Give your opinion!! $600 or less for total system!

[WyteWatt]

Originally posted by: CaptnKirk
NewEgg sells CODGEN cases, which are decent, and functional along with a 300W P/S for only $ 45. It's not the best, and it's not the worst, about the middle.
When you considrer that the most obvious thing about your computer systems initial impression is APPEARANCE - the thing you see first, maybe $ 14 MORE would be a nice upgrade, as you have hit a level of 'Free Freight' which gives you a boost in buying power.

BIG 3 MotherboardsAbit,Asus, & EPoX. You can get a performance advantage by using a higher end Mobo with a Midlevel CPU than can be had from a less capable board with a higher level CPU = $ 20 on the Motherboard pays off better than $ 20 on the Processor.
There are a lot of nice boards under $ 100, and some stunning stuff under $ 120. The REFERBS don't have a board over $ 70, and there are some really good items there - Feelin Lucky? I've done 2 Abits that way and they run perfect, but it's a gamble & you can send it back.
Make sure you get all the "Tech" Sound, LAN, USB 2.0, Fire, Raid and SATA are available too, but don't fall to O/B Video.

Now lei's get into The REACTOR CORE There's a XP1800+ T'Bred W/ HS&F - 3 Year Warranty for $ 72. You can't buy a Heatsink & Fan combo for $ 7. If you picked the "Right" Motherboard - one with multiplyers over 13.5X, you can run the XP1800+ as an XP2400+ since the bridges aren't defeated - in short "UNLOCKED".

If you can get CRUCIAL - that's Micron's PREMIUM, produced from within the Micron Factory - That's some of the best memory made by anyone, that price? Jump on it.

I've come to really appreciate [WinXP]http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage.asp?style=album[/l] and how do you beat $ 97 for it?

CaptnKirk do most Athlon XP 1800+ processors overclock to Athlon XP 2400+ speeds?

 

[PrinceXizor]

Bump for edit

 

[Malladine]

Ok, give me your current list man and i'll see if I can recommend anything to reduce the total.

 

[PrinceXizor]

um...the current list is up there ^^^ in the first post

 

[Malladine]

Oh yeah

Well, what onboard VPU does that mobo have? You may be better off buying a mobo/cpu combo and a separate low end VPU.

 

[Rio Rebel]

I have that motherboard, and I'm very happy with it. One thing, though - if you ever get a cpu that can go higher than 400mhz bus speed, you'll wish you had more options on the FSB choices. It maxes out at 200 (barring a bios update, which I'm hoping for.)

 

[PrinceXizor]

Well, since 400 Mhz processors aren't even out yet from AMD, I'm not going to worry about future compatability with FSB's beyond 400Mhz.

Also, that mb plus onboard MX420 or whatever the current Nvidia gpu is...is cheaper overall than say a $75 KT333 board and a $70 ATI 8500LE. In the long run, my brother will save a few bucks now, have greater upgrade path in the future (with a nforce2 and 400Mzh possiblities) and he can save up and buy a nice mid-range $150-$200 card when he can afford it. He can "survive" on the "crappy" MX series until then. Originally I did have the MSI KT3 Ultra 2 (MSI has a replacement, don't recall its official name though) and an 8500LE, then changed my mind.

P-X

 

[Gage8]

Originally posted by: PrinceXizor
Thanks for the update...I'm guessint $200 left for the monitor should be plenty for a quality 17" CRT

I agree Antec SP 300W are great power supplies...but I'd still like to know where you are getting a mid-tower and psu for $48

Also interested in the $4 Heat Sink and Fan!

um...$200 should be enough for a great quality 19". I got a 19" NEC Accusync for $210
Newegg has the same in 17' for $119

 

[Budmantom]

Newegg also has a nice 17inch KDS monitor for 112 shipped.

 

[Budmantom]

That will leave you .04

 

[PrinceXizor]

What's the p/n for this KDS...and any good reviews?

 

[BoberFett]

I bought 512 MB of Simpletech PC2700 from Newegg for ~$55 and I'm running a 1700+ at 10x166. Decent performance bump without any serious cooling. I'd go that route if I were you. Especially if you're using XP, you don't want 256, that'd suck.

