System for a client feedback wanted

[DJ Switch]

Lemme know what you think guys. Heres the setup mostly gaming and multi-purpose use:

Motherboard: ASUS P4C800 Deluxe 210
Processor : Intel Pentium 4 2.4b 177
Video Card: GeForce FX 5200 90
Monitor: LCD Monitor 15” 300
Hard Drives: 2x Seagate Barracuda 80GB SATA RAID-0 275
Sound Card: SoundBlaster Audigy MP3+ 80
Modem: Intel v.92 20
Memory: Samsung 1024MB PC3200 170
Drive 1: CD-RW 52x48x52 Black (Samsung) 50
Drive 2: Black 16x DVD (Sony) 60
Case: Xaser III v2000d (he picked it out non-negotiable) 170
Lights: UV & Green Cold Cathodes 30
Speakers: Black Logitech 5.1 System 85
Operating System: Microsoft XP Pro 180
Keyboard & Mouse: Microsoft Wireless Multimedia Set 80
Total $1967

[modenaf1]

first, i think you could save a ton of money if you go AMD. second, performance increase really drops off at 256mb of ram, so i think 512 is really all that is needed. and from experience, seagate barracuda drives fail quite easily. I think they overheat. And sata dosent really increase perforance that much and i heard is not always worht the extra $$$

[DJ Switch]

i think you could save a ton of money if you go AMD
AMD has given my friend plenty of troubles, so I think I am going to stay away from them, regardless of the money saved.

performance increase really drops off at 256mb of ram, so i think 512 is really all that is needed.
I can definately agree with you, however I am trying to build him a system comparable to one he built at IBUYPOWER, I will save him about 500 bucks, so this is where his needs/wants come into play I suppose.

seagate barracuda drives fail quite easily
I beg the differ! My computer, my brothers, my friends, and my workhorse computers all use Barracuda drives, and none have ever failed. I think that is a pretty harsh generalization, but I can agree with the overheating issue, which is why the Xaser series all have fans in the lower drive bay.

And sata dosent really increase perforance that much and i heard is not always worht the extra $$$
Once again I agree, however you need to understand its going to be the industry standard in a few years, and this is a new system we dont want being outdated very quickly (with the exception of the 2.4). It will have benefits as far as airflow.

Thanks for the advice.
Kyle

[Hookem]

I would ditch that Nvidia video card and get me some better memory...Abit Max board is worth checking out...I really think you would be better off with two WD JB's in a RAID-O configuration...In a performance versus price compairson anyway...Two memory modules if your board supports dual channel...Looks like a nice P-4 to me...ATI all the way...Nvidia still has some catching up to do versus the ATI cards IMHO...:D

[john240sx]

i also have to say ditch the 5200, you put together a pretty nice high end system but used a budget videocard (the 5200 is the new MX). a GF4 TI4200 will outperform it and only costs about $15 more, or splurge and toss in a 9500Pro or 9600Pro.

if one of it's primary uses is going to be gaming then i would drop the LCD and get high quality 21 inch CRT (LCD's are still a little ways off from being good gaming monitors).

[sangapski]

why not go with 2.4C? its just ~$20 more
and if its going to be OC'd, get a PC3500 RAM

[DJ Switch]

heres the updated machine, only a little bit more, which he ok'd. Thanks for your guys' expertise.

Beast 4: Josh's Computer Built by Kyle & Cory

Motherboard: ASUS P4C800 Deluxe (Newegg) $182
Processor : Intel Pentium 4 2.4c (Newegg) $175
Video Card: ATI Radeon 9700 Pro AIW (Newegg) $267
Monitor: Samsung 17" Flat CRT Black $150
Hard Drives: 2x SATA Seagate Barracuda 80GB (Newegg) $234
Sound Card: SoundBlaster Audigy MP3+ (Newegg) $75
Modem: Intel v.92 $20
Memory: 4x Corsair 256MB PC3200 (Newegg) $185
Drive 1: CD-RW Black (Samsung) $50
Drive 2: Black 16x DVD (Sony) (Newegg) $45
Case: Xaser III v1000a $170
Lights: UV & Green Cold Cathodes $30
Speakers: Black Logitech 5.1 System $65
Operating System: Microsoft XP Pro (Newegg) $147
Keyboard & Mouse: Microsoft Wireless Multimedia Set $80
Service Charge: Labor for Kyle and Cory & Lifetime
Warranty $200
Total $2075

[CZmanz19]

Looks like a pretty good system if you ask me

[CZmanz19]

o Yeh and by the way go with a 19 inch it isnt much more and it makes gaming much better

[DJ Switch]

CZmanz is the person who is building with me.

Kyle

[ferria]

more ram at least 512 and better vidcard,try to find a nice 9500 PRO

[DJ Switch]

more ram at least 512 and better vidcard,try to find a nice 9500 PRO

Please read all posts before replying, as both of these areas have been covered, and there was at least 1GB of ram to be put in the system at all times.

[SpliT71]

Originally posted by DJ Switch
Video Card: ATI Radeon 9700 Pro AIW (Newegg) $267

since when is it $267, do you mean $367?

Also i have an idea for you.

[john240sx]

just over $100 more and it will outperform the first setup in games with no comparison. very respectable rig now, no major bottlenecks that i can see :D

also, might i suggest going with a lite-on CD-RW? the only drive that can out perform a Lite-On is a Plextor and they cost a lot more.
Lite On 52x24x52 Black $45 @ newegg.

either way, nice setup :)

[DJ Switch]

Thanks to SpliT71 for point it out . . . the 9700 Pro is a refurb unit. Might anyone have an accessories pack for it that I could buy?

Kyle

[Hookem]

For the money the Built by ATI 9500 Pro's are hard to beat...IMHO the 9700 for 150.00 more is just not worth it...:rolleyes:

[DJ Switch]

Well we are also talking performance . . . for the price hes paying hes gettin a heck of a system. No sense in making a new system that much easier to become yeserday's technology.

Kyle

[Hookem]

Boy if a 9500 Pro becomes yesterdays video card it will not be for quiet some time IMHO...:D

[DJ Switch]

your missing the point . . . we are talking about in the long run . . . the computer should last a while and still be mid range quality compared to anything else. thats what i was trying to get accross. New video cards are out all the time, so getting the best is somewhat important.

[Hookem]

And extremely expensive...:eek:

[Bahamet]

I bought a brand new ATI 9700 pro at Best Buy for $299.00. I'd check that before I bought a refurbished card.

[DJ Switch]

$40 more might be acceptable. Thanks for your post! Hookem you are right about the very best being very expensive, but you can't say it doesnt pay off in the long run when you still have one of the best systems out there, even if your best friend just bought a new Dell a year after you bought yours!