New computer for sister

[runiburger]

Ok,

 

 

 

Do you think this is worth it?

 

 

 

(I'll assemble it myself)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intel Core 2 Duo E6400

 

 

 

Asus P5N-SLI Motherboard

 

 

 

WD 320GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache SATA2

 

 

 

Pioneer DVR-111D DVD+-RW DL

 

 

 

G.Skill DDR2 2GB PC-5400 (1GBx2)

 

 

 

Samsung 19ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬ÃâÃ

[Kinslayer777]

WD 320GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache SATA2

 

 

 

-Just a little thing. Very minor. But when i was reading up on my computer i heard seagate getting a somewhat preferal over WD with the 7200.10 320gb drives. It was a rather large reasonable amount of people so as to convince me to get it over the WD one. They were the same price. Of course it doesn't really matter if they're not too much.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aside from that I'm no better then you I'll keep quiet :P. Microsoft is Oem right? you're entitled to that making your own build

[Stuart_G]

So what is your sister going to be using this for?

[Nadril]

Yeah unless she is serriously gaming on that thing you could easily cut down the price by like $1000 nearly :shock: .

[runiburger]

Thanks for your speedy replies =)

 

 

 

Well, she plays Far Cry and Colin McRae 2006 a lot. Umm... She also watches her boring DVDs and she likes to copy DVDs (omg!)

 

 

 

Edit: Oh yeah, btw everything in Australia is like marked up real badly. I wish Newegg delieved overseas...they have good prices

[Stuart_G]

AMD ATHLON 64 X2 (AM2) 3800+ - $223.30 - http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=93_27_29&products_id=19312

 

 

 

Gigabyte GA-M55PLUS-S3G motherboard - $132.00 - http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=93_36_63&products_id=19480

 

 

 

G.SKILL DDR2 1GB PC-5400 - $176.00 - http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=93_115_23&products_id=20502

 

 

 

Seagate Barracuda 320GB SATA 2 Hard Disk - $142.40 - http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=93_107_22&products_id=18224

 

 

 

GIGABYTE 7900GS 256MB PCIEx16 - $345.40 - http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=93_26&products_id=20386

 

 

 

Antec NSK6500 Solution Series - $159.50 - http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=93_60&products_id=21033

 

 

 

Pioneer DVR-111D DVD Re-Writer - $59.00 - http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=93_49&products_id=18217

 

 

 

BENQ 19" WIDESCREEN SILVER/BLACK LCD - $319.00 - http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=93_25&products_id=20941

 

 

 

Logitech Cordless Rechargable Desktop - $82.50 - http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=93_58&products_id=19721

 

 

 

Logitech R-20 2.1 Speakers - $33.00 - http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=96_61&products_id=18599

 

 

 

Microsoft Windows XP Pro (OEM) - $211.20 - http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=64_65&products_id=249

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL - $1883.30AUD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted it isn't as good as the one you listed, it will still be able to handle most things you throw at it easily. That and its nearly $300 cheaper than the parts you listed and will still perform great for the tasks you listed. There are parts there that you can still downgrade to save more money too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So yeah, that could be a cheaper alternative to the parts you picked.

[Kinslayer777]

How are aud prices that horrible

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even with conversion of AUD to USD and it being for AUD I'm shocked...

[JoeDaStudd]

 

 

 

GIGABYTE 7900GS 256MB PCIEx16 - $345.40 - http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=93_26&products_id=20386

 

 

 

Get a ATI X1950Pro instead the picture quality is better and it scores higher on the benchmarks.

 

 

 

Ps i have nearly the same system as Sturat G said.

 

 

 

AMD X2 3800+ (AM2)

 

 

 

Asus M2N-E

 

 

 

Consair Value 1Gb (1 stick)

 

 

 

Sapphire X1950Pro

 

 

 

Antec Sonata II (Looks amazing and has a 450W PSU)

 

 

 

NEC DVD/CD RW (with labelflash)

 

 

 

Sony Floppy Drive (for bios and the sata drivers)

 

 

 

Seagate SATA 160Gb (might get another and put it to raid stripe)

 

 

 

XP Pro

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm going to give it its first hardcore gaming run tonight, but I'm 99% it will take all I can throw at it.

