New Computer Build

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jack Bruss
  • Start date Start date
Jack said:
We're looking for a low cost system - I'm thinking around $300 - $400.
Click to expand...

Just some rough pricing.

For a processor, you can select a Celeron D if you want, as those
can be had for as little as $55. The processor I selected here is
a Pentium 4, with Hyperthreading, which will make the desktop
a little smoother. You could also go for an AMD processor, and
save a few bucks by using a Venice 3200+ S939 for $66.99, but
then you don't have Hyperthreading (two virtual processors in
one physical processor). My P4 system is just a little smoother,
compared to an equally powerful AMD system. 3GHz is a good
target for a "no complaints" user experience.

Pentium 4 531 Prescott 3.0GHz 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116230

Motherboard with built-in graphics and a video slot, for future
PCI Express video card. Takes DDR2 memory.

ASUS P5L-MX Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 945G Micro ATX $76
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131041

For memory, 512MB (2x256MB DDR2 memory) would be the minimum.
With integrated graphics, using dual channel memory mode would
be best. If a video card upgrade was used, then the pressure is
off, and a one or a two stick configuration could be used.
A single stick would leave room for a future upgrade. I'll
assume integrated graphics usage for now.

CORSAIR ValueSelect 512MB (2 x 256MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM
DDR2 533 (PC2 4200) Dual Channel Kit $56
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145530

COOLER MASTER RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$29.99 after rebate. The one 120mm fan in back is good enough.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119115

FSP Group (Fortron Source) ATX350-PA, version 2.0, SATA, 350W PSU $30
+3.3V @ 22A, +5V @ 21A, +12V1 @ 18A, +12V2 @ 16A, -12V @ 0.3A, +5VSB @ 2A
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104901

Some CD/DVD burner (too lazy to pick one) $30
See http://www.cdfreaks.com/reviews/ for reviews of burners.

Seagate 7200.9 80GB disk drive SATA interface $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148148

Price so far:
80 + 76 + 56 + 30 + 30 + 30 + 45 = $347

Still needs mouse and OS to install. If you are trying to reuse
a copy of Win98, then that may "steer" the hardware sslection
approach. I haven't factored OS selection into the motherboard
selection above. I'd have to "squeeze the fat" out of the
motherboard/cpu choice, to make room for the purchase of
an $80-$90 OS.

http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&model=P5L-MX

I think you can come up with something to build.
Just buying a beige box at Walmart wouldn't be as much fun for you :-)

There are also much cheaper motherboard/CPU/memory bundles you can
get at places like Tigerdirect. I selected the above components
as a compromise - hoping for less chance of a dead computer after
delivery.

Paul
 
CBFalconer said:
*** rude top-posting corrected ***


That's entirely up to him. However he may now have some idea that
he is contravening normal usenet usage.

--
A: Because it fouls the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on usenet and in e-mail?
Click to expand...

Is this better?
Thanks
 
Or he's never given a flying red **** about what prats like you demand.

There is no such animal as 'normal usenet usage'
 
bottom posting is always wrong when TOLD to do it by a turd
damn usenet nazi, GFY
Click to expand...


Nope. It's a bit like littering in your yard. Do it once
and it's no big deal, but keep doing it and have your
neighbors do it too, and it becomes a mess.

The only reason people think shunning usenet conventions is
not a big deal is that for the most part, usenet works
because people DON'T shun them, because the majority of the
conventions were still being used. The more you make it an
anything-goes environment without consistency, the worse it
works. Since we, as-in everyone reading usenet, has an
interest in being able to do so, it is senseless to argue
against the very conventions that make it the medium you
chose to use. If you wanted email or a web forum instead,
go use those!

Is it being a nazi to mention postings? If nobody mentions
the conventions, how will they be maintained when some are
too thick to notice them? It's not as though an observant
person can't see usenet is a bottom-posting medium with
exception of a few groups which cling desperately to
Microsoft's deficient email reader for the wrong task.
 
kony said:
Yep.

It's a bit like littering in your yard.
Click to expand...

