I'm trying to shave $100 off this build (I'm at $880)

[goingmerry]

i'm the friend firewolfsm was making this build for, this is for a family computer and in order to do this i needed to show my dad that it saves money from buying an equally compared dell. and because dells include vista, speakers, monitor, and keyboard i really dont think it does. of course i wont be able to oc but that means nothing to my dad. a dell dimension 9200 is only 1019 with almost the same parts just a worse graphics card. including monitor adn vista it makes up the difference. w/o the monitor the dell works out to be the same price after shiping, with vista building would be more so i think dell it is.

 

[Frintinrocks]

Dude...it looks like you're getting a Dell...then. 8 )

 

[firewolfsm]

Originally posted by: Zebo
This is what I'd build if I only had $800 and it would smoke all these builds in gaming and load times.

* BIOSTAR TFORCE 550 Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 550 MCP ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail 63.99
* AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ Brisbane 1.9GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADO3600IAA5DL - OEM $100 make into FX60++
*OCZ Gold 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $91
* Leadtek WinFast PX8800 GTS TDH GeForce 8800GTS 640MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail $350
*"goodpower" 500W PSU $50
*Coolermaster Mystique case $24.99
*Western Digital WD2500KS 250GB 16MB cache $66
*Samsung 18X DVD w/ LiteScribe - $32
*Arctic cooling 64 $14

=$791

It's not purely a gaming machine though, it'll be used for a lot more than that. That was my first thought too.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: goingmerry
i think dell it is.

If you get one that uses the Nvidia Geforce6100 chipset on the motherboard, you can actually overclock those Dells!!! Also, if you get that chipset, they have PCI-E slots. Just opt to not get a separate video card from Dell and then buy one elsewhere and pop it in.

$889
Dimension E521

AMD Athlon? 64 X2 Dual-Core 3800+
FREE Upgrade to Genuine Windows Vista? Home Premium w/1GB memory
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz- 2DIMMs
250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache?
16x DVD+/-RW Drive
20 inch E207WFP Widescreen Digital Flat Panel
NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE Integrated Graphics GPU
Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
No speakers (Speakers are required to hear audio from your system)
Dell USB Keyboard and Dell 2-button Scroll Mouse
No Floppy Drive Included
56K PCI Data Fax ModemNo productivity suite- Includes Microsoft Works 8. DOES NOT INCLUDE MS WORD
No Security Subscription
No preinstalled software
My Service
1Yr Ltd Warranty and At-Home Service
Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 7.0
Integrated 10/100 Ethernet
Windows Vista? Premium

$110 can get you a 7600GT ($90 after rebate, both ZZF and Newegg) which is a lot better than the $100 x1300 Pro that Dell is flogging. That will give you a $1000 computer with the graphics power to play any game, overclockable, with 2GB RAM, DVDRW, 250GB HDD, 20" widescreen LCD and Windows Vista Premium. Oh yeah, a 1 year warranty too.

What's not to like for $1000?

 

[engiNURD]

Its only worth building it yourself if you have a specific purpose, like gaming or video editing. The better value also comes in the form of warranty. Most parts in a BIY rig have a 3yr warranty or better, whereas the standard Dell warranty is 1yr. The other tradeoffs include overclocking (which you mentioned makes no difference) and upgradability. Also, Dell use proprietary parts, such as PSUs (just enough power for the configured system), Cases (BTX) and Motherboards (non-ATX).

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: goingmerry
i'm the friend firewolfsm was making this build for, this is for a family computer and in order to do this i needed to show my dad that it saves money from buying an equally compared dell. and because dells include vista, speakers, monitor, and keyboard i really dont think it does. of course i wont be able to oc but that means nothing to my dad. a dell dimension 9200 is only 1019 with almost the same parts just a worse graphics card. including monitor adn vista it makes up the difference. w/o the monitor the dell works out to be the same price after shiping, with vista building would be more so i think dell it is.

How about we do this the other way around first then. You spec out a Dell and we beat it?

The only way we can't beat a dell is a blazing hot deasl like this one you just missed.

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?t=441025

 

[goingmerry]

theres the dell dimension 9200for $839:
Components:
Components
Intel® Core?2 Duo Processor E6300 (2MB L2 Cache,1.86GHz,1066 FSB)
Genuine Windows Vista? Home Basic
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 DIMMs
Free Hard Drive upgrade from 160GB to 250GB HD (9200)
Free upgrade from DVD to DVDRW
No Monitor
256MB ATI Radeon X1300 Pro
Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
Accessories
No Floppy Drive Included
No Modem
No speakers (Speakers are required to hear audio from your system)
Dell USB Keyboard
Dell® 2-button USB mouse
Software
No productivity suite- Includes Microsoft Works 8. DOES NOT INCLUDE MS WORD
No Security Subscription
Service
1 Year On-site Economy Plan
6 Months of America Online Membership Included
Purchase is not intended for resale.
Also Includes
Dimension 9200
Windows Vista? Basic
No Digital Music Software Requested
Corel Snapfire Basic - Organize and Edit your photos
Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 7.0

actualy thats worse, but its cheaper after you buy vista.

i thikn that one Zap mentioned is the best, i cant find better anyway, a 20inch widescreen would be sweet, i dont need a monitor but it would be better than what i have.