 

[Budmantom]

It's the KDS 17" (16.0" vis) Professional Business Color Monitor VS-7P Retail there are now reviews but it only gets 3/5 stars, on the other hand KDS has a great 3yr warrenty.

 

[PrinceXizor]

Originally posted by: BoberFett
I bought 512 MB of Simpletech PC2700 from Newegg for ~$55 and I'm running a 1700+ at 10x166. Decent performance bump without any serious cooling. I'd go that route if I were you. Especially if you're using XP, you don't want 256, that'd suck.

According to this link its $60 plus $5 shipping. At googlegear I'd get 512MB of PC2700 Crucial for $66.00 shipped at this link.

I realize 512 would be better, but I'm constrained by budget....just can't squeeze the extra $30, its on a pretty tight budget as it is.

P-X

 

[amcdonald]

Avoid KDS, go with NEC as from what i've gathered they are of better quality and $5 may not seem like its worht it now, but it will when you have to ship it back to newegg for RMA. Your motherboard is eating up a lot of money... I've used the Asus A7N266-VM AA ($73 Newegg) in a few systems and it works fine. For memory and mboard consider the FS forums if time isn't a big issue.
As for a $13 floppy, do you even need this?
I'd say swap in a floppy you already have to flash the bios and don't buy another floppy. Unless your brother is taking assignments to class on floppy or something. And if you find you need one in the future just buy it.

 

[optimistic]

www.cyberpowerpc.com won Computer Shoppers Best Value comp for ~$500

19-inch Viewsonic Monitor
XP 2100+
256MB PC3200
Nforce 2 Motherboard
GF4 MX 440
40GB HDD
48/12/48 CDRW
Beige Arcylic Case with Front USB2.0 Ports
+ Mouse, KB & 3.1 Speakers.
3years part, 1 year onsite, lifetime support

for $599.

I don't see it on their site though, and I don't know much about the company either.

 

[PrinceXizor]

Originally posted by: amcdonald
Avoid KDS, go with NEC as from what i've gathered they are of better quality and $5 may not seem like its worht it now, but it will when you have to ship it back to newegg for RMA.

Yeah, I'll take an NEC over a KDS any day, that's why its listed above.

Your motherboard is eating up a lot of money... I've used the Asus A7N266-VM AA ($73 Newegg) in a few systems and it works fine. For memory and mboard consider the FS forums if time isn't a big issue.

Well, the mb is selected for two reasons 1.On board GeForce4 MX gpu (yes, in comparison it sucks, but it will serve as a nice stop-gap until a better card is purchased). 2. Forward compatability, realistically, this board could last my brother awhile with an upgrade to a 333Mhz FSB, and then a 400Mhz FSB, thus saving him money in the long run. Well worth the $30 imo, plus the onboard Firewire, USB 2.0 and audio. 3. An Nforce?! board, surely you jest.

As for a $13 floppy, do you even need this? I'd say swap in a floppy you already have to flash the bios and don't buy another floppy. Unless your brother is taking assignments to class on floppy or something. And if you find you need one in the future just buy it.

Yep, he needs one for school, that's why its going in there.

P-X

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: PrinceXizor
Then why are u running ur rig with PC2700 with a 266 FSB Chip?

because i have mine overclocked to 166 FSB maybe???

 

[snik]

Want a good monitor? This flat-screen European Samsung (Samtron) is $124.82 at Sams Club, $99.73 for non-flat one, and $184.82 for 19 inch flat. I would highly reccomend these tubes. If you don't have membership at Sams Club you can get it from teir site. I have the 19 inch version of this monitor and its amazing. I like it way better than my friend's 19 inch NEC.

 

[PrinceXizor]

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: PrinceXizor
Then why are u running ur rig with PC2700 with a 266 FSB Chip?

because i have mine overclocked to 166 FSB maybe???

Relax dude....no ones bringing it up now but you...this is your SECOND answer to that statement which was posted so long ago.

Do you have any other suggestions for my value rig?

P-X