Building for a friend!

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Blah425

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jan 26, 2005
Messages
340
Ok here is what is happening. My friend is getting real tired of his home computer. Its slow and he can't play any games that he plays at our local Gaming Center on his computer. Now he will basicly be using this for AIM, web, games, movies, and such. The types of games he will be playing are Counter Strike and Battlefield Vietnam or BF2. Now his limit is about $1000 and he needs everything. Well so far I am building it for everything he has an old computer in his basement but I need to look at what he could possibly use. Now here is what I have so far! HE WILL NOT OVERCLOCK!

AMD 3200+ Venice- $190

Epox EP-9NPAJ- $92.99

Samsung IDE DVD- $24

WD HD 120gig- $87

Cool Master RealPower 450W- $80

OCZ Premier Value 1GB- $83

Asus 6600GT PCI-e- $170

Total- $727

Samsung 17” CRT- $124

Logitech Elite Keyboard- $32

Logitech MX510- $28

Creative I-Trigue 3300 2.1- $60

Total is about $971. I don't have a case in there b/c I dont' want to select a case he does't like so I left him about $30-50 to choose a case that he likes.

Let me know what you guys think I should change. Also if you have a good 2.1 speaker system that is around the same price let me know.
 
I think that I'd go with another PSU, but other than that it looks ok....the RAM could be improved, but it should be ok.
 
Well what other PSU would you recommend? I have it and I have had no problems. I was looking at this Antec PSU but it pushed the computer over the budget.

Also what would you have in mind for RAM? Since he isn't overclocking I don't see why this RAM would be a problem.
 
Damn those prices are so cheap compared to UK prices.

My dad wants a PC and I am getting the stuff for him. The stuff you listed is around the same items I am going to get but the price is alot cheaper.

Stupid UK prices + 17.5% Value Added Tax. I have to pay around $500 more for the same items!
 
A64 socket 754 Newcastle 3400+ looks to be cheaper and 400MHz faster. Since he's not overclocking and all. You'd have to change a few parts to match of course.
 
I thnk I might just have him go with a AMD 64 3000+ Venice it saves about 40 bucks which will help.
 
Then you're talking a 1.8GHz chip vs. a 2.4GHz chip for a 600MHz gap for about the cost of a pizza...is that really a good buy?

There's no major reason to go with Venice if you're not overclocking.
 
On Newegg the A64 3400+ NewCastle socket 754 is about $30 more than the A64 3200+ Venice.
 
My bad, you'd want retail pack wouldn't you. The OEM is like $170ish.

The retail version is down to $218 on Chiefvalue. They also have the EPoX EP-8KDA3I motherboard for $67 which may be satisfactory to go with it.
 
MX510 is on sale in hotdeals I know, $15 or $20 I think.
Elite keyboard can be had for $10 or $15 on Ebay if you roll that way.
I just got those speakers and I love them.
No CD/DVD burning?
I'd go with a more quality name PSU, antec perhaps or there are others. Tell him he will be crying more when his parts are toast, than dropping a few extra bucks now.
 
Well I personaly am having a great experience with this PSU so thats why I picked it. I was looking at the Antec NeoPower for abit but that would put him over.

Wow that is a great deal for the MX510 but too bad the MIR ends tomorrow! :(

I am not sure if he wants to get a DVD Burner he really doesn't do any of that now, and he said he just wanted to be able to watch DVDs.
 
This is a great bang for the buck PSU.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817189003

Another option for PSU would be to just buy a Antec case w/ a PSU. They would be sufficient and be cheaper then buying a case and PSU seperate.

Cooler Master does make good PSU's, but that is cheaper.

I bet you could find a deal on a 19" CRT somewhere and it would come to about the same price too.

I'd go with a more quality name PSU, antec perhaps or there are others. Tell him he will be crying more when his parts are toast, than dropping a few extra bucks now.
Click to expand...

Why does everybody say bad things about Cooler Master PSU's? Stop making assumptions about them. Cooler Master happens to make good PSU's ;)
 
Well I have the first hand experience and thats why I put it in there. Ill check out the PSU u showed me Kooldrew. I also don't knwo if he will need a monitor or not. So if he does I was plannin on searchin around for a bigger one at around the same price.
 
KoolDrew said:
This is a great bang for the buck PSU.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817189003

Another option for PSU would be to just buy a Antec case w/ a PSU. They would be sufficient and be cheaper then buying a case and PSU seperate.

Cooler Master does make good PSU's, but that is cheaper.

I bet you could find a deal on a 19" CRT somewhere and it would come to about the same price too.



Why does everybody say bad things about Cooler Master PSU's? Stop making assumptions about them. Cooler Master happens to make good PSU's ;)
Click to expand...


Who the hell makes that PSU? I know that it's without a doubt rebranded...without knowing who actually makes it, I'd stay the hell away from it.

While Cool Master PSUs aren't the bottom of the barrel, they're certainly not great until you get to their really high end PSUs. For this computer, at his W rating, I'd go with enermax, antec, fortron, sparkle, zippy/emac, or possibly a zalman. They cost a little bit more than a "bargain" PSU, but their reliable.
 
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