| heres a challenge (new computer) [message #81119] |
Sat, 17 April 2004 10:26  |
Chrono945
Messages: 27
Registered: March 2004
Karma: 0
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a good pc with a pentium 4 and decent graphics card (i want to play renegade and UT2004, and COD on it) for £500 or under  i really need some tips from the experts out there, i dont even know if its possible. i can always upgrade later on in the year
thanks in advance
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| heres a challenge (new computer) [message #81126] |
Sat, 17 April 2004 10:32  |
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IRON FART
Messages: 1989
Registered: September 2003
Location: LOS ANGELES
Karma: 0
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General (1 Star) |
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For under $500, Retro?
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Quote from IRC
<[Digital]> get man_fucking_a_car.mpg
<[Digital]> ah fuck wrong window
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| heres a challenge (new computer) [message #81269] |
Sat, 17 April 2004 16:20 |
abakshi
Messages: 50
Registered: June 2003
Karma: 0
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| mrpirate |
CPU: P4 2.4C
Motherboard: Abit IS7
Memory: 2x256 MB PC-3200 DDR (total 512 MB)
Video: GeForce FX 5900/5900XT
Total would be about $550-$650 American dollars.
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I'd recommend getting a Radeon 9800 Pro instead of the 5900 - better image quality, performance in most games, and it's more future-proof - you will be able to run things like Half-Life 2, etc. at full quality unlike in the GeForce FX.
Mrpirate, it'd be kind of challenging to build, for $500, a whole system with a 2.4C, 2x256 DDR400, 9800P/5900, a good 865PE motherboard, with a decent 80 or 120gb 7200rpm hard drive, CD/DVD, a decent power supply (I prefer Antec or Enermax), and Windows XP Pro. Here's a part list I just put together:
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CPU - Intel Pentium 4 2.4C 800FSB - ~$150-170
Motherboard - Abit IS7 (865PE) - ~$60
-----------------Asus P4P800 - ~$100 - personally, I prefer the Asus
RAM - some decent 2x256MB DDR400 - ~$100
Hard Drive - Maxtor/WD/Seagate/etc. 80GB 7200RPM 8MB - ~$30-80 (get a good deal)
Video Card - nVidia GeForce FX5900U / ATI Radeon 9800 Pro - ~$150-250
Optical - Some CD or DVD-ROM - $20
Power Supply - Enermax 450W - $70
Case - some decent case - $30-150
Windows XP Pro - OEM $70-150
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So with those kinds of specs, you're looking at about $700-1000.
To meet the $500 requirement, the specs will have to be downgraded a bit...
But these parts would make for quite a decent system - Chrono945, maybe you should wait a little bit so that perhaps the prices go down and maybe you can collect some more money so you can go for a little higher-up system, meaning something like this ($700 to 1000-ish).
WOL: mbakshi, Radeon980
http://www.techautos.com
P4 2.8C (800 FSB) / ASUS P4P800 Deluxe / 512MB PC3200 DDR / 80GB Maxtor 7200RPM 8MB / ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB / Lite-On 16x DVD-ROM / Win XP Pro / Dell 1800FP 18" LCD / Enermax Case
P4 2.2 / ASUS P4T533-C / 512MB PC1066 RDRAM / 120GB WD 7200RPM / 45GB IBM 7200RPM / ATI AIW Radeon 8500DV 64MB / Cendyne (Pioneer) DVD-RW / Sony CD-RW / Win XP Pro / Nokia 800Pro+ 18" LCD / Aluminum Case
[Updated on: Sat, 17 April 2004 16:33] Report message to a moderator |
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| heres a challenge (new computer) [message #81277] |
Sat, 17 April 2004 16:36 |
abakshi
Messages: 50
Registered: June 2003
Karma: 0
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| mrpirate |
You're right about the 9800 Pro being a better card, I just hadn't noticed how cheap it is now.
I assumed he'd be able to keep some drives or something, but regarding the price:
That's your $700-$1000 American, right there.
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Ah yes, didn't see the pounds in the original post because all the replies were dealing in dollars 
But then these prices only apply for places here. Though he could get the same prices and perhaps have them ship over to the UK, I'm not sure which sites do international shipping, etc.
The issue is that if he shops in the UK for the parts, generally the prices there are about the same, just in pounds, not dollars, so it's more expensive. So like a Radeon 9800 Pro can be had for about $200 here - I think they are about £200 or more in the UK - so it works out the same AFAIK.
WOL: mbakshi, Radeon980
http://www.techautos.com
P4 2.8C (800 FSB) / ASUS P4P800 Deluxe / 512MB PC3200 DDR / 80GB Maxtor 7200RPM 8MB / ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB / Lite-On 16x DVD-ROM / Win XP Pro / Dell 1800FP 18" LCD / Enermax Case
P4 2.2 / ASUS P4T533-C / 512MB PC1066 RDRAM / 120GB WD 7200RPM / 45GB IBM 7200RPM / ATI AIW Radeon 8500DV 64MB / Cendyne (Pioneer) DVD-RW / Sony CD-RW / Win XP Pro / Nokia 800Pro+ 18" LCD / Aluminum Case
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| heres a challenge (new computer) [message #81286] |
Sat, 17 April 2004 16:55 |
abakshi
Messages: 50
Registered: June 2003
Karma: 0
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| IRON-FART |
Well, you don't have to downgrade too much. Chrono probably already has a CD drive, maybe a CD burner or DVD drive. Possibly a 350-400W power supply.
