Help me.....

[Maticus22]

I am going to build my friend a computer. Note this computer is not really going to be used for gaming, but he does not want a bottom barrel system. Here is the system I have put together at New Egg, please tell me if I should change some of the items or if we are good to go...<br><br><br>Case---ATX mid tower 300W rating 33.00<br>Liteon CDRW 40X12X48X 57.00<br>AMD XP1800 RETAIL BOX 89.00<br>ECS K7SFA SIS MOBO 53.99<br>SEAGATE 60GB HD 7200 RPM BARE 92.00<br>GAINWARD GF3 TI200 64MB DDR 108.00<br>liteon 16x dvd 40.00<br>FLOPPY DRIVE 9.00<br>SAMSUNG PC2700 256DDR MEM 78.00<br> Total Cost 559.99<br>Any suggestions? Would like to spend no more than this, if possible. <br><br>EDIT...MADE CHANGES GAMBIT SUGEGESTED....any more suggestions?<br>*edit (small formatting change) =G= * <p><img src="http://home.attbi.com/~peter_aquino/Maticus22sig.jpg" border="0"></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub141.ezboard.com/uxmengambit.s ... ge=EN>XMEN Gambit</A>&nbsp; <IMG SRC="http://www.xmenclan.org/images/x.gif" BORDER=0> at: 9/27/02 8:28:17 am<br></i>

[Spinning Hat]

Looks good man, just make sure the PSU is AMD Approved, and you have good case fans. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p><div align="center"><embed width="250" height="200" src="http://www.theta_mercenaries.homestead.com/files/sphat.swf"></div><p align=center><font color=#ff0000>Why Do I Always Die?!?!?!?!</font></p></p><i></i>

[XMEN Gambit]

Gambit's advice, in order of worth:<br><br>Get rid of the CD-R, completely. You can replace it with a DVD reader if you like, but you certainly don't need the 40x burner and a 52x reader. I've advised against this in the past, but burner prices are so dang low these days, it doesn't make financial sense.<br><br>Also lose the GF4 MX. You are seriously better off with a GF3 Ti than a GF4 MX. You should be able to find something in the same price range. Or you could look into an ATI card, any Radeon over a 7500 would work.<br><br>Last one - ditch the Soyo Dragon and get an ECS or other SiS-based motherboard. I'm finding mine more stable and easygoing than most of the Via chipset boards I've used. An ECS would be cheaper, too.<br><br><br>Everything else looks great. <p><img src=http://www.xmenclan.org/xmengambit.gif border=0 align=left>XMEN member<br>Card-carrying DTM<br>OKL Fish-napper<br><br><br>Though a program be but three lines long,<br> someday it will have to be maintained.<br> <i>- The Tao of Programming</i><br>Life is complex; it consists of real and imaginary parts.</p><i></i>

[MegaDeath70]

nm nt... <p><center><img src="http://www.soupforyou.net/mega2.jpg"><c ... Commitment to Excellence"</p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub141.ezboard.com/umegadeath70. ... 0</A>&nbsp; <IMG SRC="http://www.zoohoot.com/media/images/emo ... finger.gif" BORDER=0> at: 9/27/02 12:54:37 pm<br></i>

[XMEN Gambit]

Ok, thoughts on the revised plan.<br><br>(All prices from newegg's website) <br><br>If you go with a Chaintech GF3 ti200, that's $89, as opposed to the Gainward you list at $108 - save 19. Or there's an eVGA gf4 ti4200 for $120 if you want to step up a little and spend 12 more.<br><br>Now, the Radeon 9000 starts at $69, and is at least as capable as a ti4200 if not quite as fast. Since you say he's not really gaming, that may be the way to go. <br><br> <p><img src=http://www.xmenclan.org/xmengambit.gif border=0 align=left>XMEN member<br>Card-carrying DTM<br>OKL Fish-napper<br><br><br>Though a program be but three lines long,<br> someday it will have to be maintained.<br> <i>- The Tao of Programming</i><br>Life is complex; it consists of real and imaginary parts.</p><i></i>

[MegaDeath70]

i would go for the gf4 before ANYTHING radeon...Yuck ! <p><center><img src="http://www.soupforyou.net/mega2.jpg"><c ... Commitment to Excellence"</p><i></i>

[XMEN Gambit]

