"budget" gaming system-plz critique

Dud3! · Posted: Sun, 07 Mar 2004 17:17:00 Post Subject:

OK, here's my combo of the month for extreme budget:

Shuttle AN35Ultra NF2 with ALC650 Soundstorm - $38 for refurb, $64 new
Athlon XP 2400+ Mobile - $77
Thermaltake SilentBoost K7 - $25
Corsair XMS PC3200 regular RAM (not XMS) $45 per 256MB stick ($90 for 256x2 dual channel)
Gigabyte 9600XT - $127
Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 80GB IDE - $70

As for the other stuff you listed, here are my alternatives:

Allied True 450W PSU (I know it's cheap, but they're decent!) - $44
Lite On 52x32x52 CD-RW (I think the Asus is made for them by Lite On, so why not get the real thing?) - $34
Logitech optical mouse - $12

Now, if I was building a moderately priced system, here's what I'd go with:

DFI NFII Ultra Infinity mobo (with soundstorm) - $93.00
Athlon XP 2600+ Mobile - $104.00
Thermalright SLK-947U/SP-97 and 92mm fan of your choice (this could get you to 3GHz if you're lucky, count on 2.6GHz) Around $50-$60 depending on fan. Need some Shin Etsu X-23 also, add $5.
Corsair XMS PC3200LL twin pack (256x2) - $169.00
Gigabyte 9600XT 128MB - $127
Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 80GB SATA hard drive (only $11 more than the IDE and the DFI has onboard SATA) - $81
Lite On 52x24x52 CD-RW - $34
Lite On 16x DVD-ROM - $25 or $31
Sony FDD - $12?

Logitech optical mouse - $12
Cooler Master Keyboard Q aluminum USB keyboard - $15
PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool 425W PSU (not budget, best) - $152

IceNine · Posted: Sun, 07 Mar 2004 17:56:07 Post Subject:

You should show what prices you're getting on those, Dud3!

I'm fairly interested!

Dud3! · Posted: Sun, 07 Mar 2004 18:35:33 Post Subject:

Updated for your pleasure.

To add to Spire's comment, the 2600+ Mobile is even lower than the 2400+ Mobile, coming in at 1.25v stock!!!

Spire · Posted: Sun, 07 Mar 2004 19:26:18 Post Subject:

I concur with the DUD3ster!!!

**JimBowy** · Moderator Joined: 02 Aug 2003 Posts: 1627

www.anandtech.com has some good articles as of late for building everything from the budjet, to the mainstream, to the highend, and the overclocking god's rig....

check it out
[end advert]

bruceModn · Rated NC-17 Joined: 06 Mar 2004 Posts: 155 Location: texas

first off, TY spire and all.

i am buying most of my parts from www.zipzoomfly.com nice guys and you get 2nd day shipping FREE!!

okay, infinity = soundstorm Wave

psu comes with the case and i was planning on saving money by that...so if im going to buy better psu, id need to go with a case wo psu

Spire · Posted: Sun, 07 Mar 2004 21:41:18 Post Subject:

Seems most of us here use Newegg, and a few alternates. I haven't taken a look at Zipzoomfly though. Might wanna just take a quick comparison at Newegg. They also usually ship free and in two days.

**Doctor Feelgood** · Posted: Sun, 07 Mar 2004 21:46:56 Post Subject:

ZZF and Newegg are very similar in pricing and shipping terms... I have heard a few stories of runarounds on returns from ZZF, but I have ordered from them, too... no problems. With the Newegg banner flying high here, my preference is obvious... but, I wouldn't have them, if I didn't like them already!

bruceModn · Rated NC-17 Joined: 06 Mar 2004 Posts: 155 Location: texas

i have taken a look at newegg and i am quite impressed, but for now i am sticking with zipzoomfly. newegg is good if you dont mind 4-5 day shipping which is what they offer for free, while zipzoom offers 2day. for example at
newegg the ati 9600xt is $178+ 2nd day ship to me is $11.20=189.20
zipzoomfly the same card is $189 with 2nd day shipping.

in the end, they are pretty darn close.

**JimBowy** · Moderator Joined: 02 Aug 2003 Posts: 1627

if your like me....
you'll check all your favorite retailers (online and local) compare all their prices and order a few things from each place (depending on which gives the best deal of course). might take a few more days to get the computer but it saves you some cash too....