Just spent two grand....I hope Monarch was the right choice

[jpeyton]

If I had $2k:

Athlon 64 3500+ 90nm $277
DFI LanParty Ultra-D $159
Thermalright XP-90 w/ Panaflo 90mm Fan $50
GSkill 1GB Dual Channel DDR "LE" $270
BFG 6800 GT OC PCIE $426
NV Silencer 5 Rev2 $30
ThermalTake Tsunami Dream $115
OCZ PowerStream 420W $94
NEC ND3520 DVD-RW $61
Maxtor DM10 300GB SATAII 16MB W/ NCQ $200
SB Audigy2 ZS $67
WindowsXP $100
Floppy $10
Round Cables $10
Dual CCFLs $7
Arctic Silver 5 $6

$1882

This is currently my benchmark for a $2k rig...the best components in their respective categories for the budget...GSkill LE, BFG 6800 GT, Maxtor DM10, etc. The DFI is an extraordinary motherboard. People are getting some insane memory overclocks with it, setting all new records for TCCD and BH5 bandwidth.

But I love putting stuff together, so I wouldn't pay someone else to do it. Some of you may have better things to do with your time, and so it is perfectly fine going with a decent vendor like Monarch (Alienware/FalconNW rape you).

 

[Baked]

For $60, you should've gone w/ the NEC 3520A DVD writer instead of the Lite-On combo.

 

[The Vegetarianator]

Hi -

I've just about got my new system sussed.

Newegg are running a promo pack :
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ (939) $190 USD
Mushkin Level 2 1GB (Paired 512) $223 USD(w/ $20 rebate)

Also :

DFI Lan Party UT nF4 Ultra-d $159 USD (Newegg)
Leadtek PX 6600 GT TDH Extreme $215 USD (Newegg)
Creative S/B Live! 2Zs $115 USD (Newegg)

And that's what I'd buy if Newegg shipped to Australia, where I am.

In Australia, I'd get the heavier stuff :
Coolermaster Centurion V-CAC-205UW ($131 AUD)
Pioneer DVR 109, 16x, dual, R/RW, Black ($115 AUD)
Seagate Barracuda SATA NCQ 160GB 8 MB cache ($145 AUD)
Zalman 7000B (probably from US, if I can)
Maybe, Thermalright XP-120
(check out the XP-120 fitted on DFI Lan Party mobo in this link ):
"http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=50963&highlight=xp-120"
Probably pick up a Thermaltake 480W PSU(later, just run stock 350W for now)

So, there is my problem.

Newegg doesn't ship to Australia, neither does Zipzoomfly, who both seem to have good reps.

Some parts, as mentioned, are heaps cheaper in the states; I can still get them in Australia, but for heaps more.

Just on those parts mentioned (in Aussie dollars), the difference would be :

Purchased in Australia = $1401
Purchased in US = $1157 (minus $20 rebate, but plus postage cost)

So, unless postage would exceed $246, I'd be better off buying in US.

But, here's the thing.

Can anyone recommend a reliable, good priced supplier who would service Australia?

Wow, am glad that's done!!

Thanks


(Edit : clearer what the link is now)

 

[imported_Phil]

Originally posted by: slots

Cheap ram will not run quality games.

You, sir, are an idiot.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: Dopefiend

Originally posted by: slots

Cheap ram will not run quality games.

You, sir, are an idiot.

:thumbsup:

that about sums it up

 

[fireontheway]

Originally posted by: Dopefiend

Originally posted by: slots

Cheap ram will not run quality games.

You, sir, are an idiot .

You forgot something
LOL...

 

[slots]

Originally posted by: Dopefiend

Originally posted by: slots

Cheap ram will not run quality games.

You, sir, are an idiot.

Not really, i am realistic as far as memory and running high-end games.

 

[slots]

You cheap ass -ram advocates better lighten-up..lol

 

[PurdueRy]

lol, ram doesn't make as big of a difference as you would like to think...just cause they add a heatspreader doesn't mean its faster just like adding some vinyls to your car isn't gonna do a thing to speed. unless your overclocking

 

[slots]

A LOT of ppl had issues in HL-2 with a stuttering bug.

Most issues were settled because of MEMORY problems.

Cheap Ram was the culprit!!!

So stop selling junk.

 

[UsandThem]

Originally posted by: slots
A LOT of ppl had issues in HL-2 with a stuttering bug.

Most issues were settled because of MEMORY problems.

Cheap Ram was the culprit!!!

So stop selling junk.

A lot of people had stuttering in HL2 from the actual game code, not even ram, not a good enough video card, and trying to run it at 1600 X 1024 with antialiasing turned on.

Ram runs at what is rated at regardless of how "crappy it is".

Some of the ultra expensive ram like the kind you bought will overclock and runs at Cas2 instead of Cas2.5 or Cas3, but you are not going to get that much of a performance boost from your ram. Maybe a couple % points, but not worth double of the price of good ram.