Computer

Archive of the Sojourn3 General Discussion Forum.
Daz
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Computer

Postby Daz » Wed Sep 17, 2003 11:37 pm

I am looking to build another computer - now, what worked for me 6 months ago, probably isn't the same now.

I want to build a high end pentium 4 system with a 128mb video card and a 17 inch LCD monitor. i also want a wireless/optical mouse/keyboard with it

i don't need HARDCORE geek, i just want respectable non-geek system.

i plan on shopping newegg, tigerdirect, and pricewatch - but if anyone has any pointers or suggestions - or maybe you know of a great deal somewhere, id appreciate the post - im gonna try to build the whole system for under 1200 dollars if i can. thanks :)
Shevarash OOC: 'Muma on Artificial Intelligence - Muma OOC: 'someday the quotes really will just become AI and then i'll talk to the AI and be like, hey you come from me, but it will get angry at me and revolt and try to kill me or something heheheh. like in the movies''
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Postby rylan » Thu Sep 18, 2003 1:01 am

If you want to save money and get more out of the system go with AMD.
Daz
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Postby Daz » Thu Sep 18, 2003 5:13 am

While I agree, and use AMD myself, the P4 name just seems to carry so much more weight . . . hrmmm, things to think i suppose.
Shevarash OOC: 'Muma on Artificial Intelligence - Muma OOC: 'someday the quotes really will just become AI and then i'll talk to the AI and be like, hey you come from me, but it will get angry at me and revolt and try to kill me or something heheheh. like in the movies''
Guest

Postby Guest » Thu Sep 18, 2003 5:40 am

Any reason why you choose those stats? (i.e. RAM on vid card if you aren't geeking, etc)
Gerad
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Postby Gerad » Thu Sep 18, 2003 7:22 am

Yah, I dont think there is a game out yet that uses a 256 meg card, and I dont think there is even one that uses all 128, most just use 64...
<I>When a man lies, he murders some part of the world
These are the pale deaths, which men miscall their lives
All this I cannot bear to witness any longer
Cannot the kingdom of salvation take me home?</I>
Daz
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Postby Daz » Thu Sep 18, 2003 7:49 am

Product Details: Product Description Quantity Price Ext. Price
Powmax Black ATX Case with clear side and 400 Watt 1 $39.99 $39.99
Cables Unlimited - MSC-UVKIT-B - BlueUV Reactive Mod-Kit with UV Cold Cathode Flourescent, 80mm Cooling Fans, Rounded Floppy and IDE Cables 1 $29.99 $29.99
Soyo KT400 Dragon Ultra (Black) Motherboard with AMD Athlon XP 2500+ Processor 1 $179.99 $179.99
Artec Black 52x24x52x Internal IDE CD-RW with Nero Software 1 $49.99 $49.99
Artec Black 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM Drive with Power DVD Software 1 $42.99 $42.99
XFX GeForce FX 5200 128MB DDR AGP8X with TV-Out & DVI Video Card 1 $79.99 $79.99
Modem Master 9050 56K Modem (OEM) 1 $4.99 $4.99
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 PCI Sound Card 1 $38.99 $38.99
Bencole Utouch Multimedia Keyboard With Optical Mouse 1 $24.99 $24.99
Seagate 120GB / 7200 / 2MB / 8.5 / ATA-100 EIDE Hard Drive 1 $94.99 $94.99
Subtotal: $ 586.9




that is what i got so far, i still need memory, a floppy drive, a 17 inch lcd, and a 2400dpi laser printer.
Shevarash OOC: 'Muma on Artificial Intelligence - Muma OOC: 'someday the quotes really will just become AI and then i'll talk to the AI and be like, hey you come from me, but it will get angry at me and revolt and try to kill me or something heheheh. like in the movies''
Daz
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Postby Daz » Thu Sep 18, 2003 7:51 am

i chose to get a mid level 128mb video card to add a little longevity to the gaming life of the machine :P
Shevarash OOC: 'Muma on Artificial Intelligence - Muma OOC: 'someday the quotes really will just become AI and then i'll talk to the AI and be like, hey you come from me, but it will get angry at me and revolt and try to kill me or something heheheh. like in the movies''
Guest

Postby Guest » Thu Sep 18, 2003 12:15 pm

I'm not sure about that keyboard/mouse unless you've tried them personally. From experience with work and home, unless it's microsoft or logitec, offbrand mice usually suck terribly. Your choice though.

Same thing with the Artec cd-rw and dvd-rom. Do you have any experience or read any reviews on them? Newegg has the LiteOn (generally highly ranked) 52x32x52 cdrw in black for 40.50 and a black LiteOn 16x DVD-Rom for 32.99.

Newegg also undercuts the Live! 5.1 for 33 instead of 38.99.

System looks good though.
rylan
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Postby rylan » Thu Sep 18, 2003 12:58 pm

Personally I'm a big fan of Plextor burners.. never had a problem with one.

