Computing.Net - so how's this set-up

Subject: so how's this set-up

Original Message

Name: acs_nova
Date: February 26, 2007 at 15:19:09 Pacific
Subject: so how's this set-up
OS: XP home
CPU/Ram: crap
Model/Manufacturer: crap

Comment:

$139.99 Microsoft Windows XP Pro- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...
$109.00 AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+(65W) Windsor 2.0GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...
84.99(after rebate) Thermaltake Purepower W0129RU ATX12V 600 W Power Supply- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...
$69.99 NZXT Apollo BLACK NP Black SECC Steel Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...
$139.99 ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...
$120.00 2x CORSAIR XMS2 512MB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...
$229.99 ATI Radeon X1950PRO 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO PCI Express x16- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...
$79.99 HITACHI Deskstar 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...
$33.99 SAMSUNG Black DVD Burner- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...
(still unsure if i want or no) $88.99 Logitech X-540 70 watts 5.1 Speaker- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...
$159.99(after rebate) ViewSonic Optiquest Series Q19WB-2 Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...

Altogether It came to about 1320 with rebates and shipping included. Now I'm sure there are some better deals out there for me, so if you guys know of any, do tell. Also, please alert me if there are some kind of parts missing and any suggestions you might have, since I don't know very much about building my own computer, or what brand parts are good. Or if any of the parts aren't compatible with each other, thats obviously important. My budget (I'd like to keep it under this anyhow) is 1500. Thanks for the input.

Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.

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Response Number 1

Name: heropsycho2177
Date: February 26, 2007 at 20:17:51 Pacific
Subject: so how's this set-up

Reply: (edit)

Change the processor to a 1M cache per core = 2M cache.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...
Remember, cache makes the difference!
As a side note, I'd also compare a similarly equipped system going with an Intel Core 2 Duo, which would beat the pants off the AMD. It will cost more, but it's probably worth the extra money considering the performance you would get.
Get 2 gigs of memory.
http://www.clubit.com/product_detai...
Also, the X1950Pro at that price is rip off. You can get an X1950XT for less, or go for a 320M 8800GTS which would get you DX10 full capability.
X1950XT...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...
640M 8800GTS - good deal
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...
320M 8800GTS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...
The X-540's at that price are a rip off. I'd either look into the Z-5300e's if you want very good sound, or the X-530's for a far less price.
The X-530's can be had for $50 at Sam's Club if you're a member.
I personally like Lite-On burners more than Samsung. NEC is good, too.
TECH-NO-LOGICAL ROMANCE!
http://www.homestarrunner.com/tgs12.html

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Response Number 2

Name: heropsycho2177
Date: February 26, 2007 at 20:24:50 Pacific
Subject: so how's this set-up

Reply: (edit)

Another monitor solution, nothing wrong with yours, but if you want something a little bigger with a little better image quality...
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.a...
The only thing about the monitor you selected is it doesn't have DVI.
Here's a 19" that does...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...
TECH-NO-LOGICAL ROMANCE!
http://www.homestarrunner.com/tgs12.html

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Response Number 3

Name: Josh
Date: February 28, 2007 at 12:29:08 Pacific
Subject: so how's this set-up

Reply: (edit)

STAY AWAY FROM THE DEATH START HITACHI HDDs THEY ARE TERRIBLE lol. Also Im not a real huge ATI fan stick with nvidia. The new 8800 that are out there are nice and affordable for the quality product. And its DX10.
http://www.newegg.com/product/produ...
The gamer guy

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Response Number 4

Name: heropsycho2177
Date: February 28, 2007 at 14:12:43 Pacific
Subject: so how's this set-up

Reply: (edit)

Hitachi hard drives are fine. For reliability, I like Seagate slightly more, but Hitachi are currently one of the best. I have predominantly Seagate and Hitachi hard drives, with a few Western Digitals in my systems. None of them thankfully have shown any issues whatsoever, several even have been in use for years. That includes six systems, and some 12 or so hard drives, most of which are under heavier than average load.
People who call them deathstars seem to think that Hitachi drives are the same drive made some 3 years ago when they suffered a higher amount of failure. Newsflash: most manufacturers have instances where a model of drive isn't reliable. The only reason IBM/Hitachi got all that negative press was because they reflected the reliability in their documentation for expected number of hours of usage. Even at that time, in the end, even Maxtor and Samsung drives typically had higher failure rates, so the supposed issues with the Deathstars were overblown and exaggerated.
I have no qualms whatsoever using an Hitachi hard drive, and in fact would highly recommend them.
TECH-NO-LOGICAL ROMANCE!
http://www.homestarrunner.com/tgs12.html

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