Don't bother going for XP Pro if you are on a budget unless you really want to install developer software (VB, VC etc...) or you plan to utilize a multi-processor system. Also I find W2K to be much more reliable. That might just be me though.
Get a good HD. Maxtor and that other brand beginning with W (forgot name) are more expensive. Seagate is a good brand. I got an 80GB drive for the same price as a 40GB If you already have a good one or spare, go ahead and use it.
Asus & Gigabyte have some good mobos. Find their websites and start looking. I'm sure you can find a good deal.
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The price difference between XP Home and Pro OEM is not that big - I'd go for Pro because it has less limitations - for networking, etc., and more features. But that's a place where you could cut like $20-50.
As far as the hard drive, I mentioned Maxtor/Western Digital/Seagate, etc. in my chart above. Maxtor and WD are not necessarily more expensive than Seagate - a Maxtor or WD 80GB 7200RPM 8MB can be had for $30 nowadays. All the way back in July 2003, I got a Maxtor 80GB 7200 8MB for $19 out the door at OfficeDepot after some nice finagling (sp?)
In my post, I recommended the Asus P4P800 - I've worked with many motherboards and overall I like the Asus the best - but that's my preference. It costs about $100. If you want total cost saving though, go for the Abit IC7 - you can get it for $50-60.
I don't think Chrono is going to just take the CD, etc. from his current system because that would be cannibalizing a working system for a $20 part - not worth it. And he might as well get a new power supply - again, same thing - better to have both a working system and a brand new, solid system than to cannibalize the old one for a part that may not be good for the new system. As I said before, I would recommend getting an Antec or Enermax 450W PS.
WOL: mbakshi, Radeon980
http://www.techautos.com
P4 2.8C (800 FSB) / ASUS P4P800 Deluxe / 512MB PC3200 DDR / 80GB Maxtor 7200RPM 8MB / ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB / Lite-On 16x DVD-ROM / Win XP Pro / Dell 1800FP 18" LCD / Enermax Case
P4 2.2 / ASUS P4T533-C / 512MB PC1066 RDRAM / 120GB WD 7200RPM / 45GB IBM 7200RPM / ATI AIW Radeon 8500DV 64MB / Cendyne (Pioneer) DVD-RW / Sony CD-RW / Win XP Pro / Nokia 800Pro+ 18" LCD / Aluminum Case
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| heres a challenge (new computer) [message #81323] |
Sat, 17 April 2004 20:10 |
abakshi
Messages: 50
Registered: June 2003
Karma: 0
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| cowmisfit |
| SirRetro |
P4 2.6Ghz
Rad 9600Xt 256Mb
1024Mb DRRAM
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i could see it under 500 or only a tad over on ubid.com probebly. I got my sony VERY good computer (1300$ if u buy it bran new) refurnished looks and works bran new though.
2.6 Ghz P4
512 MB RAM
120 GIG HDD
VERY kick ass sony speakers
All for 513 dollars, like 600 with tax i think it was on christmas i ordered it.
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What kind of video card? What speed RAM and HDD?
The issue with buying pre-built ones is that you don't have control over what kind of parts are put it - they just tell you what you want to know - P4 blah-blah Ghz, ___ MB RAM, ___ GB HDD, etc. What you don't know is the performance of the other components - motherboard, the kind of RAM, etc. Plus the graphics cards that come on the Sony desktops (except for the very expensive models) are usually low-end cards.
If you don't want to buy all the components but want control over what's in your system, go on eBay:
http://computers.listings.ebay.com/Desktop-PCs_W0QQfromZR4QQsacategoryZ3736QQsocmdZListingItemList
On the left side, enter your specs (CPU speed, etc. - put Any for brand).
You'll get a listing - many of the systems on eBay are made by small shops - some of them have great deals.
A friend of mine got a P4 2.8 (800FSB), Asus P4P800-D, 2x256 DDR400, 120GB 7200RPM 8MB, ATI All-In-Wonder Radeon 9800 Pro, DVD+-RW, XP Pro - all for $800 I think - which is pretty decent....
His system is pretty nice - he got it from this guy's eBay Store:
http://stores.ebay.com/eCollegePC
Anyway - so there are a number of ways to go - just gotta do some research depending on what you want and how much you want to spend.
WOL: mbakshi, Radeon980
http://www.techautos.com
P4 2.8C (800 FSB) / ASUS P4P800 Deluxe / 512MB PC3200 DDR / 80GB Maxtor 7200RPM 8MB / ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB / Lite-On 16x DVD-ROM / Win XP Pro / Dell 1800FP 18" LCD / Enermax Case
P4 2.2 / ASUS P4T533-C / 512MB PC1066 RDRAM / 120GB WD 7200RPM / 45GB IBM 7200RPM / ATI AIW Radeon 8500DV 64MB / Cendyne (Pioneer) DVD-RW / Sony CD-RW / Win XP Pro / Nokia 800Pro+ 18" LCD / Aluminum Case
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