Build a PC - Budget: $1300

Yeah, make a real beast, like that thing in your avatar.

Nos.

Ok, I tried to make a dual-opteron system... but that was too expensive. So here's an AMD 64-bit system with two different configurations (video card changed). You have room in both of them for shipping/tax and an operating system. The number next to each item is the Newegg.com price.

CPU - w/ stock cooler since there aren't any worthwhile aftermarket socket 754 coolers
AMD Athlon 64 3000+, 512KB L2 Cache 64-bit Processor - Retail - 227

Motherboard
GIGABYTE K8T800 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket 754 CPU, Model "GA-K8VT800M" -RETAIL - 96

Memory - no need for matched "kits" or über RAM for overclockers, basic but good quality stuff is good
Corsair Value Select 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 - OEM - 80
Corsair Value Select 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 - OEM - 80

Graphics Cards
Über version. Best card on the market. Not REALLY necessary, but the budget will work either way.. and it'll last
SAPPHIRE RADEON 9800XT Video Card, 256MB DDR, 256-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP -OEM - 425

Second best card on the market. Good for all current games and coming up games (Doom3, HL2).
SAPPHIRE RADEON 9800PRO Video Card, 128MB DDR, 256-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP -BULK - 224

Storage - fast, realiable, two is good for reasons stated in this thread.
Seagate 80GB 7200rpm EIDE Hard Drive Barracuda V ST380023A - OEM - 80
Seagate 80GB 7200rpm EIDE Hard Drive Barracuda V ST380023A - OEM - 80

Case w/ PSU - 450W is plenty. Chieftec is basically Antec... pretty much best cases available, nice window, good airflow. Aluminum is not really necessary. You could throw a nice $140 Lian Li into this... that's fine, but they never come with PSUs so it'll be $200 instead of $95
Chieftec Silver Aluminum Workstation Tower Server Chassis with 450W Power Supply,Model:AX-01SLD U2F SF 450W,Retail. - 95

Fans - the case comes with 3 stock case fans and two PSU fans... these go in the front
Sunon 80mm Ball Bearing Case fan,Model:KD1208PTB2,OEM - 4
Sunon 80mm Ball Bearing Case fan,Model:KD1208PTB2,OEM - 4

The Überversion w/ non-aluminum case is 1171.
The Überversion w/ Lian Li aluminum case and Antec PSU is 1276
The non-Überversion w/ non-aluminum case is 970
The non-Überversion w/ Lian Li aluminum case and Antec PSU is 1075

Oh, if you're fine with the motherboard's onboard sound... then don't add anything. If you want a soundcard add 90 for an Audigy2 ZS (best). Or add 40 for a Turle Beach Santa Cruz (best value, great card)

Wow, thanks. Do you really think 1024MB of PC3200 will perform that well? I was thinking about cutting back on the graphics card (9600 XT 256MB), and upping the RAM to 1GB PC4200.

The card really can't ever perform at it's maximum, because it really depends on the monitors refresh rate, right?

Nos.

[QUOTE=Nostalgia]Wow, thanks. Do you really think 1024MB of PC3200 will perform that well? I was thinking about cutting back on the graphics card (9600 XT 256MB), and upping the RAM to 1GB PC4200.

The card really can't ever perform at it's maximum, because it really depends on the monitors refresh rate, right?

Nos.[/QUOTE]


Ok. Higher speed RAM will not do anything unless you're overclocking. You will not notice a difference between 1024MB of PC3200 and 1024MB of PC4200. In fact, the PC4200 has less aggressive timings so it will actually perform worse.

The card really has nothing to do with the monitor's refresh rate, pretty much all current video cards can support insane refresh rates of any monitor. What kind of monitor is yours? If you have a crappy one (sorry), then get a lower-end graphics card (like a 9600XT, or even a 9600Pro) and buy a nice monitor. Hell, go flat panel LCD if you want. Just, be advised that in most dorms you can get all this stuff stolen. I don't where you're going to college, or how you will live... so I don't know.

Edit:

Ha! I just noticed that my aluminum comments don't pertain here... since the case I picked IS aluminum. Awesome.

If you consider going LCD remember that colors aren't always represented correctly, so it can be hard to design on. Designing on my 12" Powerbook screen can be challenging if you need to get colors precise, 'cause if you move your head to either side the colors change a little bit! And it's worse with a cheaper LCD monitor. You can get a really nice 19" CRT for only $300 though, and decent ones for $150 or so.

I've noticed that dell sells their system's super cheap! you might want to look at that before you buy...

