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Building a PC
Alright TOTA's the time has come for me to finally get a new PC.
After working hard all summer (well not all summer, from June to the end of August 
) Im rewarding myself with a new PC.
I need some suggestions on what people have had good experiences with, bad experiences, etc. etc.
I want to get something that's going to be fast, but it doesn't have to be the newest technology (which is always grossly overpriced for not a whole lot of a difference).
What Im most concerned with is my processor, motherboard and videocard.
My biggest debate is between getting an AMD or an Intel processor.
I find lots of my friends who are all into computers suggest AMD, but something tells me that most of them don't actually know if either is better, they just say it is because Intel is the mainstream and want to be different 
. IVe been searching online to find out the big difference between the two are and how two in the same price range compare to eachother.
What I NEED is the following:
CPU
Heatsink + fan (nothing fancy, under $30)
Motherboard (would prefer one with IEEE)
RAM (512+)
Video Card (128mb, tv out)
Hard Drive (120 - 160gig, under $200)
Soundcard (nothing fancy, under $100)
Price range: $1300 - 1600
Those are the essentials. I don't NEED to get a new case, CDRW, or dvd drive, but they aren't compeltely out of the equation. If i got any/all of them i wouldn't be looking to spend more than $150 - 200 on them all combined.
Don't need a monitor, keyboard, speakers, etc. etc... just the guts.
Im also looking for any potential deals and sales going on. More than likely Ill pick up most of the stuff from Canada Computers unless someone can steer me to lower prices.
Thanks in advance 
sound blaster audigy OEM = 88$ at canada computers
just picked one up myself 
If you will be working on music productions on your PC you should ALWAYS go with Intel.
PCCanada
KV
If you don't plan on playing ANY video games (from say 2002 to recent at least), check out www.canadasys.com they have VERY cheap prices on prebuilt systems. however it usually includes a piece of junk ECS 64mb video card which wouldn't play crap in terms of high intensity graphics (photoshop and similar programs would be fine).
Also the price doesn't include a monitor.
my pick for budget:
Athlon XP 2600+ $549
Asus A7V8XX ( 8XAGP ) Mainboard
256M DDR333 RAM
ECS 64M AGP Video Card
80 GB 7200r HardDrive
1.44M FDD
ATX 300W CASE
CD-ROM
56K MODEM
Sound Card on Board
Altec Lansing Speaker
PS/2 Keyboard
PS/2 Scroll Mouse
best pick:
Intel P4-2.8G(800) $1239
ASUS P4P800 Mainboard
512M DDR800 Memory
MSI 64M MX440-T8X AGP( 8X )
80G / 7200rpm Hard Drive
1.44 Floppy Drive
Aluminium P4 CASE
( Major brand power supply )
LG 16X DVD
LG 52X CD Re-Writer
56K MODEM / On Board Sound
Altec Lansing AVS 300 Speaker
Logitech Deluxe Access Keyboard
Optical Mouse
p.s.-> the store is located in scarborough just for you! (LOL)
www.pricenetwork.ca
nuff said !
(ps. you won't regret it!)
The company I work for (my friend's company) sells computers as well as other stuff, if you want to PM me with some of the details I can give you a quote.
| quote: |
I want to get something that's going to be fast, but it doesn't have to be the newest technology... |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Flec sound blaster audigy OEM = 88$ at canada computers just picked one up myself |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by fantom Just go with AMD XP chip... they are cheaper than P4's and perform just as well, in most apps even better, and they are hell of a lot cheaper too. And if you're looking for deals, just grab a copy of Canada Computes (I think that's what it's called) and browse around... I've checked one out recently just because a friend of mine wanted to buy a new system, and I've seen a whole bunch of deals going on for like $600-800 going for some mad systems. Remember, unless you're gonna go heavy on audio/video editing apps or some database apps, you don't need more than 512MB of RAM. So get yourself 512MB of the fastest DDR RAM, Athlon XP 2600 or something along those lines, a decent motherboard, and spend the money that you'll be saving from a P4 chip on a fassssst SCSI Hard Drive... these babies make a whole lot of difference! |
Well just like some people here want to build a new computer. I've been thinking of doing the same for the past few months. My main uses will be word processing, music and the net. But i also want to play some high end games such as counterstrike, half life 2 and GTA 3 etc.
So what would you guys reccomend?
as for things like cd ROM's and CD RW drives i don't need since i'll just add my old ones, as well as the speakers since i have a nice logitech 5.1 system.
