Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Purchasing a New Computer: I have some questions!

lpj8 · 03-24-2006, 10:07 AM

Ok, I need to upgrade what I have:

P4 2.0, 512 RDRAM, 64 Geforce 420MX.
19" Analog LCD

I'd like to be able to play the Elder Scrolls Oblivion, but I mostly use my computer for burning DVDs, CDs, standard web surfing, data management (SAS, SPSS, Access), and word processing tasks. I have around 700-750 to spend, and I am pretty satisfied with my monitor.

I have a couple of questions:
Should I get a single core? or a dual core?
Specifically, should I go for a Pentium D 820 Dual Core? or a Athlon 64 3700?

I have priced out two systems. I can get this one for around 600 shipped:

Dell Dimension E510 Series
Pentium® D Processor 820 with Dual Core Technology (2.80GHz, 800FSB)
Genuine Windows® XP Media Center 2005 Edition
1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz (2x512M)
Dell USB Keyboard
19 inch E196FP Analog Flat Panel
128MB PCI Express™ x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) ATI Radeon X300 SE (I'd upgrade this)
160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
13 in 1 Media Card Reader
Dell® 2-button USB mouse
Integrated Intel® PRO 10/100 Ethernet
56K PCI Data Fax Modem
Single Drive: 16X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/double layer write capability
Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio

I would sell the extra monitor for 150 to a friend, but I would need to upgrade the videocard for sure (100-150 bucks). After everything is said and done, this would cost me around 700, after I buy the extra videocard.
_________________________________________________________________
If I were to build my own Athlon system, here is what I could get:

APEX PC-115 Beige Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 350W Power Supply

NEC 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE/ATAPI Model ND-3550A - OEM

Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 ST3160021A 160GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA100

CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model VS1GBKIT400 -

Thermaltake TR2 W0070 ATX 430W Power Supply - Retail

AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 1GHz HT Socket 939 Processor Model

XFX PVT42EUDE3 Geforce 6800 XTreme 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16

$630 shipped, and I'd need a good logic board (I assumed this is around 100 bucks) = 730 shipped

From what I see, I can get a pretty nice and fast Pentium D 2.8 system for a pretty sweet price, or should I just build my own?
Basically, am I getting good bang for my buck?

03-24-2006, 10:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
lpj8 Crazy Location: U.S.A	Building a New Computer: I have some questions! Ok, I need to upgrade what I have: P4 2.0, 512 RDRAM, 64 Geforce 420MX. 19" Analog LCD I'd like to be able to play the Elder Scrolls Oblivion, but I mostly use my computer for burning DVDs, CDs, standard web surfing, data management (SAS, SPSS, Access), and word processing tasks. I have around 700-750 to spend, and I am pretty satisfied with my monitor. I have a couple of questions: Should I get a single core? or a dual core? Specifically, should I go for a Pentium D 820 Dual Core? or a Athlon 64 3700? I have priced out two systems. I can get this one for around 600 shipped: Dell Dimension E510 Series Pentium® D Processor 820 with Dual Core Technology (2.80GHz, 800FSB) Genuine Windows® XP Media Center 2005 Edition 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz (2x512M) Dell USB Keyboard 19 inch E196FP Analog Flat Panel 128MB PCI Express™ x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) ATI Radeon X300 SE (I'd upgrade this) 160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™ 13 in 1 Media Card Reader Dell® 2-button USB mouse Integrated Intel® PRO 10/100 Ethernet 56K PCI Data Fax Modem Single Drive: 16X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/double layer write capability Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio I would sell the extra monitor for 150 to a friend, but I would need to upgrade the videocard for sure (100-150 bucks). After everything is said and done, this would cost me around 700, after I buy the extra videocard. _________________________________________________________________ If I were to build my own Athlon system, here is what I could get: APEX PC-115 Beige Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 350W Power Supply NEC 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE/ATAPI Model ND-3550A - OEM Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 ST3160021A 160GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA100 CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model VS1GBKIT400 - Thermaltake TR2 W0070 ATX 430W Power Supply - Retail AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 1GHz HT Socket 939 Processor Model XFX PVT42EUDE3 Geforce 6800 XTreme 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 $630 shipped, and I'd need a good logic board (I assumed this is around 100 bucks) = 730 shipped From what I see, I can get a pretty nice and fast Pentium D 2.8 system for a pretty sweet price, or should I just build my own? Basically, am I getting good bang for my buck? Last edited by lpj8; 03-26-2006 at 09:55 AM..