Looking to build my own PC. Need recommendations. - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

CityOfAngels · 05-31-2005, 06:11 PM

I figured I would purchase all of my parts from Fry's online at outpost.com. If you have any better suggestions, please don't hesitate.

So here's what I thought up:
Case: Just PC 425W Mid Tower ATX Case - $44.99
CPU and Motherboard: AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Boxed Processor with Motherboard Combo - $169.99
CD-RW: 52x32x52x CDRW EIDE Internal Drive - $49.99
DVD-RW: Plextor PX-716A/SW 16x - $129.99
Floppy: Arista Mitsumi-350 Floppy Drive - $14.99
RAM: Kingston 512 MB PC3200 DDR Memory - $54.99
Hard Drive: Seagate 200GB ST3200822A-RK UATA100 8MB Buffer Retail Hard Drive Kit - $119.99
Keyboard/Mouse: Logitech Desktop LX300 Wireless Optical - $59.95

I already have a decent (at least I think it's decent) video card in a e-G-Force MX 4000, and I can wait on getting a sound card since I don't have a keyboard or any studio equipment that I'd need sound editing for.

How would this PC rate with the average computer of today? It'll cost around $700.00, so I want to make sure it's worth my while. Also, would you recommend a different store? I live in the 90291 zip code, so if you know of any stores in my area that are better than Fry's, or even any online stores, please let me know. I'm not looking for a super top of the line computer, but rather something that is significantly better than the fossil I am using now.

Here are the specs for my fossil:
CPU: Intel Celeron 750 Mhz.
CD-RW: Writes at 8x, reads at 20x
DVD-ROM: Not sure what the read speed is.
Floppy Drive
RAM: 194 MB
Hard Drive: 18.6 GB
Keyboard/Mouse: Gateway default keyboard, Gateway roller-ball mouse, both with wires.

I'm still using on-board sound, which I am fine with, and I am using the video card I mentioned before.

MikeSty · 05-31-2005, 06:58 PM

That's pretty good; try:

www.zipzoomfly.com
www.pricewatch.com
www.tigerdirect.com
www.newegg.com
www.directron.com
www.dealram.com

Glava · 06-01-2005, 09:49 AM

Definitely www.newegg.com. They're in the LA area(the main warehouse, at least), so you would get your stuff very quickly. But on the other hand, you will have to pay sales tax.

Also, you're spending way too much on your DVD-RW drive. Get the NEC 3520A for 45 bucks.

sashime76 · 06-01-2005, 09:52 AM

Hey, my fossil is older than yours.

AMD K5-300, 20GBHD, 16X DVD, 128MB RAM. Anyway, I'd recommend TigerDirect, too. My brother in law got a cheap-o last October (a refurb by eMachines) and it runs great.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...279472&CatId=0

It's not going to give you the thrill of building one yourself but it makes much more dollar sense. You can always disable the onboard video, audio, etc and add cards yourself.

Or, go to local computer shows and buy parts to tailor your own system. Only down fall is that most vendors are from out of area - if anything fails, hard to track them.

http://www.supercomputersale.com/Loc...ations.html#ca

CityOfAngels · 06-01-2005, 04:37 PM

Thanks everyone!

sashime76 - THANK YOU SO MUCH! I am ordering that eMachines refurb you just linked me to!

I would be getting slightly less quality on the specs, but $475 vs. $700 is a no brainer! THANKS AGAIN!

You just saved me $225!!

Edit: Oooh...OUCH! The AMD Sempron is a 333Mhz!?!? Whoah, thank God I didn't complete the order! Haha!

Edit again: Ah nope it's a 2Ghz. Whew! How the heck did I read that so wrong?

MikeSty · 06-01-2005, 05:08 PM

FSB = 333mhz
CPU speed = FSB x Multiplier
Multiplier = 2ish GHZ / 333mhz (front side bus speed)

Yeah, ummm, i probably should know that for the A+ exam .. but I don't. It's around 6 - 6.5x

My fossil is even older - AMD K6-II (530MHZ), 64mb (okay i threw a stick of 128mb in there), 4GB HD, 8x CD-R/W - thank god it's a server and I never actually had to use it as a desktop.

Glava · 06-01-2005, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeSty

FSB = 333mhz
CPU speed = FSB x Multiplier
Multiplier = 2ish GHZ / 333mhz (front side bus speed)

Yeah, ummm, i probably should know that for the A+ exam .. but I don't. It's around 6 - 6.5x

My fossil is even older - AMD K6-II (530MHZ), 64mb (okay i threw a stick of 128mb in there), 4GB HD, 8x CD-R/W - thank god it's a server and I never actually had to use it as a desktop.

The RAM is DDR, so while the usable bus speed is 333mhz, the actual CPU-determined bus is half that - 166. So if the CPU is ~2GHZ, the setting is 166*12

sashime76 · 06-02-2005, 04:59 AM

One more thing CityOfAngels, if you did complete your order. As soon as you get the system, run burn in test for at least a day or two, or even three days none stop. I had my brother in law run Sisoft Sandra Pro. Since it's a refurb, you only have 90 days or so to "break" it and have it replaced.

06-01-2005, 09:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
Glava Betitled	Definitely www.newegg.com. They're in the LA area(the main warehouse, at least), so you would get your stuff very quickly. But on the other hand, you will have to pay sales tax. Also, you're spending way too much on your DVD-RW drive. Get the NEC 3520A for 45 bucks. Last edited by Glava; 06-01-2005 at 09:57 AM..

05-31-2005, 06:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
MikeSty The Computer Kid :D Location: 127.0.0.1	That's pretty good; try: www.zipzoomfly.com www.pricewatch.com www.tigerdirect.com www.newegg.com www.directron.com www.dealram.com

06-01-2005, 09:52 AM	#4 (permalink)
sashime76 Addict Location: Hoosier State	Hey, my fossil is older than yours. AMD K5-300, 20GBHD, 16X DVD, 128MB RAM. Anyway, I'd recommend TigerDirect, too. My brother in law got a cheap-o last October (a refurb by eMachines) and it runs great. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...279472&CatId=0 It's not going to give you the thrill of building one yourself but it makes much more dollar sense. You can always disable the onboard video, audio, etc and add cards yourself. Or, go to local computer shows and buy parts to tailor your own system. Only down fall is that most vendors are from out of area - if anything fails, hard to track them. http://www.supercomputersale.com/Loc...ations.html#ca

06-01-2005, 05:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
MikeSty The Computer Kid :D Location: 127.0.0.1	FSB = 333mhz CPU speed = FSB x Multiplier Multiplier = 2ish GHZ / 333mhz (front side bus speed) Yeah, ummm, i probably should know that for the A+ exam .. but I don't. It's around 6 - 6.5x My fossil is even older - AMD K6-II (530MHZ), 64mb (okay i threw a stick of 128mb in there), 4GB HD, 8x CD-R/W - thank god it's a server and I never actually had to use it as a desktop.

06-02-2005, 04:59 AM	#8 (permalink)
sashime76 Addict Location: Hoosier State	One more thing CityOfAngels, if you did complete your order. As soon as you get the system, run burn in test for at least a day or two, or even three days none stop. I had my brother in law run Sisoft Sandra Pro. Since it's a refurb, you only have 90 days or so to "break" it and have it replaced.