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General discussion

Trying to build Cnet.com Custom PC. I need some help.

Sep 20, 2004 9:10AM PDT

I'm trying to build the Pentium PC that Cnet gave up on doing but I need the rest of the Design to build it the correct way. And I need away to tone down the price.

My limit is $2,000 and also consider a monitor.

Discussion is locked

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Re: Trying to build Cnet.com Custom PC. I need some help.
Sep 20, 2004 9:15AM PDT

Heres what I have in my list. ANd sorry about how it is written.


Case:
$

Power supply: Premium 600-Watt PSU
$ 79.99


Motherboard: Abit IC7-MAX3 Motherboard
$ 167.

Processor: Intel Pentium4 3.2Ghz / 512k Cache / 800Mhz FSB
$ 249.97
Memory: Corsair XMS Extreme Memory 256MB x2 $ 139.98

Heat sink:
$

Hard drive #1: Western Digital Caviar SE 250GB
$199.99


Hard drive #2: Western Digital Caviar 80GB
$77.99

Optical drive #1: Artec DHM-G48 / 16x DVD-ROM
$ 29.99

Optical drive #2: Artec 56x CD-ROM / CD Drive $ 22.99

Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700
$114.00
Sound card:
$

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It looks good so far. . .
Sep 20, 2004 4:03PM PDT

In choosing a case, find one with as many fans as possible. Mine has six.

Heat sink should come with the processor, specifically designed for it.

I'd change your DVD-ROM to a DVD burner, add about fifty bucks.

Use the 80 Gig drive for the OS and the 250 for "stuff".

Sound card, your choice. Do you want it to support extreme sound such as Dolby and/or surround? In my opinion that kind of power is wasted. My home built system has Nvidia basic sound on the motherboard and it drives my speakers fine. I damn sure won't listen to CDs on it when I can use my custom Bose system in the living room.

Opinion: Stay away from wireless mice and keyboards. Battery goes dead and you're dead in the water. You haven't bought extras or you can't find them.

Does the motherboard have an onboard NIC? If not you'll need one for future networking.

Get a medium range modem so you can use XP FAX.

Good luck,

Telephony facts, analog/digital explained.
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