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General discussion

Building new computer

Apr 28, 2005 2:45AM PDT

Here is what I am hoping for:

I don't need a copy of Windows - it'll be a dual-boot system with a extra copy of Win98 and Linux.

I want a DVD-burner and a seperate CD-Burner so I can burn 2 CDs at once or copy a CD directly. Overkill?

hard drives - a 50GB one and a external 200GB one, so I can just disconnect the big one when I use Win98.

Integrated Firewire, and more than 5 PCI slots.

17" Flat-panel monitor. I have seen these for $200. Is that a good price?

At least 512 MB RAM

I don't really care about the chip - what do you think I should use? I'm thinking about a Athlon.

I already have some nice speakers.

I already have a modem.

I have a printer already.

What have I forgotten, and how much would this cost?

Thank you so much,
Billy

Discussion is locked

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RE: Build Your Own
Apr 28, 2005 12:42PM PDT

ASPIRE X-Dreamer II ATXB4KLW-AL Silver Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 350W Power Supply-56
Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-400 ATX12V 400W Power Supply 115/230 V UL, TUV, CB, FCC CLASS B, CUL-59
ASUS A8V-E Deluxe Socket 939 VIA K8T890 ATX AMD Motherboard-177
AMD Athlon 64 3500+512k 0.13micron (939) (Retail Box-w-Fan)-267
THERMALTAKE A2016 80mm 1 Ball 1 Sleeve Blue LED Light Cooling Fan-28
KINGSTON/CORSAIR 512 (2X512) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) System Memory Model CMX1024RE-90
Western Digital 80GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model 7Y250M0, OEM Drive Only + Thermaltake SATA Cable-110 but i think for $32 more, you should get a 250GB.
Sony DRU-720A DL DVD+_RW-100
Rosewill RB-321 White IDE Combo Drive-28
eVGA 6800 GT 128MB DDR3/PCI-E/TV-Out/Dual-DVI-359
Mitsumi USB2.0 Digital Card Reader/Writer W/FD INTERNAL, Model FA404A/404M-24
COOLER MASTER KHC-L91-U1 92mm Ball Cooling Fan/Heatsink-50
Arctic SIlver Premium Photosynthetic Silver Thermal Compound Arctic Silver 5-8
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS-89
Logitech Logitech Cordless Desktop EX100 Black PS/2 Wireless Type Standard Keyboard Mouse Included-38
Cooler Master Blue Ultra Aurora Cold Cathode (Dual Kit) "SFL-U12-UB"-12

computer cost $1500 depending on whether you want everything below the gfx card you can get it to $1300. Monitor lcd- $250 17" HP/Compaq or Samsung Monitor.
Roger

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re
Apr 28, 2005 1:35PM PDT

ok for one the case suks. if gonna get separate power supply, choose a better case without power supply included.
512mb ram i would say is sufficient.
no need such a good gfx card. nvidia 6600 gt would suffice
also sound card is unnecessary.
i dont think u need new keyboard and mouse

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Sometime its better to buy Brand name, only DELL
Apr 28, 2005 6:32PM PDT

if you know how to build computers you need to check the prices sometimes its cheaper buy a brand name , the best is DEll for just cases and MB that it uses also some of the deals they have especially this month they are giving alot away like free printer and 17" or 19" LCD, The other companies are a pain to add hardware like harddrives, because you don't know whose Motherboard is used plus the cases are small and pain to take apart. You need to get the parts cheap to match brand name since you get OS for nothing.
I just brought from DELL different computers, I couldn't build them for the price I got them. I got was Dimension 8400 has Intel Motherboard with intel 915G chipset which has Matrix RAID onboard. I brought HomeXP,Intel made 775socket with Matrix RAID, intel540 cpu,512meg ram,80gb sata drive,48x cdrom, ATI X300 128meg PCIE video card NIC and Ultrasharp 17" LCD with 16ms refresh and Dell 720 Printer for $599. I plan to sell X300 and 80GB Sata drive and replace with either Nvidia 6800GT or ATI X800/850 video card and turn on the RAID and put in 2 @250gb sata drives, soundblaster Audigy2 Platinum,2@ DVD Dual Layer Burners all for less than $1000. the other was Windows Media Center 2005, Intel 560 CPU, 512meg ram, 160gb sata drive,soundblaster Audigy2, 256meg Nvidia 6800GT,16X DVDrom, 16X DVD Dual layer Burner,56K modem, NICand 3 year warranty for $725, I just missed a XPS generation 4 with intel560 2gb ram,audigy2,256meg Nvidia 6800GT PciE video, 16XDVD Dual layer burner,2@250GB Sata Drives for $1220. parts along cost $1500 without OS.

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Money isn't a object.
Apr 28, 2005 11:00PM PDT

I know it would be cheaper, but saving money is not the object of me building it myself.

The case I was thinking of is http://www.macmall.com/macmall/shop/detail.asp?dpno=265963&store=macmall.

The monitor is here: http://accessories.gateway.com/AccessoryStore/PC+Accessories_316441/Monitors_316684/LCD+_Q1_Flat+Panel_Q1_+Monitors_316694/15_D1_17+inch+LCD_381953/7005426_proddetail.htm?ref=merch

The external HD is here: http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product_Code=EZQ+B12660

The internal HD is here: http://www2.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144132&CMP=OTC-Froogle&ATT=Maxtor+DiamondMax+Plus+9+3.5%22+IDE+Ultra+ATA133+Hard+Drive

Have you had any bad experiences with these vendors?

Question: Are there external hard drive enclosures to put your own hard drive into, and how much do they cost?

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if money ain't a huge issue...
Apr 29, 2005 3:50AM PDT

I would go with:

Athlon 64 3500+ (skt.939)
DFI Lanparty SLI mobo
2 x 512 PC3200 400MHz OCZ RAM
1 x Nvidia 6800 GT GFX card (add another later)
1 x 36 GB Western Digital Raptor 10000RPM HDD (for system stuff)
1 x 120 GB Seagate 7200RPM 8MB cache HDD (for other stuff)
Antec 500 Watt Power Supply
Case with 3 or more fans

that is a solid system for no more than $1700 (I think)