For memory, get some Kingmax or Micron/Crucial 400MHz ddr or whatever that motherboard can run (looks like 400MHz memory. Get 2 sticks so it'll run in dual channel mode.

For LCD panel check out the Planar PX171M.. response time rocks.

Oh one other thing, check what brand the power supply is. Some of the generic ones kinda suck and aren't AMD approved.
Guest

Postby Guest » Thu Sep 18, 2003 3:16 pm

If you can afford it Daz, don't go with the GeForce FX. Not as good.
Stamm
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Postby Stamm » Thu Sep 18, 2003 6:04 pm

Change the motherboard for one with decent sound onboard.

Go for the absolute best motherboard that exists. There will be a small difference in price, and a big impact on performance.
rylan
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Postby rylan » Thu Sep 18, 2003 6:58 pm

Oh yeah, true about the geforceFX card. Most of the nvidia cards suck.. go with ATI.
Eilorn
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Postby Eilorn » Thu Sep 18, 2003 7:04 pm

I have a twin monitor video card, and two monitors, on my machine at work. I like it so much that I have one at home, waiting for me to save up for another monitor. I also got one for my wife, with another monitor... she says she doesn't know how she managed with just a single monitor. I REALLY recommend getting one. If you've got the room, you can buy 2 17in. monitors for about the same as a single 17in. LCD. They won't have the 'OOOOH' factor of the LCD, but having 2 monitors more than makes up for that :). I don't play any games except for Sojourn, so I don't know how they do for gaming.

Eilorn.
Now, we can do this the hard way, or... well, actually there's just the hard way.
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mynazzaraxxsyn
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Postby mynazzaraxxsyn » Thu Sep 18, 2003 7:44 pm

rylan wrote:Oh yeah, true about the geforceFX card. Most of the nvidia cards suck.. go with ATI.


I'd have to say the exact opposite, i've had nothing but problems with my ATI card and not a single problem with my Nvidia.
Lilithelle stops using a softly throbbing piece of flesh.
Gura group-says 'ill go solo the biznatch, just don't tell Stamm'
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rylan
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Postby rylan » Thu Sep 18, 2003 10:36 pm

Yeah, I didn't mean they don't work. I meant more from a design side they suck. I do electronics at work and have tested a variety of consumer video cards and the output stage on the nvidia ones is terrible, especially on the 2nd head :P
digov
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Postby digov » Thu Sep 18, 2003 11:13 pm

This is my new machine, built through newegg.com about 2.5 months ago. I would stay away from GEforce cards right now, Radeons are way better and the 9200 I got for 80 bucks was a great deal. The only thing that isn't listed here is the case fan and slot fan I bought. Oh and I didn't end up getting the hard drive listed, got 120 gig instead, for about 30 bucks more.

11-182-515 CASE CG|350W L-6039-1 1 $29.00 $29.00
13-150-037 MB VIA KT400 AK39N SHUTTLE RTL 1 $62.99 $62.99
14-131-212 VGA PWRCLR|RADEON9200 128M DDR DVI 1 $80.00 $80.00
19-103-350 CPU AMD|2600 /333 ATHLON XP RTL 1 $101.00 $101.00
20-200-017 DDRAM 512MB|PC-2700CL2.5 APACE INF% 1 $65.00 $65.00
22-152-002 HD 80GB|SAMSUNG 7200/ATA100 SP8004H 1 $78.00 $78.00
27-152-004 DVD 16X NEC|DV-5800C/MXL% 1 $29.00 $29.00

Subtotal $444.99
Tax $0.00
Shipping and Handling charge $28.99
Amount Paid $473.98
Stamm
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Postby Stamm » Fri Sep 19, 2003 12:25 am

Just taken another look at the motherboard, the one you have picked is a donkey.
Gerad
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Postby Gerad » Fri Sep 19, 2003 7:46 am

One thing you should REALLY know,

CRT (normal monitors) have a MUCH MUCH greater dot pitch than LCDs do, they look SO MUCH BETTER!

I have an NEC multisynch 97F, its a CRT monitor with flat glass on it, so there is no bubble or "fishbowl" effect to it.

I would HIGHLY recommend it,

The only reason to get an LCD is if you are really crammed for space.
<I>When a man lies, he murders some part of the world

These are the pale deaths, which men miscall their lives

All this I cannot bear to witness any longer

Cannot the kingdom of salvation take me home?</I>
Gerad
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Postby Gerad » Fri Sep 19, 2003 7:47 am

Also,

I have an ATI video card, and I have had a geforce,

Go with ATI, all the way,

Cheeper, Better is the only way I can say it.