[Kinslayer777]

If you have any plans of OC'ing (I wouldnt, i dont) I heard the m2n-E is bad for that. Or, at least, was during my research time of Oct.4

[runiburger]

I don't think she will be OC'ing, I OC'ed one of my processors and it, well, got a bit too hot.

 

 

 

Ok, those configurations are interesting, but I haven't used AMD or ATi before, my sister hasn't either. I have a E6700 and 7900GTX.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Would a Gigabyte X1950Pro Be ok?

 

 

 

And also, Does anyone know a cheaper alternative for the P5N-SLI I picked it straight out of my head because I have one, my sister doesn't need SLi?

[JoeDaStudd]

If you have any plans of OC'ing (I wouldnt, i dont) I heard the m2n-E is bad for that. Or, at least, was during my research time of Oct.4

 

 

 

The M2N-E has tons of options in the bios and comes with overclocking software which allows you to tweak it from the OS.

 

 

 

The only downfall with the M2N-E is that it has a 1.95V max limit on the ram and no firewire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't think she will be OC'ing, I OC'ed one of my processors and it, well, got a bit too hot.

 

 

 

Ok, those configurations are interesting, but I haven't used AMD or ATi before, my sister hasn't either.

 

 

 

Would a Gigabyte X1950Pro Be ok?

 

 

 

And also, Does anyone know a cheaper alternative for the P5N-SLI I picked it straight out of my head because I have one, my sister doesn't need SLi?

 

 

 

AMD and ATi are god companies.

 

 

 

AMD is great for budget PC (best bang per buck, by far) and only fails when compared to Intel. Before the Core 2 Duo was realised AMD where kicking @55.

 

 

 

ATi are great too, a few people will say that ATi offer better picture qualtity.

 

 

 

X1950Pro is a great card the only difference in the companies are the warrenties and customer care/support (sometimes with very cheap companies the heat sinks are worse).

 

 

 

As for Core 2 Duo motherboards theres quite a few to choose from you just have to find one with the features your sister will need.

[runiburger]

Thanks JoeDaStudd,

 

 

 

It's just I've been using Intel since 386...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So what does everyone think of this?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intel Core 2 Duo E6400

 

 

 

Asus P5L-1394

 

 

 

Seagate Barracuda 320GB SATA2 16MB HDD

 

 

 

Pioneer 16x/8x DVD+-RW

 

 

 

G.Skill 1GBx2 PC-5400 RAM

 

 

 

BenQ 19" FP92W Widescreen

 

 

 

Gigabyte Radeon X1950Pro

 

 

 

Cooler Master Centurion 531 380W

 

 

 

Microsoft Wireless Desktop Elite

 

 

 

Logitech r-20 2.1 Speakers

 

 

 

XP MCE+Remote

 

 

 

$1955

[Kinslayer777]

I really like Joeda's recommendation. Then again, i didnt research Intel so i can't be sure how great they're. Intel did start kicking but Amd slashed prices to keep up. It's a tough decision and mine was blinded by "loyalty" I'm still not sure if it was smart. However, going his recommendation I'd say you'd still want at least 2gig. Or, maybe not :\ I guess you'll rarely use more then 1gig but in the near future will start needed 2gig. So, it's a question of lazinesss. 1gig now, add a gig later (very easy) or just get it now (more expensive slightly although ram prices went down a bit since i bought during the high :P)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, and you don't want to get 1stick of ram :/ unless you soon get another stick because it runs 10% slower....but, hey, like i said you probably wouldnt use that much ram for still a bit once vista comes out and (if) you get it.

[Jaakilju]

If you're thinking about ever getting linux/dual booting with it, Nvidia would be better. They offer better drivers for linux. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I'd prefer amd, better bang for the buck.

 

 

 

But I don't that you're sister needs that kind of computer for Far Cry & Colin mcrae 2k6. Although I'm not sure about mcrae, never played, but Far Cry would do with -500$ computer easily.