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Killer Desktop on a budget.

post #1 of 28
2/10/05 at 11:13pm
Thread Starter 
With $800-1000 to build the best desktop I could for the money, what should I get (list all the components or a place I can config one/buy one) or if you build them and want to build me one for that price.

I need it mainly for gaming and as a DVD player/multimedia for 23" HD LCD (so I guess it needs a TV tuner or whatever - I'm not familiar with the technology, so someone tell me what it needs).

I don't need everything absolutely top of the line, but I'd like, probably AMD64 and 256mb VRAM, at least 250gb storage and 1gig of RAM.

Let me know if I'm asking too much for the price.

Thanks.
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post #2 of 28
2/11/05 at 2:44am
Try the Dell Outlet during one of their sales. Right now it's pretty cold, but just a few days ago I saw a 8400 P4 3.4, 400GB drive, DVDRW, DVD-ROM, 1GB DDR2-533, Audigy 2, and ATI X800 XT 256MB system selling for $833. I was tempted as hell, but I couldn't justify it, since my slightly less powerfull desktop was only $650 through the outlet.
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post #3 of 28
2/11/05 at 3:09am
Thread Starter 
That'd be great. That's about what I'm looking for. Not a big fan of Dell, but with those components/price, I'll take it.
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post #4 of 28
2/11/05 at 3:23am
Thread Starter 
By the way, it's going to be a little while before I get one, so how do I stay update/find out about when Dell Outlet is having a sale?
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post #5 of 28
2/11/05 at 3:38am
That's the "fun" of the outlet, you never know when they'll have a sale, and you're competing against a bunch of other people to fish out the best systems from their inventory. Check the outlet now, if you don't see anything you like, check back when their current offers expire. I just checked, and the current offer expires on Feb 16, so they may have something better going on after that date.
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post #6 of 28
2/11/05 at 3:41am
What's the current offer on outlet items? I just saw a maxed out XPS Gen 4 for $2000. If only that 15% off coupon still worked...
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post #7 of 28
2/11/05 at 3:50am
No coupons that I know of right now, but they have tiered discounts on XPS Gen 4's and 4700's. Nothing as fantasic as some of the 8400 deals they had recently, but you can still find a nice system for around $1000.
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post #8 of 28
2/11/05 at 5:07am
I think you made a fantastic choice by buying an ultraportable and a seperate gaming system. Best of both worlds, that's what I'm doing when I get back.
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post #9 of 28
2/11/05 at 9:03am
build it yourself from newegg.com.
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post #10 of 28
2/11/05 at 12:31pm
All of these parts are from newegg:

AMD Athlon 64 3000+
$160.00

MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum MB
$145.00

Cosair XMS 1GB (512MB x 2) PC3200 DDR400 RAM
$190.00

WD 250GB 7200rpm SATA HD
$140.00

Sapphire ATI Radeon X600 256MB PCI-E
$120.00

Sony 16x Dual Layer DVD-R/RW
$60.00

Sony 16x DVD-ROM
$25.00

Creative SB Audigy 2
$50.00

Total $890.00

With the remaining $110.00 you can select a case and other extras.
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post #11 of 28
2/11/05 at 12:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by twopiece
All of these parts are from newegg:

AMD Athlon 64 3000+
$160.00

MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum MB
$145.00

Cosair XMS 1GB (512MB x 2) PC3200 DDR400 RAM
$190.00

WD 250GB 7200rpm SATA HD
$140.00

Sapphire ATI Radeon X600 256MB PCI-E
$120.00

Sony 16x Dual Layer DVD-R/RW
$60.00

Sony 16x DVD-ROM
$25.00

Creative SB Audigy 2
$50.00

Total $890.00

With the remaining $110.00 you can select a case and other extras.

and a PCI tv tuner
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post #12 of 28
2/12/05 at 4:03am
Just checked Dell's Outlet, and it looks like they've got an extra $150 off of 8400's for the weekend. Not super hot, but you might find a pretty nice system like this one for $864:

http://outlet.us.dell.com/Dispatcher...ceTag=04M9FPM7

Beat's the hell out of putting together a whimpy X600-based box from newegg retail components.
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post #13 of 28
2/12/05 at 5:07am
X600 is radeon 9600 on PCI-E so it is useless. ib the price you given is included a monitor too?
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post #14 of 28
2/12/05 at 11:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Erebus_505X
X600 is radeon 9600 on PCI-E so it is useless. ib the price you given is included a monitor too?
nope.....it is much better....I have done gaming on both and the x600 kicks butt compared to the last gen card
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post #15 of 28
2/12/05 at 1:37pm
instead of x600 i would try x700 have to get mother board with pci express though.
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post #16 of 28
2/13/05 at 3:08am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by dellbert
Just checked Dell's Outlet, and it looks like they've got an extra $150 off of 8400's for the weekend. Not super hot, but you might find a pretty nice system like this one for $864:

http://outlet.us.dell.com/Dispatcher...ceTag=04M9FPM7

Beat's the hell out of putting together a whimpy X600-based box from newegg retail components.
That is a great deal. I will be getting it in July or August though so I'm sure I'll see even better ones then with better components.

At that time I want to get, all told, for under $3000:

1) An awesome desktop with TV tuner and all that good stuff for running it through an HD LCD. Probably spend around 1,000 for this (more if I can get a deal on the next two items)

2) At least a 23" HD LCD Monitor with all the necessary TV plugs (looking at the 23" Apple and the 23" HP one right now - but probably would go with the Apple right now as it is 1900x1200 HD LCD and I can get it for like 1500 with my student discount).

3) 5.1 Surround sound - probably from Klipsch.

Then through in a mouse and keyboard (probably wireless because I want to set it all up on a desk at the foot of my bed and that way I can surf/game from bed if I want) and I probably will come in under 3k right?
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post #17 of 28
2/13/05 at 5:18am
LCD prices are dropping like crazy. Dell is selling a very nice Samsung 21" LCD for like $650 this weekend, and they're supposed to be introducing a 24" wide-screen under their own brand very soon.

So, if you're price sensitive, I would hold off as long as possible on the LCD just to see what comes out and where prices go. $3000 should buy you a killer setup in 6 months.
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post #18 of 28
2/13/05 at 5:28pm
Thread Starter 
Any idea when they'll come out with the 24"?

Also, do you know if it is going to be HD?
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post #19 of 28
2/13/05 at 6:42pm
The rumor is that it's coming out on Monday.

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread....6&page=1&pp=20
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post #20 of 28
2/14/05 at 2:39pm
The updated rumor is that it's coming in March:

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/topi...04&l=en&s=hied
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