When you read the following, remember that I am an nVidia supporter from WAY back - specifically the Riva 128. But I keep my eyes open and see what's around, too, and try to see what somebody wants before I tell 'em what they need. Hence I find it awkward to be defending ATI in this case. Ironic... <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br><br>Have you ever used a Radeon 7500, 8500, or higher? I have. They work pretty darn well and look good doing it. And the 9700 is currently THE best gaming card on the market. (We'll see what's in the NV30 that nVidia answers it with when it arrives - hope it's great.) Also, this system isn't for him, it's for a friend/customer, who is not a big gamer. <br><br>So if he doesn't need frame rate but likes the nice-looking DX8/9 effects - where's he gonna get that on the cheap? The gf4 MX and gf3 don't have it. The gf4 Ti has some, but costs fifty bucks more in this example. So - what I'm doing is laying out his options, and why he might want to pursue any of them. <br><br>I'm sorry for coming across abrasively. It's generally not my style. But it does bug me when someone make a blanket statement like "YUCK" on an entire brand, and doesn't even bother to support it with detailed opinions or anecdotes, let alone facts.<br><br> <p><img src=http://www.xmenclan.org/xmengambit.gif border=0 align=left>XMEN member<br>Card-carrying DTM<br>OKL Fish-napper<br><br><br>Though a program be but three lines long,<br> someday it will have to be maintained.<br> <i>- The Tao of Programming</i><br>Life is complex; it consists of real and imaginary parts.</p><i></i>

[MegaDeath70]

Ok...ok...you may have a point, but i can voice my opinion cant i ? I see ATI Radeon as a Sony or Audiovox type of manufacturer. I see nvidia as a Alpine or Klipsch type of manufacturer. would ya rather have a Alpine or a Sony? I know what i would rather have. (Not to mention, ive NEVER had a problem with Nvidia cards.) We could debate this over and over, but i would NEVER buy a Radeon card and put it in ANY rig i was building. Unless i really disliked that person. No on second thought i dont think i could even do that. To me the graphics card is one of the most important parts of a rig. And i would want damn near the best thing i could find, besides any Radeon based card. So that is IMO of course and it really doesnt matter what he does, as im sure everything will work out. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> There was no need to try and flame me here, i was just stating my opinion Bro ! <p><center><img src="http://www.soupforyou.net/mega2.jpg"><c ... Commitment to Excellence"</p><i></i>

[XMEN Iceman]

Oh trust me...Gambit is NOT flaming you...it is just one of those hardcore geeks. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br><br>I promise you he is not flaming you. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> Just very serious in his opinions. <p><table border="0"><tr><td><embed align="left" src="http://www.thzclan.com/avatars/ezice.swf" menu="false" quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" width="217" height="166" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/dow ... <td><table border="0" style='Filter: Shadow(Color=#BB1403,Direction=255)'><tr><td><span class='usertitle'>XMEN Iceman [DTM]<br>Founder and Leader of the Base Tribes XMEN Clan<br>Proud member of the Dragon Talon Mercenaries teamplayers Guild<br>Citizen of New Fenecia<br><br>"You weren't much of a challenge" - T2 bot after killing Iceman<br><br>- click on avatar for links - no, not sausage links!</span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></p><i></i>

[XMEN Gambit]

Ya, not a flame, though it came across fairly harsh. I really didn't want this to turn into an argument, so I apologize for heading it that direction. <br><br>If it was a flame it would be decidedly more personal - it would bring up hilarious and insulting viewpoints on your intelligence, breeding, education or lack of it, and possibly sexual habits. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> That was not a flame. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br><br>I'd like to have a serious discussion with you about the merits of each. But so far, all you've been saying is "I personally perceive ATI to be a lower quality manufacturer than nVidia." Which is fine for your personal opinion, and you are of course free to share it. But you've yet to relate any experiences of yours with ATI products in general, and Radeons in specific. Not to mention any other facts. It is widely recognized that with the Radeon line, ATI is showing a dramatic shift in their products by building really capable 3D cards. Up to the 9700, they've been unable to even approach nVidia's position in the performance market, but the Radeons are still good cards.<br><br>My experience with ATI cards: I currently have a TV Wonder in this box and a mobile 7500 in my laptop. I generally hate their driver setup because they install what seems like 15 different virtual devices for every card you put in, but other than that they work just fine. (Driver issues are traditionally ATI's weak spot.) I specifically bought a laptop that had the Radeon 7500M in it because it was a better choice than the GF-2-go that was the only other contender in the gaming-capable laptop arena at the time. (nVidia has had a few problems with their mobile chips and drivers but they're learning). I've also had numerous experiences with OEM built-in ATI cards (ATI Rage Pro, etc) and absolutely <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><b> hated</b><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> all those. <br><br>So, if you're basing your opinion on those old cards, I completely understand and agree - but you haven't <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><i> said</i><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> that. You're just restating your opionion, and everyone can do that and never settle anything because the issues aren't addressed.<br><br> <p><img src=http://www.xmenclan.org/xmengambit.gif border=0 align=left>XMEN member<br>Card-carrying DTM<br>OKL Fish-napper<br><br><br>Though a program be but three lines long,<br> someday it will have to be maintained.<br> <i>- The Tao of Programming</i><br>Life is complex; it consists of real and imaginary parts.</p><i></i>

[XMEN_Hammer]

Geek <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :p --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/tongue.gif ALT=":p"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p><img src=http://www.xmenclan.org/avatars/hammer_av.jpg>Proud Member of the XMEN Clan<br><b>If you run, you will only die tired.</b> </p><i></i>