New computer recommendations

[iceman]

Hey guys.

I'm after a new computer for upstairs living area (currently my computer is downstairs in the dungeon), for the kids to use (and of course I might use it too).

I'm after some advice as to what computer to get, and how much it's likely to cost..

The computer will be used for:
- internet
- email
- games
- cd/dvd burning
- photo printing

The games may include some 3d fps games, but i'm not after a top of the line computer with the latest and greatest video card. The kids are still too young to get into that sort of online gaming at this stage, and I want to keep the cost down.

I'll want something like:
. > 2000 or 3000 mhz
. >= 256M RAM
. CDRW
. DVDRW
. lan card for networking and adsl modem

I don't necessarily need a monitor, already have an old 15" downstairs.

Do you have any recommendations of "kits/bundles" which are on sale anywhere at the moment, or recommendations on the individual bits as i'm not afraid to build it from components.

Thanks

[Striker]

Build it your self....Mike

I not long ago built my observatory computer with a 17LCD only cost me around $1200.

Thats with:
AMD Athlon 64 3200
Motherboard intel chip
1 gig Duel chanel DDR Ram 400FSB
Geforce 5700FX video card
160 gig hard drive 8mB Cache
Duel layer DVD/CDR burner
17inch Flat lcd screen
Antec case with power supply 400watt
Keyboard & optical mouse

NO Modem as you can pick these up cheap or free with some broadband plans....some are USB and some connect to network card...but network cards are cheap...maybe $20.

[Striker]

My recomendations but their is many way's to go here Mike.

Processor: Pentium 1V 520 775pin $229
Motherboard: Albatron PX865PE7c-Pro $139
Ram: King Max super ram twin pack 2 x 256 sticks PC3200 $79
Video card: Any vid card around the 5700 and up...any thing less isn't worth it...your better off getting video on board if you go for less then a 5700. $120-$200
DVD Burner...and 16x dual layer DVD burner...pioneer are popular $ 75
Case $50 -150 ...go for a case with atleast a 400watt power supply...least this way you can add what you want at a later stage...if you go for say a antec..you can go for a 350watt power supply....the cheaper case power supplies dont actualy put out the stated wattage like the good cases. eg...the 350watt antec true power supplies put out more then most 400-450 cheap power supplies...just keep that in mind.
Hard drive: your choice....120 gig SATA is about the go now...but your call. $110

Hope this helps mike..

Like I said their is heaps of option's...their is no real right or wrong answer...I just wouldn't go for anything less then what I have mentioned above....unless you go for second hand.

[h0ughy]

Mike I have emailed you, please give me a call on my mobile.

[h0ughy]

mike ,
as per email, just confirming what i was talking about

3000xp athlon
16 x dvd dual layer dvd burner
512 meg ddr-400
80 gig +120 gig barracuda 7200 8meg buffer
fx5200 128 meg 8x agp
anatec 430watt true power supply
coolmaster fan for cpu with variable control,
3 system fans
gigabyte k7 triton nforce2 mb
system speakers inbuilt :bashcomp:

[acropolite]

Mike, unless you're a hardcore gamer, I wouldn't be bothered running down the horsepower trail, I recently built some Celeron systems for work with cheap motherboards (both under $85) with onboard video sound & Lan etc at around $600 complete (W/O monitor) . They're plenty fast enough for most use and the money saved will buy another upgrade in the future. As for SATA, Parallel 120G drives 7200RPM and 8Mb cache can be had for around $85 and I doubt if you would notice the difference in performance. My own system (probably 2 years old) has an MSI m/b with 1G ram and onboard intel graphics. It runs starry nights pro efortlessly, I burn CD's DVD's and do graphics work no problem. ASUS, and MSI both make very good budget all in one motherboards around the $80 mark. Then you can buy your kids a Gamecube and a couple of games with the cost difference and not have to worry about them wiping your disk when they (or in most cases their school friends) make a mistake or get adventurous. Having owned a few "Rockets" I always remember that this years hottest is usually an also ran after a very short time. I think the last Ram I bought was $85 incl GST for 512M (Kingmax)

[ballaratdragons]

WOW! The lingo! Anyone got a computer dictionary.

