours is at $95.. at newegg it's $78. Can save a good bit of dough if you DIY

um, where do you see $95 for my HD???? It doesn't even have an idividual prices listed. Just look at the total package. You can't beat it really.

 

[chocoruacal]

Looks good Blonde. When you factor in the costs of XP alone and then the "advantage" of a 3 year warranty, its pretty close to what you could do yourself if you HAD to buy from Newegg today.

 

[Blonde]

Originally posted by: chocoruacal
Looks good Blonde. When you factor in the costs of XP alone and then the "advantage" of a 3 year warranty, its pretty close to what you could do yourself if you HAD to buy from Newegg today.

to clarify, no operating system. I'm emailing today to find out the brand of the power supplies.

 

[waitingforprescott]

I would highly suggest checking out abs computers and monarch computers aswell. I did alot of research on this subject and came to the conclusion that these two were the best.

 

[Budmantom]

I would go with a different mobo.

 

[Blonde]

Originally posted by: Budmantom
I would go with a different mobo.

From the reviews I read, that Biostar is a decent board and a great value. The upgrade options for mb are:

ASUS A7N8X-X for +$9
LEADTEK K7NCR18D-PRO +$19
MSI K7N2-DELTA-L +$21
ASUS A7N8X +$39
ABIT NF7-S +$55
ASUS A7N8X-DX DELUXE +$67

I'm considering maybe upgrading, but I think I'd be fine with the Biostar. Let me know what you guys think.

-Blonde!

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

Abit, or the last asus.

 

[diacetylMorphine]

Hey Blonde, just saying thanks for posting this! I had just bought a system at another store, I won't say the company just in case. But the system I got from there was more expensive, so I canceled it. When I saw this I went there to make my own system.. and it came out to a total of $669 with free shipping (about $100 less with better 3100 ram). I got it for a much cheaper price and with the 2500+ barton core. I called in and they say that it could take as long as 3 weeks though, that is the only problem. Hope it doesn't take that long... One other thing is the people who answer the phones at Ibuypower.com are assholes. FYI.

EDIT

One quick question, sorry about hijacking your post, but which is a better choice, the FX5200 or ATI 9200? Both are shitti, I know, but which one is the less shitiest? I went with the FX5200, reading a couple reviews this was the faster of the two, but I could always change...