Price: $1,617.00




Date:
Wednesday, February 04, 2004 7:51:31 PM CDT

Catalog Number:
29 19

Module
Description
Product Code
Sku
Id

Dell Dimension 4600 Series:
*
Pentium® 4 Processor with HT Technology 3.06GHz w/533MHz FSB
*
W305H
*
[221-3724]
*
1

Operating System:
*
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional w/ Microsoft® Plus!
*
WPXPLUS
*
[313-7222] [412-0285] [412-0409] [420-1922]
*
11

Mail-In Rebate Offer:
*
Save $100 with mail-in rebate. Price shown before rebate.
*
100Q1
*
[462-7638]
*
56

FREE TurboTax Basic:
*
FREE TurboTax® Basic for Tax Year 2003
*
TAX
*
[420-4125]
*
106

Memory:
*
1GB Dual Channel DDR SDRAM at 333MHz (2x512M)
*
1GB3
*
[311-9009]
*
3

Hard Drive:
*
FREE UPGRADE! 80GB Ultra ATA/100 Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
*
80P
*
[462-3281]
*
8

Floppy Drive and Additional Storage Devices:
*
3.5 in Floppy Drive
*
FD
*
[340-8860]
*
10

CD or DVD Drive:
*
Single Drive: 8x DVD+RW Drive
*
8DVDRW
*
[313-2221] [430-0594]
*
16

Enhanced Software for CD or DVD Burner:
*
RecordNow!Deluxe:Burn,Copy CD Music/Data,Backup,Labeling(CD-RW/DVD+RW only)
*
RNDLX
*
[430-0579]
*
72

Keyboard:
*
Dell® Quietkey® Keyboard
*
QK
*
[310-1582]
*
4

Mouse:
*
Logitech® MX™ 500 Optical Mouse
*
MX500
*
[310-4222]
*
12

Productivity Software:
*
Productivity Pack including WordPerfect® and Money®
*
COREL
*
[412-0395] [412-0551] [412-0555]
*
22

Security Software:
*
Norton Antivirus® 2003 12-month subscription upgrade
*
NORTON
*
[365-1234] [410-0144]
*
25

Monitor:
*
No Monitor
*
N
*
[320-3000]
*
5

Video Card:
*
128MB DDR ATI RADEON 9800 PRO Graphics Card with TV-Out and DVI
*
128PRO
*
[320-2575] [320-2871]
*
6

Sound:
*
Integrated 5.1 Channel Audio
*
IS
*
[313-2758]
*
17

Speakers:
*
Harman Kardon® HK-395 Speakers with Subwoofer
*
HK395
*
[313-7284]
*
18

Dell Media Experience:
*
Dell Media Experience
*
DMX
*
[412-0519]
*
115

Digital Music:
*
Dell Jukebox powered by MUSICMATCH
*
MMBASE
*
[412-0516]
*
27

Digital Photography:
*
Dell Picture Studio, Paint Shop Pro Trial, Photo Album Starter Edition
*
DPS
*
[412-0521]
*
28

Multi-Media Players:
*
RealOne™ Player, with 14 day SuperPass trial
*
REALBAS
*
[412-0380]
*
40

Network Card:
*
New Dell Gigabit Ethernet
*
GBN
*
[430-0472]
*
13

Modem:
*
56K PCI Data Fax Modem
*
DFAX
*
[313-1313]
*
14

Internet Access Services:
*
6 Months America Online Internet Access Included
*
AOLDHS
*
[412-0587] [412-0625] [420-3224]
*
37

Limited Warranty, Services and Support Options:
*
1 Year Limited Warranty plus 1 Year At-Home Service
*
SQ111OS
*
[412-0359] [950-3337] [950-4430] [950-9797]
*
29

Surge Protectors - Protect Your Investment:
*
Belkin SurgeMaster 7-Outlet
*
BEL7
*
[A0131326]
*
78

WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS THAT, ZYCONIUM?

Here's the monitor i have right now. Yes, it's crappy - http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,104213,00.asp

Also, this is what i have planned right now:

$282 - AMD Athlon 64 3200+
$100 - GIGABYTE K8T800 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket 754 CPU
$71 - Seagate 80GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive
$71 - Seagate 80GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive
$155 - Corsair Value Select Dual Channel Kit 184 Pin 1G(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200 - OEM
$171 - RADEON 9600 XT 256MB
$35 - Artec Black 52x32x52 CD-RW Drive
$95 - Chieftec Silver Aluminum Workstation Chassis with 450W Power Supply, 3 fans.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$980

I'd replace that drive with this one, a much more reliable brand, and Lite-On drives (with the right software) can burn pretty much anything:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-106-197&catalog=5&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1

You'll also need two more 80mm fans for that case to achive proper cooling (air-flow) in that case.

also bout the fans....

if your going for AMD Athlon 64 3200+, then id scrap any stock fan (use as backup) and get a good cpu fan (highspeed, copper base etc). Be sure to buy a good thermal grease too (again...scrap any stock grease).

Also be careful bout noise (if it bothers you). I have 3 fans in my case...about 350 CFM's/@15,000 RPM total. Basically....at full speed its as loud as your average vaccum cleaner. Seriously..i cant hear my TV over it and my computer can be heard well across the house (40 feet away) with doors shut.