Oh and the processor speed i'm looking for is like 2.6 GHz :P
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Mako Well just like some people here want to build a new computer. I've been thinking of doing the same for the past few months. My main uses will be word processing, music and the net. But i also want to play some high end games such as counterstrike, half life 2 and GTA 3 etc. So what would you guys reccomend? as for things like cd ROM's and CD RW drives i don't need since i'll just add my old ones, as well as the speakers since i have a nice logitech 5.1 system. Oh and the processor speed i'm looking for is like 2.6 GHz :P |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Mako Well just like some people here want to build a new computer. I've been thinking of doing the same for the past few months. My main uses will be word processing, music and the net. But i also want to play some high end games such as counterstrike, half life 2 and GTA 3 etc. So what would you guys reccomend? as for things like cd ROM's and CD RW drives i don't need since i'll just add my old ones, as well as the speakers since i have a nice logitech 5.1 system. Oh and the processor speed i'm looking for is like 2.6 GHz :P |
i have one on this pc and it SUCKS. supposed to be 3D prophet (kyro series) and it's not compatible with more than HALF the games i want to play. ARGH 
Alright after a day of research I think Ive roughly decided what Im going to get
After reading countless reviews online I think im gonna go with AMD. I mean from what I can gather, I'd just be spending an extra $150 - 200 on a comparible Intel chip
So here's my list so far
Athlon XP 2800+ (Barton) w/ 512K L2 cache
Thermaltake Volcano 9 (A1365)
ASUS A7V8X VIA KT400 w/ IEEE, 10/100 LAN
KingMax 512MB PC-3200 DDR400 SDRAM
Western Digital 200GB w/ 8MB cache
ATI Radeon 9600 Pro 128MB DDR
LiteOn 52x24x52 CD-RW
AOpen QF50A w/ 300W PSU and Front USB (Ivory/Black)
Total Cost: $1227
Ill probably grab a soundcard down the road but I don't really need it right now
Yay's...nay's...any other opinions?
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Kid Lax Athlon XP 2800+ (Barton) w/ 512K L2 cache Thermaltake Volcano 9 (A1365) ASUS A7V8X VIA KT400 w/ IEEE, 10/100 LAN KingMax 512MB PC-3200 DDR400 SDRAM Western Digital 200GB w/ 8MB cache ATI Radeon 9600 Pro 128MB DDR LiteOn 52x24x52 CD-RW AOpen QF50A w/ 300W PSU and Front USB (Ivory/Black) Total Cost: $1227 |
My dad just picked up a new comp for me from his boy...amazing deal
3.06G pentium 4
512
40G (an extra 100 will run you maybe 40$)
52x24x52 CDR
and all the goods
for about $1050...if you dont get the CDR and all the other shit you don't need i think it would be under $1000
lemme know if you're interested and i'll get you the guys # and addy
| quote: |
| Originally posted by che lemme know if you're interested and i'll get you the guys # and addy |
I can find out for you and let you know...or i can get you his # and you can give him call...
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Flec sound blaster audigy OEM = 88$ at canada computers just picked one up myself |
I used to have one that cost me only 39 bucks and then the power surge killed it... WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAA!!!!!
| quote: |
(UPDATED 7/10) GURANTEE LOWEST PRICE IN ONTARIO~~~ FLAT NO TAX!!!!! Athlon XP 1800+ Retail $89 Athlon XP 2000+ Retail $107 Athlon XP 2200+ Retail $118 Athlon XP 2400+ Retail $135 Athlon XP 2500+ (Barton) $143 Athlon XP 2600+ Retail $165 Athlon XP 2700+ Retail $225 Athlon XP 2800+ (Barton) $287 Athlon XP 3000+ (Barton) $420 Athlon XP 3200+ Retail $725 Pentium 4 2.4B GHz Retail $260 Pentium 4 2.66B GHz Retail $308 Pentium 4 2.8B GHz Retail $400 Pentium 4 3.06 GHz $570 Pentium 4 2.4C GHz $285 Pentium 4 2.6C GHz $355 Pentium 4 2.8C GHz $430 Pentium 4 3.0C GHz $635 Pentium 4 3.2C GHz $1,050 ASUS P4C800E-DLX $290 flat ABIT AT7-MAX2 VIA KT400 $210 flat Maxtor 120.0GB $160 flat Maxtor 120GB S-ATA $193 flat Pioneer A06 DVD-RW $375 flat ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB DDR AGP 8X $550 flat Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum EX $335 flat Samsung SyncMaster 151N 15" TFT $420 flat Samsung SyncMaster 171S 17" TFT $655 flat |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by che I can find out for you and let you know...or i can get you his # and you can give him call... |
lol, you want to upgrade your AMD 1.4.....? Kid lax, there's no need for a 200GB hard drive, you'll save a hundred or two going with something more practical like an 80.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by rahvin Kid lax, there's no need for a 200GB hard drive.. |
Way back........
Like 8 years ago when I was 17 or so, I had a computer company that built mainframes and workstations for small-medium sized corporations..... I still have my vendor accounts with the big suppliers (ingram, techdata, etc) and can help you out here ---- however since I got out of the 3% margin business [building computers] and into the 35% margin business [marketing/advertising] I've sent people to a guy who I used to work with and who is still in the business.
If you want his contact info let me know. He usually will build your system and give warranty for parts + 3% to 5% (which is better than you building it from a bunch of OEM suppliers and not getting anything more than a 30 day warranty).
Let me know.
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