What Do You Think?

[Chiguy]

In the next few weeks, I'll be building my computer for college. This is what I've been looking at (stuff is from Newegg):

-Lian-Li PC-60 USB B( 1 Ball-Bearing Fan on the Top)
-Lite On 48x12x48 CDRW Model LTR-48125W
-Arctic Silver 3
-LITE-ON LTD-163 16X DVD ROM Drive
-ALPHA PAL8045U. Heat Sink + Fan
-WD WESTERN DIGITAL "SPECIAL EDITION" 120GB 7200RPM EIDE
-Logitech Cordless Freedom Optical Keyboard and Mouse Black/Silver Bundle
-CORSAIR MEMORY XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series 512MB 32MX8 PC-2700C2PT With Platinum - Silver Heat Spreader
-Diamond SupraMax 56K V.92 PCI Modem
-SAMSUNG 955DF 19" (WHITE) CRT MONITOR
-SOYO Dragon Ultra KT333 MB with USB 2.0,Sound, LAN
-ENERMAX EG365P-VE(FC). 350W Power supply for AMD K7 & Pentium4. Fan on/off controlled by M/B ~ Real "Sleeping Mode" support. Meet AMD K7 and Intel 2.03 Version. Dual cooling fan design
-Lexmark Z55 Color Jetprinter with USB Cable
-AMD ATHLON XP 2200+/266 FSB PROCESSOR CPU - OEM
-CREATIVE INSPIRE 5.1 5300 SPEAKER AND SUBWOOFER
-GAINWARD/CARDEXPERT GeForce 4 Ti 4200, 4ns, 128MB DDR, Power Pack Golden Sample, 1 DVI + 1 CRT + TV out+ VIVO + nVIEW

I'm thinking about getting a different keyboard and mouse, and printer. I also thinking about getting a Hauppauge PVR card but I'm not sure where to pick one up. I'm also looking for a Retail Athlon XP 2200+ but don't know where to get one.

What do you think?

Thanks in advance.

[VERT]

nice, I wish I could afford to get a new PC atm

[Daft_Ghosty]

looks perfect.. the only final touch I would put on what looks to be a masterpiece is a real sound card.. instead of onboard.. other then that man.. that is a great looking systems..

for sound cards.. my vote woulf be for a Turtle Beach..

as for retail AMD u can pick themup at NewEgg.. I hceked right quick and at this time they hav eonly up to the 2100+ offered as retail.. thoguh they ahve the 2200+ as a OEN,,, by the time u go to biuld the systme they may have the 2200+ as retail.. even checked out Mwave and they didn't have the retail in.. only OEM..

[nomaxim]

Looks Great!

I use Logitech mouse and keyboard and like them alot.(Mouse can go thru some batteries thou,try rechargeables)

I'd also go w/ a sound card.

Hey Daft, is one of Ur fingers jumping the gun on the keyboard

[OPC|Jody]

Ok Im gonna put in my two cents here.

If you are going to buy a soundcard definately go with the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz. It is an excellent card. Also if your a very avid gamer like myself you may not be so thrilled with the cordless mouse. A cordless keyboard is fine but ALL Cordless mice seem to be reall jerky with gaming. If I were you I Would consider the Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer 3.0 It has a 6000dpi rate, higher than anyone else and is the best mouse for gaming Hands Down

Everything else llooks great on your list of parts though
Good luck and happy fragging

[Chiguy]

Thanks for your replies everyone!

I've thought about using this "new" mouse that I have lying around. It's not a laser one though. It's one of those old ball mice. I've also thought about getting the keyboard just like the one I have listed above, but not a wireless one. Going this route would save me about $40.

I'll definitely look into the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz card. What about getting an Audigy card?


This is just another thought I had. With all this new stuff coming soon (K8, NV30, nForce2, ect), should I just build myself a half-way decent computer to hold me over till then? I was thinking along the lines of maybe a nForce board with integerated video. I've been debating this for a while now and still haven't quite figued out if I should take this route.

Thanks again!

[OPC|Jody]

The audigy is also good, however, I still think the Santa Cruz is better card both muscially and when gaming.

The nforce mobos are nice indeed. I Like them better than most of the VIA based motherboards for compatibility reasons, but if you planning on using the onbaord video you can only go so far with that. You can buy a GF4 ti4200 or 4400 both cheaper than the 4600 (4600 is a waiste of money if you ask me). and both of those cards will perform alot better than the GF4 MX 440 chipset that the nvidia baord uses

[Martoch]

Hmm...I use a Soyo KT333 Dragon Ultra and the 6 channel onboard sound is fantastic! I wouldn't spend any extra $$$ on a sound card until you are dissatisfied with the onboard sound to be quite honest.
Your new system will be smokin', how much is it all going to cost?
I hope you're considering NewEgg for most of your purchases...you'll save some big bucks!


Mike

EDIT: Great choice in CD-RW, I use the 40X LiteOn and I can burn 700mb CD's in under 3 minutes!

[Chiguy]

I kinda figured that perhaps I could get by with the intergrated graphics on the nForce board because I probably won't be doing too much gaming while at school. (My schedule is crazy) But I have thought about that and that's one of the reasons holding me back from going down that route.

I was considering getting the 4600 but the performance margin between that and the 4200 didn't justify the almost $200 price difference IMO.

I haven't quite decided on what to do with the sound yet. Since I'm paying for integrated sound, I could at least give it a chance.

All the stuff I have listed here is from Newegg. It's a little under $2000 with shipping.

I thought about getting the 40x burner but the 48x one features CAV writing.

Thanks everyone!

[Daft_Ghosty]

I have both a SB Live.. and a SB Audigy .. and have a frined with a Santa Cruz.. his santa cruz puts out such a clean sound.. smooth.. makes u think it is a pro card for making music on a pc.. as that is what he uses.. and I've heard what music sounded like being recorded and played with the live card.. the Turtle Beach cards are deffently great cards.. and normaly way cheaper in price to the SB cards

I said to go with a actual sound card.. as I saw u were goign to put in money on a speaker system for the computer.. and if u were going through such a sound system that u would want clean.. or poping.. sounds.. though some on board has good sound...

as for on board vid..it can be disabled.. but on board I would deffently stay way from unless u were using the system just as a server.. and typing work.. on board for gmaing just doens't work well.. I'd stay way from the 4600 right now.. u r right.. it doesn't do enough to spend 200 more on it.. personaly I went with a 4400.. u could also go with a ATI card as well.. and upgrade in the future..