(I have a radeon 9000 pro/128)
<I>When a man lies, he murders some part of the world

These are the pale deaths, which men miscall their lives

All this I cannot bear to witness any longer

Cannot the kingdom of salvation take me home?</I>
rylan
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Location: Hudson, MA

Postby rylan » Fri Sep 19, 2003 12:51 pm

Gerad, quick comment. For CRTs, smaller dot pitch is better. For LCDs, 'dot pitch' is kind of a misnomer, but is generally the actual size of the pixel window :)
Daz
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Postby Daz » Fri Sep 19, 2003 1:10 pm

+----------------------------------------------------------+
| DDRAM 512MB|64X64 PC-2700 CRUCIAL% 1 $85.00 |
| FD 1.44MB|SAMSUNG SFD-321B/LBL1 OEM 1 $7.99 |
| ACCES FAN|8CMX25 TLF-82 LED CLR RT 1 $5.99 |
| CREATIVE SBS230 2PC SPEAKERS OEM 1 $13.00 |
| Subtotal $111.98 |
| S&H Charges $12.99 |
| Total $124.97 |
+----------------------------------------------------------+
| CPU AMD|2500/333 ATHLON XP BARTON R 1 $90.00 |
| MB SY-KT400 DRAGON ULTRA SOYO RTL 1 $95.00 |
| PRT HPIDESKJET 3650 C8974CA2L 1 $77.00 |
| MNTR OPTIQUEST|17" LCD Q170B 1 $369.00 |
| Subtotal $631.00 |
| S&H Charges $13.99 |
| Total $644.99 |
+----------------------------------------------------------+-----------+
| UV Reactive 18" Rnd Flop Drive Cable 1 $5.98 |
| UV Reactive 24" Rnd Dual Device ATA 100/133 Cable 4 $13.52 |
| Blue Wire Ties (Bag of 10) 1 $0.98 |
| Blue UV Reactive Quad UV LED Ball Bearing Fan 3 $11.64 |
| Dual 12" Blue Cold Cathode Kit 1 $5.88 |
| 4" Blue UV Reactive 4 Pin Y Adapter 2 $3.98 |
| UV Lazer LED Cannon 4 $7.52 |
| Subtotal $49.50 |
| S&H Charges $21.37 |
| Total $70.87 |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| CDRW-SAMS-40x-8M-B 1 $29.99 |
| Blk Microsoft KB-PS2-MS-B Keyboard 1 $14.99 |
| Sound Blaster LIVE 5.1 SC-SB-LIVE-0220 1 $28.99 |
| MidTwr CAS-PWM-400-0209-BLK &400W PSU 1 $48.00 |
| Subtotal $121.97|
| S&H Charges $23.89 |
| Total $145.86|
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| MOUSE MS|OPTICAL WHEEL MOUSE BLK% 1 $22.00 |
| MODEM ENCORE|NDRG ENF656-ESW-NDPR R 1 $8.00 |
| HD 80GB|WD 7200RPM 8MB WD800JB% 1 $80.00 |
| Subtotal $110.00|
| S&H Charges $10.00 |
| Total $120.00|
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Samsung SD-616B 16XDVD-Rom Black DSSM16X616BK 1 $30.00 |
| MSI FX5200-T128 Nividia 8x AGP DSMSIMS8917 1 $73.00 |
| Subtotal $103.00|
| S&H Charges $7.45 |
| Total $110.45|
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+


this is the stuff i ended up getting, thanks guys for making me second guess the keyboard and disc drives. i was GONNA go to 120gb, but then i realized i don't really need it - so i didnt bother. the only extra that isnt listed here is im thinking of an avalanche liquid cooling system

i realize the video card may not be the highest-end in the world, but this
computer will RARELY use anything graphic intensive beyond counter-strike or photoshop, so do i need that much more performance? i dont think so.
Shevarash OOC: 'Muma on Artificial Intelligence - Muma OOC: 'someday the quotes really will just become AI and then i'll talk to the AI and be like, hey you come from me, but it will get angry at me and revolt and try to kill me or something heheheh. like in the movies''
digov
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Postby digov » Fri Sep 19, 2003 2:22 pm

Well, for 7 bucks more you could have had a Powercolor Raedon 9200 with 128M DDR.....seems to me that 73 bucks for a middle of the road card is sort of weak when you could get one thats rather high end for 7 bucks more.
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Postby Mikayla » Fri Sep 19, 2003 2:43 pm

do it easy daz

buy a p4 2.8 800mhz fsb hyperthread proc
asus board that can handle 4 gigs of rambus at 800 mhz and your set


Her Royal Bitchness
Mikayla
rylan
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Postby rylan » Fri Sep 19, 2003 6:34 pm

Omg I can't believe someone actually mentioned rambus *tries not to laugh* :P

Anyway, Daz I'd make sure that LCD monitor has DVI digital input. Going from analog out on that vid card to the analog capture on an LCD is going to bug your eyes while looking at 2d stuff for a while. LCD should be driven in digital mode to avoid the analog artifacts.
Daz
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Postby Daz » Fri Sep 19, 2003 6:47 pm

so in my uneducated terms, i should use the svideo cable instead of the little blue connector pins?
Shevarash OOC: 'Muma on Artificial Intelligence - Muma OOC: 'someday the quotes really will just become AI and then i'll talk to the AI and be like, hey you come from me, but it will get angry at me and revolt and try to kill me or something heheheh. like in the movies''

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