New mediocre system build.

[dajogejr]

New build, for a friend, guys...what do you think? No..not a power user, but...would like to burn CDs, Internet, and DVDs...
And...this ought to last him a few years...ya think??

CASE ANTEC|Sever Tower SLK3700AMB 1 $67.00 $67.00

ACCES FAN|120X253/4PSF12025L VTS RT 1 $10.99 $10.99

MB nForce2| NF7 ABIT 8X ATX $70.99

Sapphire ATI|RADEON 9600XT 128M 8X OEM $151.00

CPU AMD|2500/333 ATHLON XP BARTON R $80.00

Crucial OEM DDRAM 512MB|64X64 PC-3200 $84.00

FD 1.44MB|SONY MPF920 Black $10.50

HD 80GB|WD 7200RPM 8MB WD800JB $68.00

CDRW 52X32X52|SONY $33.99

DVD+/-RW NEC|$92.99

CD MS|WIN XP HOME w/SP1a$92.00

Totaled out to $781 with shipping....

This thing is a little rocket!!

[pyssdogg]

looks fine to me, what's mediocre about it?

[dajogejr]

Oh...nothing really...
I just didn't go all out...you know, 9800 Pro...SCSI or SATA RAID config, monster size HD...8X DVD burner...

Just a good, solid build for an everyday user...

[Yoshi]

Heck that'll more then handle anything you throw at it, even top games

[Yoshi]

and for $103 on Newegg you can get a NEC 8x DVDRW

[scottluebke2003]

DVD-RW arn't practical for the majority of users right now. 90+% of users won't ever need media storage over 700mb. Heck, there are CD-R's out there that hold 900mb. DVD's are good for some things. But for the majority, they just arn't practical yet. Anyways, that's IMO.

[iceblue]

If he's not a power user, PC2700 DDR will do just fine.

[dajogejr]

True enought...but...
for a few bucks more, I bought RAM that could be run in sync should he go the 400MHz FSB route....

I told him this will be a great PC now...with room to upgrade in the future, should he choose...

[RamonGTP]

I'd say thats a very nice system. I think you did right choosing the memory you did. PC3200 is only slightly more than PC2700, especially when not getting high end memory like XMS/HyperX/OCZ, etc etc.

[dajogejr]

Thanks...Ramon.
I'm very happy with it.
First Abit mobo build, always used Asus...but, everyone here likes the board. Different BIOS than Asus...so, had to comb it a little...but, good enuff!!

This Barton came locked...but, 1.833 is all this guy needs.

I put the tune on it, gave him AV software, installed, updated and ran spybot and ad aware, installed Nero and updated, installed DVD Shrink...and a few other programs...and I'm only charging him 10% cost of the system build for labor.

I just bought the P160 Antec case for moi..but, I can tell you this case is very, very nice.
Rubber mounted Hard Drives, removable cages...

very impressive!!

[Eric Legge]

What about the monitor? LCD or CRT?

No point in having a super-duper computer and a crappy monitor.

You can get a DVD writer that supports all of the formats including DVd-RAM and both CD-writing formats

See http://www.lge.co.uk/allformatdvdrewriter

Cheapest supplier £93/$173.

Eric,
http://www.legge40.freeserve.co.uk/BuyerBeware.htm

[dajogejr]

Eric...it's built, and done with...

As far as the monitor, he already has a Sony Trinitron 17"....which, he is very happy with, as well as his mouse and keyboard.

Since I saved him over 600 bucks he was going to spend...he has loot to blow on an LCD or CRT and keyboard/mouse combo of his choice. He was very adamant about being happy with his setup...though...

I wouldn't waste $$ on a DVD RAM drive...
This one is dual format...good enough...

Really...my + only DVD writer in my system really does all I need it to do!!
I might bump up to an 8X...but, then again, why? I have an extra 7 minutes or so...to burn a full DVD...

[Strawbs]

..and I'm only charging him 10% cost of the system build for labor.

You're waaaaay too cheap! I would have charged him that just for the specs research.

I don't get a lot of work ...can't think why!

[dajogejr]

Well...it's for a coworker and friend. So...normally, yep, it'd be more.

I've been at this job now for almost a year, and I'm building quite a nice side business/clientel from the workers here!! So...word of mouth goes a long way!!