Final thread before the buy

E

Etherneal

Weaksauce
Joined
Apr 27, 2005
Messages
73
Well, I think I'm finally friggin ready. After about a couple YEARS pondering on buying a computer, and about a month here finalizing everything (including other research), I am finally ready to buy one. It will be pre-built, because I can't really handle building myself.

I will be upgrading a couple things (possibly heatsink), maybe do some nice hacks to make it look spiffy and it looks like I will be setup. I think I gotta better deal then the Alienware boy too. Oh yea, and no SLI, because I actually want to be able to afford 1 r520 when it comes out, and also have some extra PCI-e slots, need to buy tv card and network card, maybe even physics card when that shit comes out.

Hardware

Lian-Li Mid Tower ATX Case PC-V1000
Intel Pentium 4 3.60 560 800MHz FSB LGA 775 w/ HT
ASUS P5AD2-E Premium 925XE
Corsair XMS2 DDR2 1G(512MBx2) PC2-5400 3-2-2-8
nVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT w/ 256MB GDDR3 PCI-e
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum
Seagate 200GB 7200RPM ST3200826AS
Seagate 80 GB 7200RPM ST380817AS
DVD Sony 16X DDU1613/B2s BLACK
Sony Internal 16X DVD+/-R DVD Dual Layer Model DW-D26A
Thermaltake Silent 774
Antec 550W Power Supply EPS12V
Microsoft Windows XP Home with Service Pack 1

ABS PRICE
$2,568.50

NEWEGG PRICE
$2,160.91


Components (other retail vendors, obtained via Froogle)

Dell 2405FPW 24"
Logitech Z-5500 5.1 $221.95 - JustDeals.com
Zippy EL-722 (yet to be priced special order)
Logitech MX518 $37.00 - Comp-U-Plus
Sennheiser PC150 $34.55 - Dealznet

PRICE
$1,293.50

Misc
Linksys WRT54GX $153.64
Xbox HDTV AV Pack $14.37 - PROVANTAGE

PRICE
168.01
grand total
$4,030.01

Fusion HDTV5
yet to be released

All prices don't include shipping and handling. Whatcha guys think?
 
Firstly, you should be very happy w/that build. Excellent choices. I would definitley change one thing though, if you're really into burning DVD's skip the Sony. I'd grab the Plextor PX716A, it's got the bigger cache and comes with a mountain of nice software. It also supports a few more read modes, and it's nearly impossible to get a coster with it.

Oh yeah, I forgot the link. Unless they've changed it, it also comes w/a black face plate. It doesn't say though, so I'd double check.

 
get the plextor oldie recommened its getting great reviews. there is a firmware upgrade for it. it comes with black face plate i have one.
 
knothead34 said:
get the plextor oldie recommened its getting great reviews. there is a firmware upgrade for it. it comes with black face plate i have one.
Click to expand...

or for cheap get the LG 4163b. won cd freaks editors choice ;)

if not trying to save money...get the plextor i guess though. but imo you are buying a reputation...
 
Find a local Mom&pop's comp store nearby and have them build you the comp for 100$ or so, and maybe add 100$ more for OS & software installs. My father nabbed my comp before x-mas and had a local store re-install/upgrade the parts, and I was actually very satisfied with everything.

If you plan to upgrade the cpu in 6 months, or if you like games, I'd suggest going with AMD and a s939 setup, so you can either get better gaming performance, or an x2 dual-core when they are released.

Any way you go, you're looking at a great comp. Hope you like it.


Oh, and if you do get a choice on parts, say from newegg vs a pre-built like ABS, then try to find a 6800gt for as close to 300$ as possible withoit MIRs. I keep seeing them in the hotdeals section for like 320$ or around there, and that's a pretty competitive price, imo, against a 300$ x800xl, especially if you get the pipes unlocked on the 6800gt.


Summary of my advice:

Find a local comp store(places that repair/remove spyware should be acceptable as well)

Get all your parts from a good store(zzf, monarch, newegg...) as long as the price is reasonable

Take the parts to the aforementioned store, get them to put it together for, at max, a couple hundred dollars.

= Save some money, and get a comp that will perform better in game and be more upgradeable, or, if you still go intel, you'll most likely have a comp that fits your needs better.





[Edit2:] Oh, and have fun with surround sound :D
 
Lian-Li Mid Tower ATX Case PC-V1000
Intel Pentium 4 3.60 560 800MHz FSB LGA 775 w/ HT
ASUS P5AD2-E Premium 925XE
Corsair XMS2 DDR2 1G(512MBx2) PC2-5400 3-2-2-8
nVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT w/ 256MB GDDR3 PCI-e
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum
Seagate 200GB 7200RPM ST3200826AS
Seagate 80 GB 7200RPM ST380817AS
DVD Sony 16X DDU1613/B2s BLACK
Sony Internal 16X DVD+/-R DVD Dual Layer Model DW-D26A
Thermaltake Silent 774
Antec 550W Power Supply EPS12V
Microsoft Windows XP Home with Service Pack 1
Click to expand...

Get the P5ND2. A bit extra but it gets you SLI and more importantly, dual-core.
 
windoze9x said:
get the plextor i guess though. but imo you are buying a reputation...
Click to expand...

Yes, and a very well earned one at that.

 
OK (I will talk later about the recordable drive, more important matters to attend to, thanks for input). Look what happened


Is there any chance of getting them resupplied, and if so, before the memorial day savings runs out. If you DO get them back, and its after the experation for the savings, is there some kind of rain check you could give me?

Thanks,

#####

ABS Email Support
-----Original Message-----
From: ####[mailto:####@###]
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2005 9:14 PM
To: cc.service.wh1(abs).us
Subject: Lian Li Case

Hello #####,
We have discontinued the Lian Li case from all the models, and though I cannot be sure, I believe there is a supply problem with the case.
ABS Email Support

-----Original Message-----
From: ####[mailto:####@###]
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2005 9:14 PM
To: cc.service.wh1(abs).us
Subject: Lian Li Case


Dear ABS,

I am very interested in your Ultimate X6, except for the fact that I now notice you have gotten rid of the option to purchase the Lian Li V6000 (I think thats the model number) case. This is a crucial factor, and the Thermaltake VA3000BWA doesn't look like I would want that. If your not offering the Lian Li, I'm afraid I might not purchase an X6 from you.

Thanks a lot,

######
Click to expand...

Now, if the answer to my latest email is no, no, and no (which it looks like its heading that way) I think I will just take the dive and build it. After all, I'd be saving about 400$ according to my newegg comparison. But shit, this just had to happen. Looks like I will be able to actually customize a lot more if I do choose to build.
 
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