I am trying to find out the same as Mike but you all lost me in the translation.

I have written down some of the things suggested to show my computer fix-it man, but I have no idea what was said.

[h0ughy]

pooter= an electronic tool for Ken to sendup anyone he so desires. :D

[ballaratdragons]

Yep! Got it in one.

Only term I know though, funny 'bout dat!!

[h0ughy]

:rockband: :rockband: hey i just cracjked 500 posts :rofl:

[RAJAH235]

Welcome to the '500' club. :D L.

[trufflehunter]

One thing I would recommend is a wireless router! I did this a while ago and it's the best upgrade I ever made.

[Daring Dave]

Yup ..A wireless router is the go if you can....I have a Netgear one to connect my laptop to my cable pc and it certainly saves running cable up the hallways or the need to crawl under house to install it in another room...

As for video cards here is a review of whats on the market now..

http://www.anandtech.com/video/


Cheers

DD

[Striker]

Yeah definetly...here is my wireless router.

http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=33&scid=35&prid=601

[davidpretorius]

A dell man myself. A dell latitude D610 laptop with wireless / bluetooth and not all that heavy. Does all heavy processin i need for programming. Most of my customers i recommend getting a base level dell from the internet and then make sure they get a 3 yr warranty with accidental damage or theft cover etc.

Advabtages:

They pricing is very good and saves time if you don't want to take the time out to build yourself. Financing is good, so you basically budget to keep upgrading every three years or so.

Downsides:

1. At least 10 days delivery (they build from scratch).

2. They can only really offer next day warranty terms outside of major centres.

I have a good relationship as my servers, workstations and laptops are all dell, so if i get cranky, they tend to jump. Some reports (not from my customers) that dell aren't as friendly as your local computer guy.

I have just put in telstra adsl with the wireless option and it is definately the way to go. Dlink, Netgear are all great brands. Harvey Norman not a bad place to buy wireless from. One thing, make sure you have latest wireless with security and use the MAC filter so that even if someone works out your wireless password, and attempt to use your adsl to link to the internet, they won't be able, because you have physically typed in, which individual wireless network cards can use your adsl modem.


Once the mighty DOB 10" gets here, i will be able to take telescope and wireless laptop out into the yard. It will be great! I am looking forward to writing some internet programs that i can make use of internet, laptop and telescope.

My 5 yr old daughter wants me to include one of the "smilies" in so here they are: :jawdrop: :poke: :windy: :fight:

best of luck.

[Soldant]

Just to throw in my 2c...
If you're interested in playing any of the latest games, a 5200 will NOT do the job, nor will a 5700. The older nVidia cards are not good performers by any stretch of the imagination. You'd be better served getting a 9600XT, which might be more expensive, but it is well and truly worth it. The 5200 will be lucky to play even games from last year at any playable framerate. nVidia should only be considered when you enter high-end cards, like the 6600GT.

[h0ughy]

What greater frame rate do you need when running starry night pro! :D 5200 is fine for the job:2thumbs:

[h0ughy]

Hey Mike,

are you happy with your setup?

[Soldant]

Well he did specify games. Considering he's from GameArena, I assume we're talking more than Solitare. And a 5200 just doesn't have the grunt for 3D games... it was only really released so nVidia could get into the budget market by attracting people with pixel/vertex shaders 2.0, even though the card didn't have any real processing power to cope with pixel shaders on. A clever ploy.

[iceman]

Games will mainly be kids games, for now.. not exactly Doom3 or HL2 style. For me, it will be Enemy Territory.. so that card will be fast enough.

When the kids are old enough to play online games, we'll have upgraded again i'm sure.