New computers

[Robert]

does this look like a good deal. im looking for a new computer and heard about pricewatch but the prices are so cheep it scares me. here are some examples:

COMPLETE sys AMD Athlon 1Ghz 3Dnow INCLUDES WIN 98 O/S AND License 1yr warr WordPerfect 64MBPC133 10.2HDD 8MB/AGP (3D SOUND 56KMODEM 50XCD-ROM FDD 2USB KB/MS/SPK MID ATX 300W $ 517
COMPLETE sys AMD Athlon 1Ghz 3Dnow (K7) INCLUDES WIN 98 O/S AND License 1yr warr. PC133/64MB 20GHDD LG52XCDROM 8MBAGP Video Card 3DSOUND 56KB F/M FDD 2USB KB/MS/180wSPK MIDATX 300W $ 528
Excuding the price i just cant see where this machine is any different than something more expensive. please clue me in. The golden rule you get what you pay for keeps popping in my head everytime i get ready to buy.

[AcId]

Looks about right, Personaly I wouldn't get anything with less than 128mb of ram. Those systems are also without monitors, and the "8mb AGP graphics" could be on-board video. AMD systems are cheaper than Intel's.

[-lynx-]

a. Make sure it's Win98SE (second edition) not the original - no matter what MS says no number of service packs could get Saitek X36 to work on my machine. Re-installed with 98SE - all went in yesterday, smooth as baby's bottom .

b. stay away from any bundled software - "free $$$ of stuff" means shedload of junk you will never use. Wordperfect? WTF is Wordperfect? We may hate Bill Gates etc but every normal person uses MS Office;

c. 8MB graphics is prolly on-board = crap...

d. check this thread - someone costed a home built system quite recently for very similar amount but with branded components. It really is no brain surgery to build your own puter and it will be better than any "package deal"...

[bloom25]

Don't buy a system with onboard sound or video.  There IS a possiblity that you will not have an AGP slot to upgrade the video card in the future.  Make sure you find out that there is indeed an agp slot on the MB.

You do get what you pay for.  Here would be my recommendations to price out:

Athlon 900 - 1gig (Tbird)
Asus a7v133 or Abit kt7a MB
GeForce 2 card (MX, GTS, PRO, Ultra, etc)
SB Live! Value
56k modem (PCI connection, NOT a winmodem if possible)
at least 128 MB of PC-133 RAM (Crucial or Mushkin best)
IBM DTLA 75GXP series harddrive, basically get a 7200 rpm UDMA 66 (or 100) hard drive.  This is critical to get top performance.

I don't have a preference on whatever else you put in, though I've always had the best luck with Toshiba brand CD & Dvd drives.

Trust me, it isn't that much more expensive to go with the best quality stuff, and your system will be more stable and faster as a result.



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bloom25
THUNDERBIRDS

[MrBill]

Prices look about right.  Be advised that you will need to junk the 56K win modem and install a good video card.
You should also be aware that many of these systems are old mobos that are at the limit of their usefulness, (no upgrade path) have a older 250 watt power supply, and older bus systems.  Remember to do your homework before you open your checkbook, nothing worse than surprises after the check clears  
I just bought the following.
ECS mb capable of handling a 1.3 ghz processor. (Toms Hardware has a write up on the board. it is not overclockable but I did not intend to over clock.)
AMD 1ghz
200 mhz FS bus
UDMA 100
256K cas2 corsair mem
10/100 enet card
20 gig UDMA 100 dasdy
52Xcd rom
case with 300 watt PS
SB live Value
Rage pro vid card (Not the card that will live in the system but the card that will has not been released yet)  

Rechecked invoice I also got
win98SE (Freebee from vender)
Logitech optical trackball
Rockwell 56k BPS V.90 Full-Duplex ASVD       EXTERNAL Fax Modem W/voice/ MicSpk Jacks

bottom line $889 and change.

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OhNooo
smile awhile

[This message has been edited by MrBill (edited 03-16-2001).]

[Lephturn]

Good advice.

Ram is extremely cheap at the moment.  Go with the Crucial Cas2 256 Meg stick as suggested above.  I think it's only about $94 US at the moment, and last week that included free shipping!  www.crucial.com

Video card is a tougher choice, but you can't lose with a GeForce 2 MX for the money right now.

As stated above, avoid onboard video or sound like the plague.  What MrBill outlined is a pretty good system to look at.  Oh, and go with an external modem if you need a modem.  Otherwise a PCI 10/100 Nic if you need an ethernet connection.

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Sean "Lephturn" Conrad - Aces High Chief Trainer

A proud member of the mighty Flying Pigs
http://www.flyingpigs.com

Check out Lephturn's Aerodrome for AH articles and training info!