Need a new work PC

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SlammedNiss
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Need a new work PC

Post by SlammedNiss »

Looking to buy this weekend. We'd like to stick to around $500-600. We're running a 5yr old P4 2.0 GHz right now w/ 1 gig RAM. That's going to become our "secondary" computer for quickbooks and other basic stuff.

I pretty much need a full computer, sans the HDD. I'll pull the HDD out of our current computer, and stick an Xbox HDD back in it. We'd like a video card with dual-moniter setup, a faster MB/CPU setup that we have now. And of course, all the other basics. RAM, CD/DVD drive, PSU, etc.

Oh yeah, I'd probably like to stick to AMD for the CPU if possible. They seem to have more bang-for-your-buck.

Can anybody make any recommendations? We'd like to spend no more than $600, but if it ends up being $625, we won't sweat too much.

THX
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Post by DaMadFiddler »

AMD 64 x2s are dirt cheap right now, because they're getting destroyed by the Core2 Duo. Double digits cheap. Check Newegg; they have pretty fair prices, and I think they're having a sale on AMD components this weekend.
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Post by SlammedNiss »

just checked. I had a MB/CPU combo picked out at Tiger that was $289. If I bought the MB at Tiger, and the same CPU at NewEgg, I'd save about $60.

thanks for the heads up!

EDIT:

After searching for more stuff, Newegg is cheaper on most of the things I already had picked out. Thanks again!
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Post by SlammedNiss »

new question

What is the "SLI" socket?
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Post by DaMadFiddler »

SLI is a technology nVidia pioneered for linking multiple graphics cards for stacked performance. It basically lets you link two graphics cards together to serve as a multi-GPU rig instead of two standalone output paths.
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Post by Hawq »

Actually 3DFX did it years back with the Voodoo 2, nVidia inherited when they bought up the remains of 3DFX
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Post by Ex-Cyber »

Hawq wrote:Actually 3DFX did it years back with the Voodoo 2, nVidia inherited when they bought up the remains of 3DFX
That's a different technology. NVidia calls the new method "SLI" as something like an homage to the original.
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Post by Disheveled DrFreeze »

Ex-Cyber wrote:
Hawq wrote:Actually 3DFX did it years back with the Voodoo 2, nVidia inherited when they bought up the remains of 3DFX
That's a different technology. NVidia calls the new method "SLI" as something like an homage to the original.
exactly, oldskool SLI was "scanline interleaving", which is exactly what it did, every other row of pixels would be delegated by the primary card to the secondary. Nvidia SLI stands for "Scalable Link Interface", basically denoting an interface between cards, which is scalable (so two or more cards, although more then two cards hasnt been very succesfull yet, SLI 2.0 should change that though)

as for a cheap pc, ive been reading good stuff about the newegg AMD x2 3600 + Biostar Tforce 550 mobo combo, which would be worth a look, plunk down 50 bucks on a geforce 6200 or so will get you your dual screen card, add a nice case and some DDR2 and youre done
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Post by butters »

Wow, I didn't realize the P4 was 5+ years old now.
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Post by SlammedNiss »

I'm at $856.91 right now, including free shipping using paypal checkout.
The price I mentioned previously didn't include monitors, which I have since added. So, actual computer is only $506.93.

Any comments? Is this a decent setup?

LITE-ON Combo Black IDE Model LH-52C1P-187 - Retail
Item #: N82E16827106058

$23.99

COOLER MASTER RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811119115

$39.99

Hanns·G JW-199DPB Black 19" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
Item #: N82E16824254001

$349.98
($174.99 each)

ASUS M2N4-SLI Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131068

$89.99

CHAINTECH GSV71GS-T2 GeForce 7100GS 256MB(128MB on Board) DDR PCI Express x16 Low Profile Video Card with L-P Bracket - Retail
Item #: N82E16814145141

$33.99 w/ 10 Mail-in Rabate

Rosewill Stallion Series RD400-2-DB ATX V2.2 400W Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817182021

$29.99

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ - Retail
Item #: N82E16820231098

$139.99

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+(65W) Windsor 2.4GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADO4600CUBOX - Retail
Item #: N82E16819103749

$129.00

COOLER MASTER RR-KEE-L8E1-GP 80mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
Item #: N82E16835103012

$9.99
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Post by Hawq »

Ex-Cyber wrote:
Hawq wrote:Actually 3DFX did it years back with the Voodoo 2, nVidia inherited when they bought up the remains of 3DFX
That's a different technology. NVidia calls the new method "SLI" as something like an homage to the original.
They do it differantly but the principle behind it is the same, join two cards together for improved power
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Post by sixteen-bit »

Here's what I'd do:
Swap out the Lite-On combo drive for a DVD multi burner. There's only a $5 difference.
Ditch the CPU cooler. AMD's retail boxed CPUs come with a pretty decent one.
Swap the video card for one with dual DVI outputs.
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Post by SlammedNiss »

sixteen-bit wrote:Here's what I'd do:
Swap out the Lite-On combo drive for a DVD multi burner. There's only a $5 difference.
Ditch the CPU cooler. AMD's retail boxed CPUs come with a pretty decent one.
Swap the video card for one with dual DVI outputs.
Well, I didn't opt for a Lite-on multi burner. We probably didn't use the cd burner with our current setup more than 10 times in 5 years. I got rid of the extra CPU cooler. Didn't know that the AMD retail boxes came with one. I ended up getting a dual-DVI card. Spent more on the vid card than I wanted to, but don't wanna have to upgrade for at least another 5 years. I also went for a cheaper case. I love my CoolerMaster case I have for my own PC, but I saved a bit with a Rosewill case, and they were also offering a combo price with a PSU.

All in all, total shipped was $892, including the 2 19" WS moniters.

Thanks for everybody's input. It was greatly appreciated.
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Post by Disheveled DrFreeze »

one comment, why bother with the SLI mobo? and why bother with the dedicated video card? im pretty sure you can find integrated mobos which support dual screen (tip, amd 690G chipset!). dumping the SLI mobo and the vid card could save you 50 bucks
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Post by Sir Savant »

He already ordered, DrFreeze.
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Post by APE »

Disheveled DrFreeze wrote:one comment, why bother with the SLI mobo? and why bother with the dedicated video card? im pretty sure you can find integrated mobos which support dual screen (tip, amd 690G chipset!). dumping the SLI mobo and the vid card could save you 50 bucks
I bought an A8N-SLI Deluxe for the thought of maybe doing SLI. If not I've still got 2 16x PCI-e slots for 2 seperate video cards. :D
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Post by SlammedNiss »

Sir Savant wrote:He already ordered, DrFreeze.
actually, I just checked, and their was a problem with payment through paypal, so the order was cancelled. I fixed the problem, and reordered. This time, without the SLI board. Saved another $25.
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Post by Sir Savant »

lol. Well, you did order.
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Post by sixteen-bit »

You'll want the dedicated video card for the DVI outputs. I've used plenty of those Hanns-G displays and the image quality you get from running them with standard VGA is.. ehh, not so good. DVI is fine however.

edit: that is, of course, unless the onboard chipsets come with DVI-out.
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