Nope, NOTHING like.
Do it once and it's no big deal, but keep doing it and
have your neighbors do it too, and it becomes a mess.
Click to expand...

Mindlessly silly. There are many situations in which top posting
makes more sense than bottom posting, most obviously when
the quoted material covers quite a bit of space. With top posting
you see the new material immediately, with bottom posting you
have to scroll thru the quoted material to see the new material.

And dont try to claim that the posted material should be trimmed,
with modern high bandwith systems it makes a lot more sense to
not trim so the entire context is immediately available in the post
if its required.
The only reason people think shunning usenet conventions
Click to expand...

There is no such 'convention', just mindless prats that demand things
be done they way they prefer to see them done. Always mindlessly.
is not a big deal is that for the most part, usenet
works because people DON'T shun them,
Click to expand...

usenet actually works because both approaches
have their place. Interleaved comments in spades.
because the majority of the conventions were still being used.
Click to expand...

Wrong again. Email sees top posting more
common than not, and it works fine anyway.
The more you make it an anything-goes environment
Click to expand...

Thats ALWAYS been what usenet has always been.

Its as close to pure anarchy as you will ever see.
without consistency, the worse it works.
Click to expand...

Mindlessly silly with something like top posting or quoting.
Since we, as-in everyone reading usenet, has an interest
in being able to do so, it is senseless to argue against the
very conventions that make it the medium you chose to use.
Click to expand...

Completely off with the ****ing fairys as always. usenet isnt
useful because so many bottom post, its useful because of
the content, stupid. The different approaches people take
with posting has nothing to do with how useful it is.

I personally prefer interleaved posting the bulk of the time,
but I'm not stupid enough to try demanding that everyone
should post like that because it aint gunna happen.
If you wanted email or a web forum instead, go use those!
Click to expand...

If I decide that top posting is appropriate, I will use it and
make an obscene gesture in the general direction of silly
little prats that dont actually have a clue about anything at all.
Is it being a nazi to mention postings?
Click to expand...

Its certainly being a nazi to demand that everyone who top posts
stop doing that. Thats all that prat ever does, never even makes
any contribution what so ever on anything else at all, ever.
If nobody mentions the conventions, how will they be
maintained when some are too thick to notice them?
Click to expand...

They wont, and things will carry on fine regardless, stupid.

And you're the one so thick that you cant even manage
to grasp that top posting can be appropriate and that
usenet is a close to pure anarchy as you well ever see.
It's not as though an observant person can't
see usenet is a bottom-posting medium
Click to expand...

Corse it isnt. Plenty interleave post.
with exception of a few groups which cling desperately
to Microsoft's deficient email reader for the wrong task.
Click to expand...

There's plenty that top post that dont use that particular usenet reader.

And it isnt an email reader anyway.
 
Rod Speed said:
kony <spam spam.com> wrote

There is no such 'convention',
Click to expand...

Since probably USENET's beginning, posting in context is not just a
convention here, posting in context distinguishes USENET from other
forums. Even more than post threading, posting in context makes
USENET outstanding. Posting in context can be extremely useful in
technical help groups like this one, and especially if you're the
person in need of help.


(now we return you to Rod Speed's regularly scheduled zealous
anti-convention convention)
 
Oh yeah?
You get no say to tell him he gets no say whatsoever on what is
'wrong'.
So there.


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From: "Fred" <fred fred.com>
Newsgroups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt,alt.comp.hardware,alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
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Subject: Re: New Computer Build
Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2006 07:45:45 +1100
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You get no say what so ever on what is 'wrong'
 
Since probably USENET's beginning, posting in context is not just a convention
here, posting in context distinguishes USENET from other forums.
Click to expand...

That is a completely silly claim. Virtually all the
other forums had/have posting in context as well.

And that is a separate matter entirely to what is actually being discussed,
the three alternatives, bottom posting, top posting and interleaved posting.
Even more than post threading, posting in context makes USENET outstanding.
Click to expand...

Just as true of the other forums too.

And context is only relevant in SOME circumstances anyway.
Posting in context can be extremely useful
in technical help groups like this one,
Click to expand...