 

[faster]

I got one word for you man - EBAY !

Electronics are funny things. If they work, they are generally going to work longer than you need them. That may not apply to hard drives or CD rom drives with moving parts, but to memory and processor and motherboard it sure does. I run a core 2 extreme x6800. Its a $1000 processor that I paid $641.00 shipped on ebay. It runs just like any other processor - either it works or it doesn't. Its a great way to shave big dollars off a build. That way you can splurge on someting that will make a big splash, like an upgraded video card, or buy mostly used and put together a $1200 computer for $800.

 

[goingmerry]

well finaly after all this time i want to order parts today here is what i'm thikning:
keeping the same mobo, psu, cpu
BIOSTAR TForce965PT $105
XClio 450BL ATX 450W Power Supply $38
core 2 duo 4300 $165
changing the case to Thermaltake Tsunami $116
samsung dvd/rw $30
the same ram as before but because of rebates i could get the corsair xms2 ddr800 instead for thesame price, $167
Vista 64-Bit Home Premium $120
250GB hard drive - 65$
that puts me at $806 + shipping
i want a nice , baller looking case but want to stay under or around 1000$ including vista. i realy want to get these parts ordered today so me and my friend can build this weekend. my options for graphics cards are x19050 pro, 7950gt , or the 8800gs if i splurge or finda cheaper case, leaning towards the 8800gs though, help is greatly appricated. i could save some money and go wtih this ram recomended in the janurary buying guide.

 

[engiNURD]

No more dell? the 3800+ X2 is like $399, lol. otherwise, it looks good. there's a centurion 5 case at svc.com for $10AR (just replace the PSU with the XClio).

http://www.svc.com/cac-ec5-uwc.html

 

[goingmerry]

Originally posted by: engiNURD
No more dell? the 3800+ X2 is like $399, lol. otherwise, it looks good. there's a centurion 5 case at svc.com for $10AR (just replace the PSU with the XClio).

http://www.svc.com/cac-ec5-uwc.html

holy ****** thats a cheap case. problem isi want a case witha window side panel, i decide i'm going with a cheaper card and just going to get a dx10 card latter. should i get that cheaper ram for 130? i'm loving those camo heat spreaders lol. thanks again for advice all i'm computer illiterate.

 

[ShellGuy]

nice case but i don't like the usb ports on the bottom.. LOL..



Will G.

 

[goingmerry]

is there another case you would recomend? i'm planninng on having this case for a long time so i want something real sturdy and cool looking. i'm still trying to deide 8800gs, or 7950 gt.

 

[AMCRambler]

Could always switch to the Biostar TForce and save 10 bucks there.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813138037

 

[BladeVenom]

Originally posted by: goingmerry
is there another case you would recomend? i'm planninng on having this case for a long time so i want something real sturdy and cool looking. i'm still trying to deide 8800gs, or 7950 gt.

Compusa had Antec cases on sale this week.

 

[goingmerry]

well i decided to go with this 1950gt, was all set to order, but for some reason both my parents credit cards wont go through. teh first ordered did go through, thenichanged my mind that i wanted a different vid card. now the ahtentication keeps failing. this sucks, now i wont be able to build this weekend and have to find new ram. maybe i should just get the 8800, assuming our order does ever authenticate withch ram should i get, the gskillet , or the this ocz ram.. but i cant ****** believe my order didt got through, tried boht myparents credit cards now.

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: goingmerry
but i cant ****** believe my order didt got through, tried boht myparents credit cards now.

u sure there isn't something you aren't telling us

i prefer g.skill but ocz is good, too. it's a little faster (tighter timings) but it's $10 more plus additional tax on the rebate amount. personally i would go with the g.skill

 

[goingmerry]

thanks for the advice. i think i'm actualy going to go with this 8800gts, do you guys agree? its barley more expensive only 85$. i will need to get a better psu i think though? and i'm going with the gskill like you recomended. thanks for being so helpful.

 

[Imyourzero]

Originally posted by: goingmerry

Originally posted by: engiNURD
No more dell? the 3800+ X2 is like $399, lol. otherwise, it looks good. there's a centurion 5 case at svc.com for $10AR (just replace the PSU with the XClio).

http://www.svc.com/cac-ec5-uwc.html

holy ****** thats a cheap case. problem isi want a case witha window side panel, i decide i'm going with a cheaper card and just going to get a dx10 card latter. should i get that cheaper ram for 130? i'm loving those camo heat spreaders lol. thanks again for advice all i'm computer illiterate.

They do have that case with the side window for the same price, but only in black if I'm not mistaken...someone linked to it in another thread.