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...and I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice.

Basically, what I'm looking for is something with like a 1 Ghz processor, a fairly recent video/sound card, DVD-rom, 40 gigs of memory, etc. etc. Not a blisteringly awesome, 6,000 dollar machine, but something priced in the $500-$1000 range that I can play the majority of modern games on, store a lot of music, burn cds, etc. etc.

40 gigs of RAM?

RAM? No, memory...as in, like, harddrive space.

RAM, I suppose, anything above what I have now(something like 123, I think) would be an improvement.

The RAM amount you have is probably 128. It's all in exponents of two, by the way.

So you're looking at either 256 or 512...

100 bucks for Athlon XP 1900+ and motherboard
70 bucks for 2x 256mb sticks of DDR RAM
30 bucks for an ATX case
100 bucks for a GeForce Ti4200 128mb
100 bucks for a 80gb-ish hard drive


Thats a basic system for about 400 bucks, give or take (prices are from Pricewatch, which tends to run a bit low). You'll probably have integrated sound and nic; you may need to buy a modem.

Well, here's an example of the sort of system you can get for below a kilobuck. Mind you, it doesn't have a monitor.

I have a modem, BTW.

However, I'm sorta looking for something that A) comes with all the necessary parts, and, B) has extremely limited assembly required...

Computer + Monitor. No OS.

There's a bunch of places online that'll sell you a preconfigured machine. Googlegear, GamePC, CyberPower, I think even NewEgg does as well.

Of course, there's always Dell.

I got my Compaq for $1000. It had a 2.5GHz P4, 160GB harddrive, 512MB ram, GeForce 4 videocard, 17" monitor, and a printer.

try this: http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopp ... e_start.do

Oh ye gods. You're recommending... Compaqs?!?!?!?

Getting a compaq is saying, I wan't a cheap arsed computer but i wan't it to cost more than the other cheap arsed computers.

Hey, compaq is the shit. My laptop has been dropped multiple times, set on fire by my own actions (with smoke billowing out of the side) and maimed horrible; and it works perfectly. i've never had a problem with it.

You guys act as tho the manufacturers actually do lots to these machines. they dont, they stick parts into a case and install Windows. They might add a bit of motherboard programming to give you a startup logo that says COMPAQ or HEWLETT-PACKARD but other then that they really dont do anything to the computer. You're really just paying them to put it together and load Windows.

Apparently you've never pulled the cover off a Compaq or HP.

Don't. The cuts on your hands aren't worth it.

Crayz9000 wrote:Apparently you've never pulled the cover off a Compaq or HP.

Don't. The cuts on your hands aren't worth it.

Actually my laptop has been torn open, its harddrive removed, and used as a portable harddrive.

My desktop has its side cover off right now. Compaq has these conveniently
huge thumb screws. A few turns of a single screw and the entire side comes
off. When I took the case apart it was relatively easy. But There is no real
reason to have to take apart your computer, and if there is then you can do
it without getting cut the fuck up.

HemlockGrey wrote:...and I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice.

Basically, what I'm looking for is something with like a 1 Ghz processor, a fairly recent video/sound card, DVD-rom, 40 gigs of memory, etc. etc. Not a blisteringly awesome, 6,000 dollar machine, but something priced in the $500-$1000 range that I can play the majority of modern games on, store a lot of music, burn cds, etc. etc.

If you're only looking for a low-end 1GHz machine, you should go to a good electronics liquidator and buy a reconditioned machine for dirt cheap. Hell, I gave my brother a 1GHz machine for Christmas last year.

Yet he also wants to play all the latest shit. He's gotta go at least 1.5Ghz IMHO.

darthdavid wrote:Getting a compaq is saying, I wan't a cheap arsed computer but i wan't it to cost more than the other cheap arsed computers.

Especially considering how Compaq actually got into the computer business...

phongn wrote:Computer + Monitor. No OS.

Code: Select all

$ 99.00  Antex Sonata Case + 380W PSU
$ 53.99  Lite-On 48x24x48x16  CD-RW/DVD-ROM 
$ 95.00  Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 120GB HD
$ 83.99  Crucial 512MB PC2100 DDR SDRAM
$184.00  NEC FE791SB 19" Monitor
$124.99  Asus A7N8X Deluxe Motherboard
$ 74.00  AMD Athlon XP 1.8GHz Retail
$163.00  Tyan Radeon 9600 Pro 128MB
$ 14.00  Logitech Keyboard
$ 16.00  Microsoft Optical Mouse
$ 40.00  US Robotics 2976 Modem (Hardware)

$947.97  Subtotal

Where did you find that price for the Lite-On drive?

If you're not comfortable putting together computers yourself or dealing with local builders, get a Dell.

http://www.dell.com/us/en/dhs/offers/sp ... en4600.htm

The second one from the right is $1019. Dell cases are nicely built, the motherboards are made by Intel, and it comes with 256MB RAM, 40GB HD, GeForce4 MX graphics, a CD-RW drive, a 17" monitor, a legal copy of Windows, and an SBLive for sound.

While you may get slightly better price/performance elsewhere, Dell makes it easy and their machines are reliable.

I'm currently ordering parts in order to build myself a computer...[edit=clarifying]I was planning on using open-source software[/edit]...do you think it's important to have a legal copy of Winblows?

Potential violation of discussion of illegal activities policy.

As said above. 2Ghz is about entry level right now, and AMD's 2500+ marked Bartons (and below) are a pretty good value for money. If you were going to build your own, phongn's suggustions are good, but I think Sonata cases are a bit on the high side in terms of price, but if there aren't cheaper case/PSU combos it is a good case. Asus would usually charge a premium on their motherboards, and here in Hong Kong Gigabyte has the value advantage. Also, if you are just going to use single channel RAM then don't bother with nforce2 Ultra 400, nforce2 400 or KT600 motherboards will suit you better. Soltek isn't bad.

Edit - Wait until october and the Athlon 64 will shake up AMD CPU prices a bit. It might affect Intel prices, although VIA prices will forever remain untouchable.

I have no idea about reconditioned machines.

Dalton wrote:40 gigs of RAM?

Secondary memory.

Hobot wrote:Where did you find that price for the Lite-On drive?

Newegg.com