Yes. But usenet isnt the only place you see posting in context.
and especially if you're the person in need of help.
Click to expand...

Its actually more useful for other than the OP, essentially because the
OP will always be aware of the context. Its those coming across the thread
in groups.google or just reading newsgroups that need the context more.

And that is a separate matter entirely to what is actually being discussed,
the three alternatives, bottom posting, top posting and interleaved posting.
(now we return you to Rod Speed's regularly
scheduled zealous anti-convention convention)
Click to expand...

Never ever could bullshit its way out of a wet paper bag, or even
manage to work out what is actually being discussed either.

No surprise that it needs to cower behind that pathetic excuse for a nick.
 
John Doe said:
... you have no choice, tough guy wanna-be.
Click to expand...

I could choose, but your such a insignifcant annoyance that it make no
difference one way or the other.
If there was ever a guy who wants to wear a badge its you, I wonder how many
times you've typed that phrase?, same old crap different day,
YAWN!>.........

So what part of "your mother" don't you understand?
Click to expand...


Dee dee dee....
 
Jack said:
We're looking for a low cost system - I'm thinking around $300 - $400.
Click to expand...

With that price, you'd have to salvage a lot of parts.

And at 8 years old, the list is short.

Maybe:
Case, Kinda depends, You'll have to look.

Yes:
modem
sound card, if PCI
Ethernet card if PCI.
Optical drives, yes, but they're aging

No
Hard drive (aging, and the new standard is SATA, not IDE)
RAM, now DDR, not pc 100/133.
Processor.
Motherboard.
Power supply
Video card (new standard is PCIe, not AGP)

At that price you're better off buying a budget PC. But avoid the
emachines. They're a false economy, as they don't live that long.

Another way to obtain a newer PC at that price is secondhand, check
EBAY, some pretty powerful systems can be had at that price. Just pay
attention to what you're buying.

Dell, and some of the other manufacturers sell refurbished PCs, and
scratch and dent new ones at a good price, too. So check that out.
 
Jack said:
I want to build a new computer for my father in law. He now has a 7 or 8
year old Best Buy something or other. The monitor, speakers, and keyboard
are ok, so we just need to get him a new system and optical mouse. My son
and I have built several systems in the past, but the last was about 2 years
ago, and I haven't kept up with the chip or mb types or terminology.

So, I would appreciate some advice on the components to buy. I would most
likely buy at Newegg, as I have always been treated well there. We are just
looking for a basic system to do email, view photos, simple games, etc. We
don't need any special extra power. He has a dial up connection only, so
we'll need a modem, although I guess we can use the 56k modem he has, unless
newer ones have some advantage.

Thanks for any thoughts,

Jack
Click to expand...
Hi Jack,
I don't know if you've selected your system yet (this was posted about 5
days ago) but 300-400 is plenty reasonable for the system that you want.
I just spent $495 at newegg.com; everything but a new monitor, and my
new system is fast, efficient, and looks great, too. I got an AMD
socket 754 Sempron chip, a Biostar mobo with onboard video and sound,
case with built-in 450-W ps, 1G DDR memory, Samsung CD/DVDdrive/burner,
SATA Seagate 250G hdd. I already had a floppy drive (I still have lots
of doc's and lists of engineering tables on floppy discs so I need one),
had a few ethernet cards so used one of those, and I got a new USB2 hub
to replace my USB1 hub. The case has 2 usb rear and 2 usb front ports,
and a firewire port in the front as well. Got an IR mouse and new
keyboard, oh yeah, and some logitech speakers w/a subwoofer that for the
price kicks butt (I don't listen to it too loud, but I like the quality
better than the standard desktop cheap speakers). I use this system for
3D modeling, work, email, analysis (matlab/mathematica, statistics,
etc), photos, watching movies, very little gaming and no
processor-intensive games. Right now this system would probably cost
more, a few of my components were on sale, but you can do REALLY well at
newegg. It was also the first one i built completely by myself, and it
was way simple, everything fit, worked great first time.
newegg is definitely the way to go.
regards,
karinne
 
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